Without brave nurses, doctors, and other healthcare professionals, our healthcare centers would be nothing but a few walls and empty halls. It is to these brave men and women to whom we owe a debt of gratitude for all the lives they save and improve on a daily basis; sometimes without regard for their own health and wellbeing!

What better way to commemorate the labor of these individuals than with an entire week dedicated to them? That’s right, National Health Center Week is an annual celebration created in commemoration of those who dedicate their lives and trades to the wellbeing of others. This event is celebrated through Aug. 12 – Aug. 18, and each day of the week is dedicated to a specific branch of the healthcare system.

This is important since these centers lend their services to millions upon millions of citizens on a daily basis and, while it’s part of their job, their duties may sometimes go a bit under the radar for some people. National Health Center Week was created to commemorate their efforts, and to raise awareness of their mission and accomplishments over the past five decades.

Besides lending their services to those who seek them, health centers also strive to reach beyond what conventional medicine dictates and to produce innovative solutions to the health concerns that arise in their neighborhoods and communities. In this sense, they also aim to address the specific determinants of health that affect specific populations of patients.

During this week, the National Association of Community Health Centers and the Health Center Advocacy Network is inviting everyone to celebrate the amazing health care heroes; those who live and breathe the health center mission, and go above and beyond the call of duty to support these establishments in providing quality care for all who require them. There are many events scheduled for each day, all of which are meant to celebrate a specific branch of the health care services offered in these centers. These events consist of health fairs, visits by Members of Congress and state officials, press conferences, back-to-school drives, community breakfasts, patient appreciation events, and free health screenings, among many others.

As we mentioned above, each day of the week will be focused on a specific area:

• 8/12 Legislative Appreciation Day: The first day of National Health Center Week is meant to pay tribute and recognize the efforts and support of those from both sides of the political aisle, who play a pivotal role when it comes to matters of advocacy and policy. Just this year, Congress passed a bipartisan budget deal that involved a $7.8 billion grant funding for the Community Health Center program. However, this support is not limited to the federal, as state and local authorities are also an important role in each health center, which allows these institutions to function properly at all times.
• 8/13 Honoring Health Center Heroes: This day is meant to recognize the efforts of the heroes who represent all that these health centers stand for. The patients are able to receive some of the best care in the country thanks to these men and women who have found their calling in the trade and who dedicate their efforts to it.
• 8/14 Public Housing Health Centers Day: An important part of the Health Center Model is to create personalized programs and provide special care tailored for the needs of the community. This day is meant to commemorate the efforts of the health centers that are located in or are immediately accessible from any public housing complex. In these institutions, patients will be able to enjoy inexpensive, high-quality, and cost-effective health care, as well as collaborating with key stakeholders in fulfilling the unique needs of their community.
• 8/15 Healthcare for the Homeless Day: One of the most important tenets of the health care mission is to provide assistance to any who require it, including those from low-income households, as well as those who can’t afford it. However, this particular day is meant to celebrate the deeds of those who provide their services to the most vulnerable. Every year, these health centers give care to over 1.3 million individuals who are homeless, with about 1 million of the these individuals receiving care from one of the 295 centers that receive HCH funding.
• 8/16 Agricultural Worker Health Day: It is estimated that community health centers provide care to more than 20% of the entire population of agricultural workers in the country, which consists of around 4.5 million individuals. Over the past few years, key personnel has gotten together with health center staff members, community staff workers, clinicians, executives, and other important individuals, with the intention of developing better plans to increase the access to care for migrant and seasonal agricultural workers and their families. This day is meant to celebrate the efforts of these individuals.
• 8/17 Patient Appreciation Day: One key element of the health care mission is that the boards of these centers must, by law, be comprised of at least 51% of consumers. These consumers are regular individuals who reside in the community that the center is located in, and who enjoy the services provided therein. By maintaining constant communications with the locals, the health center may be kept apprised of the needs and opinions of the community, which ensures that the health plans and specific policies are adequately tailored to their specific circumstances.
• 8/18 Children’s Health Day: Lastly, this day is meant to commemorate the fact that, every year, at least 8 million children in the United States receive care from a community health center. This day is packed with fun activities for the kids, as well as a back-to-school drive to prepare them for the upcoming school year.

There are many ways you can give back to the community. A good method to go about this is by simply sharing the information with your peers. However, if you want to adopt a more active role in the celebrations, make sure to visit the event’s website to find out the events that you could host in your community.