IMMEDIATE RELEASE
September 12, 2007 

FOR INFORMATION CONTACT
Sherriene Jones-Sontag
785/296-2302 

SPEAKER COMMENDS HEALTH CLINIC’S WORK
Tour Gives Legislators Firsthand Experience

Garden City – Kansas Speaker of the House of Representatives Melvin Neufeld applauded the work begin done at the United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries Health Clinic (MAM) in Garden City after he and about 40 other Kansas legislators toured the clinic this morning as part of the 2007 Ways and Means/Appropriations Biennial Tour.

“The services provided by MAM are vital in meeting the health care needs of thousands of uninsured and underinsured Kansans,” Speaker Neufeld said.  “I am extremely impressed with the leadership of Executive Director Penney Schwab.  She and her staff are doing an excellent job in meeting the needs of those they serve.  This is the type of program we need in more Kansas communities.”

Schwab told lawmakers after 22 years at MAM, she is retiring.  Speaker Neufeld thanked her for her long service and dedication and wished her the best.

Members of the House Appropriations Committee, the Senate Ways and Means Committee as well as the Joint Committees of Legislative Post Audit and State Building Construction take a tour of different parts of the state every two years.  This week-long tour is focused on central and western Kansas.

Today they had the opportunity to learn about the health clinic’s Prenatal Case Management program.

“Studies show prenatal care is an important factor in early childhood development.  MAM here in Garden City will serve some 125 expecting mothers today who otherwise would not receive this very vital care for them and their babies,” Neufeld said. 

The United Methodist Mexican-American Ministries Community Care Centers and Health Clinics are non-profit service agencies in Western Kansas. MAM has been serving people of all races, colors and faiths since 1974. Today, MAM offers a comprehensive array of social, spiritual, educational and medical programs through Centers located in Garden City, Dodge City, Liberal, Ulysses, Johnson and Satanta, Kansas. Services are provided in English and Spanish.  You can learn more about MAM at www.ummam.org.

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