Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas (CHAD), the primary care association supporting CHCs across North and South Dakota, has been championing high-quality and affordable healthcare for more than four decades. In 2024, CHAD’s 10 member organizations, which include CHCs as well as Tribal and Urban Indian health centers, served 162,600 people at more than 70 sites. CHAD supports the region’s health centers by providing technical assistance, developing critical resources to support health center operations, and leading advocacy efforts. In collaboration with its member centers and other healthcare partners, CHAD works in the areas of highest need to expand access to high quality, affordable care that helps foster healthy families and communities.
Migrant and community health centers took hold in the Dakotas throughout the 1970s. The South Dakota Association of Community Health Centers was incorporated in 1985 and obtained its initial funding the following year. North Dakota CHCs joined in 1988, and the association changed its name to Dakota Association of Community Health Centers (DACHC). This expansion made the association one of four bi-state primary care associations in the United States. The association later changed its name to Community Healthcare Association in order to reflect its broader membership, before becoming Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas in 2003. Growth continued, and by 2015, Dakota health centers had served 100,000 patients.
CHAD’s member and community-driven policy priorities focus on supporting health center funding, expanding the primary care workforce, protecting telehealth access, increasing pharmacy access to underserved patients, and protecting access to affordable health insurance. Getting – and keeping – Dakotans enrolled in Medicaid is essential to ensuring access and continuity of care. Through the “Get Covered Coalition” CHAD helps to uplift personal stories on the importance of Medicaid, showing its impact in the Dakotas and raising awareness on the enrollment process.
CHAD’s staff provide resources to address clinical, human resources, finance, outreach, marketing, and advocacy operations. Additionally, they facilitate network teams that provide an opportunity for CHCs to share information, learn from one another, and develop and implement best practices. The Clinical Quality Network team provides resources and technical support in areas such as quality improvement, behavioral health initiatives, and HIV/AIDs provider education and training. In partnership with Wyoming PCA, CHAD established the Great Plains Health Data Network (GPHDN), a regional network whose purpose is to support participating CHCs in improving interoperability and leveraging health information technology and data analytics to support and enhance high quality primary care services.
CHAD’s advocacy, outreach, trainings, resources and collaborations help to sustain CHCs across the Dakotas. Together, these CHCs have served 50 communities in the two states, and generated more than $341 million dollars in economic impact, helping to create vibrant, thriving, healthier communities.
This story was published in 2026.
