Clinician & Community Newsletter
July 1, 2020
Dear Advocate,

COVID-19 cases are spiking across America, and particularly severe clusters have arisen in prisons and jails. To help providers address this continuing crisis, the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved is hosting an upcoming webinar on incarceration and COVID-19 on July 16 th . Learn why prison health is population health in this free training and discover upcoming workforce resources and opportunities for engagement below.
Policy & Practice Webinar Series Continues – The ACU’s ongoing biweekly Policy and Practice Webinar Series aims to help clinicians, administrators, and advocates build their awareness of systemic issues contributing to poor health and work toward permanent solutions to improve health care for underserved populations.

  • Delivering Healthcare for Incarcerated Persons During a Pandemic – Thursday, July 16th, at 12 p.m. ET. COVID-19 is spotlighting vulnerable populations, including those in prisons and jails. Correctional systems vary significantly in their ability to prepare for and respond to the pandemic, depending in part on how they interact with community health networks. Systems struggle with lack of leadership, collaboration, funding, and other resources. Furthermore, prison populations have complex needs: as many as one in every three patients have mental health diagnoses, and the numbers of medically complex geriatric individuals and young adults with substance use disorders are growing. Once released, those most in need of medical care often face significant barriers—including stigma—to successfully reintegrating into the community. Integrated managed care models with community partners are integral to provide continuity as justice-involved patients enter and leave prison walls. Learn more and register now!
  • Archived Webinar: Medicaid Covers US: Protecting Health Insurance that Helps Communities Thrive: Did you miss the third session in our series with the American Cancer Society Cancer Action Network? You can now view the archived webinar and slides on our website.
A Note on Our Call for New Board and Committee Members:
Diversity and inclusion is a key part of our efforts to support providers and patients in underserved communities, and we especially encourage applications to the below opportunities from candidates who are Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC), as well as individuals with diverse cultural and gender identifications, sexual orientations, and/or experiences of disability.
Reminder: The ACU Is Seeking New Board Members! –  Your perspective is invaluable to our work, and we hope you will consider applying to become one of three new leaders to join our Board of Directors. We welcome applications from health professionals in training and from all disciplines. If you are an ACU member and would be interested in joining our Board, please send your resume and a letter of interest to  Amanda Pears Kelly by July 31, 2020.
In Case You Missed It: Join Our Program Committee –  In addition to new Board Members, we are recruiting three members to join our Program Committee. This committee supports program development by identifying our field’s opportunities and needs, helping to plan the annual conference, and evaluating web content. The full Program Committee meets quarterly, and the Conference Subcommittee meets more frequently in the months leading up to the annual conference. Membership from all health professions and experience levels is welcome, and we especially encourage dentists, social workers, nurses, academics, and health information technology professionals to apply. Review the  Committee Charter   and  apply  by July 31, 2020.
Deadline Extended: Become a Member of Our New Vision Services Committee –  There is still time to join our newly announced Vision Services Committee. This Committee will work with the ACU to increase access to vision services in underserved areas. We are seeking 10-15 clinicians and administrators with all levels of experience delivering care or operating vision service programs at health centers. For more information, please review the  ACU Vision Services Committee Charter  or contact Sabrina Edgington. Please  submit your application  by July 31, 2020.
Updates for STAR² Center Health Center Data Profile Dashboards –  The  STAR² Center  will be releasing updated  individual health center recruitment and retention Data Profile Dashboards  during the week of June 29, 2020. We will email each health center’s CEO with information on how to access the Data Profile Dashboards, and we encourage health center staff to review their updated Data Profile Dashboards with their workforce teams, visit the STAR² Center website for useful resources and training information, and  contact the STAR² Center team  to discuss their workforce challenges and schedule technical assistance. Keep an eye on your inbox for this important resource!

Now more than ever, your frontline work is critical to improving the health of underserved communities, and we are honored to support you. To better do that, we need your guidance and feedback. In addition to considering joining our Board or Committees, please email our Executive Director  Amanda Pears Kelly  with any feedback, suggestions, or concerns to help inform our ongoing work.
 
Thank you for all that you do, and remember: the ACU is here for you.

Thank you,
The ACU Team