Teen Health Connection was established in 1991 by a coalition of community organizations to address the need for affordable, developmentally-appropriate healthcare for adolescents in the community. Original supporters included Carolinas HealthCare System, Presbyterian Hospital, Junior League of Charlotte, Mecklenburg Medical Society and Mecklenburg Medical Auxiliary Endowment. Major funding also came from Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust.
In February 1992, Dr. John Johnston joined the organization as our first medical director. He and a family nurse practitioner began seeing patients in a small building on Elizabeth Avenue. That same year, an agreement was signed with the Mecklenburg County Department of Social Services for Teen Health Connection to provide health care to all adolescents in foster care. The first medical residents from Carolinas Medical Center also began their adolescent medicine rotations that year.
From the beginning, the philosophy of care focused on providing both medical and mental health services. Our staff has expanded to ensure that we provide the highest level of adolescent services to our community.
Teen Health Connection became a United Way agency in 1994 and three years later, joined in a Community Health Partnership with Carolinas HealthCare System. In 1998, Teen Health Connection moved to CMC Northpark, 251 Eastway Drive, in Charlotte. Under the umbrella of Levine Children's Hospital, Teen Health Connection moved to it's newest location at 3541 Randolph Road in 2008.
In 2004, thanks to funding from United Way, Teen Health Connection introduced a comprehensive community outreach program called Healthy Choices, Healthy Teens designed to empower teens to make healthy living decisions.
Following the retirement of Dr. John G. Johnston, long-time medical director, Dr. Kristin Rager joined the staff as medical director in September 2006. Teen Health Connection is a partner with the Levine Children's Hospital and the Department of Pediatrics at Carolinas Medical Center. |
