Our new Health Center Program history webpage is now available! We invite you to share it with health centers and others to help promote awareness of the program’s development and accomplishments during its six-decade history.

You can also view a promotional video with some of the interviewees. Feel free to share this as well!

If you have not yet received your copy of the 60-page illustrated book, you can:

• Pick one up from 16N 90B. David Danoff, who managed the project, has a supply of books at his workstation. Remember to leave your name so we can keep track of who has received the book.
• Respond to this online form and provide your mailing address. This is completely voluntary. If you choose to provide your address, we will mail you a book.

Note: Copies of the book will be mailed to those who requested them starting tomorrow (Friday, August 16).

We hope you will enjoy reading about the history of the Health Center Program and the people — like you — who have made it happen. Your hard work and dedication, alongside the efforts of all those who came before, have brought this program to where it is today.

In yesterday’s staff bulletin, OSBO’s Customer Experience (CX) Division introduced BPHC's new Salesforce Operating Standards for Managing BPHC Customer Inquiries (PDF). This resource provides you with clear and consistent expectations for managing customer inquiries received by phone, email, or through the BPHC Contact Form.

Summer is nearing its end, and kids are going back to school! Upload a first day of school picture to our 2024 back-to-school photo album. Include your name in the title of the file. We may share your photo in the Insider or at a BPHC All-Hands.

NOTE: We are also still accepting photos in the 2024 summer vacation photo album.

Before working at BPHC, what was the most unusual or interesting job you ever had?
I worked as an epidemiologist in New York prior to joining BPHC. I was heavily involved in food and waterborne diseases as well as chronic diseases. My expertise included creating heat maps, choropleth maps, and dashboards to highlight disease trends. I am excited to delve into a new field in OHCPM and look forward to gaining additional knowledge and skills.

What is one thing your co-workers would be surprised to learn about you, for example, a hidden talent?
I love to cook! It is one of my biggest passions. I always dreamed of being a chef one day. Unfortunately, public health got in the way — just kidding! I hope to open my own small, cozy restaurant one day after retirement where innovation and food chemistry meet the palate!

Where did you grow up and what do you like best about your hometown?
My hometown is Kathmandu, Nepal, but I grew up in Copenhagen, Denmark. My favorite thing about Copenhagen is the kindness and warmth of the city and its people. It has been voted the happiest place on Earth for multiple years!

What superpower would you like to have and why
The ability to fly! Quicker commute, smaller carbon footprint, and it sounds like a lot of fun!

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

BPHC BOOK is THE source of information for reaching the right people for a business need. It's a living resource that reflects BPHC's current state.

In July, 114 staff used BPHC BOOK. BOOK Club members published more than 20 topical updates, including new contacts for New Access Points and Prior Approvals.

Help keep BPHC BOOK accurate! Send errors/omissions to your office BOOK Club member (listed on the Help page). Don't forget to share your feedback in this two-question survey.

Did you know we send a Customer Feedback Survey after every Health Center Program Support (HCPS) ticket is closed? This gives us valuable insight into HCPS’ level of customer service. This fall, we will roll out a survey to follow all BPHC Contact Form tickets!

OSBO’s CX Division would like to recognize the following staff for the exceptional customer experience mentioned in the survey:

• Thomlina Bendu, contractor for OSBO HCPS team
  “Thomlina was very understanding and patient. She was clear and easily to understand in her explanation of my concern.”
• Bona Lee, contractor for OSBO HCPS team
  “I want to thank the representative I spoke with and hope her leader knows the great job she is doing. Her name was Bona and I appreciate her knowledge as well as patience helping me navigate.”

Join us to better understand today’s online world and to improve communication with your children about online safety. Kids with a strong support system can master the internet like a pro and make savvy choices to be the best contributors in their online hangouts.

Wednesday, August 21
Noon-12:30 p.m. ET, followed by Q&A from 12:30-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

See the CyberCARE intranet site for related resources.

HHS Equity Learning Sessions are a bi-monthly series of events highlighting ongoing work throughout HHS to advance health equity. These learning sessions are intended to provide opportunities for department-wide information sharing, learning, and discussion on equity.

Wednesday, August 21
2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
Join the day of the session

CDC invites you to its inaugural Disability Summit. We sent out a calendar invite, but make sure to register ahead of time!

Thursday, September 26
9:00 a.m.-12:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

The half-day virtual event is for HHS staff ONLY. Presentations and panel discussions will cover disability inclusion and accessibility topics including:

• Disability inclusion within public health research, policy, and practice
• Data and surveillance
• Lived experiences of people with disabilities to inform public health action
• Lessons learned from the field
• Allyship

Send reasonable accommodation requests to MeetingAccess@cdc.gov.

WorkLife4You is a 24/7 personalized assistance program that provides guidance on health and wellness. To access resources, log in to WorkLife4You with username hrsa and password hrsa. You may also call 800-222-0364; TTY: 888-262-7848. See upcoming webinars featured below.

