What's New
Fiscal Year 2024 NTTAP Non-Competing Continuation Progress Report Instructions Released
HRSA released the fiscal year (FY) 2024 NTTAP Non-Competing Continuation (NCC) progress report instructions on Friday, December 8. Submission and approval of the progress report will provide funding for the FY 2024 budget period (July 1, 2024-June 30, 2025).
NTTAP award recipients may start their submission in the EHBs this Friday, December 15. Progress report submissions are due by 5:00 p.m. ET on Monday, February 5, 2024.
Join a Q&A session to ask questions about the instructions:
Thursday, January 4, 2024
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session
To review the instructions and additional TA resources visit the NTTAP TA webpage. You may also contact the NTTAP Response Team through the BPHC Contact Form (Non-competing Continuation (NCC) Progress Reports (e.g., BPR) > National Training and Technical Assistance Partner).
THURSDAY: Health Center Preparedness and Response Forum
A dozen HRSA-funded NTTAPs are collaborating on this four-session forum focused on preparing for and responding to various emergencies. This series is primarily for health centers serving priority populations, such as agricultural workers, individuals experiencing homelessness, public housing residents, and other vulnerable groups, including older adults and Asian American, Pacific Islander, and Native Hawaiian patients.
This second session will focus on natural disasters. See the registration page for the two dates in 2024.
Thursday, December 14
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
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Policy Tip: Operational Site Visit Process
The Site Visit Protocol (SVP) is not policy guidance. The SVP is a standardized tool HRSA uses to support the assessment of health center compliance with Health Center Program requirements. The SVP is based on the Health Center Program Compliance Manual. The Compliance Manual is the streamlined and consolidated source for policy guidance developed to assist health centers in understanding and demonstrating compliance with Health Center Program requirements.
To learn more about this topic, and to find answers to other questions, check out the Health Center Program Compliance FAQs.
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The National Practitioner Data Bank is Updating its Sign-in Process
The National Practitioner Data Bank (NPDB) is moving to a system to require multi-factor authentication (MFA) for all user accounts. MFA requires something you know, such as a password, and something you have, like a mobile phone, for authentication. It is a more secure method, so frequent password changes are not necessary. MFA will be required to access all NPDB user accounts in the future. Signing up is fast and simple! Visit NPDB’s website for more information, including a video on how MFA works for NPDB.
Quarterly 340B Program Registration
Quarterly 340B Program site registration is open from January 1 to 16, 2024. Health centers will be able to register a site that has been verified as implemented and with a site status reflected as “active” in EHBs Form 5B through Friday, February 23. After that date, the system will close to prepare for the April 1 start.
Email the 340B Prime Vendor Program or call 888-340-2787 (Monday-Friday, 9:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m. ET) to register a new site or ask questions. You will need to provide the following information when calling:
- Health center name.
- Site/clinic name.
- Site IDs for all sites.
- HRSA/BPHC grant number.
- Contact name and email address.
- Authorizing official name and email address.
The authorizing official will receive an email message that the account is unlocked and a registration may be submitted.
The Commonwealth Fund 2023-2024 National Survey of FQHCs
The Commonwealth Fund (CWF) recently launched its 2023-2024 National Survey of FQHCs. We encourage you to look for your invitation packet from Social Science Research Solutions (SSRS) and participate!
You’ll provide insights on the state of health centers and how targeted initiatives can strengthen health centers’ ability to provide high-quality care. CWF will share aggregated results with HRSA and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC). They will also share publications and reports with relevant federal and congressional policymakers, particularly results related to funding and other policy issues.
SSRS is conducting the survey on CWF’s behalf. They sent packets by FedEx in October and again in November. These contained instructions, the survey, and a check for $125 to thank your health center for participating.
The deadline to complete the survey is Wednesday, February 28, 2024. Questions? Contact Hope Wilson at CWF by phone (800-633-1986, Ext. 4325) or email.
Growing Concern about Congenital Syphilis
CDC reports a significant increase in congenital syphilis in the U.S. since 2012 and their recent report identifies missed opportunities for prevention. Health centers can make a difference by increasing screening. See CDC’s treatment guidelines webpage for information and watch our session, recorded earlier this year, to explore care models and treatment.
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NIH’s Bridge-to-Care Initiative
NIH published a Notice of Intent to reissue their Bridge-to-Care Initiative funding opportunity. Research projects will develop or expand health care-community partnerships to address unmet social needs and the social determinants of health (SDOH). NIH expects to issue the opportunity early next year and will hold a TA session for applicants:
Thursday, February 15, 2024
1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
The Biden-Harris Administration Takes Action to Improve Health and Well-being by Addressing SDOH
The White House and HHS, through CMS, released several resources to help support federal agencies, states, and local and tribal governments to better coordinate health care, public health, and social services.
This builds on the Administration’s work to advance health equity by acknowledging that peoples’ social and economic conditions play an important role in their health and well-being. Read the press release.
Behavioral Health
CDC School Mental Health Action Guide to Help Address Mental Health Crisis Among Young People
CDC’s new action guide will help school and district leaders support youth mental health by expanding existing efforts and finding new strategies to fill in gaps. Health centers may also be interested in the role they can play in this important effort. See an overview and access the full guide on CDC’s website.
The guide is a direct response to recent Youth Risk Behavior Survey findings (PDF), which show that adolescent mental health has worsened for more than a decade and that key indicators of poor mental health have reached alarming levels.
Workforce
NTTAP Learning Collaboratives
Visit the registration pages for dates, times, and more information:
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Incorporating a Cultural Safety Lens into Health Center Practice
The National Health Care for the Homeless Council (NHCHC) invites health center staff to explore the cultural safety model and develop concrete steps towards training and implementation in their community. Learn more or register by Friday, January 5, 2024.
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Nurturing a Culture of Self-Care: Strategies for Enhancing Organizational Wellness
Health Outreach Partners (HOP) invite health center staff to join to cultivate a culture of self-care and promote employee wellness. Tools include interactive exercises, case studies, and HOP's Organizational Self-Care Assessment Tool. Participants will explore strategies for encouraging personal growth and organizational success. Participants will learn to recognize the signs of burnout, develop healthy habits for maintaining balance, and build a culture where employees feel supported and empowered. Visit the registration page for more information.
Ground Work: Racial Justice and Cultural Humility Training for Health Centers
Health centers are on the frontlines of addressing health inequities and providing care to our country’s marginalized communities, including communities of color. NACHC developed an online course to help all staff level-set on the fundamentals of racial identity, privilege, bias, and structural and institutional racism. It provides the background information and tools to engage in health equity and anti-racism work in your community. This project was not federally funded.
Additional Resources
Health Center Emergency Preparedness for Survivors of IPV + Exploitation: Multidisciplinary Collaborations to Address Legal Needs
Hosted by Health Partners on IPV + Exploitation and the National Center for Medical-Legal Partnership, this webinar will help attendees consider the needs of those impacted by intimate partner violence and human trafficking during emergency response. Interpretation will be provided in Spanish and ASL.
Tuesday, January 23, 2024
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Speakers will address:
- How to promote legal first aid training to prepare.
- Legal issues that may arise (so that attendees may become more comfortable and confident screening patients for legal needs and sharing information on domestic violence resources).
- How health centers, medical-legal programs, and anti-violence programs can partner to prepare and to respond.
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