By Anita Aguirre and seven others
As we close National Health Center Week 2025, communities across the country celebrated one of our nation’s great success stories: community health centers. For over half a century, these centers have provided high-quality, cost-effective and compassionate care to millions of Americans — regardless of income or insurance status. In Santa Cruz County, we see the remarkable impact of this work every day.
The nearly 1,500 community health centers nationwide — including the dedicated providers here in Santa Cruz — serve more than 32.5 million people annually. These centers aren’t just places for checkups; they are lifelines for people facing the toughest health and life circumstances. They provide comprehensive preventive and primary care, address complex behavioral health needs, offer dental and vision services, and respond to social determinants of health like food insecurity, housing instability and poverty.
In our region, organizations such as Dientes Community Dental, Encompass Community Services, Janus of Santa Cruz, Salud Para La Gente, Santa Cruz Community Health, and Santa Cruz County Public Health and County Health Centers are part of a coordinated network of safety-net providers. These groups work in partnership with the Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County, which brings together clinics, local hospitals, county agencies and nonprofits to strengthen access to care, share data and best practices, and advocate for the needs of vulnerable residents.
Now more than ever, the work of these safety-net providers is critical. This network ensures that farmworkers in Watsonville receive bilingual care close to home, seniors in Live Oak access affordable medical and dental services, and families in the San Lorenzo Valley don’t have to choose between a paycheck and their health. Whether it’s prenatal care, chronic disease management, vaccinations or behavioral health services, our local health centers meet people where they are — with dignity, compassion and clinical excellence.
The results speak for themselves. Studies show that health centers reduce emergency department visits, lower health care costs, and improve health outcomes — especially for low-income populations. In Santa Cruz County, where nearly one in three residents relies on Medi-Cal, this model isn’t just effective — it’s essential.
Yet even as we celebrate, we must acknowledge that these vital services are at risk. The recent passage of the federal budget and its devastating Medicaid cuts will destabilize our health care system. Many community members will lose health insurance as they are pushed off Medi-Cal and Covered California.
Without long-term, stable funding, local health centers and supporting agencies may be forced to reduce services, cut hours, or delay critical upgrades needed to meet the needs of a growing and aging population. The consequences will be felt most by those already facing systemic barriers: children, older adults, immigrants, unhoused residents, and people with complex physical and behavioral health conditions.
Fortunately, here in California — and especially in Santa Cruz County — we have champions. Our local state and federal representatives have consistently supported community health. Leaders like Rep. Jimmy Panetta, Rep. Zoe Lofgren and Sen. Adam Schiff have long advocated for expanding health care access and ensuring funding stability for health centers. At the state level, Speaker Robert Rivas, Sen. John Laird, and Assemblymembers Dawn Addis and Gail Pellerin have stood with safety-net providers to protect Medi-Cal benefits and maintain access to dental, mental health and preventive services.
We are proud to live in a community that believes health is a right, not a privilege. And we are grateful to be part of a region where collaboration between providers, local government and advocates continues to produce innovative, community-rooted solutions.
As we celebrate National Health Center Week, let us honor the doctors, nurses, dental providers, behavioral health clinicians, outreach workers and administrators who make this work possible. Let us also recommit to standing with them — because their work is far from done.
If you want to show your support, consider visiting a local health center, attending a community health event or contacting your elected officials to advocate for sustained funding. Community Health Centers are there when you need them. Let’s make sure they know we’re here for them, too.
This Guest Commentary was authored by Laura Marcus, chief executive officer, Dientes Community Dental Care; Shellee Stopera, chief executive officer, Encompass Community Services; Amber Williams, chief executive officer, Janus of Santa Cruz; Maritza Lara, executive director, Health Improvement Partnership of Santa Cruz County; Donna Young, chief executive officer, Salud Para La Gente; Anita Aguirre, chief executive officer, Santa Cruz Community Health; Pam Conelly; acting director of public health, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency; and Amy Peeler, chief of health center services, Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.
