Governor Abbott proclaims August 7 – 13, 2022 Community Health Center Week
Texas places immense value on the health and well-being of its citizens, for we know it is the foundation of a strong and prosperous state. Across our nation, Community Health Centers play a vital role in our health care system, ensuring that these fundamental needs are met in rural and urban communities alike. Community Health Centers serve as the health care home for 28 million Americans in over 14,500 communities, and they are often the only accessible and dependable source of primary care. One in every twelve Americans receives their health care at a Community Health Center, which helps patients address and manage their medical needs by delivering high-quality, cost-effective, and accessible primary care.
Community Health Centers employ more than 12,500 full-time employees and generate over $2.6 billion in economic activity in the Lone Star State. The 73 Community Health Centers in Texas care for over 1.6 million patients and provide access to services for general medicine, pediatrics, women’s health, behavioral health, dentistry, prescription drugs, and lab testing. They also help reduce the overall cost of care by assisting patients in the management of chronic conditions, which keeps them out of costlier health care settings.
Indeed, Community Health Centers live up to their name through their steadfast dedication to the communities they serve; these centers are locally owned and operated businesses, which enables them to not only meet the unique needs of their communities, but also to strengthen their local economies. Community Health Centers help Texans address and manage their health care needs by delivering high-quality, cost-effective, and accessible primary care to all-regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.
Community Health Centers work tirelessly to protect Texans’ health, and Community Health Center Week provides the opportunity to recognize this important work and to celebrate the committed staff, board members, and patients who make it possible. No matter the challenges that come, our health care providers especially Community Health Centers-continue to go above and beyond, providing critical care that saves countless lives. At this time, I encourage all Texans to join me in recognizing the vital contributions of Community Health Centers to their local communities.
Therefore, I, Greg Abbott, Governor of Texas, do hereby proclaim August 7 – 13, 2022, to be Community Health Center Week in Texas and urge the appropriate
recognition whereof.
