1973
July—Lebanon Family Health Services (LFHS) began serving the Lebanon Community under the name Lebanon Family Planning. The offices were located at 411 North 8th Street. The agency was formed as a result of needs identified in the Lebanon community:
- lack of female providers in the county for reproductive health care
- citizens traveling to other counties for family planning services
During the first year, the agency served 300 women. Services were provided free to the indigent and low-income women.
1978
LFHS began a peer counseling program and hired an educator who worked with local schools to coordinate a peer counseling program. Currently LFHS serves as a resource/consultant for the teen contact/peer mediation programs throughout the county.
1980
LFHS added the WIC (Women, Infants and Children) special supplemental nutrition program, funded by the Department of Agriculture and
administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Health.
1981
The name was changed from Lebanon Family Planning to Lebanon Family Health Services (LFHS) to reflect the diversity of services being offered.
1982
LFHS became self-sustaining. Funding for family planning on a national and state level was greatly reduced. The organization began charging full and part fee for services. As a result of the change in fee structure, the agency expanded its targeted population beyond low-income women.
1987
The Medical Awareness for Seniors program (Health Care for the Mature Woman) began in cooperation with the local Area Agency on Aging. The purpose was to serve women 50 years old and older free of charge to screen for reproductive related cancers.
1988
The Cancer Screening, Detection and Education Project was started. The program supplemented our Medical Awareness for Seniors Program. The Farmers Market Nutrition Program began as a special program within the WIC Program to provide clients coupons redeemable for Pennsylvania grown or growable produce.
1990
July—Lebanon Family Health Services assumed the operation of the prenatal program from Hershey Medical Center. The program was and continues to operate in cooperation with the Good Samaritan Family Practice Program.
2000
Fall—LFHS partnered with SARCC (Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center) to form an Alliance Project to begin plans to build a new facility to house both agencies.
2001
The State Health Department began providing free HIV testing at LFHS.
May—LFHS moved to a temporary location, 834 Cumberland Street.
2002
June 3—Groundbreaking for the new facility located at 615 Cumberland Street, Lebanon building shared with SARCC.
October—LFHS received tobacco control grant and training to begin offering “Clean Air For Healthy Children” smoking cessation education.
2003
March—LFHS moved into new facility, co-owned with SARCC located at 615 Cumberland Street.
April—Dedication of the Jeanne Donlevy Arnold building, 615 Cumberland Street.
2008
January—LFHS assumed the state STI (Sexually Transmitted Infection) contract for Lebanon County — all individuals regardless of age or income eligible for free STI testing and treatment.
2009
May—LFHS began providing IUD insertions, employment physicals, TB testing, walk in Friday clinics
October—WIC food package revised to include whole grains, fruits and vegetables
2011
February—Added e‑screen drug screening services
2012
April—Hosted “Spring into Health…by making prevention a priority” walk-in STI testing week; served over 400 patients
October: Profit of the Year Award!
October: Fax to Quit Referral program began- referring patients/clients to Quitline for assistance with tobacco cessation services.
2013
40th anniversary for Lebanon Family Health Services – yearlong celebration & launch of new logo/look for LFHS
April: 10 year anniversary at 615 Cumberland Street
August: LFHS adds Sports Physicals to our outpatient physical servicesOctober 2013
October: LFHS expands tobacco services to Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill counties through Southeast tobacco program in addition to Lebanon County services funded by ALA
October: Partner with Lebanon Ridge for ACA marketplace enrollment provided in LFHS facility.
June 1st annual Cocktails and Comedy event held at the Cornwall Inn
August: Sports Physicals added to outpatient physical services
September: 40th Anniversary-Family Fun Walk and Benefit Classical Music Concert
October: 40th Anniversary Celebration at the Annual Dinner
October: Expanded tobacco control services to Berks, Lancaster and Schuylkill counties
November: Partner with Lebanon Ridge for ACA marketplace enrollment provided at LFHS
2014
May: WIC celebrates 40th Anniversary nationally
June: 1st Annual Cocktails and Comedy event held at the Cornwall Inn
July: Initiated WE CAN (Ways to Enhance Children’s Activity and Nutrition) Program
July: 25th Annual Erma M. Kapp Memorial Golf Tournament held at Royal Oaks Golf Club
November: 10th Annual Celebrate Your Health Latin Style health fair held at Lebanon Middle School
March: LFHS is recipient of NFPRHA National Grant to support ACA enrollment efforts
April: 1st annual Splash of Color fundraising event held at the Lebanon Country Club
May: LFHS partners with Lebanon Valley Family YMCA to provide education in youth center
2015
June: The first annual “Farm to Table” event to promote WIC Farmer’s market Nutrition Program
June: Select Plan program ends
July: LFHS begins fingerprinting services
July: Electronic Health Records, Practice Management System “goes live” July 1
July: State Plan Amendment (SPA) Program begins July 1
October: Urgent Care Services begins; name later changed to Convenient Care
November: ACA open enrollment, year 3 begins November 1; LFHS staff/volunteers trained as Certified Application Counselors (CAC’s)
June: LFHS begins providing Diabetes Prevention Program
2016
January: LFHS begins accepting Aetna Better Health Insurance
March: WIC begins texting appointment reminder system
April: LFHS joins a community initiative called “Better Together”
May: Online Donor Perfect database system implemented and adds Instagram as additional social media outlet for LFHS.
June: LFHS begins providing Diabetes Prevention Program, funded by the American Lung Association.
July: Medent EHR System goes “live” for medical services.
2017
May: LFHS purchases Ready Set Auction software to enhance auction fundraising events.
