August 9-15, 2020 is National Health Center Week!

August 9-15, 2020 is National Health Center Week, which aims to raise awareness about the mission and accomplishments of federally-funded community health centers over the past five decades. Community health centers are community-based and patient-directed organizations that deliver care to the nation’s most vulnerable individuals and families, including people experiencing homelessness, agricultural workers, residents of public housing, and veterans. During COVID-19, health centers have been on the front lines providing care, and many providers, staff, and patients have lost their lives. This year’s National Health Center Week will serve as a week of remembrance to honor the lives lost during COVID-19. Each day of the week also has a particular focus area:

• Sunday, 8/9: Public Health in Housing Day 
• Monday, 8/10: Healthcare for the Homeless Day
• Tuesday, 8/11: Agricultural Worker Health Day
• Wednesday, 8/12: Patient Appreciation Day
• Thursday, 8/13: Stakeholder Appreciation Day
• Friday, 8/14: Health Center Staff Appreciation Day
• Saturday, 8/15: Children’s Health Day

FUTURES has been partnering with community health centers for a number of years to support the health and safety needs of survivors of intimate partner violence (IPV) and human trafficking. Through Project Catalyst, FUTURES is currently working with state leadership teams in Georgia, Minnesota, and Ohio (from the state DV coalition, the primary care association, and the department of health/public health) to promote an integrated and improved response to IPV and human trafficking in community health centers, in partnership with local domestic violence programs.

As of July 1, 2020, FUTURES operates the National Health Network on Intimate Partner Violence and Human Trafficking, funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Primary Health Care. The National Health Network on Intimate Partner Violence and Human Trafficking works with health centers and systems to support those at risk of experiencing or surviving intimate partner violence (IPV) or human trafficking (HT) and to bolster prevention efforts. FUTURES joins a cohort of twenty other NTTAPs, which provide training and technical assistance (T/TA) to address the operational, clinical, access, and technology needs of health centers.

For more information on building community health center and domestic violence program partnerships, visit www.IPVHealthPartners.org.