August 8th through August 14th marks National Health Center Week 2021, a very special week that we observe each year here at Fenway Health. Started by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), this week is a time to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of America’s health centers. For over 50 years, Community Health Centers (CHCs) have become pillars of public health, providing care and services to people from all walks of life. Today, CHCs are working harder than ever to keep communities healthy across the country in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s National Health Center Week theme is “The Chemistry for Strong Communities.” As NACHC explains, “This National Health Center Week honors those front line providers, staff, and beloved patients who lost their lives during the (ongoing) COVID-19 pandemic. From the very beginning of the crisis, Community Health Centers began finding innovative ways to provide preventative and primary care to their patients. During this week of remembrance, light a candle for those community health leaders and patients that we lost. As we commemorate those lives and celebrate the future of Community Health, let’s shine a light across the country that will embody the future of primary health care access for underserved populations.”
CHCs serve 28 million Americans at more than 9,000 delivery sites in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and U.S. territories. In the United States, one out of 15 people get their care at CHCs. Health centers, including Fenway Health, provide critical services to all people, regardless of their ability to pay or insurance status, making them anchors of their communities.
This week, we encourage you to reach out to your legislators in support of the lifesaving work of CHCs. You can email your Members of Congress, tweet/post on social media using #ValueCHCs and tag your Members of Congress, o write a Letter to the Editor or an Op-ed for a local or national news outlet!
Please join us in marking National Health Center Week 2021 and in thanking the incredible staff across Fenway Health who work so hard, this week and always.