As we celebrate National Health Center Week, Health Services of North Texas (HSNT) is grateful to be a part of this comprehensive and accessible model of care. Community Health Centers (CHCs) are one of the most effective healthcare systems across the United States, but many people are unfamiliar with the CHC program. Even those who visit a Community Health Center may not realize the deep history and broad impact of this care model.
National and Local Impact
For more than 60 years, CHCs have provided affordable medical care to individuals and families, regardless of their income or insurance status. In 2024, health centers served more than 52 million patients through over 17,000 locations nationwide. This includes more than 10 million children, 6 million uninsured individuals, and 1.5 million people experiencing homelessness. In fact, 1 in 7 Americans receive their healthcare at a Community Health Center.
HSNT serves nearly 20,000 North Texans each year, providing them with quality healthcare on an affordable, sliding-fee scale. We are a local, independently operated nonprofit organization, and being a part of the CHC model helps us better serve our patients by meeting them where they are on their healthcare journey.
Wrap-Around Care
CHCs treat the whole patient, not just symptoms. To do this, health centers provide integrated services that address medical, mental health, and financial needs under one coordinated model. Preventative and primary healthcare provided by Community Health Centers can be the difference between a medical crisis and long-term wellness.
At HSNT, this integrated approach is reflected through coordinated primary care, behavioral health, pediatrics, women’s health, infectious disease care, and support services such as prescription assistance and case management. These programs work together to serve our patients, improving both their health and their experience.
Patients Shape Our Programs
One of the defining characteristics of Community Health Centers is that we are governed by and accountable to the communities we serve. At least 51% of each CHC’s Board of Directors must be health center patients. This ensures that patients’ voices are heard at the highest level of our organizations, so we can respond directly to local needs. In 2025 HSNT also launched our Patient Advocacy and Advisory Committee (PAAC), giving more patients a direct voice in organizational decision-making. This reflects a core principle of the CHC model: healthcare works best when local communities help shape it.
Your Partners in Health
Community Health Centers represent one of America’s most effective investments in healthcare. We deliver comprehensive care, improve health outcomes, and reduce barriers – while remaining deeply accountable to the people we serve. For North Texas families, and millions of people across the country, Community Health Centers are more than just clinics. We are trusted healthcare partners and a reminder that quality, accessible care makes our entire community stronger.