[Portsmouth, Ohio – August 17,2026 – Shawnee Family Health Center proudly announced today that it has been awarded a highly competitive Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) New Access Point (NAP) Grant, officially establishing the organization as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This milestone marks a significant advancement in the clinic's mission to expand access to high-quality, affordable healthcare services for underserved individuals and families throughout Adams, Lawrence, and Scioto Counties.
The HRSA New Access Point Grant supports the expansion of comprehensive primary healthcare services in communities with limited access to care. As a newly designated FQHC, Shawnee joins a nationwide network of community-based health centers dedicated to ensuring that all individuals receive quality healthcare regardless of their ability to pay.
"This designation is part of a long journey we have been on since we began providing primary care in 2009, said Cynthia Holstein, CEO. “Although we have been a Federally Qualified Health Center Look Alike, attaining full designation comes with annual funding from Health Resources and Services Administration to further our mission. We are now eligible to apply for other funding that is only available to FQHCs with full designation. Ms. Holstein, said that “the HRSA New Access Point Grant validates years of hard work and planning, and it allows us to expand our services, strengthen our workforce, and improve health outcomes for residents who have historically faced barriers to care."
As an FQHC, Shawnee will provide comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare services, including primary care, preventive care, chronic disease management, behavioral health services, care coordination, and other essential health programs. The designation also allows the clinic to offer services on a sliding fee scale based on patients' income and family size, ensuring that cost does not prevent access to care.
The grant funding will support Shawnee’s plans to start a primary care clinic in Hisle Park Apartments and outreach to people living in other public housing facilities who need health care. Shawnee’s efforts to increase healthcare access to residents of public housing means expanding clinical capacity, recruiting additional healthcare professionals, enhancing care coordination services, increasing transportation, and reaching vulnerable populations that may otherwise go without care.
The achievement reflects the dedication of staff, board members, community partners, patients, and local stakeholders who supported the clinic throughout the rigorous application process.
Over the coming months, Shawnee Family Health Center, with clinics in Adams, Lawrence, and Scioto Counties, will implement expansion plans and continue engaging community members to ensure services remain responsive to local healthcare priorities. Ms. Holstein said that it will be “very important to talk with residents of public housing to see how we can best meet their needs.”
For more information about Shawnee and its services, visit shawneefamiyhealth.org
Shawnee Family Health is a community-based healthcare organization dedicated to providing accessible, high-quality healthcare services to residents of Adams, Lawrence, and Scioto Counties. It opened in 1973 to provide community based mental health services and expanded its scope in 2009 to provide comprehensive primary care. Shawnee opened its own pharmacy in 2025 and can provide free and reduced medication to those who are uninsured or underinsured. As a Federally Qualified Health Center, the organization offers comprehensive primary care and supportive services designed to improve the health and well-being of the communities it serves.
