Public Health celebrates National Health Center Week

ALL>> The San Bernardino County Department of Public Health is inviting the community to celebrate National Health Center Week at its four Health Centers in Adelanto, Hesperia, Ontario and San Bernardino. This year National Health Centered Week will be celebrated Aug. 7-13. The health centers will host health resource workshops featuring different health topics each day. There will be activities for kids and participating agencies will have informational materials and incentives to share with attendees. The theme for this year’s campaign is “Celebrating America’s Health Centers: Innovators in Community Health.” The Board of Supervisors adopted a proclamation recognizing National Health Center Week to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of community health centers. “Health centers prevent illness and foster wellness within our diverse communities,” said Dr. Meaghan Ellis, Chief of Community Health and Nursing Services. “They provide a patient-centered care experience, where the focus is on the individual patient needs.” Health Center Week is a time to reflect on the achievements of health centers and open the doors for residents to see the services that are available in their local communities. In the last year, the Public Health Department’s health centers have seen growth by increasing access to services through the expansion of the Hesperia Health Center and the U.S. Health Resources & Services Administration designation of the Ontario and San Bernardino Health Centers as Federally Qualified Health Centers. Health centers have also increased partnerships with the local community through the Build Project with the City of Ontario to promote healthy eating and physical activity and the partnership with Family Assistance Program aimed at addressing the devastating effects of domestic violence. National Health Center Week community events work to achieve the Countywide Vision by developing healthy communities and making healthcare accessible by providing a range of services on-site – primary care, pediatrics, immunizations, reproductive health, mental health, tuberculosis screening, HIV testing and care, in addition to maternal health services, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay. For more information on our Health Centers and Health Center Week contact the San Bernardino County Department of Public Health, Clinic Operations at (800) 722-4777 and/or visit the Department of Public Health website at http://www.sbcounty.gov/dph.