Community Health Development, Inc.(CHDI), formerly Uvalde County Clinic, Inc., is a community-based health care agency incorporated in 1983 in Uvalde County, Texas as a 501(C)3 status agency.  CHDI was founded by residents of Uvalde County concerned over the lack of access to quality and affordable health care for the underserved and working poor families.  CHDI began operations in June, 1984 as a Migrant Health Center (Section 329) with funding from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, Health Resources and Services Administration, Department of Health and Human Services.  At that time, both the City and County of Uvalde also provided funding for primary care services.  In 1986, CHDI received expanded funding from the Bureau of Primary Health Care, under Section 329 and 330, as a Community/Migrant Health Center. With the expanded federal funding, local funding support for services was provided solely by the County.  CHDI is designated as a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC) and has received Federal Tort Claims Act status under the Federally supported Health Center Act of 1992.

At its inception, CHDI provided services solely to the residents of Uvalde and parts of Zavala counties.  In 1993, the agency received additional funds from the BPHC under Section 330, to expand services to Real and Edwards counties.  CHDI’s entire service area is designated as a Medically Underserved Area.  CHDI’s service area continues to be designated as Rural Federal Enterprise Community, which carries with it a broad commitment from the President of the United States to assist these communities.  CHDI currently operates four health care delivery sites: Our Health/Nuestro Centro de Salud and The Center for Community Wellness located in the city of Uvalde; Rolling Hills Health located in Leakey and Canyon Health Center in Camp Wood (Real County).

CHDI is governed by an eleven (11) member Board of Directors composed of client representatives (51%) and community leaders concerned about health and well-being of the tri-county service area.  The Board is representative of the agency’s client population in terms of ethnic, migrant/seasonal farmworker, and geographic composition.  The Board of Directors meets the fourth Thursday of every month.  CHDI’s Board is a policy setting board.  It also serves as the primary avenue for identifying community and patient needs.  The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) is the person responsible for communications with the Board and in turn oversees the operations of the agency through a Management Team. 

CHDI’s mission is to continuously improve the Nuestro Bienestar (Health and Well Being) of the community we serve.  This includes individuals without any form of health insurance, the underinsured, and individuals who receive public insurance.  During Calendar Year 2010, approximately 51% of the 10,726 individuals served by the agency had no form of health insurance, 16% were Private Insurance and 66.5% were 100% and below the federal poverty level.  Additionally, 13% were 15 years of age and younger, 18% were females between the ages of 15-44, and 6% of our patient population were individuals 65 years of age and older. The majority of those over 65 have multiple chronic conditions, such as Diabetes, Heart Disease, and High Blood Pressure. Also, 8% of our patient populations are Migrant/Seasonal Farmworker.  Recent increases in the number of families living in poverty and the number of elderly unable to afford comprehensive care have created an excess demand for quality and affordable health care.  For thousands of residents in the tri-county service area, CHDI has become the primary source of health care.

CHDI’s service delivery model encompasses a philosophy that views the community’s resources and needs as the primary concern in planning and operating all agency activities.  CHDI is dedicated to serving the well-being of its clients without regard to race, sex, color, religion, national origin, disability or ability to pay for services.  The scope of services provided by CHDI includes: Primary Medical Care services (i.e. Family Medicine, Internal Medicine, and Pediatrics), In-patient care, Diagnostic Lab, X-ray, Oral Health services, Family Planning, specialty care referrals, preventive health care, Class D pharmacy, perinatal case management, disease screening and management, health education/promotion, Community Education, and social services. 

Over the past few years the agency has made great strides in implementing a One Stop Shopping environment for quality health care services for the entire family. As a matter of fact CHDI receives on-going state and local funding awards from the Texas Department of State Health Services to help provide Diabetes Awareness, Immunizations, and Family Planning services (Titles X and XX) in which allow the agency to provide the broadest array of services.