For additional resources, see HRSA’s WorkLife Programs page.

TODAY: Succeed at Work — Maximizing Your Time

Time management and organizational skills are critical to successfully balancing work, life, and family. Learn strategies and tips for organizing and managing that will improve the quality of your work and life.

1:00-2:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Relaxation Techniques to Reduce Stress

Learn relaxation exercises that reduce tension and stress. You will better understand stress and how it affects the body, learn the benefits of relaxation practices, and practice stress management techniques.

Tuesday, August 20
Noon-1:00 p.m. ET
Registration page

Maximize Your Health Care Visits

Explore ways to help you make the most of your next health care visit. Consider communication options and learn tips to consider before, during, and after your next visit.

Wednesday, August 21
1:00-1:30 p.m. ET
Registration page

A round-up of previously announced items

• The 2023 Uniform Data System (UDS) EHBs reports are now available. For instructions on how to access EHBs reports and raw UDS data, view the UDS Data Quick Reference Guide.
• See the 2023 UDS data pages and 2023 UDS Trends Data Brief (PDF).
• Read Getting to know Emergent Health Response, the 17th in our series of Getting to Know Functional Areas/Divisions.
• Check out the Salesforce Change Owner Functionality tutorial video.
• See the list of FY 2024 year-end closing deadlines (PDF), which must be completed in August and September.
• Visit the BPHC Invitation Calendar SharePoint page for information on how to request a calendar appointment for all BPHC staff.
• Don’t forget to purchase tickets for HHS’s annual Night at the Ballpark at Nationals Park on Friday, September 27. Watch the Nationals take on the Phillies with a postgame concert by Lady A!

The incentive awards cycle for bargaining and non-bargaining unit employees has officially wrapped! Round 1 nominees should expect to see their awards reflected in their Leave and Earning Statement by Friday, August 30.

Look for the following upcoming events and deadlines:

• 5600 Commissioned Corps Promotion Ceremony: Friday, August 23, 1:00-2:30 p.m. ET in the 5th Floor Pavilion.
• Commissioned Corps All-Hands Meeting: Thursday, August 29, 10:00-11:00 a.m. ET (virtual or in person, location TBD).
• New Awards Platform: HRSA will begin using the new Commissioned Corps awards platform during the next off-cycle awards callout in October. HRSA Commissioned Corps Affairs will provide a briefing on the new process prior to rollout.

If you plan to attend an external training before the end of fiscal year 2024 (i.e., before Monday, September 30), discuss the training with your supervisor and obtain their agreement. Once your supervisor agrees, complete the BPHC Training Request form.

Keep in mind these important guidelines:

• Requests must be submitted at least 14 days before the training start date and no later than Friday, August 23.
• Do not register or pay for training yourself.
• Consult the updated Training Course Repository for helpful options.

The HHS 2024 Records Management training is now available. All HHS employees and contractors must complete this training course no later than Monday, September 30.

This course highlights your responsibilities for records management, helps you tell the difference between records and non-records, and assists you in learning how to manage the federal records lifecycle.

Access the course in the LMS. For more information, see the August 1 Notification for HHS 2024 Records Management Training (PDF).

The Hatch Act places some limits on the ways federal employees may engage in political activities. To help you navigate this political season, the Office of General Counsel Ethics Division is offering training on “Political Activities and the Hatch Act.” It will cover Hatch Act basics, limitations that apply to all federal employees, additional limitations that apply to further restricted employees (career Senior Executive Service, administrative judges, and Commissioned Corps officers), and the specifics of how the Hatch Act applies to social media activities.

Training sessions will be held live via WebEx:

• Tuesday, August 20, 11:00 a.m.-noon ET
• Tuesday, September 10, 3:00-4:00 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, September 25, 2:00-3:00 p.m. ET
• Tuesday, October 8, noon-1:00 p.m. ET
• Wednesday, October 23, 11:00 a.m.-noon ET

To attend a session, complete the Hatch Act training registration form. Registration closes at the end of the day two days before the training. You will receive the training materials and WebEx connection information the day before your scheduled training date.

Join OSBO IT Systems for the third session in a nine-part series exploring the purpose and functionality of HRSA’s Electronic Handbooks (EHBs) and the BPHC Health Care Management Information System (BHCMIS).

During Session 3, OSBO IT Systems will cover grant applications: standard applications, program-specific applications, non-competing continuation applications, and look-alike initial designation applications.

Session 3: EHBs/BHCMIS Functional Overview — Knowledge Transfer
11:00 a.m.-noon ET
Join the session

The series aims to review BHCMIS’ key functions and features, provide insights into business needs, and foster collaboration. Each session will include an in-depth functional overview, an interactive Q&A session, and practical examples and use cases. We encourage BPHC staff to attend the sessions and actively engage the presenters by asking questions and providing feedback.

If you miss a session, see the recordings and slide shows on the EHBs/BHCMIS Functional Overview SharePoint page.

View the schedule for future sessions.