To: Board of Supervisors
From: John Gioia, District I Supervisor
Report Title: Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of LifeLong Medical Care
☒Recommendation of the County Administrator ☐ Recommendation of Board Committee
RECOMMENDATIONS:
ADOPT Resolution recognizing the 50th Anniversary of LifeLong Medical Care, as recommended by Supervisor Gioia.
FISCAL IMPACT:
None
BACKGROUND:
LifeLong Medical Care has provided vital public health services in Contra Costa County since 1976.
CONSEQUENCE OF NEGATIVE ACTION:
NA
The Board of Supervisors of Contra Costa County, California
IN THE MATTER OF Recognizing the 50th Anniversary of LifeLong Medical Care
WHEREAS, in 1976, community activists and members of the Gray Panthers opened the Over 60 Health Center, grounded in the belief that older adults deserved accessible, dignified, high-quality care regardless of income or circumstance, establishing the foundation of what would become LifeLong Medical Care; and
WHEREAS, LifeLong Medical Care emerged from this conviction that health care is a human right, integrating public-health principles from the very beginning and recognizing that health is shaped not only by clinical care but also by the social and environmental conditions in which people live; and
WHEREAS, in 1996, the Over 60 Health Center merged with Berkeley Primary Care Access Clinic and West Berkeley Health Center to form LifeLong Medical Care, expanding its mission to serve people of all ages and reinforcing its commitment to whole-person, community-rooted care; and
WHEREAS, in 2000, LifeLong broadened its comprehensive model of care by integrating dental services, recognizing oral health as essential to overall wellbeing and ensuring coordinated care under one roof; and
WHEREAS, what began as a single storefront clinic has grown over five decades into a robust network of 15 community health centers across Alameda and Contra Costa counties, now serving more than 50,000 patients each year and providing integrated primary care, behavioral health, dental care, substance use treatment, supportive housing services, and wraparound social supports; and
WHEREAS, LifeLong has consistently responded to unmet community needs, launching innovative approaches such as the Oakland Trust Health Center in 2015 to serve unhoused individuals, followed by its award-winning Street Medicine teams beginning in 2019; and
WHEREAS, in 2025, LifeLong expanded this model into the Berkeley Trust Health Center, demonstrating a continued commitment to accessible, respectful, community-grounded care; and
WHEREAS, LifeLong has invested in long-term solutions by launching the Family Medicine Residency Program in 2020 and celebrating the graduation of its first class of family physicians in 2023 at its William Jenkins-based Richmond training site; and
WHEREAS, as LifeLong approaches its 50th anniversary, community health centers nationwide are navigating increasing financial pressures and rising demand for services, yet LifeLong continues to demonstrate resilience, compassion, and innovation in delivering accessible, high-quality care to underserved communities; and
WHEREAS, LifeLong’s history reflects a steadfast commitment to meeting people where they are and its legacy continues to shape the health and wellbeing of communities throughout Contra Costa County;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED: that the Contra Costa County Board of Supervisors hereby recognizes and celebrates LifeLong Medical Care’s 50 years of service, honors its unwavering commitment to health equity and community wellbeing, and expresses deep appreciation for the staff, providers, volunteers, and partners whose compassion and dedication continue to transform lives across our region.