The BDN Opinion section operates independently and does not set news policies or contribute to reporting or editing articles elsewhere in the newspaper or on bangordailynews.com
Darcy Shargo is the CEO at Maine Primary Care Association, a membership organization representing Maine’s community health centers.
Gov. Janet Mills has proclaimed Aug. 2–8, 2026, as Maine Community Health Center Week, recognizing the extraordinary contributions Maine’s community health centers (CHCs) make to the health and well-being of our state. This special recognition is an opportunity to celebrate the dedicated and committed health center staff who work every day to ensure that quality health care is available in every corner of Maine.
As the state’s largest primary care network, Maine’s community health centers provide affordable, comprehensive, high-quality care to more than 210,000 people each year. Whether someone lives in a rural town, on the coast, or in one of Maine’s urban communities, Community health centers ensure that access to care is based on need, not on insurance status, income, or ability to pay.
But community health centers are far more than places to receive medical care.
They are trusted community partners that recognize good health depends on much more than what happens during a doctor’s appointment. They help patients manage chronic diseases, connect families with behavioral health services, provide dental care, assist with substance use treatment, and address barriers such as transportation, housing instability, food insecurity, and language access. By caring for the whole person, community health centers improve health outcomes while helping people lead healthier, more productive lives.
This approach benefits everyone.
According to the National Association of Community Health Centers, health centers save the U.S. health care system billions of dollars each year by emphasizing prevention, early intervention, and effective management of chronic conditions. When people have access to regular primary care, they are less likely to rely on emergency departments for routine health needs and more likely to avoid preventable hospitalizations. Better health outcomes also translate into stronger communities, a more productive workforce, and lower health care costs.
Community health centers also serve as significant economic engines throughout Maine. They create stable, high-quality jobs, and generate economic activity that supports businesses and families alike. In many rural communities, the local health center is among the area’s largest employers and an essential part of the community’s long-term vitality.
Perhaps the greatest strength of community health centers, however, cannot be measured in numbers. It is the relationships they build.
Health center providers take the time to know their patients — their families, their challenges, and their goals. They understand that trust is earned over time and that every patient deserves compassionate, respectful care. This relationship-centered model allows providers to deliver care that is not only clinically effective but also deeply personal. Patients know they are seen, heard, and cared for by people who are invested in the health of their communities.
As health care continues to evolve, community health centers remain an essential part of Maine’s future. They are expanding access to integrated behavioral health, strengthening rural health care infrastructure, growing pharmacy services, embracing new technologies, and training the next generation of health professionals. Their ability to innovate while staying rooted in local communities makes them uniquely positioned to meet Maine’s changing health care needs.
During Maine Community Health Center Week, we encourage everyone to take a moment to recognize the extraordinary impact these organizations have on our state. Whether you have received care at a community health center, know someone who has, or simply value healthier communities, their work touches all of us.
Healthy communities begin with accessible, trusted primary care. Every day, Maine’s community health centers deliver exactly that, strengthening our communities, improving lives, and ensuring that every person has the opportunity to achieve better health.
To learn more about Maine Community Health Center Week, find events across the state, or locate a Community Health Center near you, visit www.mepca.org.