Su Clinica Familiar groundbreaking event celebrates expansion

A new, $12 million building under construction for Su Clinica Familiar was celebrated Saturday for its green construction, the 170 jobs it is expected to bring and the greater healthcare access it will foster.

Su Clinica Familiar CEO Elena Marin said that Saturday’s groundbreaking for the north Brownsville clinic, which is set to open next summer, was symbolic because it’s already under construction.

But she said a greater symbolism lay in what the new facility will mean for the city.

“It will represent progress for Brownsville,” she said. “When we had our blessing today it was a re-minder of the importance of staying focused on our passion of helping our neighbors and alleviating the health conditions and suffering that poor health brings upon everyone.”

The new clinic at 105 E. Alton Gloor will serve 17,000 medical and dental patients in its 62,000-square-foot facility offering multi-specialty and primary healthcare services.

One of many Su Clinica Familar patients, Sandra Castillo, spoke at the ceremony where attendees, which included Mayor Tony Martinez and two city commissioners, signed a beam that would become part of the building.

As she watched people break ground at the site using red shovels tied with white and blue ribbons there was the buzz and clank of welding and earthmovers.

“I don’t know what I’d do without them,” Castillo said as she stood in front of the building’s skeleton of steel beams and rebar. “I have six kids. Three of them were born there at the clinic. ... They help me so much. They treat me like family.”

She said the social workers at the clinic have helped her with medical care and instances when she could not afford her own medication.

“If there’s something that you need, they’ll find a way,” Castillo said.

Su Clinica familiar accepts Medicaid, Medicare and private insurance.

For those without health insurance, the clinic offers sliding-fee discounts based on income.

Castillo pointed to her daughter, Esmeralda Trevino, saying she was born at the clinic 28 years ago and today she is a patient, too.

“I’ve been a patient all my life. I think it’s wonderful,” Trevino said of the new facility. “It’s definitely something that is going to help the community. ... I think it’s awesome.”

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act provided $7.5 million in funding for the project. Su Clinica Familiar was one of five Texas clinics to receive the competitive grant, Marin said.

The Brownsville Community Health Center also received the $7.5 million in aid.

Marin said one of the building’s green features is a retention pond to be set in front of the facility. It will be used to collect rainwater to maintain the landscaping. Green features were a requirement for receiving the federal funding, she said.

Marin said this year marks 40 years since the Catholic Charities organization approached the federal government for funding to help establish Su Clinica Familiar in the Rio Grande Valley.

As the organization continues to grow, Marin said the Brownsville facility will expand on what already exists in Harlingen and will replace the current clinic on FM511.

The new location will be more accessible, particularly for those who use public transportation. It is also across the street from Valley Regional Medical Center.

It will offer on-site lab services, pediatrics care, internal medicine and women’s health. There will be a drive-through pharmacy, and x-ray facilities and eligibility assistance for state programs, as well as patient education services.

Marin said there will also be a community auditorium on the second floor.

In a statement, Marin said the new clinic was part of a five-year plan crafted by the organization to ex-pand health services in the area.

“Ten months from now, the Brownsville community will see a dramatic transformation of its healthcare infrastructure,” she said at the ceremony.