Community Health Centers
Lighting the Way for Healthier Communities
By Lavonne Ansari, PhD
The website National Health Center Week (NHCW) at www.healthcenterweek.org reminds us of the importance of remembering and valuing the work of community health centers throughout our nation. This year’s celebration takes place from August 9 through 15. This year’s theme is “Community Health Centers: Lighting the Way for Healthier Communities Today and in the Future.”
Our Western New York designated community health centers are a beacon of strength, service, and care located in the communities they serve, and include The Chautauqua Center, The Community Health Center of Buffalo, Inc., East Hill Family Medical, Inc., Jericho Road Community Center, Neighborhood Community Health Center, and Southern Tier Community Health Center Network, Inc. (Universal Primary Care). Each of these centers is dedicated to offering care, support, and love in moments of pain and loss, and hope and vision in times of triumph.
The concept for community health centers arose out of the civil rights movement. In 1971, Community Health Care Association of New York State (CHCANYS) was established to give voice to all of our state’s network of community health centers. CHCANYS is now a national premiere primary care, education, and advocacy association that works to increase access to those who would otherwise go without care. They are centers of excellence located in medically underserved areas that provide high-quality, patient-centered, community-based care to anyone who needs it, regardless of their ability to pay. This includes primary and preventive care, behavioral health services, dental care, substance abuse services, and more in a culturally and linguistically appropriate setting.
Over the past few months, we have all seen too much illness, death, and strife due to COVID-19. We have seen how people of color have been disproportionately affected by coronavirus and other chronic diseases. Hopefully, we all have a new heightened awareness of the importance of providing care to all people regardless of their ability to pay for it.
This National Health Week it is suggested that we light a candle for our community health leaders, essential providers, and patients to shine a light on the future of primary care for underserved populations. The focus for each of the days during this week in August includes awareness of public health in housing, healthcare for the homeless, agricultural worker health, patient, staff, and stakeholder appreciation, and children’s health. So let’s mark our calendars for National Health Center Week and celebrate the work of our local community health centers and all of those serving our community by lighting a candle each day.
Learn more about National Health Week at www.healthcenterweek.org. Learn more about the Community Health Care Association of New York State at http://www.chcanys.org.
Lavonne Ansari, PhD is CEO & Executive Director of the Community Health Center of Buffalo and Board Chair of the Community Health Care Association of New York State.
