Community Health & Wellness Center (CHWC) is committed to keeping communities healthy. We are dedicated to serving the community and making a difference every day.   In a compassionate, patient-centered environment, CHWC services are accessible and provided without discriminations, with cultural competence, and where all people matter regardless of their ability to pay. 

 CHWC offers and continues to develop a range of healthcare services for the underserved throughout northwest Connecticut, including medical, dental, behavioral health, chiropractic, nutrition, and podiatry services.  It strives to achieve the reputation of “provider of choice” for affordable, high-quality services that achieve positive patient outcomes in a welcoming and caring environment. The facility also has an on-site pharmacy located in its Torrington facility that offers free delivery service and Quest Laboratories in both their Torrington and Winsted locations, making getting prescriptions and blood work easy and convenient. 

 In 2021, CHWC introduced its new Mobile Medical Unit (MMU) BETTY:  “Bringing Exceptional Treatment to You.”  The MMU is making primary care more accessible to underserved areas, and CHWC has partnered with Sharon Hospital to bring BETTY onsite two days per week to serve the community.  The MMU will also be offering Behavioral Health services in early 2022.

Mobile Medical Unit, Bringing Exceptional Treatment to You (BETTY)

 In October 2021, CHWC hosted a roundtable discussion with Attorney General William Tong and other dignitaries to address the lack of primary care providers in the northwest corner, community healthcare needs and social determinants of health, and resolve the lack of access to primary care and specialty services.  The discussion also delved into developing sustainable solutions that will strengthen the northwest corner’s overall population health and economic vitality.  Attendees at the roundtable included State Representatives Maria Horn and Michelle Cook; Nancy Heaton, CEO, Foundation for Community Health; Lori Fedewa, Director, Office of Rural Health; Andrea Rynn, Assistant Vice President, Community Government and Public Relations, Nuvance Health; and Mark Hirko, MD, President, Sharon Hospital.

CHWC hosts roundtable discussion with CT Attorney General, William Tong, and other dignitaries.

 The COVID-19 pandemic has threatened the health and wellbeing of everyone, but CHWC is committed to rising to the occasion, working on the front lines to offer free weekly COVID-19 testing and vaccines throughout the region during 2021 and continuing testing in 2022.  The center also initiated events to help relieve food insecurities and other barriers to health.     

Conducting COVID-19 testing

 CHWC frequently partners with other organizations to increase the region’s capacity to meet the communities’ health and wellness needs.  It is the only Federally Qualified Health Center in Connecticut to receive a Health Resources and Services Administration  Quality Leader Award in 2017 

 Some of CHWC’s initiatives and partnerships of 2021 included the following:

 --CHWC conducted more than 7,000 COVID tests for residents in the communities it serves free of charge.

 --CHWC offered a helping hand to the Friendly Hands Food Bank by assisting with the distribution of fresh “Farmers to Families” produce throughout the year.  The Center also supported its community partner by making 200 sandwiches and assembling bagged lunches for the nonprofit’s patrons over the long Memorial Day weekend.  CHWC donated $500 to each of the following organizations: The FISH Shelter , The Gathering Place, The Winsted Food Pantry  and The Sullivan Senior Center. InNovember, CHWC staff members decorated a chair and donated it to the Friendly Hands “Chair-ity” fundraising auction. In December, CHWC employees collected unwrapped toys and donated them to the nonprofit’s Christmas toy drive.

 --Partnering with the nonprofit “Step by Step,” CHWC organized a coat drive to provide warm winter outerwear to anyone in need, along with distributing coats and jackets donated by employees.

 CHWC has strengthened its connection to the community by expanding its services to include telemedicine, enabling it to meet patients’ healthcare needs while keeping them safe. 

 CHWC is located at 469 Migeon Avenue in Torrington, 10 Center Street in Winsted, and a near future third location on East Main Street in North Canaan.

For more information visit www.chwctorr.org. 

CHWC partnered with Step by Step to conduct a coat drive

CHWC assisting Friendly Hands with distribution of fresh produce

Decorated chair donation at A Seat at Our Table fundraiser