July: Redesigned parenting class curriculums in cooperation with Domestic Violence Intervention to incorporate trauma awareness and resilience and ACE (Adverse Childhood Experiences). Curriculum developed and implemented – Be the One: Building Resilient Children & Families (birth – age 8) and Be the One: Building Resilient Teens & Families (ages 9–18).
August: LFHS partners with Welsh Mountain Health Centers to provide a monthly walk in immunization clinic and primary care on site at LFHS.
October: Becoming a Responsible Teen (BART) program funding received from FHCCP as part of state Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP).
November: Cogent Fingerprint Services discontinued statewide.
2018
January: Kick off 45th anniversary celebration for LFHS.
April: LFHS and SARCC celebrate 80 years of combined service at a joint annual dinner meeting and kick off a Burn the Mortgage Campaign.
June: LFHS partners with ALA to develop the pilot program for Saved By The Scan.
October: WIC Program provides a full service monthly satellite clinic at the Caring Cupboard Food Pantry in Palmyra.
October: LFHS awarded REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) grant – funding from CDC to Penn State College of Medicine; LFHS sub-recipient through FHCCP. Nutrition/breastfeeding services and Diabetes Prevention Program for Latino population.
October: LFHS facilitators trained in Making Proud Choices, a curriculum as part of Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP).
December: LFHS contract with WellSpan GSH as a Community Engagement Liaison to provide support for the Dixon Health and Wellness Center and Family First Health.
2019
April: Community Health Educator (REACH grant) position filled.
May: LFHS serves as internship site for Lebanon Valley College Athletic Training Program.
May: Lebanon City Schools agree to partner with LFHS to provide Personal Responsibility Education Program (PREP) for all 7th grade students beginning with 19/20 school year (8th grade also covered in 19/20 so all students receive education).
May: Final mortgage payment made to Fulton Financial! Burn the Mortgage Campaign (joint between LFHS and SARCC) a SUCCESS!
June: LFHS received notice of award of Collective Impact grant from the United Way to expand Be The One parenting curriculum into Lebanon School District.
July: Burn the Mortgage Celebration held in conjunction with SARCC
September: WIC Data System changed to PENN; WIC benefits now provided via EBT cards.
October: 15th anniversary “Celebrating Your Health…Latin Style” hosted at Lebanon Middle School.
2020
January: LFHS partners with WellSpan Foundations of Pregnancy Support Program (Opioid Use Disorder Program) with additional grant dollars awarded.
March: WIC recognizes 40th anniversary of services in Lebanon County.
March: COVID ‑19 PANDEMIC called for many changes in services including: All WIC visits are now telehealth visits with curbside pick-up of benefit cards, Prenatal appointments offered via telehealth, Family Planning Services offered via telehealth services with curbside pick-up of supplies, all education programs transition to teleconferencing/remote sessions (Freedom From Smoking, Be The One Parenting, Diabetes Prevention Program and Personal Responsibility Education Program) and multiple safety practices implemented.
June: LFHS hosts first virtual event – Splash of Color.
June: WIC FMNP vouchers increased to $6, offers $6 Grab Bags every Wednesday and offers monthly breastfeeding education and support via ZOOM.
July: All Sports Physicals are now free, Family Planning-Opioid Use Disorder Integration Project continued, LFHS can provide family planning to New Perspectives at White Deer Run
October: Lebanon Country CARES Act funding received — replace cloth furniture, install air purifiers, temperature screening equipment and disinfecting equipment.
November — Paycheck Protection Program loan forgiveness notice received, 30th anniversary of Travel & Leisure Auction
December- 1st Spanish Diabetes Prevention Program ends.
2021
January — LFHS restructures staff positions and creates new organizational chart, incorporating VP of Communications and VP of Community Education. Billing Consultant hired.
February- 2nd round of Paycheck Protection Program loan received.
March — COVID-19 Pandemic — All WIC remains telehealth with curbside benefit pickups, Family Planning and Prenatal visits provided in person with telehealth options for some visit types. Partnership with Penn State Health to host vaccine clinic for patients and clients. Begins to offer WIC services on site a Family First Health one day per week. Engages with Click Upon to expand social media marketing for the organization.
April — Partners with WellSpan Good Samaritan host COVID vaccine clinic for our patients and clients. Text to give added to allow communication with LFHS donors. All LFHS staff fully vaccinated for COVID-19; able to return to in person meetings.
May — LFHS board mini strategic planning retreat. Painting & flooring work begins to redo entire facility.
June — WIC Farmers Market Nutrition Program expands to provide benefits to infants six months and older. LFHS staff strategic planning session.
2022
January- The WIC Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Program, Pathways to Help, begins screening clients and providing education and referrals for clients at risk for SUD.
February- COO, Donna Williams, celebrates 35th anniversary with LFHS.
March – CFO, Vicki DeLoatch inducted into the Lebanon County Commission for Women Hall of Fame – The ongoing COVID pandemic, Abbott formula recall and continual supply chain disruptions created a global formula shortage. US Congress authorized a waiver allowing WIC families to purchase non- contracted brands of formula to ensure infants were being fed properly.
April- LFHS website is updated with many new features. – LFHS purchased an AED (Automated External Defibrillator) and installed in our office. All staff received AED training. – On site services resume at Lebanon County Correctional Facility and White Deer Run for STI education and screenings.
June – The United States Supreme Court overturns Roe v. Wade which means states will now decide if abortion remains legal or will be banned. Roe v. Wade was enacted in 1973. – Farmer’s Market Nutrition Program now offers a 100% match incentive for utilizing their vouchers. Clients can choose additional produce as a match – dollar for dollar. – Notice of approval for three-year WellSpan Imagine grant received. This is a collaborative grant with LFHS and Lebanon County Christian Ministries to address food insecurity. LFHS will purchase a WIC mobile unit with the grant funds. – Splash of Color event hosted in person with highest revenue of any previous year