One of six recently adopted NACHC Strategic Pillars promotes development of ‘a highly skilled, adaptive, and mission-driven workforce that reflects communities served.’ The pillar is designed to support achievement of the board’s vision to preserve, stabilize, strengthen, and expand health centers. What does reflecting the communities served involve? What is needed to accomplish this goal? And what is the role of leaders in the health center movement to advance this vision for the future of health centers? Join health center and PCA colleagues for a panel discussion of intentional strategies to achieve this timely and relevant aim.

In February of 2020, fundraising and development staff at health centers across the country were likely getting ready for their spring events, new capital campaigns, partnerships with new local or state foundations, and looking ahead towards their 'ask' schedule for the year...and then COVID-19 changed everything. Events were canceled, funded projects had to be redesigned quickly, and emergency revenues were sought to fill immediate drop-offs in patient revenue. Close to 18 months later, health centers have reset their paused fundraising efforts and are looking ahead. While building back from COVID-19, health centers are determining ways to continue to engage first-time donors and the good will earned for the frontline workforce; planning for sustainability coming out of the wealth of new, short-term, and one-time federal resources; and continuing to build the systems that support robust health center operations. Panelists will share their experiences over the past 18 months, and more importantly, their outlook for what is needed in the years to come regarding support from private foundations, donors, and other non-federal resources.

This session will highlight successful efforts of health centers to provide testing, vaccines, and clinical care to homeless populations during the COVID-19 pandemic. Speakers will address key issues and questions that emerged during the pandemic as they relate to people experiencing homelessness: Vaccine hesitancy and vaccine equity in homeless populations Developing culturally and linguistically appropriate outreach and education materials Place-based (i.e. shelter, street, permanent-supportive housing, etc.) strategies related to testing, vaccine distribution, and care delivery Leveraging partnerships with local governments Readiness for future pandemics and emergencies The session will include case study examples and a facilitated discussion that addresses how homeless and other at-risk populations were best served during the pandemic and what the long-term impacts of COVID-19 will be on Health Care for the Homeless (HCH) providers, centers, and communities.

This overview of federal policy issues will include updates related to mandatory and discretionary funding, COVID-19 funding, President's FY22 Budget proposal, congressional funding priorities, 340B, workforce, telehealth, infrastructure/capital, teaching health centers, and Look-A-Like funding.