Congressman Tim Walberg reads to children in Grace Health Pediatric Waiting Area.
National Health Center Week (NHCW) is an annual celebration that highlights the essential role Community Health Centers, like Grace Health, play in improving public health and advancing health equity. Health centers represent the nation’s largest primary care network, serving 31.5 million patients nationwide with a mission to provide high-quality, affordable care to everyone, regardless of the ability to pay or insurance status. Nationwide, health centers are powered by a workforce of nearly 300,000 dedicated professionals who reach beyond the walls of the exam room to prevent illness and address the social drivers that may cause it – climate change, homelessness, substance use disorders, food insecurity, and behavioral health. At Grace Health, we have nearly 400 staff serving patients in Calhoun County.
The NHCW theme this year was “Powering Communities Through Caring Connections”. Grace Health held a few events during the week (August 4 – 10) to celebrate with patients and staff. Congressman Tim Walberg joined Grace Health staff on Patient and Staff Appreciation Day when Grace Health celebrated its 20th anniversary as a Reach Out and Read Program. Children from Stars and Stripes Learning Station joined for story time with Congressman Walberg. He read several stories and talked with the children and encouraged them to spend time reading. Through Grace Health’s Reach Out and Read Program, providers give new, age-appropriate books to children birth – 5 years of age during their well-child visit and discuss with the parent/guardian the importance of reading with a child to aid in brain development. Since the start of the program in 2004, Grace Health has provided over 75,000 books to children during their wellness visit.
Ben McLeod, Field Representative for Representative Bill Huizenga, showed his support for NHCW by visiting Grace Health. He toured Grace Health and learned about services provided. Aetna Better Heath of Michigan, Meridian, United Healthcare, Breast & Cervical Cancer Control Navigation Program, Cereal City Sunrise Rotary Club, Exact Sciences, S.A.F.E. Place, and South Michigan Food Bank joined the NHCW celebration at Grace Health to share information with patients about resources available within the community. Grace Health staff were also available to share information about services provided and to assist patients in getting scheduled for needed screenings. Although they were unable to join the festivities during the week, McLaren Health Plan and Blue Cross Blue Shield provided support for Grace Health’s NHCW celebration.
Grace Health is a Federally Qualified Health Center serving Calhoun County since 1986. In 2023, Grace Health provided more than 109,500 visits to just over 27,800 patients. Services include Family Practice, Internal Medicine, OB/GYN, Pediatrics, Dental, Behavioral Health, Optometry / Vision Care, Podiatry, Physical Therapy, and an on-site full-service Pharmacy. For more information about Grace Health, visit www.gracehealthmi.org.