Achieving health equity means removing the barriers that prevent people from being healthy – systemic racism, poverty, and lack of access to economic mobility. Health centers strive for organizational equity, which includes staff that reflect the populations served, and governance that includes anti-racist policies and procedures. Health centers also strive for equity in care delivery, which means patients receive care that is culturally appropriate and based in trust.
Community health centers have been, and will continue to be, vital to achieving health equity in the United States. As hyper-local hubs providing consumer driven, comprehensive care, community health centers are crucial in narrowing health disparities, health centers build health equity in their approach and delivery of care, and through their governance and operational model, and investments in these centers has consistently resulted in impactful returns. With increased investment in health centers and clear measurement structures to track health equity outcomes, America can get closer to a reality where all citizens have access to quality, comprehensive health care.
Our members have a proven track record of using evidence-based interventions to reduce health disparities.
CHCs serve primarily marginalized populations, including BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, and people of color) individuals, underinsured or uninsured patients, veterans, and patients experiencing homelessness or living in low-income households.
CHCs are located in, and provide services to, communities designated as medically underserved.
We celebrate the intersectionality of identity. We honor overlapping and interrelated affiliations and acknowledge that our present systems can often exacerbate discrimination.
We keep health equity at the core of everything we do. We strive to have governance, staff, and strategic partnerships that reflect the diverse communities our members serve.