PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:

Cathleen D. Bennett
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

New Jersey Celebrates National Health Center Week 2017 (August 13-19)

“Celebrating America’s Health Centers: The Key to Healthier Communities”

To showcase the comprehensive health care provided at more than 100 Federally Qualified Health Centers across New Jersey, about 70 events are scheduled during National Health Center Week (Aug. 13-19) – including a kickoff event with Health Commissioner Cathleen D. Bennett in Jersey City on Monday.

Events will include free medical and dental screenings, information sessions about cancer prevention, improving birth outcomes, diabetes, nutrition and fitness, as well as back-to-school giveaways, food and entertainment for families. Commissioner Bennett will speak at the kickoff event at the Metropolitan Family Health Network in Jersey City from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.

“Community health centers are treasured assets in their communities, providing comprehensive care, weekend and evening hours and, in some cases, integrated mental, physical and behavioral health care,” Commissioner Bennett said. “They know their communities best, and that’s what makes them successful.”

The National Health Center Week 2017 theme is “Celebrating America’s Health Centers: The Key to Healthier Communities.” The theme emphasizes the diverse populations that health centers serve, including the homeless, residents of public housing, migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, and children who might otherwise have difficulty accessing health care.

For more than 50 years, community health centers have provided care to millions of New Jersey residents and effectively helped medically-underserved patients overcome barriers to health care, improve health outcomes and reduce health care costs across the nation.

“By ensuring healthcare delivery in all 21 counties, our health centers help to promote population health across rural and urban areas of New Jersey,” Commissioner Bennett said.

New Jersey has 23 community health centers and 117 licensed service delivery sites and mobile units that ensure access to healthcare and provide a healthcare safety net for residents. The Department provides $30 million in the current state budget to support the care of uninsured and underinsured residents. 

In 2016, New Jersey’s FQHCs provided more than 1.65 million medical and dental patient visits for more than 500,000 individuals. Nearly 28 percent of these patients are uninsured and 53 percent are on Medicaid. The services are provided regardless of the patient’s ability to pay, and fees are based on a sliding fee scale.

To find a NHCW event near you, visit http://healthcenterweek.org

For more information on New Jersey’s Federally Qualified Health Centers, visit http://nj.gov/health/fhs/primarycare/fqhc/index.shtml.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter @njdeptofhealth, Facebook /njdeptofhealth, Instagram @njdeptofhealth and Snapchat @njdoh.

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Last Reviewed: 8/11/2017