Community Health Centers provide vital support for over 30 million Americans each year. This week – August 7-13 – Maryvale is proud to support National Health Center Week, a moment to celebrate health centers throughout the country and raise awareness about all of the special offerings that can be exclusively accessed through these crucial cornerstones in our community. It is worth noting that community health centers put a special emphasis on helping marginalized and economically oppressed populations receive the care they need to live happy healthy lives. The vulnerable people who are most likely to slip through the cracks find a robust social safety net in health centers.
Community health centers demonstrate what is possible when local healthcare providers show up for the people living in their immediate surroundings. Whether they provide clinical services for unhoused people, offer vaccines and increase vaccine awareness in areas where access was delayed, or make primary care services available, health centers bring hope, health, and a sense of belonging to the people who need them most.
Each day during Health Center Week, the organizers are spotlighting their focus on a particular topic or community. The team at Maryvale is particularly excited for Saturday, August 13, when the focus is on Children’s Health Day. Of the many millions of Americans who depend upon community health centers for primary care, children make up about 8 million. If you’re looking for a way to bring energy to your child’s healthcare routine this Saturday, check out these resources around healthy habits and daily practices. Encourage your child to brush their teeth, wash their hands, eat healthy meals and snacks, and perform plenty of physical activity in their daily routines. On Monday, the focus was on another topic that is dear to the Maryvale team – Healthcare for the Homeless. Unhoused people are far more likely than other populations to suffer from prolonged illness, behavioral health conditions, and early death. Centers that provide healthcare for unhoused people serve 1.3 million Americans each year. We share in their challenges and opportunities to provide trauma-informed, empowering healing paths that give people agency and autonomy in seeking care and a positive direction for their lives.
Community support and programs that benefit the most vulnerable in our city inform how we work, who we serve, and the outcomes we can achieve for children, teens, and their families in need of mental health services. Through our Seton House Family Housing Program, we are partnering with Garfield Health Center to ensure that the single mothers and children in our care receive the treatment they need. We are grateful for our many community affiliates in the health and wellness space and celebrate their work this Health Center Week and every week.
