Per the notice below, the New York State Department of Health (NYSDOH) is highlighting National Health Center Week.

New York State Department of Health Recognizes National Health Center Week

Department Acknowledges and Celebrates Contributions of Community Health Centers

Community Health Centers are Key Partners in Promoting Health Equity in New York State

The New York State Department of Health recognizes National Health Center Week, observed August 4-10, by celebrating the accomplishments, commitment and dedication of Community Health Center staff, advocates and supporters who make it possible to provide quality health care services to underserved communities.  This year's theme is Powering Communities Through Caring Connections.

"Everyone is welcome at their Community Health Center, as they are great places to access primary care, oral health, mental health care and more," State Health Commissioner Dr. James McDonald said.  "Community Health Centers are a beacon of strength, hope and empowerment within communities, which is why we are honoring them this week."

Community Health Centers were established during the Civil Rights Movement in the 1960s.  Today, more than 70 Community Health Centers in New York State provide community-based care for almost 1-in-9 New Yorkers.  The National Association of Community Health Centers started National Health Center Week to honor the work and services provided by Community Health Centers all over the country.  The Department works closely with the Community Health Care Association of New York State to help address issues of importance to Community Health Centers and the patients they serve, including improving the quality of care and outcomes for patients who receive services in Federally Qualified Health Centers.

The New York State Family Planning Program supports clinic sites across the state to provide accessible, confidential family planning services to all, including low-income and uninsured individuals.  Family Planning Programs provide low-cost, high-quality services such as pregnancy testing and options counseling, contraceptive methods (birth control), reproductive life planning and counseling, preconception health services, testing for HIV and other sexually transmitted infections, routine screening for breast and cervical cancer, health education, and referrals.

The Department supports School-Based Health Centers in communities to improve access to primary care for underserved children and youth.  School-Based Health Centers provide comprehensive primary care services to schools where children and youth are during the day and address critical health problems that make learning difficult for students.  The program was established to improve primary and preventive health care for children in low-income, high-risk communities.  Since 1981, state, federal and private foundation funds have been used to develop and implement projects to provide these expanded school health services for preschool and school-age children through health teams composed of nurse practitioners, physician assistants, community health aides, collaborating physicians, social workers, psychologists, collaborating psychiatrists, health educators, nutritionists, dentists and dental hygienists.  In the 2021-2022 school year, 157,237 students were enrolled in about 260 medical School-Based Health Centers and visited the centers over 542,500 times.  As of July 30, 2024, there were 2,535 approved School-Based Health Center dental sites in New York State.  The COVID-19 pandemic had a profound effect on School-Based Health Centers when schools closed; however, clinical staff worked to prevent a disruption in the availability of these services during the health emergency, using telehealth and other means to continue to assist students.  Since the end of the pandemic, School-Based Health Centers have been working hard to increase access and enrollment and support students in these health centers.

More information about The New York State Family Planning Program can be found here.

More information about School-Based Health Centers can be found here.