In healthcare, longevity is often measured in years. But for many ACH member health centers, time is measured in transformation. Whether a community health center was launched decades ago, or in more recent years, the health center story is one of adaptability and innovation. As ACH turns five, we celebrate with many health centers also marking their own milestones as they continue to lead new standards of patient-centered, community health care.

Health Centers Marking Milestones

Many members have or will celebrate milestones, including:

HealthSource of Ohio 

Celebrating its 50th anniversary, HealthSource of Ohio (HSO) has grown from its 1976 roots into a cornerstone of Southwest Ohio’s healthcare landscape. Headquartered in Loveland and serving eight counties, HealthSource provides a medical home for the underinsured and uninsured. HSO offers true “one-stop” care, integrating vision, dental, and pharmacy services alongside primary care and behavioral health. Their commitment to innovation is evident in their aggressive expansion of telehealth and outreach, ensuring that rural and underserved residents never have to choose between distance and quality.

LifeLong Medical Care

LifeLong Medical Care began in 1976 when a group of Gray Panthers in Berkeley, California, launched the “Over 60 Health Center,” to provide dignified, accessible care for older adults in the community. Today, LifeLong serves more than 50,000 patients of all ages across the East Bay region. True to its roots, LifeLong is a national leader in wraparound, holistic care, and recently announced the opening of Arnold’s Place, a 50-bed recuperative care center designed to support adults experiencing homelessness as they recover from illness, injury, or hospitalization. Their dynamic model of care serves as a blueprint for whole-person health that honors the dignity of every patient.  

Optimus Health Care

Since its founding in 1976, Optimus Health Care has been a vital lifeline for Southwestern Connecticut, particularly in Bridgeport, Stratford, Stamford, and Waterbury. Now marking its 50th milestone, Optimus reaches more than 42,000 people across 24 locations. They offer care across the lifespan, as well as comprehensive testing and case management for people with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C and B, as well as evidence-based, non-traditional services like chiropractic care and acupuncture, nutritional counseling, and more. By embedding services directly into the community, Optimus proves that health centers are agile responders to community needs.  

Sun River Health

Launched in 1975 by four African American “Founding Mothers” in Peekskill, New York, Sun River Health is celebrating more than 50 years of transformative care. What started as a local effort to support patients in need has evolved into a massive system serving over 250,000 patients across the Hudson Valley, Long Island, and New York City. They are pioneers in maternal and child health and mobile health outreach, taking high-quality specialty care directly to those who need it most. Their ability to grow while maintaining a grassroots soul makes them a powerhouse of innovation in the New York health landscape.  

TrueCare 

With more than 50 years of care, TrueCare, originally North County Health Services, has been a fixture of San Diego and Riverside counties since 1971. TrueCare has consistently evolved to meet community needs, offering a diverse array of comprehensive services including pediatrics, dental, cardiology, maternal health, and chiropractic care. With nearly 70,000 patients, TrueCare is building the future of healthcare today. 

“Health centers have always bridged medical and community models,” said ACH CEO Amanda Pears Kelly. “They deeply understand that health starts in our homes and neighborhoods, and integrate those aspects into true patient-centered care. I’m proud to honor so many legacies, and I look forward to where they’re going in the future.”

Innovating for a New Future

As federal policies shift toward value-based care and whole-health approaches, health centers are already miles ahead. 

Community health centers, America’s largest primary care network, provide comprehensive care, including vital services that aren’t always reimbursed by traditional insurance but are essential for health. Examples include vision and dental care, maternal, newborn and child health, mobile outreach to patients who live in hard-to-reach areas, and pharmacy care management.

This approach not only improves health outcomes for individuals, it pays off for society. Research continues to show that every $1 invested in primary care, like health centers, saves $13 in downstream costs. 

HealthSource of Ohio CEO Dr. Jody Prather affirms the reality, “We’ve proven that if we take care of somebody, we save society money, and that’s an important part of our goal.”

In part, health centers’ anniversaries reflect their prevailing commitment to patients and community, as well as adapting care and services to meet changing local needs. Many health centers have launched or expanded PACE programs (Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly), which allow seniors to age with grace and independence in their own homes, while still receiving high-quality, integrated care. Health centers have developed respite care, behavioral health, and workforce development programs as part of their models. 

“Finding solutions is the health center way of care,” said Pears Kelly. “They’re responsive and dynamic, and you can see that spirit from the origins of the movement in the 1960s to how they are continuing to grow, endure, and innovate today.”