By Joe Vessey / Herald Forum
Community health centers are the backbone of our nation’s primary health care system.
They design innovative, integrated primary care based on what services communities need most: ensuring access to affordable, quality health care for more than 31.5 million people in the nation. In addition to creating jobs and saving lives, they save the U.S. health care system money by preventing and managing chronic diseases.
Health centers are not ordinary medical clinics; they are also problem-solvers that reach beyond the exam room to care for the whole person by providing access to necessities like food and housing. Health centers care for everyone, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. During floods, fires, pandemics and job loss, health centers are first on the scene and are vital to keeping America healthy.
Community Health Center of Snohomish County (CHC) has remained committed to providing our diverse community access to high-quality, affordable primary healthcare. This commitment has led to significant growth and advancement as we continue to respond to the rising needs in Snohomish County.
Earlier this year, we worked collaboratively alongside Housing Hope in a successful bid to develop land in Lynnwood near the new light rail station. This expansion will include space for medical, dental and pediatric behavioral health services on a mixed-use affordable housing campus that will open in a few years. This innovative partnership can provide numerous possibilities, starting with affordable housing and expanded access for youth in a convenient location that will provide safety and security for many in our community.
Additionally, after the inaugural year of operating two school-based health centers in the Edmonds School District, we are expanding the program to the Everett School District with the addition of two new school-based health centers. By investing in young people’s health through school-based health centers, we remove barriers to care, improve long-term health outcomes, and contribute to a healthier population overall.
We are also proactively addressing barriers to dental care by increasing access, expanding service types, and building partnerships for sustainability. We have expanded dental hygiene care by obtaining a major site affiliation with Lake Washington Institute of Technology and Shoreline Community College. We partner with school districts to provide dental outreach services, and with the recent addition of the Marysville School District, we now serve nearly 50 schools.
We are grateful for the support and dedication of our local legislators and community partners who help us respond to the growing needs of our community and fulfill our mission every day. As part of National Health Center Week 2024, Aug. = 4-10, please join us in celebrating CHC’s mission and accomplishments.
Joe Vessey is chief executive officer for Community Health Center of Snohomish County, a nonprofit, federally qualified Community Health Center providing medical, dental, pharmacy, behavioral health, and nutrition care to 70,000 individuals with 221,000 visits in 2023. For more than 40 years, CHC has provided services to Snohomish County residents who face barriers to health care, with the mission of providing our diverse community with access to high-quality, affordable primary health care. For more information, go to chcsno.org.
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