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Community health centers across North and South Dakota are celebrating National Health Center Week (NHCW) by shining a spotlight on the people and stories that make them a cornerstone of care in their communities. At the Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas (CHAD), we’re proud to recognize the incredible impact of health centers—and to thank the dedicated teams who make it all possible.
This week, health centers are hosting internal staff appreciation events and celebrations to honor their teams and recognize the life-changing work they do every day. Whether it’s providing care regardless of ability to pay, supporting rural and underserved communities, or fostering a welcoming, whole-person care environment—these centers are more than clinics. They’re lifelines.
To kick off the week’s celebrations, CHAD hosted its first-ever National Health Center Week video premiere event on July 31. More than 50 attendees joined us live to watch the debut of a powerful new video created in partnership with Kickturn Studio in Sioux Falls. The video features voices from across our region—including health center leadership, staff, and patients—offering heartfelt testimonials about why community health centers matter.
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Health
Centers in the News
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CHAD CEO Shelly Ten Napel is quoted by the Brookings Register describing impacts of the One Big Beautiful Bill Act.
Dakota News Now reported on National Health Center Week and how community health centers in South Dakota are preparing to adapt to significant expected Medicaid reforms.
CHAD CEO Shelly Ten Napel is quoted by Prairie Public in a story about National Health Center Week in North Dakota.
Complete Health CEO Tim Trithart and CHAD CEO Shelly Ten Napel were quoted in Midwest Medical Edition about National Health Center Week.
CHAD Director of External Affairs Shannon Bacon was quoted in the North Dakota Monitor in a story about upcoming Medicaid and Marketplace coverage changes.
Spectra Health CEO Mara Jiran is quoted by KX News in their article on Governor Armstrong's declaration of National Health Center Week in North Dakota.
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Health
Centers Earn HRSA Recognitions for Excellence in Service
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We are proud to honor the outstanding achievements of several health centers recently recognized by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) with Quality Recognition Badges. These honors reflect excellence in clinical performance, innovative use of health IT, and delivery of high-value care.
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National Health Center Quality Leader – Silver
Awarded for ranking among the top 20% of health centers nationwide in overall clinical quality:
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National Health Center Quality Leader – Bronze
Recognizing strong performance across key clinical quality measures:
- Coal Country Community Health Center
- Rural Health Care, Inc.
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National Quality Leader – Heart Health
Recognizing high performance in cardiovascular disease prevention and management:
- Community Health Center of Central Wyoming (GPHDN member)
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Advancing HIT for Quality
Celebrating excellence in the use of health information technology to improve patient care:
- Coal Country Community Health Center
- Health Care for the Homeless (GPHDN member)
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High-Value Care
Awarded to health centers delivering cost-efficient care with strong clinical outcomes:
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These recognitions are a testament to the dedicated teams who work tirelessly to ensure their communities receive safe, effective, and compassionate care. Whether advancing technology, improving heart health, or delivering exceptional value, these health centers continue to set the standard.
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Northland Becomes an Advocacy Center of Excellence
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Congratulations to Northland Health Centers for achieving Bronze status in the NACHC Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) Program!
The ACE program recognizes health centers that integrate advocacy into their operations to strengthen local and national efforts. Northland joins Horizon and Community Health Service Inc. as CHAD members with ACE recognition. Learn more about becoming an ACE.
If you’re interested in working with CHAD to build a culture of advocacy at your health center or apply for ACE recognition, please contact Kim Kuhlmann or Liz Schenkel.
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New
Name, Same Mission: Dakota Health Center Voices
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We’re excited to share that CHAD’s advocacy listserv has a new name – Dakota Health Center Voices! Formerly known as
Dakota Voice, this refreshed name better reflects the unified voices of health centers across North Dakota and South Dakota, advocating for strong, community-based care.
As part of this update, we’re also making it easier for advocates, partners, and stakeholders to stay engaged. You can now sign up to receive updates tailored to your interests—selecting your preferred state(s) (North Dakota, South Dakota, or both) and choosing the topics that matter most to you – such as Medicaid, 340B, and health center funding.
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Register
for the LeadU Leadership Series
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The Community HealthCare Association of the Dakotas and Think 3D are proud to present LeadU—an interactive
leadership training program designed to empower health care supervisors and managers with the skills, mindset, and confidence to lead effectively and intentionally.
The program launches with a full day of in-person training in Rapid City, SD, and Jamestown, ND, offering an immersive, hands-on learning experience. Participants will also have the opportunity to continue their development through two follow-up virtual sessions, designed to reinforce key concepts and support long-term growth.
