The Center for Family Health

Serving the community since 1991

A Federally Qualified Health Center.

Founded by Community Action in 1991, the Center for Healthy Beginnings began 30 years ago as a small prenatal clinic, caring for pregnant women and delivering babies. In 1994, the Center changed its name to the Center for Family Health (CFH), adding primary medical services and serving individuals in Jackson County and the surrounding areas. In 2000, the Center was named a federally qualified health center (FQHC) serving babies, children, teens, and adults of all ages regardless of ability to pay.

The Centers’ mission is “Opening the door to health care for all,” and our vision is “together we make good health happen.” In 2020 the Center served more than 36,000 patients, 95% of whom are considered low-income and racially diverse. Our health center provides comprehensive primary health care, behavioral health services, and dental services through a 22-chair dental clinic. We operate seven sites which include a main medical facility, a dental clinic, three urban and one rural school health centers, and a part-time primary care clinic co-located with the local community mental health agency to serve its population.

The Center accepts Medicaid, Medicare, and most commercial health insurance, and it works with patients to enroll them in appropriate health-care plans.  However, no one is turned away due to inability to pay.  The Center also operates an onsite pharmacy and a walk-in clinic.

Health Centers are Rooted in the Civil Rights Movement

Learn more from the latest article by the National Association of Community Health Centers

1991
CFH History

The Center for Healthy Beginnings opens at 817 W. High St. Founded by Community Action Agency, the Center hopes to bring down Jackson County’s high infant mortality rates by offering prenatal medical care.

1994
CFH History

Center for Healthy Beginnings' name changes to the Center for Family Health as primary medical care services is added.

2000
CFH History

Center named a Federally Qualified Health Center

2001
CFH History

Dental services are added through a merger
with Jackson Area Dental Clinic.

2005
CFH History

The Northeast Health Center, the Center’s first school-based clinic, opens through a partnership with Jackson Public Schools.

Behavioral health services added.

2006
CFH History

The Parkside Health Center opens at the Middle School at Parkside.

2007
CFH History

The mobile dental unit starts visiting area schools.

2011
CFH History

After a successful capital campaign, the new Downtown Facility opens at 505 N. Jackson St., bringing all of the Center’s services under one roof and adding a Pharmacy.

Third school-based clinic, Jackson High Health Center, opens.

2012
CFH History

Walk-In Clinic opens at the Downtown Facility.

2013
CFH History

Fourth school-based clinic – Northwest Community Health Center – opens at R.W. Kidder Middle School, through a partnership with the Northwest School District.

Center for Family Health at LifeWays opens.

2013
CFH History

Center is designated a Patient-Centered Medical Home by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Medical residents, through a partnership with Henry Ford Allegiance Health, start seeing family-medicine patients.

2014
CFH History

Northwest Community Health Center serves adults in addition to children and teens.

New medical-care center opens in Hillsdale

2016
CFH History

New Dental Clinic opens at 500 N. Jackson Street, extending dental services beyond children to all adults.

Northeast Health Center expands services to offer primary medical care to adults.

2017
CFH History

All patient medical records were transferred from one digital system, NextGen, to another, Epic. Called MyChart, the system is available 24/7, is private and secure, and enables doctors to access all of an individual patient’s records easily.

All four Center school health centers received a Level 3 Patient-Centered Medical Home Certification from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

2018
CFH History

Through a partnership with the Jackson County Jail, the Center helps inmates fight opiate addiction, using Vivitrol, a medication that reduces cravings for illegal drugs.

2019
CFH History

Parkside Health Center accepts adult patients.

Services of a psychologist and a psychiatrist are added for patients.

2020
CFH History

The Center is tapped as a community COVID-19 testing site.

2021
CFH History

The Center celebrates 30 years!

Celebrating 30 years!

In 2021 CFH celebrated 30 years of service for the Jackson community. The Center for Healthy Beginnings began in 1991 as a small prenatal clinic. In 1994 the Center changed its name to the Center for Family Health. Watch our short slideshow video that celebrates the last 30 years!

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This entity receives HRSA Health Center Program grant funding under 42 U.S.C. § 254b and has been deemed a Public Health Service employee for purposes of certain liability protections, including Federal Tort Claims Act coverage, under 42 U.S.C. § 233(g)-(n).