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SANTA BARBARA, Calif., August 2026 — From farmworker families and tribal communities to children receiving care at school and people facing housing challenges, federally qualified health centers across the Central Coast provide residents with essential health services. During National Health Center Week, Aug. 2-8, CenCal Health, the Medi-Cal managed care plan for Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties, is recognizing five health center partners whose work helps expand access to care across the region.
“Health centers are often the first place people turn when they need care, and for many families, they are a trusted ally at every stage of life,” said Marina Owen, CEO of CenCal Health. “Their work extends beyond the exam room, helping neighbors navigate health challenges, access supportive services and build a foundation for long-term well-being.”
That community-based approach reflects the mission on which health centers were founded in 1965: expanding access to care in medically underserved communities. Since then, health centers have grown to serve more than 32 million patients each year, including millions enrolled in Medicaid, known as Medi-Cal in California, as well as uninsured individuals and residents of rural communities. Nearly 90% of health center patients live at or below 200% of the federal poverty level, according to the U.S. Health Resources and Services Administration…