The Fidelis Care Blog

National Health Center Week: Trusted Neighbors Providing Care

8/1/2025 • Posted by Fidelis Care

Each August, we celebrate National Health Center Week to recognize the people and places that help keep our communities healthy. Health centers are more than just clinics, they are trusted neighbors that provide comprehensive care to millions of families, regardless of their income or background.

In observance of National Health Center Week August 3-9, Fidelis Care connected with partners across New York State, including Harmony Healthcare Long Island Chief Transformation Officer Julie Harnisher, Community Health Center of the North Country Communications and Strategic Partnerships Director Raymond Babowicz, Jordan Health President and CEO Dr. Linda Clark, and Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center Marketing and Communications Director Michele Desrosiers.

Fidelis Care: Could you provide us with an overview of your health center?

Julie Harnisher: Harmony Healthcare Long Island (Harmony) is a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC), with ten sites throughout Nassau County, serving more than 40,000 patients per year with more than 150,000 visits. Harmony is committed to equitable, high-quality healthcare across Nassau County, and offers a broad array of services from primary care to behavioral health, to specialty and social support services, regardless of insurance status or ability to pay.

Raymond Babowicz: Community Health Center of the North Country (CHCNC) has sites located in St. Lawrence, Franklin, and Jefferson Counties. Our health centers provide affordable, high-quality healthcare to all members of our North Country community, regardless of insurance or financial status. We provide an array of services including primary and pediatric care, optometry, dental care, physical therapy, care coordination, telehealth, diabetic foot care, WIC, MAT, and substance use disorder support. Services vary by location, and we are accepting new patients at our offices in Canton, Gouverneur, Malone, Ogdensburg, and Watertown.

Dr. Linda Clark: Jordan Health has served as a trusted community resource for more than 100 years. Our center was created because the people in the community and the City of Rochester demanded to have a place where all can receive high-quality healthcare. This is why we work and live by our mission to optimize health equity and well-being by providing innovative, comprehensive, integrated, and personalized healthcare of the highest quality with dignity and respect for all, regardless of ability to pay. Our goal is to partner with our patients to live well.

Michele Desrosiers: The Whitney M. Young, Jr. Health Center (WYH) was established in 1971 to provide access to consistent quality healthcare without regard to income. Today, WYH offers primary medical, dental, and behavioral health services to over 20,000 men, women, and children at sites throughout our Capital Region. We operate health centers in Albany, Troy, and Watervliet. WYH works to alleviate patients’ barriers to accessing care. We provide transportation, translation services, patient education, nutrition, and case management services. In addition, WYH employs culturally diverse clinical and support staff.

Fidelis Care: How do you work with Fidelis Care to help the people you serve?

Raymond: We have partnered with the Fidelis Care team for many years. This includes tracking preventive care measures, chronic disease self-management initiatives, grant funding, and ensuring all residents have affordable health insurance so we can continue to expand equitable access to care.

Linda: Collaboration is key. Many of our patients come into our facilities uninsured or underinsured. Working with community partners like Fidelis Care is pivotal to providing the necessary services. It is critical for our patients to have a resource where they can seek needed insurance.

Michele: A majority of our patients are enrolled in Medicaid plans, many of which are provided by Fidelis Care.

Julie: Harmony and Fidelis Care work together to deliver accessible, affordable, and compassionate care to those who need it most. As a valued partner, Fidelis Care supports integrated medical, dental, and behavior health services, co-sponsors health fairs and outreach events, assists with enrollment, and supports maternal and child health programs. Thanks to our partnership, we've helped thousands of patients get enrolled in coverage that fits their needs, gain access to preventive screenings, and manage chronic conditions like diabetes and hypertension.

Fidelis Care: What is your message for National Health Center Week?

Linda: National Health Center Week raises awareness around the importance of the work for Jordan Health. There are still many forms of misinformation surrounding health centers. This week helps to start those conversations, provide the proper information, and share the gems inside places like Jordan Health. It also encourages patients to come in and be seen and serves as a reminder for staff about the importance of our work.

Michele: Every August, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) sponsors National Health Center Week (NHCW) to celebrate and increase awareness of America’s nearly 1,500 Community Health Centers (CHCs). National Health Center Week is an opportunity for Whitney Young Health to highlight the commitment and passion of our staff, board members, and supporters, who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive healthcare services to more than 20,000 patients and over 50,000 visits in the Capital Region.

Julie: Thank you, Fidelis Care, for being a champion of health centers and a true partner in whole-person care!

Raymond: More than 30 million people now receive their care at a health center, including 2.5 million in New York State. It takes a healthy community for it to be economically vibrant, but it takes an economically vibrant community to be healthy. We tackle that challenge from both ends. Not only do we provide care, but our economic impact through the purchase of goods and services along with employing almost 20,000 full-time workers is critical, especially in our rural areas. So, in 2025 we are celebrating 60 years of providing care, but also looking forward to our future.

Here are some of the Health Center Week events across New York State: