HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda - 08-19-2003-5bORANGE COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
ACTION AGENDA ITEM ABSTRACT
Meeting Date: August 19, 2003
Action Agenda
Item No. ~-~
SUBJECT: Community Health Center Week
DEPARTMENT: County Commissioners
PUBLIC HEARING: (Y/N) No
ATTACHMENT(S):
Proclamation
INFORMATION CONTACT:
Commissioner Moses Carey
TELEPHONE NUMBERS:
Hillsborough 732-8181
Chapel Hill 968-4501
Durham 688-7331
Mebane 336-227-2031
PURPOSE: To consider a proclamation declaring August 25 through 29, 2003 as "Community
Health Center Week" in Orange County.
BACKGROUND: 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 Health Care. Their primary
mission is to help improve the health of communities by providing access to primary health care
for needy residents and to serve patients without regard to their ability to pay for services.
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.
In Orange County, 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 provides comprehensive primary health care to medically under-
served people. Community Health Centers, like those operated by Piedmont Health Services,
promote 100% access and zero health disparities to help achieve primary health care for all
people.
FINANCIAL IMPACT: There is no financial impact associated with the proclamation.
RECOMMENDATION(S): The Manager recommends that the Board proclaim the week of
August 25 through 29, 2003 as "Community Health Center Week" in Orange County and urges
all citizens to recognize the important contributions of community health centers, such as the
ones operated by Piedmont Health Services, Inc., to the improvement of the general quality of
life of the residents and citizens of Orange County.
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ORANGE 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 uninsured 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
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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 well-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.
Adopted this the 19~' day of August, 2003.
Margaret Brown, Chair
Orange County Board of Commissioners