Dear Colleague,
As our community knows well, integrating justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) into every facet of care is key to achieving health equity. From supporting wellness and equity in the health center workforce to fostering cultural humility in patient care, a holistic approach is necessary, and the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved is working tirelessly to support and help lead the charge for JEDI at health centers.
This week, we're proud to announce the participating health centers joining our new JEDI Champion Train-the-Trainer initiative and to release a variety of new resources to support the CHC workforce—including a new webinar to help health centers create more welcoming environments for specific populations of staff, a staff satisfaction learning collaborative, suicide prevention webinar and toolkit, and an analysis of federal appropriations.
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Announcing Participating Health Centers in Our JEDI Champion Train-the-Trainer Event
ACU is excited to welcome representatives from San Ysidro Health (CA) and HealthLinc (IN) to our upcoming Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Champion Train-the-Trainer event. Staff members from both CHCs will receive stipends to join an intensive pilot training at ACU's headquarters in Washington, D.C., on October 20-21 with the generous support of the Centene Corporation, receiving training to help develop and enhance their skills as JEDI champions at health centers. Did you know that further assistance and trainings in JEDI are available from ACU? Contact us to learn more.
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Don't Miss Our Learning Collaborative on Implementing and Responding to Staff Satisfaction Surveys
Apply by Tomorrow, September 8
Staff satisfaction surveys are a powerful tool that can improve workforce retention, engagement, and trust. This five-part learning collaborative will help health center leadership, HR departments, and managers better understand how to conduct and follow up on these surveys and improve health center operations. Submit applications by the close of business tomorrow.
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New Series Explores Recruitment & Retention of Veteran and LGBTQIA+ Workforce
Sept. 22 at 1-2 p.m. ET & Sept. 29 at 1-2 p.m. ET
ACU’s STAR2 Center presents a new webinar series on the recruitment and retention of special populations, specifically veterans and LGBTQIA+ individuals. This two-part series will focus on building more inclusive organizations that better meet the needs of these highly skilled employees. Join us and learn from national experts as they share best practices for creating more welcoming organizations.
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Don't Forget: Tomorrow's Webinar Explores Communicating Across Generations and Resolving Intergenerational Conflict
Thursday, Sept. 8: 2-3 p.m. ET
Register now to learn how we can better communicate across generations and resolve conflicts in this session with ACU's Dr. Michelle Fernández Gabilondo and Alex Rohlwing.
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ACU Partnering with Nonstop Administration & Insurance Services to Help CHCs Improve Health Benefits
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Join Our Webinar to Learn How Primary Care Providers Can Help Prevent Geriatric Suicide
Tuesday, Sept. 27: 1-2 p.m. ET | CME Available
Elderly individuals are at the greatest risk for completed suicide of all age groups in the U.S., but primary care providers and teams working with geriatric patients have vital opportunities to intervene. Join Dr. Virna Little, Chief Clinical Officer at Concert Health, to understand unique factors in geriatric suicide and learn how to recognize warning signs and implement evidence-based interventions—and access a new toolkit on geriatric suicide prevention.
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Health Center Vision Grant Applications Open This Fall
With the support of the Centene Foundation for Quality Health Care, ACU will begin accepting applications from FQHCs and lookalikes this fall for $25,000 grants to help start or expand permanent and comprehensive eye health and vision care programs. Since 2018, ACU has assisted numerous health centers in establishing and expanding these programs, and your CHC could join them: read further details.
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Will Congress Prevent a Government Shutdown?
The latest update in ACU's Allying for Health Equity blog examines evolving federal appropriations. September 30, 2022, marks the end of Fiscal Year 2022 (FY22), and a potential government shutdown could loom if Congress fails to pass the FY23 budget or a continuing resolution—with serious impacts for CHCs and the patients they serve. Read about the paths that Congress can take to pass next year’s budget—from the most likely to least likely scenario—and join us as an advocate to stay up-to-date.
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Read the Latest Issue of the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved
The latest edition of ACU’s Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved explores the intersection of public health, health justice, and politics. The August issue features articles on racial disparities in COVID vaccinations; gauging interest in telemedicine visits; food insecurity; reducing infant mortality risk factors; and more. ACU Members receive free access by logging into our portal and clicking the link in the left menu.
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Welcoming Our Latest Member
ACU is pleased to welcome our latest Organizational Member: Peninsula Community Health Services. PCHS began in 1987 as a community clinic in Bremerton, WA, and became a federally qualified health center in 1995. They provide primary medical services, dental care, behavioral health counseling, substance use treatment, pharmacy services, and health education for all ages. Is your organization committed to health equity? Learn about ACU membership and contact us.
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Honoring Dr. Ellis Frazier, Winner of ACU's 25th Anniversary Award
ACU is honored to represent clinicians and advocates improving health equity for under-resourced populations, and we were pleased to recognize one of our founding members, Dr. Ellis Frazier, MD, at our 2022 Conference. An ACU board member and a physician at Ohio's Adena Pike Medical Center, Dr. Frazier received ACU's 25th Anniversary Award for his "commitment, brilliance, insight, vision, and boundless compassion."
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Getting to Know ACU: UnitedHealthcare Community & State Webcast
ACU Executive Director Amanda Pears Kelly and Senior Director of Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (JEDI) Initiatives Sabrina Edgington recently appeared on a webcast hosted by UnitedHealthcare Community & State. Pears Kelly and Edgington provided an overview of ACU programs, discussed the pandemic's impact on health centers, shared what drives their passion for JEDI and health equity work, and more.
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NHSC Students to Service Loan Repayment Program (S2S LRP) Applications Open Soon
The National Health Service Corps' S2S LRP application cycle opens soon! 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. This is an excellent opportunity to pay off loans while expanding access to care for under-resourced communities.
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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:
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Funding Opportunities
HRSA
Deadline: Oct. 22, 2022
HRSA
Deadline: Jan. 9, 2023
ACU
Opening this fall
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Upcoming Webinars:
Archived Webinars:
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STAR² Center Talks Workforce Success Podcast: Seasons 1-3
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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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