A statement on National Health Center Week from Kari Ellingstad, CEO
Communities across the country will celebrate National Health Center Week 2023 August 6 – August 12. Elected officials will join in recognizing the work health centers do to keep our
communities healthy and safe. Their visits and messages will demonstrate that not only is it possible to move beyond the partisan divide over health care, but to support and agree on a
program vital to our communities.
Health centers provide preventive and primary care services to over 30 million people and are the first to respond with wrap around care during disasters and health emergencies. Our
model of care is driven by services needed in each unique community. Together, we are the backbone of the nation’s primary care system. Community Health Centers lower health care
costs to the tune of $24 billion a year reducing the rate of chronic diseases and stimulating local economies.
At CenterPlace Health we provide medical, dental and behavioral health services to over 24,000 people annually. Community Health Centers are not just healers, we are innovators
who look beyond medical charts to address the factors that may cause poor health, such as poverty, homelessness, substance use, mental illness, access to nutritious food, and
unemployment. We are a critical piece of health care systems and collaborate with hospitals, local and state governments, social, health and business organizations to improve
health outcomes for people who are medically vulnerable.
The mission of Community Health Centers remains crucial today because access to basic care remains a challenge to over 100 million people across the country. Show your support during National Health Center Week by supporting and advocating for your local community health center. We will be there when you need us.