PO Box 360
Trenton, NJ 08625-0360

For Release:
August 8, 2016

Cathleen D. Bennett
Commissioner

For Further Information Contact:
Office of Communications
(609) 984-7160

New Jersey Celebrates National Health Center Week

Series of Events Scheduled Throughout the State Aug. 7-13

The New Jersey Department of Health is celebrating the efforts of community health centers throughout the country that serve as an integral part of the health delivery system, providing care and coordinated services to 25 million people in the United States for more than 50 years.

To commemorate National Health Center Week, Department staff will be attending a series of planned events.  On August 8, Assistant Commissioner Lisa Asare attended the New Jersey Primary Care Association’s National Health Center Week kick-off fair at Southern Jersey Family Medical Center in Burlington.  Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett will attend CAMCare’s Health Week Celebration in Camden on August 9 at 10 am.  Chief of Staff Gregory Myer will join Zufall Health Center for the launch of their new dental van and ribbon cutting of their newly renovated Somerville site on August 10 at 4 pm.

“Health centers across the state know their community’s needs best, which makes them vital components of New Jersey’s health system,” Health Commissioner Cathleen Bennett said. “Immunizations, health screenings, behavioral health care and social services offered at these centers are critical to the population health of a community.”  

This year’s National Health Center Week theme is “Celebrating America’s Health Centers: Innovators in Community Health.” Governor Chris Christie proclaimed August 7 through 13 Health Center Week in New Jersey to recognize the achievements of health centers in delivering accessible, cost-effective and quality services to all people, regardless of their ability to pay.

New Jersey has 23 community health centers — at least one in every county — with more than 111 sites across the state serving as critical health care safety nets for residents. The Department provides more than $31.5 million to support their care of uninsured and underinsured residents. Last year, New Jersey’s health centers served more than 481,000 individuals with 1.6 million visits. Nearly 28 percent of the patients are uninsured and 56 percent are on Medicaid. 

 To view events scheduled for the week, please visit: http://www.healthcenterweek.org/events.cfm?month=8&day=0&state=NJ

Visit the Department's website to find a community health center location and services.

Follow the New Jersey Department of Health on Twitter at twitter.com/NJDeptofHealth and on Facebook at facebook.com/NJDeptofHealth.

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Last Reviewed: 8/8/2016