Community Health Centers Earn Seventh “Gold Quality Leader” and First “National Quality Leader” For Behavioral Health

For the seventh consecutive year, the Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s community health centers have earned the prestigious gold-level Health Center Quality Leader badge from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). This honor places the District’s 12 Federally Qualified Health Centers among the top 10% nationwide, one of only five in Florida — and the only one in Palm Beach County — to achieve this distinction.

Additionally, for the first time, the Health Care District earned the National Quality Leader Behavioral Health badge after years of dedicated work focused on expanding mental health services in Palm Beach County through evidence-based clinical care. This honor recognizes the District’s integrated model of mental health and primary care, which provides patients access to more complete, whole-person care that supports their overall health .

“Our community health centers have proudly served 45,000 patients in the last year,” said Darcy J. Davis, President and CEO of the Health Care District of Palm Beach County. “We’re thrilled to be recognized as the only Gold Quality Leader in Palm Beach County. Our newest accolade for Behavioral Health is especially monumental as we have continued to innovate and expand access to essential mental health care that stops the cycle of crisis. This recognition affirms the success and impact our teams are making every day, and it is an honor to lead 1,400 passionate and dedicated employees that always put patients first.”

“This is a powerful validation of the transformative work our teams are doing every day,” said Dr. Belma Andric, Chief Medical Officer and Executive Vice President. “Our focus on integrating behavioral health into primary care isn’t just innovative—it’s essential. From expanding psychiatric services to pioneering programs alongside first responders, we are breaking down barriers and redefining how communities access mental health care. These advancements are changing lives, and we’re just getting started.”

To expand access to behavioral health services, the Health Care District’s Community Health Center, Mangonia Park now provides comprehensive psychiatric services for adults and children seven days a week, 7 a.m. to 7 p.m., including holidays. The District also leads programs like Operation: C.O.A.S.T., a collaborative partnership that deploys peer responders and licensed therapists alongside law enforcement officers on mental health-related 911 calls, connecting individuals in crisis to specialized care. In addition, the District is building a new Crisis Center for Mental Health and Substance Abuse to provide 24/7 gold-standard clinical and psychiatric care to the community.

HRSA’s Community Health Quality Recognition (CHQR) badges recognize Health Center Program awardees and look-alikes (LALs) that have made notable quality improvement achievements in the areas of access, clinical quality, health information technology and health outcomes. HRSA, an agency of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, supports health care for people who are geographically isolated or economically and medically vulnerable.

The Health Care District’s community health centers also earned three additional recognition badges:

• Improving Health Care Access – for increasing the number of patients served and expanding access to comprehensive services such as behavioral health, dental, vision, and substance use treatment.

• Advancing Health Information for Quality – for using technology in safe, smart, and patient-focused ways to improve care.

• Patient-Centered Medical Homes – for delivering whole-person, relationship-based care that strengthens the patient-provider connection.

The Health Care District of Palm Beach County’s Federally Qualified Health Centers include nine brick-and-mortar locations across Palm Beach County and three mobile health clinics that provide adult and pediatric medical, dental and mental health care, substance use disorder treatment, women’s health and pharmacy services, regardless of insurance status.