Dear Colleague,

Health centers are continually evolving to better meet the needs of their communities, and it is the CHC workforce that makes that process possible. To help our clinicians, network, and communities respond to unprecedented challenges, the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved has adopted a new strategic plan to ensure that we can continue to optimally support our community and advance health equity for all.

In addition to our strategic plan, ACU is proud to offer new resources to support health centers in retaining and recruiting thriving workforces. Read below about our new vision grants for health centers and lookalikes, our newly updated Health Center Comprehensive Workforce Plan Template and interactive workforce self-assessment, new webinars on recruitment and retention and alliance building for health equity, and more.
Unveiling ACU's Strategic Plan: Enhancing Our Work to Advance Health Equity
ACU's network began with clinicians striving to improve the health of America’s medically underserved populations and support each other, and 26 years later, ACU continues to support clinicians, organizations, and the healthcare workforce caring for under-resourced communities. ACU recently undertook a strategic planning process to ensure that we can continue to bolster the CHC workforce and effect meaningful change in an evolving healthcare system. Read more about our strategic priorities, updated mission, and more.
New Funding Opportunity: Apply for ACU's New Eye Health & Vision Care Grants for FQHCs
Five $25,000 Grants Are Available: Apply by Dec. 31
Eye and vision health are essential to patients' overall health, but many individuals in medically underserved areas face significant barriers to accessing necessary care. Health centers are ideally suited to help patients access these services, and ACU with the support of the Centene Corporation is now accepting applications for grants to help federally qualified health centers (FQHCs) and look-alikes start or expand permanent and comprehensive eye health and vision care programs. Learn about grant requirements and apply by December 31.
Upcoming Webinar: Learn Next Steps for Offering Vision Services at Your Health Center
Wednesday, Nov. 2: 3-4:30 p.m. ET
Explore the feasibility of opening an optometry department at your health center in our upcoming webinar with Prevent Blindness and the National Association of Community Health Centers. A follow-up to earlier webinars in our "Eyes on Access" series, this session will provide best practices for budgeting, hiring and staffing, and overcoming challenges as you take the next steps in providing vision services to patients.
Updated Resource: Health Center Comprehensive Workforce Plan Template
ACU's STAR2 Center is excited to unveil our updated Health Center Comprehensive Workforce Plan to help meet changing workforce needs and more fully integrate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion. Previously the "Retention & Recruitment Plan Template," this updated version includes an instructions guide, template, and action plan and is meant to be a living document that you can easily modify to stay up-to-date with evolving needs.
Assess Health Center Strengths and Challenges with Our Self-Assessment Tool
Identifying and analyzing which health center operations work and which need to be adjusted is a critical step in strengthening your organization. Our STAR2 Center's updated "Workforce Self-Assessment Tool" includes questions on leadership investment, workforce planning, recruitment and retention, and much more. Use the tool with our Data Profile Dashboards to fully illustrate your workforce challenges and next steps.
Don't Miss Our Webinar on Recruiting & Retaining LGBTQIA+ Employees
Monday, Oct. 24: 3 p.m. ET
Join us next week for the second session of the ACU STAR2 Center's Retention and Recruitment of Specific Populations series. Dr. Alex Keuroghlian from The Fenway Institute will share insights on retaining and recruiting individuals from the LGBTQIA+ community in the healthcare workforce. If you missed our first session, you can now access the webinar recording and slides to learn about hiring and keeping veterans at CHCs.
New Webinar Offers Insights on Alliance Building as a Means Toward Health Equity
Thursday, Nov. 3: 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
Strategic partnerships are vital to advance health equity and support health centers. Join us and Pfizer's Multicultural Health Equity Collective for a panel discussion of strategies and lessons learned in partnership building at the community, national, and international levels on Nov. 3. This highly interactive discussion will feature a health center leader and health equity experts from the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, Pfizer, and Albany Area Primary Health Care.
New Webinar Offers Practical Suicide Prevention Strategies for Healthcare Professionals in Training
Tuesday, Oct. 25: 12-1 p.m. ET | CME Available
Clinicians of all disciplines can help save lives with simple suicide prevention strategies in primary care and other settings, but all too many receive little training. Join our new webinar on Oct. 25 with national expert Dr. Virna Little, CCO at Concert Health, and Dr. Julian Mitton, Systems Director at CommonSpirit Health, to learn practical tips for clinicians in training or practicing professionals alike.
In Case You Missed It: Guide for Clinicians in Training Provides Strategies to Integrate Suicide Prevention in Primary Care
Nearly half of all individuals who end their lives by suicide visit a primary care provider in the month before their passing, making these visits vital opportunities to intervene. ACU's latest Suicide Safer Care guide, "Quick Tips for Medical Students and Other Primary Care Professionals in Training," details easy suicide prevention strategies that clinicians can integrate in patient visits to identify, assess, and intervene with patients at risk.
What the Continuing Resolution Means for the NHSC & CHCS—And What We Can Do
On September 30, President Joe Biden signed into law a continuing resolution (CR) that averted a government shutdown with less than a day to spare. But what does this mean for funding and support for the National Health Service Corps, health centers, and health extender programs in general? Learn more in our analysis and update on how CHCs can boost civic engagement and advocate for health extender programs vital to health equity.
ACU Joins Coalition in Authoring Recommendations for Greater COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Equity
The National Association of Community Health Workers, ACU, and other national organizations in the Advancing Racial Equity in COVID-19 Response and Beyond coalition have authored new "Recommendations for Federal and State COVID-19 Vaccine and Testing Equity." Amongst other guidance, the document recommends that Congress provide $22 billion for COVID-19 response efforts as outlined by the Biden Administration, that states engage communities and families to disseminate information about youth vaccinations, and more.
COVID-19 Public Public Health Emergency Declaration Renewed
On Oct. 13, HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra renewed the COVID-19 public health emergency declaration through January 11, 2023. The extension has wide-ranging impacts, including ensuring that states must continue to maintain ongoing coverage for Medicaid beneficiaries as a condition of receiving enhanced federal Medicaid funding.
Welcoming Our Latest Member
ACU welcomes Tampa Family Health Centers (TFHC) as our latest member. TFHC provides high-quality, accessible healthcare in 15 locations throughout the diverse Tampa Bay area. They proudly serve the community with a full range of integrated services including behavioral health, internal medicine, pediatrics, and more. Is your organization committed to health equity? Learn about ACU membership and contact us with any questions. 
NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP) Applications Are Open
Medical, Nursing, & Dental Students Eligible
The National Health Service Corps' S2S LRP is now accepting applications! Open to students in their last year of medical, nursing, or dental school, the program offers up to $120,000 in loan repayment in return for serving for at least three years at an NHSC-approved site in medically underserved areas. Apply by Dec. 1st for this excellent opportunity. Want to learn more? Attend a Q&A session on Nov. 8 at 10 a.m.-5 p.m. ET.
The Latest from ACU's Career Center
Our Career Center is a great resource for job seekers or healthcare organizations looking to hire quality staff to serve under-resourced populations. ACU Members get premier access by logging in to our member portal and using the discount code. View recent postings:

Funding Opportunities

Deadline: Oct. 22, 2022

SAMHSA
Deadline: Oct. 25, 2022

ACU
Deadline: Dec. 31, 2022

Deadline: Jan. 9, 2023
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Policy Updates
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. Thank you for all that you do.
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