Health Centers are community-based and patient-directed
organizations that serve populations with limited
access to health care. These include low income
populations, the uninsured, those with limited English
proficiency.
Some Health Centers also receive specific funding
to focus on certain special populations:
- migrant and seasonal farmworkers
- individuals and families experiencing homelessness
- those living in public housing
- Native Hawaiians
In 2007, health centers served more than 826,977 migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families; nearly 930,589 individuals experiencing homelessness; and more than 133,000 residents of public housing.
Migrant Health Centers
In 2007, HRSA-funded health centers served more than 826,977 migrant or seasonal farmworkers and their families. It is estimated that HRSA-funded health center programs serve more than one quarter of all migrant and seasonal farmworkers in the United States.
The Migrant Health Center program provides support
to health centers to deliver comprehensive, high quality,
culturally-competent preventive and primary health
services to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their
families with a particular focus on the occupational
health and safety needs of this population. Principal
employment for both migrant and seasonal farmworkers
must be in agriculture.
The National
Advisory Council on Migrant Health regularly advises,
consults with, and makes recommendations to the Secretary
of Health and Human Services and the HRSA Administrator
on migrant health issues.
Health Care for the Homeless Program
Homelessness continues to be a pervasive problem throughout the U.S., affecting rural as well as urban and suburban communities. According to a recent national survey, it is estimated that 930,589 people are homeless on a given night and 2 to 3 million are homeless over the course of a year.
The Health Care for the Homeless Program is a major source of care for homeless persons in the United States, serving patients that live on the street, in shelters, or in transitional housing. In 2007, HRSA-funded health centers served nearly 930,589 persons experiencing homelessness.
Health Care for the Homeless grantees recognize the complex needs of homeless persons and strive to provide a coordinated, comprehensive approach to health care including substance abuse and mental health services.
Public Housing Primary Care Health Centers
The Public Housing Primary Care Program
provides residents of public housing with increased
access to comprehensive primary health care services
through the direct provision of health promotion,
disease prevention, and primary health care services.
Services are provided on the premises of public housing
developments or at other locations immediately accessible
to residents. In 2007, HRSA-funded health centers
served over 133,000 residents of public housing.
Native Hawaiians
The Native Hawaiian Health Care Systems (NHHCS) Program, funded within the health center appropriation, improves the health status of Native Hawaiians by making health education, health promotion, and disease prevention services available through the support of NHHCS.
Native Hawaiians face cultural, financial, social, and geographic barriers that prevent them from utilizing existing health services. In addition, health services are often unavailable in the community.
The NHHCS use a combination of outreach, referral, and linkage mechanisms to provide or arrange services. Services provided include nutrition programs, screening and control of hypertension and diabetes, immunizations, and basic primary care services. In 2007, NHHCS provided medical and enabling encounters to more than 7,022 people.
The Native Hawaiian Health Care Program also supports a health professions scholarship program for Native Hawaiians, the Native Hawaiian Health Scholarship Program (NHHSP), and administrative costs for Papa Ola Lokahi, an organization that coordinates and assists health care programs provided to Native Hawaiians.
In FY 2007, 10 Native Hawaiian scholarships were awarded. More than 186 Native Hawaiian scholarships have been awarded since the beginning of the program.
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