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Dear Mariah,


National Health Center Week is approaching, and so, too, is our 2024 Conference! As ACU prepares to celebrate in-person in Washington, D.C., we're grateful to our inspiring community and reminded of the simple truth that the impact of our workforce's efforts resounds far beyond #NHCW. Indeed, because of your care, your commitment, and your compassion in making access to quality care a reality for more than 31 million patients each year, every week is National Health Center Week.


To help you continue to maximize your impact, this edition of Clinician & Community features new Conference updates including a celebration of our awardees and inaugural Fellows, as well as publications on tackling burnout and assessing core competencies in Chief Workforce Officers, new workforce retention and recruitment webinars, as well as a vital new funding update, mentoring opportunity in partnership with UNCF, and more.


Note: Clinician & Community will be on hiatus on Aug. 7 as we celebrate our community and #NHCW at our 2024 Conference. We'll return on Aug. 21.

Our 2024 Conference Is Nearly Here: It's Not Too Late to Join Us!

Aug. 4-7 | Washington, D.C.

Our 2024 Conference is just 11 days away! #ACUConf promises to be our biggest event yet as clinicians, administrators, and public health leaders from across the U.S. unite with us in Envisioning a More Equitable Future: Advancing Stakeholder-Centered Innovation. We hope you'll be among them! If you haven't already, register now to save your seat for CME-accredited sessions, networking opportunities, roundtable discussions, award ceremonies, and exciting keynote speeches from renowned physician and advocate Dr. J. Nwando Olayiwola, BPHC administrator Jim Macrae, national CHC advisor April Lewis, and more. Browse our agenda, view our FAQ, and sign up now. ACU Members and students receive significant discounts.

Register Today

Continuing Education Credits

This event is approved for 18.00 live AAFP Elective credits. If you are interested in receiving credit but are not a family physician, please read the AMA/AAFP equivalency statement or check with your state board to see if AAFP CMEs are accepted. All individuals who attend credit-eligible sessions and complete evaluations will receive certificates of attendance. 

Welcoming Our Latest Keynote Speakers

Enhance Your #ACUConf Experience with Pre-Conference Sessions & Our Post-Conference Behavioral Health Forum

Interested in taking a deeper dive into inclusive approaches to social drivers of health and disability, creating sustainable medical-legal partnerships (MLPs), or excellence in behavioral health? There's still time to sign up for two exciting Pre-Conference Workshops on Aug. 4 or our Behavioral Health Leadership Forum on Aug. 7! These half-day workshops and full-day Forum will offer a comprehensive look at moving from a medical to a social model of disability, understanding how to align Medicaid with MLPs, and more. Learn more and register now for:

Interrogating Our Work: Perspectives on Social Drivers of Health and Disability

Pre-Conference Workshop

August 4: 9 a.m.-12 p.m. ET


Unlocking Sustainable Funding: Strategies for Aligning Medicaid with Medical-Legal Partnership

Pre-Conference Workshop

August 4: 1-4 p.m. ET

Behavioral Health Leadership Forum: Exploring the Future of CHC Behavioral Health

Post-Conference Event

August 7: 7:30 p.m.-3 a.m. ET

Save Your Spot

Announcing Our 2024 Award Winners

ACU is proud to represent a diverse, transdisciplinary community of clinicians, advocates, and organizations and to honor excellence in our field with awards at our Conference. We're pleased to announce the recipients of our 2024 awards, including Dr. Jessica Hahm of Bread for the City, Dr. Gemma Jamena of Bay Area Community Health, Dr. Suzanne LaGarde of Fair Haven Community Health Care, Unity Health Care, Margarita Ramirez Silva of Stanford University, Susan Boyles of Adelante Healthcare, and Chelsea Piechowski of Johnson Health Center. Learn more about awardees or register to join us for the award ceremonies in D.C.!

Learn About Awardees

Honoring the First Cohort of the Fellowship of the Association of the Clinicians for the Underserved

Earlier this year, ACU's Board of Directors created the first professional distinction recognizing the unique skills and commitment of those who are bona fide specialists in caring for medically underserved communities: the Fellowship of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved. We're now pleased to announce the members of our inaugural Fellowship cohort. Learn about each member and the Fellowship program and join us in celebrating the 2024 Fellows at their in-person induction ceremony at ACU's Conference.

