See Governor’s Press Announcement Proclaiming Community Health Center Week in Virginia
WHEREAS, the health and well-being of all Virginians are of utmost importance to the prosperity and livelihood of our Commonwealth’s families and communities; and
WHEREAS, Virginia’s Community Health Centers are at the core of our health care system and the Commonwealth’s safety net, delivering high quality, cost-effective, accessible primary and preventive care to all individuals, regardless of their ability to pay; and
WHEREAS, currently, there are more than 150 Community Health Center sites across the Commonwealth, serving as health homes for more than 356,000 Virginians; and
WHEREAS, Community Health Centers in the Commonwealth employ more than 2,500 physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, dentists, dental hygienists, psychologists, behavioral health professionals, social workers, case managers, and other health care professionals; and
WHEREAS, Community Health Centers also employ non-clinical support staff as part of a multi-disciplinary clinical team designed to treat the whole patient, coordinating care and managing chronic disease, while reducing unnecessary, avoidable, and wasteful use of health resources; and
WHEREAS, as locally-governed and locally-operated non-profit organizations, Community Health Centers also serve as critical economic engines that power local economies to create jobs and revenue; and
WHEREAS, Community Health Center Week offers the opportunity to recognize Virginia’ s Community Health Centers, their staff, board members, and all those responsible for the long-standing success and continued growth of the program; and
WHEREAS, during this Community Health Center Week, we recognize the multitude of ways that Community Health Centers are transforming care in local communities by delivering comprehensive, high quality, cost-effective, and accessible health care;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Ralph S. Northam, do hereby recognize August 4-10, 2019, as COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WEEK in our COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA, and I call this observance to the attention of all our citizens.
