What's New
Upcoming Funding Deadlines
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FY 2024 Behavioral Health Service Expansion: Applications are due in EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET THIS Friday, June 21. Find technical assistance (TA) materials on the Behavioral Health Service Expansion TA page.
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FY 2025 Expanded Hours: Applications are due in Grants.gov by 11:59 p.m. ET NEXT Monday, June 24, and in EHBs by 5:00 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 23. Access TA materials, including new FAQs, on the Expanded Hours TA page.
Health IT Buzz Blog Highlights UDS+
Jim Macrae recently co-authored a blog article with Steven Posnack, Deputy National Coordinator at HHS’ Office of the National Coordinator for Health IT (ONC). ONC’s Health IT Buzz Blog post highlights how we work with ONC to improve Uniform Data System (UDS) reporting. Moreover, it highlights a milestone: We have received UDS patient-level submissions (UDS+) from an initial cohort of HRSA-funded health centers representing 2.2 million patients nationwide.
FINAL WEEK: Grantee Satisfaction Survey
Project Directors, if you haven’t taken our survey yet, share your input by NEXT Monday, June 24. If you started the survey, your progress is saved — you can pick up where you left off!
This is an opportunity to provide confidential feedback on HRSA’s application and award processes, EHBs, award monitoring, performance reporting, TA, communications, help lines and forms, and other areas important to your satisfaction. Your feedback matters. Together, we can make a difference!
Look at for an email from noreply@qemailserver.com. Questions or concerns? Email HRSA Grantee Survey.
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LAST CHANCE TO REGISTER: Quality Improvement Fund Primary Care Innovation Forum
We’ll feature the first Quality Improvement Fund cohort, the Optimizing Virtual Care awardees, at our first-ever forum, and will use the event to launch new TA to support innovation. Be sure to register so you receive updates about the forum, and the presentations and recording afterwards.
Tuesday, June 25
12:30-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
Thank You for Your Feedback
We appreciate everyone who took the time to share thoughts on our draft Health Center Program Policy Guidance Regarding Services to Support Transitions in Care for Justice-Involved Individuals Reentering the Community. Now that the comment period is closed, we will consider all comments while finalizing the policy.
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Available Funding from Federal or Federally-funded Partners
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CMS announced the availability of $500 million in grants over the next five years to increase the number of organizations who help people enroll in health coverage through the Federally Facilitated Marketplace on HealthCare.gov. Get more information in Grants.gov and apply by Monday, July 8.
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SAMHSA announced Notices of Funding Opportunities (NOFOs) aimed at improving behavioral health for racial and ethnic minorities, and other underserved populations, providing training and TA to programs serving these populations, and integrating primary and behavioral health care. The press release lists and links to the NOFOs.
- As an Indian Health Service-funded Tribal Epidemiology Center, the Urban Indian Health Institute (UIHI) promotes research and data for urban American Indian and Alaska Native communities. They have four $10,000 grants available to support chronic disease prevention and management. Visit UIHI's website to apply by Friday, June 28.
- The CDC- and NIH-supported National Institute for Health Care Management (NIHCM) Foundation funds research in areas such as health care financing, affordability, delivery, management, and/or policy. They are accepting letters of inquiry for their research grants. Learn more or submit a letter by the Friday, June 28, deadline on NIHCM Foundation’s website.
Support for Energy Efficiency, Sustainability, and Resilience Investments
HHS’ Office of Climate Change and Health Equity (OCCHE) Catalytic Program on Leveraging the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) aims to connect health care organizations to the unprecedented opportunities to fund energy efficiency, sustainability, and resilience investments created by the historic IRA. OCCHE holds webinars to update stakeholders — including some just for health centers!
Access webinar recordings on OCCHE's website. We recommend “How Health Providers Can Leverage the Greenhouse Gas Reduction Fund and Low-Income Communities Bonus Credit Program” and the sessions on Direct Pay and the Investment Tax Credit (session 3 in both the national and the health center breakout series). To hear about upcoming sessions, sign up for OCCHE Alerts on HHS’ website.
Save the Date: Bridging the Gap Between Rural Homelessness and Health Care
HRSA’s Federal Office of Rural Health Policy and the National Organization of State Offices of Rural Health invite Primary Care Associations and other interested parties to attend a collaborative webinar. Hear from recipients of HUD-sponsored funding to address rural homelessness and learn how you can get involved to improve rural housing and address the social determinants of health.
Wednesday, June 26
3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
Registration link pending
National Academies Report Proposes a New Consensus Definition for Long COVID
A National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine committee proposed a consensus definition for long COVID with the following aims in mind:
- Promote consistency in diagnosis.
