Cohen Receives 2011 Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award

MEMPHIS, TN – Congressman Steve Cohen (D-TN-9) today received the 2011 Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). This is National Community Health Centers Week and the Memphis Congressman was attending the opening of the Christ Community Health Services University Family Medicine Center on Union Avenue.

“Community Health Centers play such an important role in Memphis and across the country,” said Congressman Cohen. “These centers provide underserved areas with the quality health care they need to live happy, healthy, prosperous lives. It is an honor to receive the 2011 Distinguished Community Health Advocate Award. I am proud of my work on behalf of Community Health Centers and will continue to fight for them in Congress.”

To address the widespread lack of access to basic health care, Community Health Centers serve 20 million people at more than 7,000 sites located throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories. Health centers depend in large part on public financial help and need a unified voice and common source for research, information, training and advocacy.

To address these needs, NACHC was established in 1971. NACHC works with a network of state health center and primary care organizations to serve health centers in a variety of ways:

• Provide research-based advocacy for health centers and their clients.
• Educate the public about the mission and value of health centers.
• Train and provide technical assistance to health center staff and boards.
• Develop alliances with private partners and key stakeholders to foster the delivery of primary health care services to communities in need.