State’s Community Health Clinics Improving Health of Democracy
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May 2, 2008
Sioux Falls, SD – South Dakota's 34 community health clinics have been working to improve the health of democracy by making voter registration available to their patients. All South Dakota residents, including community health clinic patients, can register at the community clinics through May 9.
Paula Hallberg, director of health center support and public policy with the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas, says health issues will dominate the upcoming elections, and patients should have a say in shaping the future of health care.
"Our receptionist will ask if they're registered to vote. If they aren't, they'll ask if the person is interested in registering, and will assist them if need be. Hopefully, that will just pique their interest in what is going on with health care issues and leadership issues in their community. We want to show that our clinics are good leaders in their community and want to do what we can to make our local municipalities the best that they can be."
Hallberg says it's important that their patients are engaged in the health care debate, because 40 percent of them are uninsured.
The clinics have partnered in the voter-registration effort with Secretary of State Chris Nelson, who helped train staff. Nelson says the clinics offer one more option for South Dakota voters to register.
"I did have the opportunity to sit down with the community health service folks and actually go through the form with them. I explained exactly what needs to be on that form to make sure that every form filled out at their agencies is fully complete. When they get to the county auditor's office, there isn't going to be any question about whether it's a completed form or not. We'll be able to get that person on the voter registration list."
Paula Hallberg says their spring voter registration effort was so successful they're hoping to roll it out again before the general election in November.
The deadline to register for the June primary is May 19. Voters also can register at their city hall, court house and driver's license agency, in addition to community health clinics statewide.
Clinic information is available at www.communityhealthcare.net. Click on "Find a health center."