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ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
<br />PROCLAMATION
<br />"COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER WEEK"
<br />IN ORANGE COUNTY
<br />August 25 - 29, 2003
<br />WHEREAS, There are a significant number of residents and citizens in Orange County who are currently medically
<br />under-served for a number of reasons, the most prominent of which include geographical isolation, financial or
<br />language, and insufficient access to affordable health care; and
<br />WHEREAS, Community Health Centers, now known as Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC's), have their
<br />origin in the War on Poverty during the 1960's when they were funded by the Office of Economic Opportunity and
<br />are now housed and funded by the Department of Health and Human Services, Bureau of Primary Heath Care; and
<br />WHEREAS, their mission is to help improve the health of communities by providing access to primary care for
<br />needy residents and serve patients without regard to their ability to pay for services; and
<br />WHEREAS, this unique service model involves patients directly in the governing of the operations of the
<br />organizations; and
<br />WHEREAS, community health centers are community owned and operated not-for-profit businesses that provide
<br />access to quality, cost effective primary and preventative health care and are vital to the well being of the Orange
<br />County community; and
<br />WHEREAS, these health centers provide care to 1 of every 5 low-income babies born in America, 1 of every 8
<br />uninsurgd individuals, 1 of every 9 people of color, 1 of every 9 Medicaid beneficiaries, and 1 of every 10 rural
<br />Americans, and these individuals would otherwise lack access to health care; and
<br />WHEREAS, these health centers contribute to our community by keeping children healthy and in school, and
<br />helping adults remain productive and on the job; and
<br />WHEREAS, community health centers promote 100% access and zero health disparities to help achieve primary
<br />health care for all people and these health centers tailor their services to fit the special needs and priorities of
<br />communities, and work together with schools, businesses, churches, community organizations, foundations, and
<br />State and local governments; and
<br />WHEREAS, there are more than 1,000 such centers serving 13,000,000 people at more than 4,000 health delivery
<br />sites, spanning urban and rural communities in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, Guam, and the
<br />Virgin Islands; and
<br />WHEREAS, Piedmont Health Services, Inc. is a private, non-profit corporation that operates six health centers and
<br />a birthing center in four counties including Orange, Alamance, Chatham, and Caswell and provide high quality
<br />comprehensive primary health care to medically underserved people; and
<br />WHEREAS, Piedmont Health Services contributes to the health and welt-being of the Orange County community
<br />by serving over 15,000 residents and by keeping children healthy and in school and helping adults remain
<br />productive and on the job; and
<br />WHEREAS, Piedmont Health Services contributes to the economic health of the community by employing
<br />approximately 200 health professionals annually for the past 33 years;
<br />NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of Commissioners do hereby proclaim the
<br />week of August 25 through 29, 2003 as "Community Health Center Week" in Orange County and urge all citizens to
<br />recognize the important contributions of community health centers to the improvement of the general quality of life
<br />of the residents and citizens of Orange County. „i~ `1 ~~
<br />Adopted this the 19th day of August, 2003.
<br />Margaret Brown, Chair
<br />Orange County Board of Commissioners
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