Community Health Centers (CHCs) are a critically important part of our health care system in Hawai‘i.  They provide comprehensive, culturally competent, quality primary health care services to medically underserved communities and vulnerable populations.

Health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that serve populations with limited access to health care. These include low income populations, the uninsured, those with limited English proficiency, migrant and seasonal farm workers, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and those living in public housing.

Watch a video about CHC's here.

Health Center Program Fundamentals

• Located in or serve a high need community
• Governed by a community board composed of a majority (51% or more) of health center patients who represent the population served
• Provide comprehensive primary health care services as well as supportive services (education, translation and transportation, etc.) that promote access to health care.
• Provide services available to all with fees adjusted based on ability to pay.

Who Health Centers Serve

• People of all ages.
• People without and with health insurance.
• People of all races and ethnicities.
• Special populations.

Fourteen centers on six islands cared more than 125,000 patients in 2009, making community health centers the second-largest provider of direct primary medical services in the state.

Sources and Links

Hawaii Primary Care Association

www.hawaiipca.net

Health Resources and Services Administration

http://bphc.hrsa.gov/about

National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc

www.nachc.org