History

Since 1971, when we saw our first patients in a local elementary school, we have been part of the community we serve.

Under the leadership of the Alliance for Latin American Progress, a community advocacy agency, Fair Haven Community Health Care (then know as Fair Haven Clinic) began seeing patients two evenings a week. The clinic served adults and children on a walk-in basis for minor illnesses, immunizations, and family planning services. Soon patients identified Fair Haven as their medical home and not just a place for episodic care.

Today, we provide care for multiple generations at over 80,000 office visits in 14 locations. As we grow to serve new families and new communities, we still work to put the patient first in everything we do.

Here’s a look at how we got to where we are today.

  • 1971- FAIR HAVEN OPENS AUGUST 16, 1971
    Open doors to patients at Columbus School (on Grand Avenue) two evenings a week.
    Receive $5,000 seed grant from the Community Foundation for Greater New Haven.
  • 1972
    First 12 months, 500 office visits are provided.
    Incorporate as Fair Haven Community Health Clinic, with first board of directors.
    Hire Katrina Clark as first full time executive director.
  • 1974
    Expand services from episodic care to more comprehensive primary health care.
    Prenatal program launched; first baby born in June.
  • 1975
    Hire first full time clinician, a nurse practitioner.
  • 1976
    Acquire our first building, a handsome old Victorian house, which later will become an anchor to Fair Haven’s three building presence on Grand Avenue.
    Snapshot: Center grows to 1,500 patients, 6,500 office visits, 15 staff members.
  • 1977
    Open 374 Grand Avenue location to patients.
    Triple patient hours from 16 to 50 per week.
    Hire first staff physicians.
  • 1978
    Open satellite at the Bella Vista Elderly Housing Complex.
  • 1980
    Receive our first federal funding (330 Grant) award.
  • 1982
    Open first School Based Health Center as a satellite at Wilbur Cross High School.
    Snapshot: 19,000 office visits, 4,500 patients, 36 staff members.
  • 1983
    Budget hits $1,000,000.
    Steady growth and expansion of services.
    Initiate AIDS counseling and testing for patients.
  • 1988
    Purchase a second, adjacent building to connect to our current Grand Avenue facility.
    Change our name to the Fair Haven Community Health Center to reflect the broader range of services we are providing.
    Snapshot: 27,000 office visits, 7,000 patients, 50 staff members.
  • 1990
    Move into second building on Grand Avenue.
    Open School Based Health Center at Fair Haven Middle School.
  • 1991
    Purchase third building on Grand Avenue with plans to connect all three.
    Snapshot: 35,000 office visits.
  • 1996
    Open School Based Health Center at Clinton Avenue School.
    Create Community Health network with 8 other community health centers.
  • 1999
    Launch Wellness Center to collaborate with providers to improve chronic disease outcomes.
    Complete Phase III of Grand Avenue renovations with three integrated buildings.
    Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations bestows accreditation on Fair Haven for the first time.
  • 2002
    Snapshot: 56,000 office visits, 10,500 patients, 115 staff members.
    Open School Based Health Centers at John Martinez School and Riverside Academy.
  • 2007
    Purchase of 350 Grand Avenue for WIC Program.
    Launch Nurturing Families Network and home visiting programs.
  • 2011
    Snapshot: 72,000 office visits, 15,000 patients, 190 staff members.
  • 2012
    Launch Diabetes Prevention wellness program and partner with Chabasco Bread in founding what becomes New Haven Farms.
  • 2014
    Second full time executive director, Dr. Suzanne Lagarde, joins FHCHC.
  • 2015
    Open dedicated space at 50 Grand Avenue for Women’s Health, Midwifery and Dental Care in October.
  • 2016
    Expand clinical care to East Haven to address the shortage of accessible health care. First Patient seen in May.
    Launch E-consult program, allowing Fair Haven providers access to specialist consults with reduced wait time.
    Introduce Refugee Family Clinics in partnership with IRIS to assist with the increase of families coming into Connecticut.
  • 2017
    Open 2 new School Based Health Centers in East Haven in September.
    Evolve our name to Fair Haven Community Health Care to celebrate our focus on excellent patient care in multiple locations. This coincides with new logo launch in October.
    Relocate expanded Dental Care services to dedicated space at 50 Grand in October.
    Introduce Displaced Puerto Rican Persons Clinics in October, in response to the increase of Puerto Rico residents relocating to the New Haven area following Hurricane Maria devastation of the island in September.
    Launch on-site care partnership with BHcare Branford in November.
  • 2018
    Snapshot: 80,000 office visits, 18,000 patients, 212 staff members.
  • 2019
    Welcoming our community and inspiring change