Our Story
The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center (WYH) was established in 1971 to provide access to consistent quality healthcare without regard to income. Today, WYH offers primary medical, dental and behavioral health services to over 20,000 men, women and children at sites throughout our region. We operate health centers in Albany, Troy and Watervliet. Our School-Based Health Centers provide medical care in three of the City School Distict of Albany’s elementary schools as well as the Watervliet City School District. Our mobile health unit, Whitney on Wheels, provides medical care at schools, public housing and community centers in Albany and Rensselaer counties. Through a collaborative dental program with the Healthy Capital District Initiative (HCDI), Seal a Smile delivers preventative dental care at schools throughout our community and has recently added on-site restorative care to over 52 schools.
Whitney Young Health’s mission is to provide Capital Region residents with access to consistent quality health care without regard to income. Our vision is to become the health care leader serving diverse populations in Albany and Rensselaer counties.
Whitney Young Health is accredited by New York State Department of Health. Whitney Young Health has been recognized, for a third time, by the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) as a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home at both the Albany, Troy and Watervliet Health Centers. We have earned The Joint Commission’s Gold Seal of Approval® for Ambulatory Health Care and for Behavioral Health Care.
Our substance use disorder programs are licensed by New York State Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). Our Methadone Maintenance Treatment Program (MMTP) is also accredited by The Joint Commission. WYH is a member of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and the Community Health Centers Association of New York State (CHCANYS).
Whitney Young Health serves over 20,000 annually, who are under or uninsured minorities living in poverty. Moreover, the conditions of high rates of unemployment and poverty; and the lack of health insurance cause higher rates of morbidity and consequent health disparities amongst WYH’s target patient population.
Whitney Young Health works to alleviate barriers accessing care and augment its primary care services by providing transportation, translation, patient education, nutrition and case management services as well as by employing culturally diverse clinical and support staff. More than 8% of the diverse patient population reports a language other than English best serves them. To assist these patients, WYH employs Spanish and Russian interpreters and utilizes AT&T’s Language Line.
