Since its inception, Golden Valley Health Centers has cared for the underserved, uninsured farm worker populations of the San Joaquin Valley. In the early 70’s The Merced Farmworkers Health Project formed a board consisting of 11 elected members from Livingston, Planada, Dos Palos, and Merced. In 1972 the board of directors hired Mike Sullivan to assume the duties as coordinator of this county hospital-operated migrant health program. For nearly two years, services were delivered part time from space available at the hospital.
In 1973, a citizen group agreed We are recognized for our strong IT systems that improve efficiency and efficacy of our services. We have been leaders in the development of patient registries and population management for improved patient outcomes.
to separate from the County and form a non-profit corporation capable of receiving the federal migrant health funds. The new group decided they wanted and needed access to fulltime services with their own staff. The new non-profit, Merced Family Health Centers, purchased land in late 1973 and work started on the construction of a small medical and dental clinic. Completed in the summer of 1974, the group then hired its first full-time medical doctor and dentist.
In 1976 with the new Rural Health Initiative funding we were able to open our doors to all area residents in need of low cost quality health care. From 1975 to 1995 the non- profit group The new non-profit, Merced Family Health Centers, purchased land in late 1973 and work started on the construction of a small medical and dental clinic.
known as the Merced Family Health Centers opened up 11 satellite sites and grew to include site and services for the residents of Stanislaus County. As we grew we recognized the need to have a name and identity that matched our commitment of care to all uninsured and underinsured across both counties, and thus in 1995 it was decided to change the name of our federally qualified health center system to Golden Valley Health Centers.
GVHC has become known for its innovation in the area of quality and services. We are recognized for our strong IT systems that improve efficiency and efficacy of our services. We have been leaders in the development of patient registries and population management for improved patient outcomes. We have developed innovative cultural competency programs that recognize the diversity of our patients, respect their cultural and linguistic needs as an integrated part of our programs. GVHC has been a leader in the development of integrated behavior health across our sites and has been a vanguard in developing robust behavioral health services, integrated throughout our sites, with 14 behavioral health clinicians and three psychiatrists serving thousands of patients yearly.
From these humble beginnings, Golden Valley Health Centers has grown to a staff of 100 clinicians and 26 sites in the neighborhoods we serve, including a homeless health care program, 4 school based sites, 2 women’s health centers and 3 mobile health care vans. For 40 years, Golden Valley Health Centers has been committed to its mission of improving the health status of our patients by providing quality, managed primary health care services to people in the communities we serve regardless of language, financial, or cultural barriers.
