"To provide high quality Health Care and exceptional Service, while promoting Healthy Lifestyles."
Affinia Healthcare ( formerly Grace Hill Health Centers) began on a piece of land set aside by the Founding Fathers of North St. Louis in 1816. Colonel William Chambers, Major William Christy and Thomas Wright founded the Village of North St. Louis. The land was meant for the physical, spiritual and social needs of the community. Grace Episcopal Church set up on the land in 1845 and thus, the birth of Grace Hill.
A tradition of service began in 1903 when the Episcopal Diocese set up America House, a settlement house. In 1906, Holy Cross Dispensary was founded to treat the city's alcholics. It was located at North 14th Street and Cass Ave.
Through financial crises, mergers, partnerships and progress, Grace Church persevered. GraceChurch assumed status as a mission and engaged in service with Holy Cross Dispensary. Holy Cross Corporation was formed and delivered services to the community and America House joined the corporation. A clinic was built next to the church to provide health services.
As the reputation of the clinic grew, people associated it with Grace Church and called it Grace Hill. In 1939, it was decided to call the whole agency Grace Hill House.The land was meant for the physical, spiritual and social needs of the community.
In 1963, due to United Way funding requirements, Grace Hill became two separate agencies under the Grace Hill umbrella: Grace Hill Health Centers and GraceHill Settlement House.Over the years, both Grace Hill agencies have continued to make changes to accommodate the neighborhoods they serve. In 1963, due to United Way funding requirements, Grace Hill became two separate agencies under the Grace Hill umbrella.
In the mid 1970’s, Grace Hill Health Centers received federal funding through the Urban Health Initiative grant administered by the United States Department of Health and Human Services, Health Resources and Service Administration (HRSA). The funds received from HRSA and other government and private organizations and foundations over the years, have enabled Grace Hill to grow and enhance the services offered to meet the health needs of more than 45,500 individual patients per year.
Today, Affinia Healthcare provides professionally directed primary and preventive health care through five community health centers. Through an integrated health and support services model, Affinia Healthcare provides comprehensive primary and preventive care in pediatrics, adult medicine, obstetrics and gynecology, urgent care, dental, mental health, optometry, audiology, pharmacy, a medium complexity lab,x-ray and mammography, transportation, and other support services. An extensive community health nursing program provides case management for prenatal, high-risk infants, children with lead poisoning and others needing follow up and support services, nurse screenings and education at homeless shelters and public housing settings and other community based services.
A presentation on Grace Hill's historical milestones is available here:
http://prezi.com/60me0lwnppkx/the-history-of-grace-hill/
