Health happens in more places than hospitals and clinics. Access to nutritious food, stable housing, transportation, education, and other basic needs can shape a person’s health long before medical care is ever administered.
That’s why Ascension’s five Community Health Ministries (CHMs) work alongside local communities to address these foundational needs. In fiscal year 2026, our CHMs served more than 73,000 people across 23 clinic locations and provided more than 175,000 primary care visits. During National Health Center Week, our CHMs joined community health centers across the country in recognizing the people and partnerships working every day to support healthier communities.
Each ministry tailors its work to local needs and strategic priorities.From providing school supplies and summer meals to connecting families with housing and financial resources, CHMs continue to serve as a bridge to care and support for people who face barriers to accessing healthcare and other essential resources.
Turning community needs into action
In San Antonio, Ascension DePaul Services hosted its largest-ever “Beyond Backpacks” drive, with 800 students registered to receive new outfits, shoes, and hygiene essentials. The ministry also welcomed Councilman Edward Mungia to learn more about its work, which includes providing more than 60,000 services each year to more than 10,000 residents.
In Kansas City, Seton Center distributed 391 summer snack bags to local children and invited Congressman Emanuel Cleaver for a tour focused on the community’s need for dental care. About 67% of patients served rely on Medicaid or Medicare, while demand for the center’s food pantry has grown 140% to about 600 families each month.
In New Orleans, our partner, DePaul Community Health Center, opened a new Community Resource Center in partnership with Gulf Coast Housing Partnership. The center brings care and social services together, making it easier for patients and families to connect with housing assistance, food, transportation, insurance enrollment, financial support, and other resources.
While National Health Center Week is a once-a-year celebration of community-based care, Ascension’s CHMs work year-round to respond to local needs, strengthen connections to care and resources, and help build healthier, more resilient communities.