View the First Fellowship Cohort

In Case You Missed It: Delve Into Recent Publications on Mitigating Burnout and CWO Core Competencies

ACU's STAR2 Center has new resources to help health center leaders and staff bolster the workforce. Explore strategies to support employee well-being through organizational changes that prioritize staff needs in our publication on mitigating burnout, and read our updated Chief Workforce Officer (CWO) Core Competencies that now includes examples by behavioral stage to help with self-assessment.

Mitigating Burnout
CWO Core Competencies

In Case You Missed It: Listen to New Episodes in ACU's STAR2 Center Talks Workforce Success Podcast

Are you caught up on ACU's STAR2 Center Talks Workforce Success podcast? The most recent Pathways to Recruitment and Retention series highlights PCAs and health centers as they share how they implement health professions education and training (HP-ET) programs to "grow their own" medical, dental, and behavioral health staff amidst a nation-wide health workforce shortage. Listen to all four episodes in this series or catch up on past seasons.

Listen to the Podcast

Review Our Recent Webinar on Strategic Approaches to Effective CHC Recruiting

ACU's recent webinar with our partners at The Inline Group explored common health center workforce issues and challenges, strategies to overcome barriers to strengthening healthcare teams through innovative recruitment practices, and exercises on how to discover your organization's unique identity. Catch up on what you missed or review what you learned in our online archives.

Review the Webinar

Save Your Spot: Webinars from ACU and the BPHC Workforce Well-being Initiative Explore Diverse Workforce Topics

Join ACU and our partners at the BPHC Workforce Well-being Technical Assistance initiative for webinars exploring topics of interest to the health center workforce. Don't miss today's session on designing and implementing a successful workforce well-being strategy and see what's in store for future sessions. Register now for sessions on:

TODAY! Designing and Implementing a Successful Workforce Well-being Strategy

July 24: 2-3 p.m. ET

Creating Feedback Processes to Empower Staff

July 30: 2-3 p.m. ET

Incorporating Workforce Well-being into Your Strategic Plan

August 15: 2-2:30 p.m. ET

Adopting Robust Compensation and Benefits for Workforce Well-being

August 20: 2-3 p.m. ET

Learn More
Policy

Proposed Legislation Would Steeply Cut HHS, HRSA Budgets and Provide Essentially Flat Funding for the National Health Service Corps

On July 10, the House Appropriations Committee approved the Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and Related Agencies Appropriations Act. This bill provides a total discretionary fund of $185.8 billion, which is a 11% decrease from the previous fiscal year. According to the House Appropriations Committee report, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) will receive $130 million, which is $1.4 million above the FY24 enacted level. Notably, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) would receive a cut of $1.8 billion including level funding for public health workforce initiatives; and the Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) budget would be slashed by $1.5 billion including a cut of $18 million for nursing workforce development. Consideration of this legislation by the full House will likely occur in August, making this a crucial time to advocate to preserve vital health extender programs! Join us as an advocate to stay informed on what you can do to support the Corps and other initiatives.

Become an Advocate

We'll See You in D.C.: Thanks to Advocates Joining Us for Hill Day!

Last year, ACU coordinated advocates in speaking with legislators on Capitol Hill in support of funding for health centers, the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), and other programs. Your voice made a vital difference then, and with funding still hanging in the balance, your advocacy is similarly crucial now. That's why ACU is returning in less than two weeks alongside advocates for Hill Day during our 2024 Conference, and we're grateful to all who signed up to join us! This year's Conference will also feature a dedicated advocacy session, "NHSC: Educating and Empowering Advocates to Speak about the National Health Service Corps," and close with a general session exploring the importance of "Advocacy in an Election Year."

Join Us for Advocacy Sessions at #ACUConf

P.S. It's not too late for NHSC participants to receive significant 2024 Conference discounts: share your story with us to receive $50 off registration.

In Case You Missed It: Become a Mentor in UNCF's Workforce Diversity Mentorship Program

Applications Due July 31

ACU is collaborating with the UNCF Healthcare Workforce Diversity Program to provide our network with opportunities to mentor students and early-career professionals. Apply by July 31 for this chance to build leadership skills, grow your network, and cultivate experience to become a Fellow of ACU while supporting students from minoritized backgrounds who are pursuing credentials in healthcare-related STEM fields. Accepted mentors will receive support to hold (a minimum of) quarterly meetings to help guide mentees.

Apply Now

Join Us in Honoring National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Individuals who identify as Black, Indigenous, and People of Color face unique challenges and considerations in mental health, and the minoritized communities served by our CHC community often encounter considerable barriers to accessing behavioral healthcare. Join ACU in honoring National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month: access resources from the Office of Minority Health to build awareness and increase your understanding of the intersecting social determinants of health that impact these populations, take our JEDI E-Courses to understand key concepts, or learn how to create more inclusive organizations with our toolkit.

