Free Medical and Social Services to be Offered This Friday & Saturday to Local Families

                July 30, 2007:  Salt Lake City, UT.  On Friday and Saturday, August 3 and 4, Horizonte Instructional & Training Center, located at 1234 South Main Street, Salt Lake City, will be converted into Utah’s largest free health services clinic where individuals and families can receive free medical tests and screenings with dignity and privacy.  Presented by the Junior League of Salt Lake City (JLSLC), the Junior League CARE Fair (Community Assistance and Resource Event), now in its 15^th year, offers the services of over 300 local medical volunteers and more than 50 community agencies, and is expected to serve over 3,300 people in this 2-day event.

                The Junior League CARE Fair helps low-income, underinsured and noninsured families in obtain free medical services and community agency information by providing free services in one central location.  What began as a small health fair, serving approximately 300 people in 1993 and offering only a few services, Junior League CARE Fair has grown into the largest health fair of its kind in Utah. The Junior League of Salt Lake expects to serve over 3,300 people this year, offering more than 15 medical services and information from representatives of over 50 community agencies. 

                Along with many other community medical service providers, University of Utah’s School of Medicine is one of the Junior League CARE Fair’s biggest supporters.  "Our nation is in the midst of a health care crisis as costs of health care rise much faster than the cost of living and personal income.  We have over 300,000 uninsured people in Utah,” said Dr. Marc Babitz, Associate Professor and Director of Student Programs in Family Medicine at University of Utah’s School of Medicine.  “The Junior League CARE Fair is a wonderful event that directly addresses this dilemma by providing an opportunity for young and old to receive screenings and preventive counseling and, where there are problems or issues, recieve advice and direction on what can be done and how to gain assistance.  University of Utah Medical School faculty and students willingly volunteer their time and expertise at the Junior League CARE Fair to provide health screenings and preventive information and services to the medically underserved members of our community.  We are grateful for the service the Junior League provides to this community.”

                Services scheduled to be offered at CARE Fair 2007, strategically held just prior to the new school year, include childhood immunizations and physicals; women’s cancer screenings; HIV testing; eye, ear and dental exams; and diabetes testing.  Clients can also take advantage of information and referrals from W.I.C., Department of Workforce Services, Salt Lake Housing Authority, and more than 50 other community agencies represented at the event.  Junior League CARE Fair attendees with children may receive free daycare, and drawings for free car seats and bike helmets will be held. To assist Spanish speaking clients, Spanish interpreters will be available.