“America’s Health Centers: Celebrating Past, Present, and Future.”
This annual celebration recognizes the vital role health centers play in ensuring access to affordable, high-quality care while advancing equity and building healthier communities. Each day of the week highlights a different aspect of that impact—one that Pillars Community Health is proud to help lead in the western and southwestern suburbs of Chicago.
Who We Are
Pillars Community Health is a nonprofit, multi-service organization providing medical, dental, behavioral health, psychiatry, substance use, and domestic and sexual violence services under one umbrella. We are both a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC), delivering integrated, trauma-informed care that addresses the full spectrum of needs impacting individual and community health.
With roots dating back more than a century and FQHC status since 2012, we have continually evolved to meet our community’s changing needs. From expanding access points to integrating mental health and social supports into our medical model, we remain focused on our mission:
To improve the health of our communities and empower individuals through compassionate, whole-person care.
That mission lives in the ways we center patient voices, collaborate across systems, and ensure that care is accessible, equitable, and meaningful.
How We’re Celebrating National Health Center Week 2025
Each day of National Health Center Week highlights a different part of the health center mission—one that Pillars Community Health lives out year-round through integrated medical, behavioral, and social services. This week, we’re connecting each national theme to our history, our present-day impact, and our vision for the future.
Sunday, August 3 – Celebrating 60 Years of Progress
Community health centers were launched in 1965 to bring care to people in underserved areas. Today, they serve more than 32 million Americans. At Pillars Community Health, our own story stretches back over 100 years. From our earliest roots as a charitable care provider to becoming a Federally Qualified Health Center in 2012, we’ve grown in response to community need. Our history reflects a century of evolving care—one that laid the foundation for our whole-person approach today.
Monday, August 4 – Staff Appreciation Day
Our team is the heart of our mission. This day is dedicated to celebrating the staff members—clinical and non-clinical—who work every day to ensure compassionate, trauma-informed, and coordinated care. From front desk staff to physicians, therapists to community outreach workers, we recognize the critical role each person plays in the care experience and our organizational success.
Tuesday, August 5 – Patient Appreciation Day
At Pillars Community Health, patients are more than recipients of care—they are leaders and co-creators of it. Like all health centers, we follow a governance model where the majority of our Board of Directors is composed of patients of our Health Center. This ensures our services reflect the priorities and voices of the people we serve. We’re deeply grateful for the trust and partnership of every individual and family who chooses us for their care.
Wednesday, August 6 – Health Conditions Focus
Our integrated approach helps individuals address both immediate and long-term health concerns—whether it’s managing diabetes, recovering from trauma, receiving preventive screenings, or accessing recovery support. Our 2024 Impact Report shows the reach of our services and the outcomes we’re achieving across health conditions. We believe care is most effective when it’s coordinated, accessible, and rooted in the whole-person model.
Thursday, August 7 – Population Focus
Health centers care for diverse populations across rural, urban, and suburban communities. At Pillars Community Health, we serve children, teens, adults, older adults, survivors of violence, immigrants and refugees, veterans, agricultural workers, and individuals experiencing homelessness. We recognize that physical and mental health care must be culturally responsive, linguistically appropriate, and deeply informed by the lived experiences of the communities we serve—because access alone isn’t enough; care must be relevant, respectful, and rooted in equity.
Friday, August 8 – Partner Appreciation Day
We don’t do this work alone. Our impact is strengthened through partnerships with schools, food pantries, hospitals, housing providers, other non-profits, libraries, funders, and government agencies. These collaborations extend our reach and help ensure people have access to not just care, but the full network of support they need to thrive.
Saturday, August 9 – Gratitude & Future Vision
We end the week by looking ahead. Pillars Community Health’s 2025–2027 Strategic Plan focuses on expanding access, deepening partnerships, improving the patient and staff experience, and advancing equity. With continued investment and community support, we are committed to building a future where care is not only available—it’s inclusive, empowering, and barrier-free.
Thank you for celebrating National Health Center Week with us.
Whether you are a patient, staff member, partner, or supporter—you are part of the story we’re writing together. We are honored to serve our community and excited about the future we’re building alongside you.