The beginning
El Centro Family Health began with a vision of bringing accessible healthcare to rural and underserved communities in Northern New Mexico. Our roots go back to the early 1970s, when we operated through the HELP Program (Home, Education, Livelihood Program) under the name Centro Campesino de Salud. Our first executive director, Mardoqueo Chacón, carried that vision forward—often using his own car as his office. Even without resources, the commitment to community care was strong from the very beginning.
1972
In 1972, we became an independent organization and opened our first medical clinics in Española, Las Vegas, Wagon Mound, Peñasco, and San Miguel. Soon after, we added dental services and a family planning program dedicated to supporting young families and reducing teen pregnancy. When federal funding cuts in the 1980s forced the closure of some programs, our organization persisted, adapted, and continued to serve those who needed care most.
1986 – 2000
By 1986, we reorganized as Health Centers of Northern New Mexico and entered a period of renewal and steady growth. Support through federal FQHC designation, state funding, and community partnerships allowed us to expand services, add school-based health centers, and establish new programs, including behavioral health and veteran services. Throughout the 1990s and early 2000s, clinics and service offerings continued to grow in communities including Springer, Chama, Peñasco, Embudo, and Roy.
2000 – 2007
The early 2000s brought financial challenges, but strong leadership, fiscal discipline, and organizational restructuring led to recovery and long-term stability. Key positions were created to strengthen healthcare quality and operations, and new dental, medical, and behavioral health facilities opened across our service region. In 2007, we embraced a new name that reflected our mission and identity: El Centro Family Health.
2011 – 2014
Collaboration has always been part of our story. In 2011, we partnered with Rio Arriba County and Public Health to establish the Rio Arriba Health Commons in Española—a shared campus integrating community health services under one roof. We continued investing in school-based health centers, improving clinic facilities, introducing electronic health records, and expanding behavioral health and telehealth access across rural communities.
2015 – Today
Today, El Centro Family Health serves more than 24,000 square miles across seven counties in Northern New Mexico. We care for more than 19,000 patients each year through medical, dental, and behavioral health services, including school-based and community-based programs. And we remain committed to the core values we started with: access, compassion, cultural respect, and community care.
As a Federally Qualified Health Center, we welcome everyone—regardless of income, insurance status, or ability to pay. We accept Medicaid, Medicare, and most private insurance, and offer a sliding fee scale for those paying out of pocket.
From a borrowed car office to a regional healthcare organization, our story has always been about one thing: caring for our communities, close to home.