This week, community health centers all across New York State are celebrating National Health Center Week. Each year during National Health Center Week, we take time to underscore the value of the Federally Qualified Health Center model and the amazing work that community health centers do each day to serve those most in need in communities throughout New York.
Health centers will be hosting a variety of activities to commemorate National Health Center Week and to spread the word about all the ways they serve their communities. Members of Congress, State Senators, Members of the Assembly, and local policymakers will visit health centers around the state, participate in awards ceremonies, health fairs and screenings, and celebrate the success of the community health center program. In addition, particular days have been designated to spotlight some of the specialized services offered by community health centers:
Public Housing Health Center Day - Tuesday, August 13th
Health Care for the Homeless Day - Wednesday, August 14th
Farmworker Health Day - Thursday, August 15th
Community outreach has long been a central part of the health center mission. This year, health centers will play a vital role in the roll-out of New York’s Health Benefit Exchange/Marketplace, helping to educate the nearly 2.7 million currently uninsured New Yorkers about the new insurance options available to them and, beginning on October 1st, assisting them with enrollment into their plans of choice. A number of centers will kick off these outreach efforts during the next few days.
We invite you to join us in this weeklong celebration to focus the public spotlight on community health centers and help to ensure that everyone who needs a health care home can have one at a health center. For a list of events, please visit the CHCANYS website.