To address the widespread lack of access to basic health care, Community Health Centers serve 20 million people at more than 7,000 sites located throughout all 50 states and U.S. territories.

Health centers depend in large part on public financial help and need a unified voice and common source for research, information, training and advocacy.

To address these needs, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) organized in 1971.   NACHC works with a network of state health center and primary care organizations to serve health centers in a variety of ways:

• Provide research-based advocacy for health centers and their clients.
• Educate the public about the mission and value of health centers. 
• Train and provide technical assistance to health center staff and boards.
• Develop alliances with private partners and key stakeholders to foster the delivery of primary health care services to communities in need.