Florence, South Carolina – The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) has once again recognized HopeHealth for its leadership in advocacy by giving it the Gold Level certification. This award puts HopeHealth in a group of only three community health centers in South Carolina that have received it. It shows for how long HopeHealth has been dedicated to improving health care that is fair and easy to go to.
HopeHealth has been a Gold Level Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) before. The organization originally got ACE recognition in 2016, and it has kept its Gold status since 2018. Notably, HopeHealth was the first community health center in South Carolina to attain ACE designation and was only the 22nd center nationwide to reach the Gold Level criterion.
NACHC came up with the ACE program to draw attention to community health centers that make advocacy a part of their daily work. A health center must do more than just provide good treatment to get this level of recognition. It must also create an environment that makes sure that local, state, and national politicians recognize how important it is to keep investing in community-based health. The Gold grade shows that the organization is very committed to making lobbying a major aspect of its strategy.
Advocacy has become a key part of HopeHealth’s aim to make it stronger. The group strives to get support for inexpensive, creative, and community-driven health care by talking to lawmakers, making connections, and spreading the word. The renewed Gold designation demonstrates not only consistency but also efficacy in impacting discourse about public health and access to care.
This acknowledgment bears weight beyond accolades. It shows that years of hard work by staff, leadership, and community partners who believe that advocacy is important for making sure that marginalized groups have the resources they need. HopeHealth’s continued commitment to advocacy shows that it is both a provider of medical services and a voice for the communities it serves at a time when health care systems are under more and more pressure.
Read also: Florence set to host citywide hiring event September 26 at Pearl Moore Basketball Center
HopeHealth is now a model for others in the field because of this success. Its rise from the first ACE in South Carolina to a recurring Gold Level recipient shows how powerful it is to combine advocacy with patient care. HopeHealth is one of a select number of centers that have this honor. It continues to have an impact on the future of community health in the state and across the country.