In Washington State, approximately 300 different crops are produced throughout the year which makes agriculture the cornerstone of the state’s economy. This is made possible thanks to the hard work of agricultural workers in areas like the Yakima Valley, which grows the largest variety of fresh produce in the Pacific Northwest.
The health of these workers is vital to their well-being, their livelihood, and the health of their families. An estimated 20% of agricultural workers across the country use Community Health Centers (CHCs) for their health care needs.
More than 30 years ago, Community Health Plan of Washington was founded by CHCs to serve as a not-for-profit health plan that would provide health insurance to people who were not being served by traditional insurance companies in Washington State, including agricultural workers.
At CHPW, our CHCs proudly serve migratory and seasonal agricultural workers throughout the state ensuring their needs and whole health are supported every step of the way.
During National Health Center Week, sponsored by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), we’re recognizing the tremendous contributions agricultural workers make to our daily lives and health, and even more importantly we’re increasing awareness about the flexibility needed in ensuring their health care needs are met no matter where they live.
Our 21 CHCs across the state serve agricultural workers but today we’re shining a spotlight on two of our CHCs who were founded on the belief that agricultural workers deserve access to health care that meets their specific needs:
Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic (YVFWC): One of the Pacific Northwest’s largest CHCs, providing medical, dental, behavioral health and social services to more than 197,000 people a year. They deliver affordable, comprehensive primary care for underserved populations in communities like Benton, Franklin, Spokane, and more.
Columbia Valley Community Health (CVCH): Partnering to achieve optimal health and wellness with compassion and respect for all, CVCH provides access to whole-person care for underserved individuals in North Central Washington.
We are proud to have YVFWC and CVCH as part of our family of CHCs because together we power communities through caring connections and continue to work to improve health outcomes for all Washingtonians.
Learn more about National Health Center Week at healthcenterweek.org.
