National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC)’s Post

Advocacy is a key component of Colgate-Palmolive’s mission to transform the way the world thinks about and addresses oral health, and I was honored to join the important conversations about the ways oral health leaders and stakeholders can work together to promote optimal, available, accessible and affordable oral health for all during the Global Oral Health Forum II: “From Evidence to Advocacy” at the University of Pennsylvania’s Center for Integrative Global Oral Health. The Forum shed light on oral health advocacy through multiple lenses, and I shared insights from Colgate’s oral health initiatives on a session chaired by julian fisher, discussing “The Planet and Health Advocacy: The Emergence of Planetary Health", along with Brianna Parsons, Ana Lorena and Rolando Peñaloza. Key takeaways included why it’s necessary for people to understand the connections between oral health and the overall health of our bodies, communities, and planet. Colgate’s community engagement programs such as Bright Smiles, Bright Futures and #KnowYourOQ are designed to help spread this knowledge to improve oral health outcomes – learn more: www.KnowYourOQ.com 

Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) play a crucial role in providing comprehensive and accessible healthcare to underserved communities. As we celebrate National Health Center Week, it's a perfect time to recognize the vital contributions of FQHCs in creating healthier communities. One key to enhancing patient connection and gaining greater trust is through a commitment to community-centered care. When clinics prioritize comprehensive care, they not only help individuals live healthier lives but also increase their advocacy. Satisfied patients are more likely to share their positive experiences with family and friends, which can boost your clinic’s visibility and attract new patients. Encouraging patients to leave positive reviews online or to share their experiences with their networks can be highly beneficial. Behavioral economics shows that people are influenced by the opinions of others, and positive reviews can significantly impact prospective patients' decisions. When potential patients see favorable reviews or hear recommendations from trusted sources, they are more likely to choose your clinic over others or seek care in general. By focusing on building strong connections and trust through comprehensive care, FQHCs can continue to enhance their community impact and support healthier lives. Let’s leverage National Health Center Week to highlight these efforts and promote the work being done to improve community health. . . . #TargetContinuum #Health#NationalHealthCenterWeek #HealthCareHeroes #CommunityCare #FQHCs #PatientAdherence #Advocacy

Building on two previous phases of an ongoing initiative to advance home-based primary care in the U.S., The John A. Hartford Foundation (JAHF) has launched Moving and Scaling Home-Based Primary Care Phase III: Quality, Training, Advocacy, and Policy. This most recent grant phase supports JAHF’s overall mission of creating age-friendly health systems and represents the collaborative efforts of four organizations: the Home Centered Care Institute, the National Home-Based Primary Care Learning Network, the American Academy of Home Care Medicine, and the Duke-Margolis Institute for Health Policy, most recently adding a focus on policy as a lever to promote home-based primary care. Read more: https://ow.ly/uowa50RGELT #housecalls #healthcare #homecare #homebasedprimarycare

To my Health Center friends and colleagues….this picture is from 2015, when we fought tooth and nail for increased HC Funding to avoid going over the funding cliff…the very same scenario we face yet again, later this year.  At the time of this post, the House was EXTREMELY divided and there was near gridlock in Congress…sound familiar?! After this post, we went on to advocate in the Senate and won HC funding - averted the cliff, and secured access for an estimated 7 million patients whose care was on the line. But, here’s the most important thing…the power of advocacy was ever present and clear. The hard work, persistence and determination of health center advocates across the country produced an increase AND an extension in funding. SUCCESS was achieved through ADVOCACY, grit, commitment, passion and leadership. We can and will do this again in just a few months. Success is not just within our reach, It is the HC legacy - YOUR legacy! I’ve been honored to support and work along side health centers since 2005 - learning from countless colleagues who brought incredible vision and leadership, and who refused to give up - no matter how tired or unlikely success felt - they fought like hell because there were countless people still in need and their mission was to help. I was then, as I am now, inspired daily to keep doing this work because of their commitment. I post this to remind you of YOUR POWER, the power of your voice and your advocacy and the need to keep going! Advocacy is and always will be the path forward - and when we bring that to focus, the future success and impact we can have is limitless.  #advocacy #leadership #innovation #chcs #fqhc #healthequity Advocates for Community Health Vernita Todd, FACHE Kaitlin M McColgan, Craig Kennedy, John Sawyer, Kersten Burns Lausch, Michelle Proser, Abigail Pinkele, Anne R., Michelle Jester, MA, PMP, Susan Jenkins Sumrell, Dawn McKinney, Jana Eubank, Marc Wetherhorn, Dorian W., Elizabeth Kwasnik, MFS, Alex Harris, Association of Clinicians for the Underserved