Learn More

Don't Forget: Our JEDI Committee Is Now Accepting Applications!

Are you an individual member of ACU or a staff member at an organizational member? If so, you're now eligible to apply to join our Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Committee! ACU's JEDI Committee strives to advance equity and inclusion for patients, communities, and the healthcare workforce through systemic change. Join the Committee to share your voice, expand your professional network, develop leadership skills, and shape our JEDI strategies. Review the Committee Charter and apply by Friday, Aug. 23.

Learn More and Apply

ACU JEDI Program: New JEDI Orientation Series for Healthcare Workers E-Course: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion: Understanding the Concepts

Harvard Public Health: "Good Health Care is Rooted in Evidence: So Is DEI."

ACU: Health Center Excellence: Essential Steps in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

KFF Health News: "Mississippi Lacks Black Doctors, Even as Lawmakers Increasingly Target Diversity Programs"

Learn Evidence-Based Suicide Prevention Strategies for Primary Care In Our Webinar Series Kicking Off Next Week

July-Sept. 2024

Primary care providers, leaders, and staff at health centers can each play vital roles in identifying and caring for patients at risk for suicide. Learn evidence-based practices to advance a culture of Suicide Safer Care in everyday care visits and organizational culture in a new webinar series from ACU's Suicide Safer Care program beginning on July 31 at 3-4 p.m. ET. Register now for sessions on practices to advance suicide prevention for patients and staff alike including:

Suicide Safer Care for Primary Care Providers and Their Teams

Wednesday, July 31: 3-4 p.m. ET

Suicide: Considerations for Health Center Leaders

Wednesday, Aug. 14: 3-4 p.m. ET

Suicide Safer Care for Behavioral Clinicians in Primary Care Settings

Wednesday, Aug. 28: 3-4 p.m. ET

Preventing Suicide in Clinicians and Staff

Wednesday, Sept. 11: 3-4 p.m. ET

Office Hours: CHC Suicide Prevention

Wednesday, Sept. 25: 3-4 p.m. ET

Register Now

National Health Center Week Is Nearly Here!

In less than two weeks, ACU and the entire CHC community will celebrate National Health Center Week (NHCW) on Aug. 4-10. Join us in honoring NHCW and this year's theme, "Powering Communities Through Caring Connections," which recognizes the role of CHCs as everyday beacons of strength, service, and care. Recognize our community's achievements with us in-person in D.C. at our 2024 Conference, plan a community or online celebration with resources from NACHC, or simply take a moment to thank yourself or a colleague for your continuing efforts to advance health equity for all!

Find More NHCW Resources

Welcoming Our Latest Member

ACU welcomes Paving the Way Multi Service Institute (MSI) as our latest organizational member. This D.C.-based behavioral health clinic provides evidence-based mental health services to children, adolescents, adults and families. Paving the Way MSI's mission is to stabilize and empower children, adolescents, adults and their families so that they may become self-sufficient in their lives, community and beyond.

Learn About Membership

P.S. Are you or your organization committed to advancing health equity for underserved populations and interested in accessing exciting benefits and an engaging community? Learn about ACU membership and contact us to get started.

Join ACU's Team: Apply to Become Associate Director of Workforce Development

ACU is growing! We're seeking an Associate Director of Workforce Development who will serve as an integral part of leadership for ACU's STAR2 Center. This key position will design and deliver trainings and learning collaboratives on healthcare workforce issues, contribute to grant reporting requirements, and more. Read the full job description and apply to join our mission-driven team!

Learn More

Prevent Blindness and ECHO-UChicago Present Free Virtual Series on Vision Impairment and Mitigation

August-December 2024

Sign up to participate in a free educational series from Prevent Blindness and ECHO-UChicago on Vision Impairment and Mitigation in Primary Healthcare. This accredited six-week children’s focused series and subsequent six-week adult-focused series will help primary care providers at health centers prevent and mitigate vision loss and blindness across the lifespan, improve interprofessional communication, and increase self-efficacy to advocate for expansion of vision services in their clinics.

Learn More

Explore Strategies for Empowering Providers and Families in Supporting Childhood Development in a New Webinar

August 8: 4-5:30 p.m. ET

Families play an essential role in their children’s development, and health centers can share information with families through engaged developmental monitoring to enhance their efforts to improve screenings, identify delays and disabilities, and encourage families to follow up when referred to services. Save your spot in a new webinar from our partners at the American Academy of Pediatrics spotlighting the CDC’s “Learn the Signs. Act Early.” program and its free resources to help providers and staff empower families as critical partners.

