WNCCHS Celebrates National Health Center Week 2026
National Health Center Week is an annual celebration of Community Health Centers across the country and the vital role they play in providing accessible, high-quality care. This year’s theme, “Building Innovative Care Where It Matters Most,” highlighted the creative ways health centers respond to the needs of their patients and communities.
From visits with state legislators and community partners to staff education, patient appreciation and an evening together at Lake Julian Park, WNCCHS celebrated National Health Center Week Aug. 2–8 with a full week of activities highlighting the people and partnerships behind community health.
In a special National Health Center Week message, WNCCHS CEO Anita Case reflected on what innovation looks like at WNCCHS and thanked the patients, staff, Board members, community partners, donors and supporters who make the work possible.
Welcoming State Legislators to Minnie Jones Health Center
National Health Center Week also gave WNCCHS an opportunity to share the work of community health centers directly with state leaders.
On Monday, Aug. 3, State Rep. Lindsey Prather and State Rep. Eric Ager visited Minnie Jones Health Center for a tour. Following the tour, they met with members of the WNCCHS Board of Directors and senior leadership for a conversation about the role community health centers play in expanding access to care and responding to the needs of the communities they serve.
On Friday, Aug. 7, WNCCHS welcomed State Sen. Julie Mayfield for a similar tour and discussion with Board members and organizational leadership.
Both visits provided an opportunity for WNCCHS to share what community-based, whole-person care looks like in practice and to discuss the opportunities and challenges facing health centers and the patients they serve.
Community Resource Fair
On Tuesday, WNCCHS hosted its first Community Resource Fair at Minnie Jones Health Center.
The event was designed specifically to help staff learn more about organizations and resources available to patients. Representatives from seven community and industry partners set up in our lobbies, giving staff an opportunity to ask questions, learn about services and strengthen connections that can help patients beyond the walls of the health center.
Participating organizations included:
Operation Gateway – supporting people navigating reentry and recovery through community health workers and peer support.
Pisgah Legal Services – providing free civil legal aid and advocacy throughout Western North Carolina.
WNCAP – providing HIV prevention, care and support services across Western North Carolina.
Goodwill Industries of Northwest North Carolina – connecting people with workforce development, training and employment resources.
Project Dignity - providing period products to those in need in Western North Carolina who might be homeless, low-income, or victims of domestic abuse.
ViiV Healthcare – a healthcare company focused exclusively on HIV.
Exact Sciences, now Abbott – focused on cancer screening, early detection and precision oncology.
Lunch & Learn: “PrEP: Prevention Made Simple”
Education was another important part of the week.
On Wednesday, Aug. 5, WNCCHS Chief Medical Officer Dr. Carmen Robinson led a staff Lunch & Learn titled “PrEP: Prevention Made Simple.”
The session offered an approachable conversation about sexual health, HIV prevention and PrEP, along with the work underway at WNCCHS to strengthen our PrEP program and make this highly effective prevention service more accessible throughout the region.
The session was offered virtually and in-person. Lunch was provided for in-person participants. To view the presentation, click the slide image.
Celebrating the WNCCHS Team
National Health Center Week is also an opportunity to recognize the people who make community health possible every day.
We kicked off the workweek with a sweet thank-you to staff when Britt’s Sweet Treats visited Minnie Jones Health Center for an afternoon of ice cream. Treats were also delivered to staff at McDowell Health Center and Hominy Valley Health Center.
Then, on Thursday evening, WNCCHS employees and their families gathered at Lake Julian Park for our Staff Appreciation Cookout, organized with help from the WNCCHS Employee Engagement & Appreciation Committee.
It was a lovely opportunity for coworkers and families to relax, enjoy great food, and spend time together outside of work.
Putting Patient Appreciation at the Center
Our patients were part of the celebration all week.
Patient appreciation raffles were held throughout National Health Center Week, with 10 patients receiving gift cards as a small token of our gratitude.
But we also wanted patients to hear directly from the people who care for and support them.
Before National Health Center Week, WNCCHS staff were invited to respond to prompts including:
“One Thing I Admire About Our Patients Is…”
“Because of Our Patients, I Have Learned…”
“Our Patients Make WNCCHS Better By…”
Staff filled cards with messages that were then displayed in patient areas throughout the week.
The activity reflected an important part of the Community Health Center model: patients are not simply recipients of care. Their experiences, perspectives and voices help shape the work we do and the organization we continue to become.
Community Support for Community Health
National Health Center Week extended beyond our health center walls this year through a special partnership with Dynamite Roasting Company in Black Mountain. During the week, Dynamite offered a limited-edition WNCCHS co-branded coffee bag, with proceeds benefiting WNCCHS.
The collaboration offered a fun way to introduce more people in Western North Carolina to WNCCHS and the importance of community health.
Thank you to our sponsors!
We are also deeply grateful to ViiV Healthcare and Exact Sciences, now Abbott for their support of WNCCHS’s National Health Center Week celebration. Their support helped make educational, staff appreciation and community engagement opportunities possible throughout the week.
