New Challenges for Community Clinics After nearly a year of
heated debate about health care reform, Americans are used to
hearing about the millions of their fellow citizens who are
living without access to affordable medical care. But now that a
version of reform has passed, what will happen to the
institutions that have helped the poor and uninsured cope:
community clinics and health centers? The Role of Community
Clinics The first not-for-profit health centers were founded in
1965, with roots in the War on Poverty and the civil rights
movement. Their goal was to provide an open door to health care
for poor and underserved neighborhoods, while also supporting
community empowerment. Since then, community health centers have
proliferated and become an integral part of the nation’s health
care safety net. Last year, according to the National
Association of Community Health Centers, clinics provided care
to more than 18 million patients in over 6,300 communities
across the country. Those individuals are disprop