Community health resources are crucial for preventing the spread of disease and educating the local public about healthy practices. Unlike federal programs, community health focuses on issues indigenous to a specific area. As such, these educational materials and resources are often specifically focused on the health problems unique to that area.
History
The Coastal health website offers an informative history of American community health resources. It attributes the proliferation of community health centers to the civil rights activists of the 1960s, who worked in low-income and rural areas. Residents of these areas did not have adequate access to affordable health care. When President Johnson declared his war on poverty, the first community health centers were opened. One was in Boston, Massachusetts, and the other was in Mound Bayou, Mississippi. Then in 1962, the plight of the migrant farm worker made national news. These workers went to various locations, while harvesting the country's food supply. The need for health care became obvious. Diseased workers could infect the entire nation. As such, the Migrant Health Care Act was set up to provide clinics in rural settings.
Identification
Community health care centers are also called Federally Qualified Health Centers. They are located in areas that the federal government considers "medically under-served." These nonprofit centers provide health care to patients, regardless of their ability to pay for services. Many offer a sliding fee, which is adjusted according to family income.
Significance
Public health care centers are the only type of medical facility that is governed by the patients and the community. Every community health center must have a patient board, with majority voting rights on the center's policies.
Features
Community health care centers also serve as sources of information. They provide numerous health-related pamphlets, as well as lectures on health-related topics. In fact, their ability to serve as health-information clearinghouses plays an important role in preventative medicine. Most medical organizations, such as the American Heart Association, the American Cancer Society and the National Arthritis Foundation are always willing to have speakers come to a center to educate the public about preventing the disease.
Types
The United States Health Resources and Services Administration website describes the different types of health centers. Grant-Supported Federally Qualified Health Centers are public and private nonprofit health care organizations. They must meet the specific criteria of Medicare and Medicaid programs. These include migrant health care centers, community health centers, health care centers for the homeless and health care centers in housing projects. Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alikes adhere to the same criteria as the grant-supported programs, but they do not receive federal funding. Some outpatient health facilities are operated by Native American tribal organizations.
Prevention/Solution
On December 8, 2009, President Obama signed a bill that would make $88 million in funding available for community health centers. The money would enable the centers to adopt new health information technology, which may prevent medical errors while minimizing paper work.
While this funding is designated for health services, disease prevention is everyone's responsibility. As such, churches, synagogues and community centers now offer health-related lectures and workshops.
Geography
Community health clinics and education centers are located throughout the country, in urban and rural areas. You can find the closest location to your home by visiting the Health Resources and Services Administration website, and typing in your zip code.
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