Lake County Community Health Center marks 30 years as federally qualified health center

Lake County officials on Sept. 9 recognized the 30th anniversary of the Lake County Health Department and Community Health Center's designation as a federally qualified health center (FQHC). County Board Member Park read a proclamation noting the center's expansion from a single location to nine sites across the county and the 13 programs offered, including primary medical care, dental, prenatal services, behavioral health, psychiatry and insurance navigation.

Charles Fenero, chair of the Community Health Center Governing Council, spoke at the meeting about the council's consumer-led role and the center's commitment to treating the whole person and addressing social drivers of health. Deputy Executive Director Sam Johnson thanked the board and staff for three decades of service.

The proclamation said the FQHC served 32,975 unique patients and recorded 113,189 patient visits in 2024 and employs more than 450 staff delivering care countywide. Board members, public-health officials and governing-council members attended the recognition.