National Health Center Week

By: Adilene Guzman
Community Outreach Coordinator
for HAPPI Health

The second week of August is National Health Center Week. A Health Center is a non-profit organization that stands by the mission to improve the well-being of the community it serves. Health Centers save the healthcare system billions of dollars annually due to the reduced cost of healthcare services. National Health Center Week is essential to bring awareness to the community health centers in the area and the services they provide.

HAPPI Health is a federally qualified non-profit health center; its mission is to serve others. We offer health care services for the whole family. Earlier this year, we opened our fourth location on Saint Clair Ave in the medical district, a block from our Urgent Care and Behavioral Health offices. Our HAPPI Health location on Sparkman Drive offers pediatric and family care and now expects walk-ins. We would also like our community to know that we are always expecting new patients.

HAPPI Health has also partnered with Pathgroup for on-site lab services and the Sparkman Pharmacy to provide our patients with their prescriptions on-site. This way, our patients do not have to make multiple trips around town.

We also offer discounts to our patients. As a federally qualified health center, we use a sliding fee discount at HAPPI Health. The sliding fee scale discount is household size and income based, and this determines the amount a patient would have to pay for each appointment. The lowest sliding fee discount scale fee is $30; once you qualify, the price will remain the same for an entire year. The sliding fee discount allows patients to care for their healthcare needs at an affordable cost.

Health Centers are here to assist everyone in our community, so it’s vital that we also advocate for them as they require donations and grants to continue to provide their cost-effective services. During this week in August, health centers around the United States work together to advocate for Community Health Center funding and policies. They do so by hosting healthcare fair events at community centers and churches to spread awareness. In recent years, HAPPI Health, Thrive Alabama, and Central North Alabama Health Services Inc. have come together to host an incredible event called the Community Fun and Wellness Festival.

This year’s Community Fun and Wellness Festival took place on Saturday, August 12th, from 10:00 am- 1:00 pm at Dr. Richard Showers, Sr. Recreation Center located at 4600 Blue Spring Rd. There were several outdoor activities including a splash pad, free health screenings, food, raffles, and giveaways.

Sources: Health Center Advocacy Network