- Aid awareness efforts.
- Help patients access appropriate care.
- Harmonize research.
Their report includes the recommendations and the basis for those, including stakeholder and patient input. HHS is currently reviewing the recommendations and proposed definition. Access the report, a one-pager, and an infographic on the National Academies' website.
Pride Month
Thank you for all you do to support LGBTQI+ patients and their families. HHS joins you in that effort, working to ensure equal access to health services. Check out and share HHS’ LGBTQI+ Health & Well-being webpage.
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Diversifying the Health Center Workforce: Elevating Cultural Humility and Equitable Care
This recent webinar series emphasized intersectionality and the significance of acknowledging and honoring individuals' multiple identities. The second session focused on the needs of LGBTQIA+ communities and the importance of recruiting and retaining culturally competent clinical staff to address these needs effectively. The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU) STAR2 Center, the Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN), and the National LGBTQIA+ Health Education Center hosted the series. Visit ACU’s Videos webpage to access the recording and slides (scroll to the second item).
SAMHSA Resources for Providers, Patients, and Families
Visit SAMHSA’s LGBTQI+ webpage for resources, including national survey reports, agency and federal initiatives, and related behavioral health resources.
Behavioral Health
Partnering With Schools to Address Youth Mental Health Needs
During our May 23 webinar, we shared ways that you can partner with schools to address mental health needs. Speakers discussed how to establish partnerships, including examples, and shared resources from the Partnering with Schools to Improve Youth Mental Health initiative. If you missed it, watch the recording.
HRSA Program Ensures More Eligible SUD Disciplines for Loan Repayment
HRSA’s Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment and Recovery (STAR) Loan Repayment Program expands access to SUD treatment by extending loan repayment opportunities to providers such as bachelor’s-level SUD counselors, behavioral health paraprofessionals, and clinical support staff. The STAR Loan Repayment Program provides up to $250,000 in exchange for a six-year, full-time service commitment. Visit HRSA’s STAR Loan Repayment Program webpage to apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Thursday, June 27.
Loan Repayment Available for Pediatric Specialty, Child, and Adolescent Mental Health Providers
HRSA's 2024 Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program is open to eligible clinicians who provide pediatric specialty care or mental health treatment and support to children and adolescents. Clinicians who commit to serving for three years at an approved site in a health professional shortage area, medically underserved area, or to providing care to a medically underserved population can receive up to $100,000 in loan repayment support. Visit HRSA’s Pediatric Specialty Loan Repayment Program webpage to apply by 7:30 p.m. ET on Tuesday, July 9.
Biden-Harris Administration Announces Another $31.4 Million in Funding Opportunities for Priority Behavioral Health Needs
SAMHSA announced NOFOs aimed at improving behavioral health for racial and ethnic minorities and other underserved populations, providing training and TA to programs serving these populations, and integrating primary and behavioral health care. Read the press release.
Workforce
Fostering Organization-wide Camaraderie and Teamwork
Have you ever wondered why building and maintaining a work environment where teamwork and camaraderie thrive is so challenging? Join us for a case study presentation to uncover potential obstacles to creating such an organizational culture. We will explore strategies to develop supportive programs that improve employee connections and reduce burnout.
Tuesday, July 9
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
HRSA Loan Repayment Programs for Behavioral Health Professionals
See the announcements above.
Additional Resources
Webinar Recording Available: The Role of Community Health Centers in Eliminating Hepatitis C
Our May 14 webinar featured former NIH director Dr. Francis Collins and others. They shared updates on the state of viral hepatitis C and discussed challenges and best practices in care and treatment. If you missed it, watch the recording.
Clinical Issues & Health Center Boards
NACHC’s resources help health center board members understand how governance-level functions can positively impact specifical clinical areas. We link the title of each to the resource in the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse.
Preparing for Wildfires
While entire communities and regions are impacted by wildfires and wildfire smoke, those on the front lines of our food supply are disproportionately impacted. Join Farmworker Justice and MCN to learn more about wildfires and wildfire preparedness for migratory and seasonal agricultural worker communities. Clinical experts will discuss the health effects of wildfires and strategies and resources to support workers and their families during a wildfire emergency. This webinar will be in English with live interpretation in Spanish.
Tuesday, June 25
4:00-5:00 p.m. ET
Registration page
New Report: The Health of Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders Served at Health Centers: An Analysis of the 2022 UDS
The Association of Asian Pacific Community Health Organizations’ (AAPCHO) report examines patient demographics and use of health services at health centers serving Asian Americans, Native Hawaiians, and Pacific Islanders. It highlights the differences between the data for these centers and the national averages from the 2022 UDS data set. Download the report (PDF).
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