Dear Colleague,
It's a wrap: the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved's 2023 Conference has concluded! As we return from #ACUConf, we could not be more inspired by the innovation, leadership, and advocacy of our community. There's so much more to be done to achieve our shared mission of advancing health equity for all and building a more robust and diverse workforce, but in the words of our Executive Director Amanda Pears Kelly, "health centers, our ACU community, and those working for medically underserved patients are not only up to the task, but making our nation, our communities, and our patients better each and every day." Read a recap of our Conference below, in addition to advocacy updates, suicide prevention and workforce resources, and more to further our shared work.
|
|
Elevating Care, Clinicians, and Communities: A Look Back at ACU's 2023 Conference
Thank you to everyone who joined ACU's 2023 Conference, “Transformation: Elevating Care, Clinicians, and Communities.” Last week, we were honored to welcome hundreds of clinicians, administrators, public health leaders, and advocates at our Conference and its accompanying Hill Day on July 23-26. Read our recap to learn more about the exciting keynote speeches, federal updates, advocacy visits and more at #ACUConf, browse slides from the presentations (where available) and stay tuned for videos from the event!
|
|
|
|
Save the Date for the 2024 ACU Conference
Date: August 4-7, 2024
Location: Washington, D.C. at the Renaissance Washington DC Downtown Hotel (soon to be a Westin)
|
|
Honoring Our 2023 Conference Award Winners
ACU was proud to honor outstanding leaders, clinicians, advocates, and organizations in our field at our 2023 Conference. Learn more about our honorees, including Kerri Ruddell, NP, of Heritage Health, Dr. Janani Arangan of Boston Medical Center, Brooks Miller of Jordan Valley Community Health Center, Dr. Rosandra Daywalker of WorkSTEPS, and Erie Family Health Centers, on our website.
|
|
Thank You to Our Sponsors |
|
ACU Advocates Take to Capitol Hill to Visit Legislators and Staff to Support the NHSC
ACU's 2023 Conference highlighted the role of advocacy in protecting programs bolstering the CHC workforce, including the National Health Service Corps (NHSC). The NHSC has no guaranteed funding beyond Sept. 30, and as Pears Kelly noted, “where Congress lands with funding will come down to your advocacy.” On July 26, ACU was thrilled to have more Conference attendees than ever join us on Capitol Hill to speak with legislators and staff about the vital need to preserve the NHSC. These visits were a tribute to the powerful voices of our community, and ACU will continue to lead advocacy during the August recess.
|
|
In Case You Missed It: ACU Leads Coalition in Stakeholder Letter to Senate HELP Committee to Preserve NHSC Funding
Uniting 65 public health organizations, advocacy groups, and primary care associations, ACU recently published a stakeholder letter to the Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions (HELP) Committee requesting renewed and increased mandatory funding for the NHSC. Join us in urging Congress to act now to preserve this vital program connecting clinicians with patients in medically underserved areas: review the letter, find NHSC resources, and become an advocate. Though the funding cliff still looms, together, we can #SavetheNHSC!
|
|
Join Our Office Hours Webinar on Suicide Prevention in Primary Care
Wednesday, August 16: 11 a.m.-12 p.m. ET
Join ACU and the American Association of Teaching Health Centers, for a special office hours webinar on Suicide Safer Care. Suicide is a devastating public health crisis, but primary care clinicians can play a key role in identifying, assessing, and intervening with patients at risk. How can you or your organization incorporate suicide prevention in primary care? Join suicide prevention expert Dr. Virna Little for a dedicated Q&A session to ask for guidance on clinical pathways, sustainability concerns, supporting healthcare professionals at risk themselves, and more.
|
|
Explore Our Updated Data Profile Dashboards
We are excited to release the latest iteration of our Recruitment and Retention Data Profile Dashboards. These profiles allow you to analyze health center recruitment and retention data and compare your organization nationally. This ACU STAR² Center resource was made available to all health center and look-alike CEOs via email, and PCA and PCO teams can access the dashboards by completing an updated Data Use Agreement. Please contact us to receive access for your team members.
|
|
Catch Up on the Newest Season of the STAR2 Center Talks Workforce Success Podcast Series
|
|
Further Workforce Resources
|
|
Welcoming Our Latest Member
ACU welcomes CommWell Health as our latest member. This FQHC has locations in six counties throughout southeastern North Carolina. Since 1977, CommWell Health has delivered culturally sensitive, linguistically appropriate, full life cycle primary, preventative, behavioral, and oral health care, regardless of one’s ability to pay. Is your organization committed to health equity? Learn more about ACU membership and contact us.
|
|
Celebrate National Health Center Week Starting This Sunday
Community health centers (CHCs) make a difference in the lives of over 30 million patients each year. In just a few days we'll celebrate CHCs across the country during National Health Center Week (NHCW) on August 6-12. Learn about each focus day, explore NHCW resources, and join the conversation using the #NHCW23 and #ValueCHCs hashtags on social media. Is your organization planning a Health Center Week event? Tell us about it, and you could be highlighted in a future ACU newsletter!
|
|
National AHEC Organization Hosts Free "Learning Lupus" Webinar
Friday, August 25: 12-1 p.m. ET
Join the National AHEC Organization and partners for a free webinar, "The Diagnosis and Management of Systemic Lupus Erythematosus." Dr. Catherine Lee, a rheumatologist from Kaiser Permanente and Clinicial Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine, will share how to identify signs and syptoms of lupus and what to do if lupus is suspected. Learn more about this CE- and CME-accredited event and save your spot.
|
|
New from ACU's Career Center: Psychologist at Jordan Valley CHC in Springfield, MO, and More
Our Career Center is an excellent resource for job seekers or organizations seeking to hire quality staff to serve medically under-resourced populations. ACU Members get premier access by logging in to our member portal and using the discount code. This week, ACU is excited to highlight a Psychologist position with our member Jordan Valley Community Health Center in Springfield, MO, as well as:
|
Don't forget: ACU offers free vision care job posts for FQHCs and lookalikes. Learn more.
|
|
|
|
Webinars & Collaboratives |
|
|
|
Upcoming Webinars:
Archived Webinars:
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
