CHURCH CENTER GIVES ONE-STOP SOCIAL SERVICES; PALMDALE'S POOR CAN FIND HELP.

Byline: Karen Maeshiro Daily News Staff Writer

Last summer, the 150-member congregation of Christ the King Episcopal Church had a chance to move to a better part of town west of the Antelope Valley Freeway.

They had a lucrative offer on their property on 22nd Street East between Palmdale Boulevard and Avenue Q that included paying no real estate commission, said the Rev. George Six.

But the church, which receives assistance from the diocese to do missionary work, decided to remain and continue to serve the surrounding community, where 39 percent of the households have incomes of less than $35,000.

``We had a meeting. There were people from the bishops committee and the lay committee,'' Six said. ``It was unanimous that we stay and do work there because we felt we needed to. We are committed to the area and the people of the area.''

The church's latest project is the Shepherd's Care Palmdale Community Outreach Center, which provides a wide range of health and social services at one location, providing better access to and coordination of services by different agencies.

Started in October and operated from the church, the one-stop center has adult and child primary care and preventive health services, immunizations, HIV testing and counseling, health education, mental health screening and referrals, support groups for pregnant teens, parenting classes, and drug and alcohol counseling.

A mobile medical unit - a 37-foot-long motor home - operated by Los Angeles County High Desert Hospital provides flu shots, immunizations and physicals.

``I'm glad the church is doing something not only for their spiritual needs but looking after physical needs also,'' said registered nurse Julia Clare, who runs the mobile health unit with staff of two.

Other participating agencies include South Antelope Valley Emergency Services, Children's Bureau of Southern California, El Nido Family Centers, Antelope Valley Counsel on Alcoholism and Drug Dependency, Antelope Valley Mental Health Center, Department of Children and Family Services, Antelope Valley Health Center, Valley Child Guidance Clinic, Antelope Valley Youth and Family Services, Antelope Valley Hospital, and Palmdale School District's Healthy Start program.

Beginning in January, the center will operate once a week from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesdays.

``It's a collaborative effort. A lot of the social agencies are in Lancaster. If you live in Palmdale, there's no agency to get any social services,'' said Jeanine McDougall, the center's volunteer coordinator. ``For some people who don't have a car or transportation, it's like a two-hour bus ride to Lancaster. We bring all the agencies to a central location in Palmdale to get prenatal care, sign up for parenting and drug counseling, get referrals for WIC (the Women and Infant Children food program). It's just a one-stop shop.''

The idea for the center arose about a year ago when several parishioners who work in the Palmdale School District's Healthy Start program approached Six about providing services. Meetings were convened with High Desert Hospital officials and representatives from the other social agencies.

``Everything in the social services world today needs to be collaborative,'' Six said. ``What we're doing is getting agencies in front of clients and not waiting on the phone to ring and finding out where the office is.''

According to 1996 statistics compiled by the church, about 37 percent of all households in the south Antelope Valley have household incomes of less than $35,000. In central and east Palmdale, the figure increases to 39 percent. There also is a high concentration of people on Medi-Cal, Six said.

``The needs are enormous in this part of town'' for food, 12-step programs, family planning, vaccinations, well-baby clinics, mental health services, and help for abused children and spouses, Six said.

``We're trying to deal with all the issues under one roof. They may come in thinking all they need is a flu shot, but they discover they need something else, and we can help them right there,'' Six said.

Services are provided on an ability-to-pay basis, and no one is turned away, Six said.

``These are people who may not have been accessing any health care and need immunizations, physicals, or counseling. All the county agencies in Lancaster have committed to support the program,'' said Jerry Harris, associate administrator at High Desert Hospital.