Aug. 3, 2026
The annual celebration of National Health Center Week provides an opportunity to support and highlight the crucial and innovative work done all year long by health centers both in the Philadelphia region, as well as statewide and nationwide.
The Health Federation of Philadelphia has a special relationship with health centers as a keystone organization that supports a network of community health centers, and was founded as a membership organization of health centers in 1983.
“Health centers are at the leading edge of innovation in primary care, while also being highly accessible, nonprofit, community-based providers serving mainly those with limited resources. HFP is one of the main partners that helps us to implement innovative approaches to ensure that we continue to bring our patients the very best tools and care through their expertise and leadership on health information technology, data, workforce training and population health,” said Emily Nichols, chief executive officer of the Family Practice & Counseling Services Network and chair of the Health Federation Board of Directors.
National Health Center Week is Aug. 2-8 this year, under the theme Building Innovative Care Where It Matters Most. Throughout the nation, health centers have been hosting celebratory events leading up to and during National Health Center Week (see a listing of Pennsylvania events).
National Health Center Week features themed focus days, such as appreciation days for staff and patients, celebration of health center history, and days focusing on health conditions, population health, and partner appreciation.
Community health centers (CHCs), also called Federally Qualified Health Centers, provide innovative, comprehensive, high-quality care to everyone across the lifespan, irrespective of their ability to pay, and thus increase access to primary care while also reducing other barriers like language, lack of insurance, and distance.
The Health Federation serves as an innovation partner to Pennsylvania community health centers, by supporting our CHC network on health information technology, population health, data and emerging models of high-quality primary care.
The Health Federation’s Health Center Controlled Network, which has been in place since 2012, provides network-level and individualized technology and operational support with a focus on data modernization, interoperability, artificial intelligence, and population health to meet the needs of Federally Qualified Health Centers and Look-Alikes in Pennsylvania. (Look-Alikes meet health center qualifications but don’t receive health center program funding.)
“Particularly through our HCCN, but also initiatives on integrated behavioral care, chronic disease, nutrition and preventive health programs, and care coordination, the Health Federation is a trustworthy and creative partner for health centers in our network,” said Suzanne Cohen, Senior Director of Population Health.
The recent annual HCCN Learning and Networking Workshop brought together professionals from health centers throughout the state, with sessions focusing on technology and AI among the offerings.
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About the Health Federation of Philadelphia
The Health Federation of Philadelphia is a public health nonprofit that promotes community health by advancing access to high-quality, integrated, comprehensive health and human services.
The Health Federation of Philadelphia serves as a keystone supporting a network of Community Health Centers as well as the broader base of public and private-sector organizations that deliver healthcare, public health and human services to vulnerable populations.