Association of Clinicians for the Underserved

The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) was also privileged to celebrate two major milestones in 2022: the honoring of the 50th anniversary of the National Health Service Corpswhose members and alumni founded our networkand the creation of a new strategic plan to enhance our work. ACU grew exponentially this year, debuting new programming to support workforce recruitment and retention and incorporate justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion in healthcare, and along with expanded programming and extensive training opportunities, our membership soared to record levels this year. We continued our initiative to prepare new members of the NHSC to improve care for underserved communities.With best practices in place to ensure safety, we united our amazing network ofmembers and advocates in Washington, D.C., for our first in-person ACU Conference in two years. And we further expanded our advocacy for the National Health Service Corps, Health Center Program, Teaching Health Centers, and other vital health extender programs.

QUALITY IMPROVEMENT PROGRAMS - SUICIDE SAFER CARE - In 2022, ACU in collaboration with Concert Health completed the fourth year in the largest effort in history to train primary care providers in suicide preventionthe Suicide Safer Care (SSC) program. Supported by our partner, Centene, the SSC program provided resources for, and instructed numerous healthcare professionals in, evidence-based strategies to prevent suicide. In 2021, Suicide Safer Care explored four focus areas through national trainings and publications: pediatric suicide prevention, geriatric suicide prevention, the impact of COVID-19 on suicidality, and addressing the risk of suicide in healthcare professionals.CENTERS OF EXCELLENCE - In 2022, ACU continued a Centers of Excellence (COE) initiative to identify best practices and standards for health center excellence in care for underserved populations. In its first year, the COE program sought to determine frameworks for excellence and to create resources to help CHCs achieve them. ACUs COE program explored best practices in JEDI; suicide prevention in primary care; eye health and vision care; and workforce recruitment and retention through literature reviews, stakeholder interviews, and relevant resources to develop a series of briefs which were unveiled in early 2022.POLICY AND ADVOCACY - ACU is the nations leading advocate for the National Health Service Corps, spearheading the effort to protect and secure funding for this and other vital programs to the support and strengthen the healthcare workforce. ACU also works to lift the voices of our patients and clinicians on Capitol Hill, advocating tirelessly for health equity and to make our healthcare system more inclusive, responsive, and accessible.

Clinical Workforce Development - Working closely with the Bureau of Primary Health Care, our Solutions, Training, and Assistance for Recruitment and Retention (STAR2) Center is the leading national organization working to build and sustain a robust health center workforce by providing resources, trainings, and technical assistance for health centers, primary care associations, health center controlled networks, and other organizations. Highlights of the STAR2 Centers 2022 activities include: * 73 Trainings* 16 Sessions in Learning Collaboratives, * Recruitment and Retention Data Profile Dashboards* Thousands of downloads of the STAR2 Centers digital resources at chcworkforce.org.JUSTICE, EQUITY, DIVERSITY, & INCLUSION INITIATIVES - ACU strives to achieve justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) both internally and throughout the health center workforce. Integral to our mission, ACUs JEDI program developed a new train-the-trainer curriculum to build JEDI champions at health centers with the support of our partner, Centene, and unveiled a new toolkit and webinar series in 2021. Additionally, the JEDI initiative has established a new partnership with United Health to build engaging content and learning collaboratives for clinical leaders and will formally launch in early 2022. EYE HEALTH & VISION CARE - Healthy vision is crucial to overall health, but many underserved communities have little access to eye health and vision care. ACU is leading the charge to increase access to these services for underserved populations with partners across the U.S. Supported by the Centene Foundation for Quality Healthcare, ACU provided technical assistance and grants to help 12 health centers start or expand services in 2022.