✍ "When we consider the common threads across #NCDs, the most important is #health system strengthening and resilience. One of the primary vehicles for that is an educated, engaged, and empowered clinical workforce that can lead, along with the community of people living with NCDs, in advocating for policies to prevent and treat NCDs," write Jennifer Bae and Leonor Chiarella, American College of Cardiology, in the newly published blog for the Global Week for Action campaign. 🤓 You can read the full blog here 👉 https://lnkd.in/dnv-ARfn Let's #LeadOnNCDs together

Cont.. 6. Inclusion of Patients in Decision-Making. - Shared Decision-Making: Ensure patients are part of the decision-making process about their care, respecting their cultural and individual preferences. - Patient Advocacy Boards: Encourage diverse representation in patient advocacy boards or committees to ensure the voices of all communities are heard. 7. Data and Research. - Collect Culturally Relevant Data**: Collect and use data on patient experiences, particularly from minority groups, to identify disparities in care and advocate for change. - Research on Health Disparities: Promote research into the healthcare needs and outcomes of diverse populations to inform advocacy efforts and policy changes. These strategies can help ensure that patient rights are respected and upheld, particularly in diverse communities that may face additional barriers to equitable care.

We all know health center staff go above and beyond to ensure high-quality care for patients, but we also know they are being stretched thin.   Congress has heard US. And, for the first time, bipartisan bills have been introduced to provide substantial federal funding to scale up Community Health Center-led workforce development programs. These bills represent a meaningful step toward addressing the workforce shortage faced by Community Health Centers.   More Congressional co-sponsors = greater likelihood it becomes law.    Did you know: Congress measures the importance of an issue by counting the number of calls received in a day.  Everyone has the power to quickly raise this issue to the top of their priorities. Will you help us increase the number of co-sponsors for the Health Care Workforce Innovation Act (H.R. 7307 / S. 4957)? Use this link to email Congress today: https://lnkd.in/g5bGqS4k Use this link to call Congress today: https://lnkd.in/gz5kWWEu Thank you to National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) for giving the tools to #CHC's to help us advocate for our staff, patients and communities. #TCACARES #VALUECHCS #ADVOCACY

CHCs see 1 in 10 Americans. They need continued support and advocacy. I grew up among the underserved and know many people who could have benefited from services like these. That's why I need to spread the word. Because I know how much of an impact they make and how many people they help. #communityhealth #healthequity #advocacy

Creating Positive Change in Medicine: The Role of a Community Health Leader As Victoria Nyarko perfectly captures as Community Health Leaders (CHL), we have a unique opportunity to effect positive change in the landscape of medicine. Here's how: 🤝 Community: Building strong, supportive networks within our communities is essential. By understanding and addressing local health needs, we can make a lasting impact. 🤝 Collaboration: Working together with healthcare professionals, organizations, and community members enhances our ability to provide comprehensive care and innovative solutions. 🌍 Diversity: Embracing diverse perspectives and experiences enriches our approach to healthcare, ensuring that we meet the needs of all community members. 💪 Unity: Standing united in our mission, we create a powerful force for change. Together, we can overcome challenges and drive improvements in health outcomes. 📢 Advocacy: Being a voice for the underserved and advocating for equitable healthcare policies is at the heart of our role. We strive to ensure everyone has access to the care they need. This is what it means to be part of a CHL. Together, we are transforming the landscape of medicine for the better. 🌟 Bronx Community Health Leaders (BxCHL) South Bronx Community Health Leaders (sBxCHL) Children's Hospital at Montefiore Community Health Leaders (CHAM-CHL) Mental Health Leaders (MHL) Weill Cornell Community Health Leaders (WCCHL) #CommunityHealth #PositiveChange #HealthcareLeadership #Diversity #Collaboration #Unity #Advocacy #CHL #HealthcareTransformation

With many health observances in February, I have three tips on the criteria #healthcare organizations should use to determine which ones to include in their #communications. - Determine what your goal is for communicating about the observance. The goal needs to be about more than raising awareness. Are you communicating about the observance to connect with patient advocacy organizations? Are you looking to to increase the rate of screenings for the disease the observance is about? If you can’t answer this question, then your organization is not well positioned to comment on the observance. - Identify your organization’s unique perspective. Commenting on health observances is a crowded landscape. What unique perspective does your organization have on the topic that others don’t? Do you work with a specific patient population or research a particular area related to the observance? If you do, look at ways you can leverage patient, provider, or researcher stories. - Research the observance’s reputation. Some observances such as Rare Disease Day (February 29 this year) are supported by a strong patient advocacy organization and already have the reputation to rally strong support. Other observances may not be well known among key stakeholders. If it’s the latter, then it may not be worth putting resources into developing content or programming. #PR #Healthcommunications