Sign Up

View a Webinar on New UDS Requirements for Family Planning Screening for FQHCs

Upstream USA and NACHC recently co-hosted a webinar on the latest UDS reporting requirements from HRSA for family planning screening for FQHCs that went into effect on January 1, 2024. Watch the recording and learn the concepts behind family planning screening and explore practical strategies to seamlessly integrate screening for family planning needs into your workflows.

Watch the Recording

New from ACU's Career Center: Pediatrician at Smoketown Family Wellness Center and More

Our Career Center is an excellent resource for job seekers or organizations seeking to hire quality, mission-driven staff to serve medically under-resourced populations. ACU Members get premier access by logging into our portal and using their code to post jobs at discounted rates. This week, ACU is excited to spotlight a new Pediatrician position at Smoketown Family Wellness Center in Louisville, KY.

Access the Career Center 

What We're Reading

Inside Climate News: "Medical Schools Around the World Are Expanding Their 'Climate Change Curriculums'"

The Commonwealth Fund: "2024 State Scorecard on Women's Health and Reproductive Care"

JHCPU: "Designing and Developing a Medical-Legal Partnership to Address Cancer Patients' Health-Harming Legal Needs" (ACU Members Receive Free Access)

Health Affairs: "Building a 'Birthing-Friendly' Nation"

Health Affairs Forefront: "To Advance Health Equity, Make Health Literacy A Priority At The Organizational Level"

KFF: "Immigrants Have Lower Health Care Expenditures Than Their U.S.-Born Counterparts"

STAT: "Unsettling Truths about Maternal Mortality in the U.S."


Events & Resources

Webinars & Collaboratives

Upcoming Events


2024 ACU Conference: Envisioning a More Equitable Future: Advancing Stakeholder-Centered Innovation

Aug. 4-7 | Washington, D.C.


Pre-Conference Workshops: JEDI & Medical-Legal Partnerships

Aug. 4 | Washington, D.C.


Post-Conference Behavioral Health Leadership Forum

Aug. 7 | Washington, D.C.


Resources & Announcements


Strategies for Mitigating Burnout Among the Health Center Workforce


Chief Workforce Officer Core Competencies


DEI Concepts E-Course


May 2024 Edition: Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved

From the Podcast

Pathways to Recruitment & Retention Series: Episode 27 & Episode 28

Podcast | STAR2 Center Talks Workforce Success

Opportunities

United Negro College Fund Healthcare Workforce Diversity Mentorship Program

Call for JEDI Committee Members

Share Your NHSC Story for a Discount on ACU Conference Registration

ACU Careers: Associate Director of Workforce Development

Applications Now Open

Policy Updates

Join Us for a Dedicated Day of Advocacy on Capitol Hill at ACU’s 2024 Conference!

Upcoming Webinars


TODAY! Designing & Implementing a Successful Workforce Well-being Strategy

BPHC Workforce Well-being TA Initiative

July 24 | 2 p.m. ET


Creating Feedback Processes to Empower Staff

BPHC Workforce Well-being TA Initiative

July 30 | 2 p.m. ET


Incorporating Workforce Well-being into Your Strategic Plan

BPHC Workforce Well-being TA Initiative

Aug. 15 | 2 p.m. ET


Adopting Robust Compensation and Benefits for Workforce Well-being

BPHC Workforce Well-being TA Initiative

Aug. 20 | 2 p.m. ET


Preventing Suicide in Patients & Staff: A Webinar Series for Healthcare Professionals & Health Centers

Starting July 31 | 3 p.m. ET


Recent Webinars


Making the Connection: Overcoming Recruitment Challenges to Strengthen the CHC Workforce & Improve Care


Fostering Organization-wide Camaraderie and Teamwork

BPHC Workforce Well-being TA Initiative


Effective Onboarding for Workforce Well-being

BPHC Workforce Well-being TA Initiative


Exploring the Six Domains of Health Workforce Equity: Part I & Part II


Workforce Training & Technical Assistance Professional Development Series:


Retention Planning: Build It & They Will Stay: Part I & Part II

ACU is here to help: if we can do anything to better support your work to improve care and advocate for patients living in historically marginalized communities, please contact our Executive Director Amanda Pears Kelly with any feedback.
Give to ACU
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