As we wrap up National Wellness Month, we are celebrating Community Health Centers (CHCs) that provide vital, quality, affordable, and culturally competent care to Latino and other under-resourced communities. At RDF, we are especially proud to spotlight our 25 UnidosUS affiliate CHCs who are making a profound impact on health equity.

Unfortunately, the Latino community has faced a disproportionate decline in life expectancy over the past two years. Health inequities such as language barriers, limited access to nutritious food, reliable transportation, quality housing, and financial stability play a significant role in these disparities. This is where the work of CHCs becomes essential. They serve as medical homes supporting the health and well-being of their patients and communities. Every day, our affiliates are addressing social drivers of health — the social, economic, and environmental factors that influence an individual’s health outcomes — to combat health inequities.

Here are just a few examples:

 
• Housing Is Healthcare: Project Vida creates and preserves affordable homes for their patients in El Paso, Texas. This initiative merges health equity with housing opportunities, providing a clean, dry, secure environment fundamental to hygiene and protection from the elements.
 
• Wealth & Financial Empowerment: La Maestra Community Health Centers in San Diego, California, connects wealth with health through their Microcredit Program for Women, which builds income among underserved communities to improve health outcomes by increasing access to preventative and emergency medical care.
 
• Arts Improving Health: Urban Health Plan's Arts Desk in New York City uses arts-led social prescribing to improve health. This intergenerational and interdisciplinary program demonstrates the powerful role creative expression can play in overall well-being.
 
• Healthcare and Voter Access: Many CHC leaders have incorporated voting booths and engagement within their clinics, including San Ysidro Health, AltaMed, Mountain Park Health Center, and Congreso Health Center.

Catalyzing Growth Together

Our 25 affiliate CHCs are a powerful force for health equity, serving over 1.3 million patients across 8 states and D.C. RDF created the Comunidad Sana Fund, a $100 million initiative in partnership with UnidosUS, to advance health equity. This initiative aims to reduce health and economic disparities by investing in CHCs to catalyze their growth and expand their impact.

The initiative includes a learning collaborative, bringing leaders from all affiliates together to co-create innovative solutions toward healthcare resiliency. The impact of Comunidad Sana is already evident:

Esperanza Health Centers: RDF invested in doubling the size of the Brighton Park campus, adding services for senior patients and a residency program training doctors in culturally competent care. This campus offers healthcare alongside community spaces, including a cafe, plaza, garden, playground, and areas for music, arts, and yoga.

Mountain Park Health Center: Serving the Phoenix Valley for over 40 years, Mountain Park Health Center provides affordable care in areas of need. Through Comunidad Sana, RDF is funding renovations for its Jesse Owens Clinic, transforming it into a full-service primary care clinic serving 1,000 patients weekly with integrated care, telehealth services, and an on-site pharmacy.

“I’m so proud to lead the Comunidad Sana health equity initiative for RDF. It’s a pleasure to learn from our amazing UnidosUS affiliate Community Health Centers as we work together on innovative solutions." - Sima Thakkar, RDF’s VP of Health & Climate Equity

Together, we are making a tangible difference in the lives of countless individuals and communities.