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National
UDS Data Now Available
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Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) has released the national 2024 Uniform Data System (UDS) data for health centers. UDS data includes demographic data such as numbers of patients and visits, age, race and ethnicity, and payor mix, as well as performance measures in clinical quality, finance, and operations.
Data can be accessed by health center, by state and territory or nationally. Data comparisons can also be found for each calendar year from 2020-2024. The 2024 national UDS data for both the CHAD and the Great Plains Health Data Network (GPHDN) databooks has also been updated for members. Contact Heather Tienter-Musacchia for assistance accessing the databooks.
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Family
HealthCare Awarded $1.67 Million Opioid Settlement Grant
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North Dakota Health and Human Services (HHS) has awarded Family HealthCare a $1.67 million grant from the state’s Opioid Settlement Fund to support treatment and recovery services for individuals with opioid use disorder in Cass County (North Dakota).
The grant will help Family HealthCare implement a sustainable model for screening and initiating Sublocade treatment—a long-acting injectable formulation of buprenorphine—for individuals during incarceration and post-release at the Cass County Jail in Fargo. This innovative approach will ensure a critical bridge from detention to community-based care, improving recovery outcomes and reducing the risk of overdose.
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New
Resource Supports Health Centers in Strengthening
Blood Pressure Control Efforts
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CHAD is excited to share a new resource designed to support health centers in improving blood pressure (BP) control, a critical component of chronic disease management. In collaboration with our partners and in alignment with CHAD’s strategic goals, we have developed a set of Blood Pressure Competencies that outline best practices for accurate BP measurement and effective hypertension management in the primary care setting.
You can access the resources
here.
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NDDOH
Provides Free Behavioral Health CEU Webinars
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North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services will be hosting free webinars to learn tools to support your behavioral health. All trainings are presented by Monica McConkey, LPC and are approved for 1 CEU by the North Dakota Board of Addiction Counselor Examiners, the North Dakota Board of Social Work Examiners, the North Dakota Board of Counselor Examiners and North Dakota Certified Peer Support Specialists.
Understanding Depression: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment Options
August 21, 2025 | 12:00 pm CT / 11:00 am MT
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Recognize Outstanding Individuals & Teams at NDDOH Conference
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North Dakota Department of Health and Human Services is now accepting nominations for awards and recognitions at the inaugural Behavioral Health & Children and Family Services Conference.
These awards are designed to honor outstanding workforce members and teams who have played a pivotal role in delivering behavioral health and child welfare services and support. Two winners will be selected in each category.
Award applications close on Friday, September 5.
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Back to Basics: Azara Tools to Support Care Management and Coordination
Care management and coordination services are essential elements of value-based care success and are required for many national accreditation programs like Patient Centered Medical Home. These programs must be designed to work across a population and require both strong clinical and data analytics workflows. In this webinar, we will discuss how Azara tools support care
management and coordination with DRVS and Azara Care Connect tools and hear from customers about how they are managing their own programs using Azara data. This webinar is intended for practices with, or plans to build, care management and coordination programs and/or those looking to learn more about how Azara supports these efforts.
Tuesday, August 12
12 pm CT/11am MT
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2025 UDS Initiation and Engagement of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment Measures
Join Azara for an informative and interactive office hours session designed to help FQHCs navigate the new 2025 Initiation and Engagement of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Treatment. While this measure is not new to DRVS, it is new for table 6b. Azara subject matter experts will break down the nuances behind these updated measures, provide guidance on preparing for data
mapping requirements, and explore key workflow considerations necessary to ensure accurate reporting and improved care delivery. Participants will also have the opportunity to ask questions during a live Q&A session. This session is ideal for clinical leaders, quality improvement teams, IT staff, and care coordinators working to align their systems and teams with the latest UDS requirements.
Thursday, August 14
1 pm CT/12 pm MT
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Lunch and Learn: AMA MAP Hypertension Updates
Join Azara for a live Lunch & Learn webinar to explore the latest enhancements to the AMA MAP™ Hypertension metrics in Azara DRVS. This session will walk through the updated functionality, highlight key resources, and showcase how these updates support team-based care aimed at improving hypertension care. You can expect:
- A quick refresher on the AMA MAP Hypertension process metrics and their value in DRVS
- A summary of recent updates, including Metrics, Dashboard, and Scorecards and Care Effectiveness Report
- A walkthrough of new and updated resources in the AMA Help Folder.
Thursday, August 21
1 pm CT/12 pm MT
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This account is supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling
$1,423,637.00 with 0 percent financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government. For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
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