Read the annual BPHC TA Outcomes Report

The 2023 BPHC Technical Assistance Outcomes Report is now available. This report highlights significant technical assistance (TA) resources, impacts, and outcomes achieved by BPHC staff and awardees from July 2022 through June 2023.

This report is for BPHC staff only. You should use it to address the TA needs of awardees, to identify gaps in existing training resources, and identify other BPHC offices/divisions that you could collaborate with or approach as a helpful source when developing TA. Many thanks to the TA Coordination Council (TACC) members who worked with their respective offices to identify more submissions for this report than ever before!

Register now: Data & Evaluation Speaker Series webinar

OQI’s Data & Evaluation Division invites you to hear from the BPHC National Program Performance Analysis research team. They’ll share the findings and implications from a study of factors that may impact racial and ethnic disparities in rates of low birth weight among health center patients. They will also identify potential policy interventions and opportunities to reduce these disparities.

BPHC National Program Performance Analysis Findings
Tuesday, September 5
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Navin Kumar competes with USA National Table Tennis Team for people with Parkinson’s

Navin P. Kumar has played competitive table tennis nationally and internationally for the past 10 years. (He also works in OSBO’s IT Systems Division.) Initially, he was unable to hold a table tennis paddle without uncontrollable shaking because of young onset Parkinson’s Disease. As he continued playing with a top-level coach, his Parkinson’s improved, and he is now competing on the USA National Table Tennis Team for people with Parkinson’s.

Navin will compete in Austria the week of September 25 in the 2023 PingPongParkinson World Championships. Navin is one of five athletes on the national team. When you are off duty, tune in to the live stream of the matches on the event website from September 26-30. (Austria is ahead by 6 hours and tournaments are 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. local time.)

Read more about Navin in his October 2017 Getting to Know column.

Find a photo, share a photo

Need a photo or graphic for a slideshow, a newsletter article, or other communications materials?

Here are some places to look:

• Insert from the ribbon in Word (Insert>Pictures>Online Pictures>[search term]). Check the box for “Creative Commons only,” so only non-copyrighted images are displayed.
• Use anything published by a .gov site. Enter a search term in Google and add “site:.gov” after it. Select “Images” under the search box to see image results.
• Browse and bookmark these sites:
  • HHS Image Galleries
  • National Library of Medicine Digital collections
  • CDC Public Health Image Library
  • Library of Congress Prints & Photographs Online Catalog
  • National Archives Digital Photography Collections
• Go to H:\ImageLibrary to access HRSA’s Office of Communications stock photos. See the guidance document (PDF) for information on searching the library and what images to choose or avoid. Contact your OSBO Communications Division liaison for help requesting Adobe stock photos.
• Use OSBO’s Communications Division stock photos.
• Access HRSA and HHS logos — make sure to follow HRSA’s logo policy (PDF).

Has your team participated in an activity, or have you traveled to a conference or event? If you have a picture from the event, share it with OSBO Communications: BPHCGraphics@hrsa.gov. See the BPHC Graphics SharePoint site for complete submission instructions (PDF). You might see your photo in one of our e-newsletters or at a HRSA or BPHC All-Hands. Selfies welcome!

New reference guide available about site visits

OQI’s Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) functional area is pleased to announce the release of a new resource, “FTCA Site Visits and the H80 Health Center Operational Site Visits (OSV): A Cross Walk Comparison Reference Guide for Health Centers” (PDF).

This guide helps health centers prepare for HRSA-conducted site visits by highlighting the differences between an OSV and a FTCA site visit. You should review and use the reference guide — and encourage health centers to check it out as well.

Special thanks to staff in OPPD and OHCPM for their invaluable input in completing this reference guide!

Submit back-to-school photos

Summer is almost over, and the kids are heading back to school! Upload a first day of school picture to our 2023 Back-to-School Photo album. Please include your name in the title of the file. We may share your photo in the Insider or at a BPHC All-Hands.

Catch up on routine vaccines before school starts

National Immunization Awareness Month, held in August, is the perfect time to ask your doctor and your child’s pediatrician about routine vaccines. As schools prepare to reopen and the flu season approaches, vaccines are the best defense against severe illness. Answer these quick questions to learn which vaccines you or your child may need:

• CDC’s Adult Vaccine Quiz (adults 19 and older)
• CDC’s Childhood Vaccine Quiz (birth to age 18)

Many children and adults who delayed vaccination during the pandemic are still behind schedule. Visit the CDC’s Vaccines and Immunization website for more information, resources, and immunization schedules.

DEADLINE THIS SATURDAY: Feds Feed Families Cutest Pet Contest

Email your submission for the Feds Feed Families Cutest Pets Contest by this Saturday, August 19. Read the Cutest Pets Contest guidelines.

For information on donating to the summer food drive, which runs through Saturday, September 30, see the HHS Feds Feed Families intranet site and the FAQs on the Feds Feed Families website. If you work in the 5600 Fishers Lane building, donation bins are in the Atrium.

