National Health Center Week (August 7 – 13) is an annual celebration with the goal of raising awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers over the past five decades. Community Health Northwest Florida would like to take this time to celebrate the roles our providers, partners, patients and community have played in our 30 years of service.
Community Health Centers, also known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), provide preventive and primary care services to nearly 29 million people and have continued to do so while facing a global pandemic. Many health center patients disproportionately suffer from chronic disease and lack access to affordable, quality care. While this approach is community-based and local, collectively, health centers are the backbone of the nation’s primary care system.
Community Health Northwest Florida provides an array of services such as Adult & Family Care, Pediatric Care, Behavioral Health & Wellness, Dental Care, Vision Care and Women’s Care, social services support and even in-house pharmacies. Community Health Centers are not just healers, but innovators who look beyond medical charts to address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, lack of nutrition and unemployment. They are a critical piece of the health care systems and collaborate with hospitals, local and state governments, social, health and business organizations to improve health outcomes for those who are medically vulnerable.
“Community Health Northwest Florida is a great example of the collective impact made possible by our valued partners, including Ascension Sacred Heart, Baptist Healthcare, the Escambia and Santa Rosa County Commissions and so many others,” said Chandra Smiley, Chief Executive Officer. “During National Health Center Week, we look forward to celebrating all the people who make our programs impactful.”
Follow Community Health Northwest Florida’s social media as they highlight specific programs throughout the week:
- Monday, 8/8: Healthcare for the Homeless Day
- Tuesday, 8/9: Children’s Health Day
- Wednesday, 8/10: Patient Appreciation Day
- Thursday, 8/11: Stakeholder Appreciation Day
- Friday, 8/12: Health Center Staff Appreciation Day
National Health Center Week, HHS, through HRSA, awarded nearly $90 million in American Rescue Plan funding to nearly 1,400 community health centers across the country to advance health equity through better data collection and reporting. On Friday, August 5, President Biden issued a proclamation on National Health Center Week to recognize the vital role health centers play in safeguarding the well-being of Americans and honor the heroic staff who keep these facilities running.
