Massachusetts League of Community Health Centers

It’s a challenging time for health centers, but they have a coalition of partners and advocates standing behind them.  That’s why we continue our celebration of #NationalHealthCenterWeek with Partner Appreciation Day! Today, we recognize Community Care Cooperative (C3) for their important work to unite and strengthen federally qualified health centers (FQHCs).  C3 was created by health centers, for health centers. It’s an accountable care network that brings FQHCs together to provide more quality care, bolster health centers’ financial sustainability, and address social detriments of health. C3 subsidiaries have special focuses on enhancing pharmacy services, deploying technology to advance health equity, and building a patient-centered model of telehealth.  Thank you, C3, for all you do for health centers and their patients!  

Today’s theme for National Health Center Week is our patient populations.      Understanding the unique needs of our patient populations is key to health centers’ mission of providing high quality care. Boston-based Fenway Health's commitment to the LGBTQIA+ community has established it as a national leader for this population’s care. Rooted in the understanding that LGBTQIA+ individuals have unique needs, Fenway Health has created a safe, inclusive, and affirming environment for countless patients.     At a time when the rights, care, and lives of LGBTQIA+ individuals are under constant threat, it is important that we recognize leaders and advocates like Fenway Health who are going above and beyond to provide much needed care, services, and supports to the LGBTQIA+ community.   

As part of National Health Center Week, we're recognizing the critical role our health centers play in addressing acute and chronic conditions. Across Massachusetts, our health centers are on the front lines of the opioid epidemic connecting patients to lifesaving harm reduction and treatment services. https://xmrrwallet.com/cmx.plnkd.in/eqE4VJrD

Did you know that the majority of health center board members are patients? Health centers are patient-centered, because they are patient-led.    Rita Sorrento exemplifies this philosophy. Rita has been a NeighborHealth patient and board member for over 30 years. She is currently serving as the board chair.  During Rita’s decades on the board, she has weighed in on decisions to build new facilities, expand interpretive services, add new Neighborhood PACE centers, and much more. The Revere Neighborhood PACE center, which provides medical care, social opportunities, and wellness activities for older adults, was dedicated in her name. Rita was further honored by being elected Consumer Representative for the National Association of Community Health Centers and has traveled to Washington DC to advocate for health centers.   The smaller scale decisions matter too. Whenever Rita visits NeighborHealth as a patient, she notes potential improvements in what she calls Rita’s Little Black Book. “It may be something very simple,” she says, “but if it's important to the patient, then it's important to everybody.” These concerns are later shared with the CEO during one of their regular meetings.  Other patients stop her in the grocery store or at church to share their questions and opinions. Rita says, “You have to have your eyes and ears open and listen to what people in the community are saying. And I think that's why board members are so important. We are the ambassadors.” #NationalHealthCenterWeek

This Staff Appreciation Day, we recognize both clinical and non-clinical staff, who are all crucial to facilitating quality care at health centers. Michael Schmittlein, the IT Manager at the Community Health Center of Franklin County, is just one excellent example. Mike anticipates problems and solves them, enabling quality data CHCFC can rely on. For his contributions, he was granted a 2025 Outstanding Health Center Employee Award. #NationalHealthCenterWeek

Happy Staff Appreciation Day to Paulette St. Germain, a Registered Nurse at Codman Square Health Center! Paulette was named a 2025 Outstanding Health Center Employee because she leads by example, going above and beyond for her patients and colleagues. #NationalHealthCenterWeek 

Community health center staff carry out the mission of the health center movement every day, one patient at a time. These professionals are dedicated to providing quality care and addressing health disparities in their communities. This Staff Appreciation Day, we celebrate our 2025 Outstanding Health Center Employee Awardees, who are superstars within their health centers. First, is Eunice Lopes, an interpreter at New Bedford Community Health Center. Eunice gives voice to the nearly 50% of NBCHC patients who need services in a language other than English.   Who is a community health center employee that you appreciate? Shout them out in the comments. #NationalHealthCenterWeek

It’s National Health Center Week! As we reflect on 60 years of progress, we’re proud that Massachusetts was the first state in the country with an operating health center – Columbia Point Health Center in Dorchester. Prior to the health center’s founding, Columbia Point was a health care desert. There were no health practices in the area and most hospitals were four miles away, meaning a round trip to get care took six hours. Upon its opening in 1965, patients from the community came in droves for care and connections to supportive services. The success of the health center model in Columbia Point also led to the creation of 18 more health centers across the city.  Columbia Point Health Center had a major influence on federal policy. Sparked by a visit to Columbia Point in 1966, Senator Edward Kennedy became a lifelong advocate for health centers and secured the first federal funds to support health centers work and mission.  Now known as Geiger-Gibson Community Health Center, part of the Harbor Health Services, Inc. system, it provides high-quality primary care, behavioral health services, dental care, and pharmacy services to countless families in Dorchester. 

Lace up for Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center's annual 5K Walk & Run on August 9th! #NationalHealthCenterWeek

🎉 Celebrating 60 Years of Medicaid! On July 30, 1965, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed the Medicare and Medicaid Act into law, a historic moment that changed the course of health care in America. For 60 years, Medicaid has been a lifeline, helping millions of people access the care they need. Community Health Centers and Medicaid have worked together from the start, ensuring that people, regardless of income or insurance status, can get high-quality, affordable care close to home. Together, they’ve strengthened communities, improved lives, and expanded access to care in places where it’s needed most. Here’s to 60 years of partnership, and to the work ahead. #ValueCHCs #MedicaidMatters