History

In 1968 a system of Community Health Centers was developed in the Indianapolis area as part of the Model Cities Program.  These Centers were administered by the metropolitan Health Council, an organization formed to develop a comprehensive program of health services to needy areas of the city.  After several years and a number of administrative changes a decision was made to merge two of these neighborhood centers – the Martindale Health Center and the Central Avenue Health Center.  The combined centers moved in to new building located at 1650 North College Avenue in 1974 and began operation under the name of Citizens Ambulatory Health Center.

A group of African-American physicians, all members of the Aesculapius Society, under the name of Group Practice, Inc. was chosen to operate the new center.  Over time this Corporation became known as Citizens Health Corporation, Inc.  In 1991, Citizens Health Center became a Federally Qualified Health Center.  In 2000, Citizens Health Corporation entered into a co-applicant agreement with Health & Hospital Corporation of Marion County, Indiana.  Health & Hospital Corporation is the grantee of record for the Federally Qualified Health Center; however, as the result of this co-applicant arrangement Citizens Health Corporation, Board of Director’s operates the Health Center.  In doing so the Citizens Health Corporation contracts with the Chief Executive Officer to handle the daily operation of the Centers operation.
In 2004, Citizens Health Corporation was granted additional funding from the Health Resources Services Administration (HRSA) to operate a Public Housing Program.  Which Citizens continues operating today on the first floor of the Barton Annex Towers which is located at 501 East Street in Indianapolis.  At this same time period Citizens also began providing school based health care at Julian Coleman and Charity Dye schools.  In 2008, Citizens added ten (10) additional school based clinics.  In 2009, Citizens added another four (4) schools.  The fourteen (14) schools have an approximate total school enrollment of over 7,500 children.  The fourteen schools include nine (9) Indianapolis Public Schools and five (5) Charter Schools spread over the entire Indianapolis metro area.