Director's Message
Hello and Happy Beginning of Summer!
As always, a lot has been happening with Health Care Homes (HCH). In particular, I want to take a moment to celebrate a truly successful Learning Days conference! You’ll hear more later in this newsletter, but I can’t resist commenting on what a highly energizing, exciting event it was. A big thanks to the HCH staff and many others who worked so hard to make this year’s conference a great one.
Speaking of learning events, this Fall will see the debut of our first ever Health Care Homes Sustainability Summit. This three-session virtual event will feature discussions by healthcare leaders on how to sustain high-quality, high-value primary care. We’re very excited and hope you will join us!
HCH staff have been on the road this Spring, tabling at multiple conferences as well as certifying and recertifying clinics. We’ve hosted several webinars, provided technical assistance to numerous organizations, and continued joint efforts with multiple partners; one example being the Minnesota Primary Care Stakeholder Group, a collaborative organization of healthcare entities that aims to strengthen primary care in Minnesota. In short, a whole lot of great work is getting done.
Thanks so much for your continued support of Health Care Homes. Take care!
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Table of Contents
Learning Days 2026 was a tremendous success, bringing together more than 160 attendees, speakers, exhibitors, and sponsors for two days of learning, collaboration, and connection.
Participants had the opportunity to engage in 16 educational sessions led by 30 knowledgeable speakers who shared practical insights, innovative ideas, and valuable experiences. The event's keynote speaker, Dr. Erin Erickson, delivered a highly engaging and well-received presentation exploring sustainable approaches to behavior change, workforce well-being, and patient engagement. Attendees praised the practical insights and thoughtful perspective she brought to this important topic.
Learning Days 2026 also featured a Lunch and Learn for more than 40 community health workers and community leaders, creating a valuable forum for networking, knowledge sharing, and collaboration around the important work being done in communities across the state.
The event also featured 21 exhibitors and sponsors whose partnership helped create a dynamic learning environment and provided attendees with opportunities to explore resources and solutions that support their work.
We extend our sincere thanks to everyone who attended, presented, exhibited, and sponsored Learning Days 2026. Your willingness to share expertise, ask questions, build connections, and support one another is what makes this event such a valuable experience year after year.
Thank you for helping make Learning Days 2026 a success. Planning is already underway for Learning Days 2027, and we look forward to continuing these conversations, building new connections, and learning together in the year ahead.
Sometimes the best ideas come from unexpected hallway conversations.
During this year's Learning Days event, a nurse supervisor stopped by the Minnesota Department of Health’s Child and Teen Check-ups (C&TC) table and shared what sounded like an incredible approach to improving access to care. Twice a year, their clinic hosts a group "catch-up" event, bringing children and families together to help complete overdue C&TC visits in an efficient, family-friendly way.
Then, just as quickly as the conversation began...they disappeared into the crowd.
Since then, the HCH team has been on a mission. We've reached out to nearly 20 organizations, reviewed attendance lists, and connected with representatives from clinics across the state in hopes of finding our mystery innovator.
While we haven't solved the mystery just yet, we've discovered something equally exciting: there is tremendous interest across our Health Care Homes community in learning about creative approaches to C&TC outreach, closing care gaps, and improving access for children and families.
So, we're putting out one final call.
Was this your organization? Or does your clinic have a unique or innovative approach to C&TC outreach or catch-up visits?
Either way, we'd love to hear from you! And if you've been looking for an opportunity to connect with peers on this topic, we want to hear that, too.
Complete our short survey to share your ideas and help shape future learning opportunities!
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On May 4, 2026, Southside Community Health Services opened the East Lake Street Clinic—a new, state-of-the-art, 30,000 square foot integrated community health clinic and wellness center located on the historically significant East Lake Street in south Minneapolis. The new clinic’s design facilitates team-based care and offers a patient experience that matches the exceptional quality of care that people receive at Southside. The expansion will allow Southside to grow its patient base and extend hours of operation, while expanding and delivering all service offerings under one roof. Southside’s principal activities include providing person-centered, high-quality primary and preventive care including medical, oral health, vision, integrated behavioral health, and community outreach, and helping to connect patients to community resources that address their health-related social needs. In addition to traditional health services, Southside also offers Health Care Home (HCH) coordination, chronic condition management, insurance eligibility assistance, care coordination, interpreter services, nutrition counseling, cooking classes, a community garden and more. Southside provides affordable access to primary and preventive health care services to underserved populations: those who are uninsured, underinsured, immigrants/refugees, and all others needing care, regardless of their ability to pay.
With Southside’s initiative to standardize care in a whole-person approach, the integration between medical, oral health, vision, and behavioral health services has proven to be a contributing factor to the improved clinical quality outcomes. For the past seven years, Southside has earned the federal government’s Gold Quality Leader Award for clinical quality outcomes in the top 10% among the 1500+ community health centers in the U.S. In 2025, Southside received National Quality Leader awards for Heart Health and Diabetes outcomes, and top recognition for Preventive Health, Improving Access to Care, High Value Care, and Advancing Health IT. Having all services in a one-stop shop at the Southside East Lake Street Clinic will provide the infrastructure to further reduce barriers to access and needed care, and deploying HCH throughout the organization for all patients will lead to further improvements to health outcomes for the community.
Southside is a national leader in expanding access to high-quality healthcare and is recognized as a Level 3 certified Health Care Home, the highest certification awarded by the Minnesota Department of Health. This certification underscores Southside’s advanced commitment to patient-centered, team-based primary care that reduces disparities, improves health outcomes, and strengthens community-based health. Southside has been a certified HCH since 2013.
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 Southside clinic ribbon cutting.
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