Mission
Mobilizing the power of community and generous donors to support Neighborhood Family Practice Community Health Centers.

Vision
High quality health care is accessible to all.
The North Coast Legacy
In 1986, North Coast Health (NCH), originally North Coast Health Ministry, began as a faith-based free clinic. Founded by Dr. Russell Elmer with support from four Bay Village congregations, it started as a community effort to connect uninsured people to health care.
For over 30 years, NCH was guided by values like faith, compassion, teamwork, and stewardship. Volunteers, community partners, and donors worked together to ensure everyone could access care, regardless of their ability to pay.
NCH grew from a one-evening-a-week volunteer clinic into a full-time primary care clinic run by staff and volunteers. In 2014, Medicaid expansion and the Affordable Care Act helped NCH transition from a free clinic to a charitable clinic, offering affordable care to uninsured, under-insured, Medicaid, and Medicare patients.
By 2018, with changes in health care and funding, NCH’s Board of Directors sought a partner with a similar mission. After careful planning, NCH joined forces with Neighborhood Family Practice (NFP). This partnership united resources and staff to better serve patients and the community.
On January 1, 2019, North Coast Health became Neighborhood Family Practice North Coast Community Health Center, starting a new chapter of care and service.



The North Coast Health Foundation
For 32 years, North Coast Health (NCH) served as a vital safety net health clinic for residents of Lakewood and surrounding communities.
As part of a strategic alliance with Neighborhood Family Practice (NFP), the North Coast Health Foundation was established to continue a philanthropic legacy of helping others and to perpetuate a shared mission of providing high quality health care to anyone in need, regardless of ability to pay.
A nonprofit supporting organization of NFP, the Foundation works to advance the mission of NFP by raising awareness of services and fostering philanthropic support for capital, charitable care and operations.
Led by a volunteer board of directors composed of community leaders from the former NCH and current NFP boards, this joint endeavor illuminates the unity of the two organizations and an ongoing commitment to reducing barriers to ensure that everyone has access to high quality, affordable health care.
All donations made to Neighborhood Family Practice and/or the North Coast Health Foundation support our mission to partner with the community for everyone’s health by providing health care services regardless of ability to pay; treating patients with compassion, dignity and respect; protecting confidentiality; and offering culturally sensitive services and community outreach.
North Coast Health Foundation Board of Directors
Aaron Arnoczky
Jay Carson
Sonya Caswell
Mark Getsay
John Griffiths
Jennifer Hunter
Rev. Laura Jaissle
Michael Mitchell
Dan Mayer
Scott Skinner
Christopher Warren