HAPPI Health Celebrates New Access Points Award and a New Chapter of Growth
- csoronen
- Aug 17
- 3 min read
HAPPI Health is celebrating a major milestone in its mission to expand access to high-quality healthcare across the Tennessee Valley.
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has awarded HAPPI Health a New Access Points (NAP) award, transitioning the organization from a Health Center Program Look-Alike to a federally funded health center.
For HAPPI Health CEO Michelda Johnson, the announcement represents much more than federal funding. It is a recognition of the work HAPPI Health's team has put into building an organization centered on accessible, compassionate and high-quality care.
“This grant expands our opportunity to provide care to all individuals within the Tennessee Valley,” Johnson said. “We get to expand our footprint, open another location and make sure that no one — and I mean absolutely no one in this community — should ever feel that they cannot find a primary care provider or quality healthcare.”
What Is a New Access Points Award?
New Access Points funding supports new health center service delivery sites designed to increase access to comprehensive primary healthcare services in underserved communities.
HAPPI Health is officially listed among the Fiscal Year 2026 New Access Points award recipients by HRSA.
View HRSA's full list of 2026 New Access Points award recipients:FY 2026 New Access Points Awards – HRSA
The award builds upon HAPPI Health's existing commitment to serving patients regardless of their healthcare coverage or financial circumstances. As a federally funded health center, HAPPI Health will have an even greater opportunity to expand its reach and connect more people with the care they need.
From “You Should Close” to a Federally Funded Health Center
For Johnson, the milestone is especially meaningful because of where HAPPI Health was when she stepped into the CEO role on September 6, 2024.
At the time, the organization was navigating a two-year audit and facing serious questions about its long-term sustainability.
“The auditor's suggestion was, ‘You guys need to close. You can't and are not and will not be sustainable,’” Johnson recalled.
Instead, Johnson and the HAPPI Health team accepted the challenge.
“There's nothing like giving this Alabama girl a challenge,” she said. “I rolled up my sleeves. I made sure the staff were ready. We accepted that challenge.”
Less than two years later, HAPPI Health has reached a milestone that once may have seemed out of reach.
“It's personal that we've had this opportunity to move from ‘you should close,’ to a viable health center, to now a funded health center,” Johnson said. “No longer will you hear me say we are HAPPI Health, a Look-Alike, because today we are HAPPI Health, a fully funded health center.”
A Milestone Made Possible by the HAPPI Team
Johnson credits HAPPI Health's employees and Board of Directors for remaining committed to the organization's mission and the patients it serves.
She emphasized that quality healthcare is about more than providing a medical service. It is about creating an environment where patients feel heard, respected and cared for.
Johnson shared the story of a HAPPI Health patient who told her that despite having excellent insurance coverage, she continues to choose HAPPI because of the quality of care and relationship she has built with her provider.
“She said, ‘It's more than just a clinic for me. It's family,’” Johnson recalled.
That experience, Johnson said, represents what HAPPI Health strives to provide to every patient who walks through its doors.
“When a patient walks into our clinics, they feel the warmth, they feel cared for, they know that they're receiving quality care,” she said. “That's who we are. That is HAPPI. That is our mission.”
Expanding Access Across the Tennessee Valley
The New Access Points award opens the door for HAPPI Health to continue growing its footprint and reaching more patients throughout the Tennessee Valley.
For HAPPI Health, growth remains centered on one goal: ensuring that everyone has somewhere to turn for quality healthcare.
Johnson also expressed her gratitude to the community that has supported HAPPI Health throughout its journey.
“Thank you for embracing HAPPI. Thank you for loving on HAPPI. Thank you for accepting and embracing us as we have been true to our mission and true to our vision to make sure that quality, accessible care is available to all.”
This award marks the beginning of a new chapter for HAPPI Health — one built on years of perseverance, the dedication of its employees and the trust of the patients and communities it serves.
“Congratulations to us,” Johnson said. “We can't wait to serve you at a higher level.”
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