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Stories of Impact: Camino Health Center

by Meaghan Dunham Arena

When Camino Health Center (CHC) received a 2024 Women’s Impact Fund grant, they were already laying the groundwork for something big. Less than a year later, CHC has transformed that support into expanded services, greater accessibility, and deeper community impact.

Expanding Care, Building Capacity

The WIF grant came at a pivotal moment, as CHC was undertaking a major construction project to renovate and expand its medical campus. This included a complete restructuring of its primary care clinic and the addition of five dental offices. Construction was completed in November 2024, and the team celebrated with a grand opening in March 2025—an exciting milestone made even more impactful by the simultaneous launch of their new Epic Electronic Health Record System, acquired through a partnership with Atrium Health. This upgrade allows CHC to seamlessly coordinate care with local hospitals, enhancing outcomes for their patients.

Serving the Underserved

In just three months following the grant—between May and July 2024—CHC served 1,021 patients, including 842 Mecklenburg County residents, the vast majority of whom are Latino (90%+) and uninsured (99%). They also provided critical no-cost care, including physicals, behavioral health services, and social support to 35 newly arrived immigrants. Special efforts have been made to support unaccompanied minors in partnership with Bethany Christian Services, ensuring these vulnerable children receive fast-tracked medical screenings and care.

Throughout the past two quarters, CHC continued to provide primary and pediatric medical care, wellness programs, ultrasounds, vaccinations, nutrition services, and behavioral health programming, including peer support and social navigation. They also expanded access to women’s health services, such as IUD removal and referral coordination with Atrium and Novant Health for more specialized care.

A Case Study in Direct Impact

Camino Health Center is a clear example of how a Women’s Impact Fund grant can create meaningful, measurable impact in just a few months. From launching new facilities to reaching historically underserved patients, CHC’s mission to “equip people to live healthy, hopeful, productive lives” is evident in every touchpoint. Between October 2024 and March 2025 alone, CHC served 1,645 unduplicated individuals through 4,157 medical encounters and an additional 304 patients at their newly opened dental clinic.

Innovative Partnerships and Outreach

CHC has leveraged partnerships to extend its reach far beyond its walls. Through collaborations with MAP International, NC MedAssist, and AmeriHealth Caritas, they have:

  • Launched pharmaceutical services at their Mecklenburg campus to help patients manage chronic conditions affordably
  • Provided free over-the-counter medications to nearly 600 community members—an effort projected to save over $46,000 in ER costs
  • Participated in community health fairs and brought their mobile medical unit to underserved areas, including hurricane-impacted communities in Western NC, conducting 84 health screenings

They also continued to promote nutrition equity, with a registered dietitian delivering personalized consultations to 54 patients and hosting food distribution events that served 62 families, along with hands-on cooking classes.

Looking Ahead

Camino Health Center is not just expanding services—they’re building a health ecosystem rooted in trust, dignity, and access for all. Thanks to the support of the Women’s Impact Fund and strong community partnerships, CHC is continuing to break down barriers and create healthier futures across Charlotte and beyond.

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Janet LaBar

Executive Director​
jlabar@womensimpactfund.org

With more than 25 years of experience, Janet has a proven track record of leading organizations and teams in developing strategies that foster thriving communities. Her career is dedicated to the well-being of the places she serves, and the people and businesses within them, positioning her as a trusted sounding board, critical thinker, and purposeful protagonist across corporate, government, education, entrepreneurial, and civic spheres.
Janet joined Women’s Impact Fund in June 2025 to guide one of Charlotte’s most respected, women-led philanthropic organizations into its next phase of growth and impact. In partnership with the Women’s Impact Fund team, Board, Advisors, members, volunteers, and key community partners, she will continue strengthening communities by maximizing women’s leadership in philanthropy through collective giving, education, and engagement.
Inspired by her family, teams who dare greatly, and people and communities striving to be their best selves, Janet’s impactful career includes leadership roles as President and CEO of Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, President and CEO of Greater Portland Inc, and Chief Performance Officer of Greater Phoenix Economic Council. As a first-generation Filipino American, her lived experience deeply informs her professional drive to create equitable economic growth and opportunity in the metro areas she’s served.
She holds a BA in Communication Arts from the University of West Florida and an MBA in Marketing from the University of Phoenix. Janet and her husband James are proud parents to an older daughter, and a daughter and son who are twins.