HomeMy WebLinkAboutS Proclamation - Community Health Center WeekORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
PROCLAMATION
"COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WEEK"
IN ORANGE COUNTY
August 25 - 29, 2003
WHEREAS, There are a significant number of residents and citizens in Orange County who are currently medically
under-served for a number of reasons, the most prominent of which include geographical isolation, financial or
language, and insufficient access to affordable health care; and
WHEREAS, Community Health Centers, now known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC's), have their
origin in the War on Poverty during the 1960's when they were funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity and
are now housed and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Primary Heath Care; and
WHEREAS, their mission is to help improve the health of communities by providing access to primary care for
needy residents and serve patients without regard to their ability to pay for services; and
WHEREAS, this unique service model involves patients directly in the governing of the operations of the
organizations; and
WHEREAS, community health centers are community owned and operated not-for-profit businesses that provide
access to quality, cost effective primary and preventative health care and are vital to the well being of the Orange
County community; and
WHEREAS, these health centers provide care to 1 of every 5 low-income babies born in America, 1 of every 8
uninsurgd individuals, 1 of every 9 people of color, 1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, and 1 of every 10 rural
Americans, and these individuals would otherwise lack access to health care; and
WHEREAS, these health centers contribute to our community by keeping children healthy and in school, and
helping adults remain productive and on the job; and
WHEREAS, community health centers promote 100% access and zero health disparities to help achieve primary
health care for all people and these health centers tailor their services to fit the special needs and priorities of
communities, and work together with schools, businesses, churches, community organizations, foundations, and
State and local governments; and
WHEREAS, there are more than 1,000 such centers serving 13,000,000 people at more than 4,000 health delivery
sites, spanning urban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the
Virgin Islands; and
WHEREAS, Piedmont Health Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation that operates six health centers and
a birthing center in four counties including Orange, Alamance, Chatham, and Caswell and provide high quality
comprehensive primary health care to medically underserved people; and
WHEREAS, Piedmont Health Services contributes to the health and welt-being of the Orange County community
by serving over 15,000 residents and by keeping children healthy and in school and helping adults remain
productive and on the job; and
WHEREAS, Piedmont Health Services contributes to the economic health of the community by employing
approximately 200 health professionals annually for the past 33 years;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim the
week of August 25 through 29, 2003 as "Community Health Center Week" in Orange County and urge all citizens to
recognize the important contributions of community health centers to the improvement of the general quality of life
of the residents and citizens of Orange County. „i~ `1 ~~
Adopted this the 19th day of August, 2003.
Margaret Brown, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners