When the first Federally Qualified Health Centers opened their doors in 1965, they could not have foreseen the exponential growth and incredible successes that CHCs have seen over the last 50+ years. In the face of a constantly changing healthcare landscape, the cycles of funding challenges and wins, and even a global pandemic, not only have we seen Louisiana’s Community Health Center organizations grow to 41 entities, but we have also seen those organizations establish over 450 clinic and administrative sites throughout the state of Louisiana. These 450 sites include:
- full service locations for primary, dental, behavioral, and specialty services as well as enabling services,
- almost 200 school-based health center sites that are located in or immediately adjacent to provide those same or similar services to school-aged children,
- and 29 mobile units that can move throughout the communities they serve to reach those who may otherwise be unable to visit a traditional office site.
In 2023 alone, Community Health Centers saw a record number of patients with clinics nationwide treating 32.5 million people, over 503,000 of whom were Louisiana residents. 65 new clinics, including school-based sites and mobile units, opened their doors to expand access and services. New programs like InclusivCare’s Early Childcare Center and DePaul Community Health Center’s Infant Equity Education Project began, working to serve some of Louisiana’s most vulnerable populations.
The growth of the Community Health Center program, its network of advocates, staff, and partners, and its impact on not only our state but also the nation cannot be overstated, and last week, Louisiana’s Health Centers celebrated that impact, their staff, stakeholders, and their patients.
Below are just a few of the events held by Community Health Centers in our state in celebration of National Health Center Week and does not include the many events that Health Centers participate in and host for their local communities, schools, and partners regularly throughout the year.
Patient Appreciation with Access Health Louisiana
Arbor Family Health celebrates Staff Appreciation Day
Baton Rouge Primary Care Collaborative‘s Stakeholder Appreciation Breakfast
CareSouth Celebrates Staff & Patients
Team Building with CommuniHealth Services
David Raines Community Health Centers Values Patients
DePaul Community Health Center‘s Ribbon Cutting for their new location in Algiers
Odyssey House Louisiana honors Staff
Congresswoman Julia Letlow visits Open Health Care Clinic
RKM Primary Care celebrates their National Health Center Week
Southeast Community Health Systems honors Staff, Stakeholders, and Patients and provides critical screenings for Agricultural Workers
St. Landry Parish Government Employees visit Southwest La. Primary Health Care Center, Inc.
Start Corporation Hosts Theme Days to Celebrate Staff & Patients
Teche Action Clinic celebrates their new Pediatrics Clinic in Franklin with a Ribbon Cutting & Proclamation Signing
Don’t see your event listed? Reach out to Abigail Giroir at agiroir@lpca.net to have your Health Center’s National Health Center Week event included! To find Health Centers in your area, visit lpca.net/find-a-health-center!