NEXT TUESDAY: CDC presentation on the status neutral approach to ending the HIV epidemic

All BPHC staff are invited to attend a presentation by Dr. Neal Carnes, Senior Health Scientist in CDC’s Division of HIV Prevention, on the status-neutral approach. This approach reframes how we think about traditional HIV service models and is relevant to the Health Center Program and the Ryan White HIV/AIDS Program. This presentation defines the status-neutral approach, its benefits, and how CDC works with partners to implement status-neutral approaches to HIV prevention and care in their communities.

The Status-Neutral Approach: A whole-person approach to ending the HIV epidemic in the U.S.
Tuesday, August 22
1:30-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
Call-in: 833 568 8864
Webinar ID: 160 950 8791
Passcode: 40805091

Getting to know Candyce Jackson

Editor’s note: Interested in participating in a “Getting to know” column for the first or second time? Take a look at the revised questions to see what's involved and check out our Getting to Know BPHC Staff page.

Meet Candyce Jackson, Management Analyst, DWM:

When did you join the Bureau of Primary Health Care? How does your current role contribute to the Health Center Program? I joined the amazing BPHC travel team on June 20, 2023.

My role contributes to the Health Center Program by providing travel guidance and support to BPHC staff and interpreting travel policies. This ensures travelers are in full compliance with all federal travel regulations, prior to traveling.

What is one thing your co-workers would be surprised to learn about you, for example, a hidden talent? I’m ambidextrous!

What is your proudest accomplishment? Giving birth to my handsome son this past January!

What would be the title of your autobiography? “When Strength Meets Courage”

What is your favorite food and why? My homemade, baked five-cheese mac and cheese. Why? Because I LOVE cheese.

Learn more about Candyce. Email BPHC Insider to submit your name for a future Getting to Know.

Health and wellness webinars

These webinars are sponsored by FedStrive and WorkLife4You, a 24/7 personalized assistance program that provides guidance on health and wellness. To access resources and register for other WorkLIfe4You webinars, log in with username hrsa and password hrsa. You may also call 800-222-0364; TTY: 888-262-7848. For additional resources, see HRSA’s WorkLife Programs page.

Contending with Change

The presentation discusses the effects of change, aims to help participants assess their attitude toward it, and offers practical techniques for dealing with change.

Wednesday, August 23
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Confident Parenting: Success in School

Parents will learn which healthy habits are important to school success, how to help teens deal with teachers and academics, how to help teens get organized, deal with peer pressure and handle discipline.

Wednesday, August 23
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Your Healthy Lifestyle: Eating Right On the Run

Review strategies for quick, inexpensive meals that are good choices. Learn the basics of eating healthy within your financial means.

Thursday, August 24
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

A Round-Up of Previously Announced Items

• View the National Health Center Week video released last week and see a recap of activities on HRSA’s Health Center Week intranet site.
• Listen to Tom Temin’s 10-minute July 27 “Federal Drive” interview with Alek Sripipatana. Alek discusses how data improves customer service at HRSA.
• The 2022 Uniform Data System (UDS) reports are now available in HRSA's Electronic Handbooks (EHBs).
• See the updated Health Center Self-Assessment Worksheet for Form 5A: Services Provided (PDF).
• Congratulate your colleges on their 2023 approved honor award nominations (PDF)!
• See the list of upcoming trainings about MS Teams functionality in HRSA conference rooms on the OIT SharePoint site. They run through September in 12SWH01.
• See the list of end of year fiscal deadlines (PDF), which must be completed in August and September.
• Use Microsoft’s Workplace Discount Program to get a discount on a computer and Microsoft Office for your student today.
• Commissioned Corps Officers with more than 60 days of annual leave from FY 2020-2022 have until Saturday, September 30, to use this leave according to the current leave directive (PDF).

5600 carpet cleaning through September

Carpet cleaners began building-wide cleaning this week, starting on the 18th floor and working their way down. All work will take place after normal business hours. Here is the schedule:

• Floor 18 — August 14-17
• Floor 17 — August 18-22
• Floor 16 — August 23-28
• Floor 8 — September 26-29

On the days they will be on your floor, take these steps:

• Ensure all office doors are unlocked.
• Remove all items off the floor (i.e., personal effects, trash/recycle bins, files, etc.). You are not expected to move/relocate any heavy furniture or IT equipment.

Prohibited and controlled items in HHS buildings

To ensure the safety and security of all occupants, certain items are prohibited from being brought into HHS facilities. Review the list of prohibited and controlled items (PDF). If you do not leave these items at home, you may be arrested, fined, and imprisoned, and the prohibited item may be confiscated and destroyed.

Some controlled items that require advance notice for entry into an HHS facility include tools of the trade and sporting equipment. To request an exception, complete the attached Controlled Item Exception Request Form (PDF) and submit it to physicalsecurity@hhs.gov.