Celebrating National Health Center Week 2022

At right, HRSA Administrator Carole Johnson and HRSA Associate Administrator Jim Macrae (third and second from left) kicked off the week by visiting Community of Hope health center in Washington, D.C., during their “Back to School Bash” – an annual event where, in partnership with other local organizations, they provided community members school supplies and backpacks, COVID-19 vaccines, health screenings, and fun for the family.

Many health centers hosted similar back-to-school events to prepare children for a healthy return to the classroom. In the rural community of Monroe, OR, HRSA IEA staff joined Community Health Centers of Benton and Linn Counties for their “Wellness Day” event. It offered attendees sports physicals, back-to-school immunizations, dental exams, and information on reproductive health services.

Below, HRSA IEA staff attended Hamilton Community Health Network’s (MI) “Family Fun Day,” where over 500 people showed up for food, raffles, free school supplies, and COVID-19 vaccines.

Many staff appreciation events included local, state, and federal officials. HRSA Regional Administrator Natalie Brevard Perry joined over 60 health center leaders and staff from Family Health Centers of Georgia, Inc., to celebrate the center’s 47 years of service to the Atlanta community.

At right, HRSA Deputy Regional Administrator Valerie Gallo (center) spoke at Asian Health Services’ (CA) event. Staff were treated to lunch and shaved ice. Members of the Oakland City Council and other state and local elected officials also joined the event.

HRSA Regional Administrator Nancy Rios spoke at Siouxland Community Health Center’s (IA) press conference, then connected with health center leadership and board members. Later in the day, Siouxland hosted their annual, community-wide “Rock the Center” celebration and a COVID-19 vaccine clinic.

At left, Regional Administrator Nancy Rios delivers remarks to kick off the week at KC CARE Health Center (MO).

HRSA Regional Administrator Leah Suter visited eight different health centers in Pittsburgh, PA. She joined Primary Care Health Services, Inc.’s open house and patient appreciation day, where they provided attendees with free COVID-19 at-home self-tests and information about their services. She joined PA Secretary of Human Services Meg Snead and HUD’s Pittsburgh Field Office Director Michael Horvath to discuss the importance of collaboration among primary care, housing, and human services providers in reducing barriers to care.

HRSA IEA staff joined the Community Health Center of Buffalo’s (NY) NHCW kick-off event. It opened with a ceremony to commemorate their bond with Tops grocery store following the tragedy in May.

At right, HRSA IEA staff visited Evergreen Health’s monkeypox vaccine clinic, which is immunizing at-risk patients across western New York.

HRSA Regional Administrator Cheryl Donald celebrated with health centers located in the U.S. territories. In Puerto Rico, she participated in a ribbon-cutting ceremony for Salud Integral en la Montaña (SIM)’s Comerio Woman’s Clinic This new facility will enhance screening and diagnostic services for women in the community.

At left, HRSA IEA staff spoke at the Puerto Rico Department of Health’s event. They joined Dr. Carlos Mellado, the Puerto Rico Secretary of Health, who read and signed the Health Center Week Proclamation.

Regional Administrator Cheryl Donald is pictured at right during her visit to Frederiksted Health Center in St. Croix (U.S. Virgin Islands). She toured two of their health center sites and their new mobile health van. The van will provide both medical and dental services to the community.

She also toured St. Thomas East End Medical Center, where she met with providers and attended their health screening event for the homeless population.

At left, HRSA Regional Administrator Nick Zucconi joined Tepeyac Community Health Center’s (CO) NHCW celebration. He recognized staff for their invaluable service, then shared in conversation and ice cream with patients.