National Health Center Week, observed from August 3-9, 2025, is led by the National Association of Community Health Centers to spotlight the vital role of community health centers (CHCs) in advancing health equity and expanding access across America. The 2025 theme, “America’s Health Centers – Celebrating Past, Present, and Future,” reflects on decades of progress while energizing communities and policymakers to support these institutions.

Community health centers serve as the nation’s largest primary care network, reaching more than 31 million patients annually, or about 1 in 10 Americans. They play a critical safety-net role: caring for low-income, uninsured, rural, and minority populations while championing accessible, community-led governance. Community health centers serve disproportionately high-need groups, including 1 in 3 people in poverty, 1 in 5 rural residents, the uninsured, and millions of children and seniors.

The CHC model dates back to early 20th-century efforts in New York City. The modern federally supported program began in the 1960s War on Poverty, with the opening of the first neighborhood health centers like Columbia Point in 1965. There are now 1,400 CHC programs across the country, with over 8,000 delivery sites nationwide.

National Health Center Week honors these centers’ past impacts and current resilience, especially amid rising demand, funding challenges, and ongoing efforts to reduce health disparities.