NHCW 2026: Celebrating the essential role of community health centers

From August 2-8, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) celebrated National Health Center Week (NHCW) to honor the Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that have been changing lives across the nation for more than 50 years.

For decades, NACHC has been leading this annual observance each August and highlighting the commitment of community health center patients, workers and supporters who make it possible to provide quality, comprehensive health care services to tens of millions of people each year.¹ NHCW has been commemorated by the United States Congress and the White House, and the 2026 edition centered on the theme “Building Innovative Care Where It Matters.

UnitedHealthcare Community & State (UHCCS) marked the week by joining partners across the country to honor the community health centers that help bring care closer to people who need it. FQHCs are continually finding new ways to meet people where they are, combining innovative approaches to care with a deep understanding of local needs to make essential health services more accessible.

How UHC Community Plans recognized National Health Center Week

UnitedHealthcare Community Plans visited more than 450 FQHC locations across the country, supporting community and health center events through health screenings, immunizations, food distribution initiatives and other local outreach.

Community Plan leaders described NHCW as an important opportunity to strengthen collaboration with local FQHCs and support their efforts to improve access and community health.

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Missouri

The UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Missouri supported nine FQHC community events featuring an estimated 2,000 attendees and participated in 59 in-person visits that promoted health screenings, dental care, vision services, sports physicals, breastfeeding education and more.

"National Health Center Week 2026 was a highly successful statewide initiative in Missouri," said Jamie Bruce, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Missouri. "It was inspiring to see health centers, community organizations and local leaders come together to connect people with services and support that can make a meaningful difference in their health and well-being."

UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island

The UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island continued to promote joint community engagement efforts with its FQHC partners, including free breakfast at four locations and a collaboration with East Bay Community Action Program to provide blood pressure screenings.

“The UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island continued to strengthen community engagement with its FQHC partners by providing funding to support each FQHC’s employee recognition and celebration activities during National Health Center Week,” said Michael Florczyk, CEO, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Rhode Island.

“Examples included sponsoring a breakfast event, providing a lemonade truck at East Bay Community Action Program, delivering donuts to WellOne and Block Island Health Center, and supporting a coffee truck at Wood River. In addition, the plan partnered with East Bay Community Action Program to offer blood pressure screenings for community members.”

Community Plan contributions across the nation

Across the country, the following activities represent just some of the ways that UHC Community Plans showed their support for NHCW:

• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas visited more than 175 individual FQHCs and rural health clinics.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Jersey participated in at least 30 events and connected community members with health resources while providing 600 families with fresh fruits and vegetables.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New Mexico visited 59 facilities across seven counties.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kansas honored more than 25 community health centers across the state.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Pennsylvania visited 22 FQHCs and distributed giveaways.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Michigan supported 14 health centers, attended 22 related events and donated 12 bikes with helmets and locks.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Washington sponsored three NHCW events while attending five in-person events at clinics and providing digital outreach to 11 FQHCs.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Massachusetts sponsored food and ice cream giveaways for more than a dozen community health centers.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Kentucky focused on strengthening its FQHC partnerships and providing self-care kits to eight community health centers.
• UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of New York attended a children's day celebration at Syracuse Community Health and sponsored its ice cream truck.

Elevating community health center innovation and impact

To recognize the important role that FQHCs play, UnitedHealthcare highlighted examples of how health centers are addressing community needs, strengthening the health care workforce and advancing innovative approaches to care delivery.

The following stories offer a closer look at how community health centers support disaster preparedness, promote workforce development and strengthen collaboration through the UnitedHealthcare Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Advisory Board.

• When disaster strikes, community health centers become much more than care providers

River Valley Health CEO Parinda Khatri, PhD, discusses how this Tennessee FQHC transformed from a care provider to a lifeline after Hurricane Helene devastated communities across the region.

• Helping FQHCs train health workers in their community

More than 200 community members seeking better jobs in health care have now completed Mountain Health Comprehensive Corporation's RAISE program since it was launched with a $500,000 grant from UHC and ACH through the Community Health Entrepreneur Challenge.

• UnitedHealthcare FQHC Advisory Board

The UnitedHealthcare Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) Advisory Board brings together leaders from FQHCs and national partners to inform strategy, strengthen collaboration and advance Medicaid delivery.

Read more insights and news about FQHCs:

• UHC funds two FQHC initiatives through the Community Health Entrepreneur Challenge
• Supporting Pennsylvania FQHCs to strengthen community care access
• Role of Federally Qualified Health Centers in underserved communities
• Delivering care through mobile units in rural North Carolina
• Essential Insights video: Elevating the work of Federally Qualified Health Centers
• Transforming maternal health in Northern Nevada