CHAD Connection April 6, 2023

CHAD’s “annual” conference is just a month away. Annual is in quotes, of course, because this will be the first time we have been together in this way since 2019. We have canceled a few planned in-person conferences. We have pivoted to smaller convenings. And now, finally, we are bringing everyone back together for the chance to be and learn together.

We have over 50 registrants already, which is on track for being one of our most well-attended conferences yet. And there is still time to make plans to join us! Registration remains open until April 19. We are still accepting exhibitors and sponsors as well.

We will have tracks for staff interested in workforce development, clinical staff, leadership teams, and those focused on growing innovation relative to data and technology. I am really excited to have Dr. Terry Dwelle, who has an amazing background as both a primary care provider and public health leader in North Dakota, to kick us off. The closing plenary will feature the Medicaid directors from North Dakota and South Dakota to share their vision for Medicaid expansion, payment reform, and collaboration with health centers. (Click here for a full agenda.)

We know you value room in the agenda to network and catch up with colleagues. Make sure you leave on time to join us for an informal social and trivia night the evening before the conference. On day one of the conference, Wednesday, May 3, we always schedule networking lunches so you can have an in-depth conversation with peers in your own field. And on Wednesday night, we have a special treat with a private film screening of “Who Cares: A Nurse’s Fight for Equity” at the historic downtown Fargo theater. The film features our own Whitney Fear, a psychiatric nurse practitioner at Family HealthCare, who will join us for a Q&A session after the film.

The theme of the conference is Celebrate the Difference: Connect. Collaborate. Innovate. It has been a long winter and a few long years, so I, for one, am ready to celebrate the chance to be together again and all the good work we’ve been doing. Looking forward to seeing you there!

Belonging, being a part of our communities, and fostering cultural connections support health and quality of life. Join the celebration for National Public Health Week, April 3 – 9. Everyone should know they can make their communities healthier, safer, and stronger when supporting and engaging with one another.

Please join the South Dakota Public Health Association, SLM Consulting, the USD-SDSU Master of Public Health Program, and CHAD for an in-person celebration and panel discussion on local public health issues TONIGHT on Thursday, April 6, in Sioux Falls. Moderated by Sandra Melstad, PhD, MPH, public health consultant, SLM Consulting, the panel includes:

Charles Chima, MD, DrPH, MS – Public Health Director, City of Sioux Falls;
Jennifer Folliard, MPH, RDN – Policy and Communications Director, CHAD;
Veronica Thomas, MPH, PHN – Maternal Child Coordinator, Indian Health Service (IHS); and,
Adane Redda – Community Health Worker, Avera Health.

The event is from 5:00 – 7:00 pm, and the agenda features time for networking with peers and friends and Q & A with panelists. Hors d’oeuvres will be provided. To learn more and RSVP, visit https://communityhealthcare.net/2023-nphw-rsvp/.

This past week, the North Dakota House of Representatives passed SB 2155 with a vote of 75-15. This bill will provide an appropriation to North Dakota community health centers to help offset the cost of uncompensated care. North Dakota community health centers have supported this bill, and their testimony has been invaluable. CHAD is grateful for the members and partners who have supported this work and the legislators who have championed the bill. It is expected that a conference committee will be instituted to work through the different funding levels passed in each chamber. It is anticipated that the Senate will “concur” with the changes from the House.

For the past few years, states could temporarily stop eligibility reviews for Medicaid and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP). Thankfully, this kept people from losing health coverage during the Public Health Emergency (PHE). Now that states are returning to normal operations, they are restarting these eligibility reviews. This means some adults and children may soon lose their Medicaid or CHIP coverage. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid (CMS) recently released its phase II communications toolkit since the Medicaid “unwinding” officially began on April 1. CHAD is also working on educational and marketing materials for health center use. Contact Kayla Hanson with questions.

Launched on March 21, the $250 million Yield Giving Open Call is an initiative focused on elevating organizations working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States: communities, individuals, and families with access to the fewest foundational resources and opportunities. The registration period is now open.

This initiative seeks community-led, community-focused organizations whose explicit purpose is to advance the voices and opportunities of individuals and families of meager or modest means and groups who have met with discrimination and other systemic obstacles. Organizations best suited to this initiative will enable individuals and families to substantially improve their well-being through foundational resources. This includes, for instance, organizations providing access to health care, stable and affordable housing, education and job training, support for sustained employment, asset ownership, civic engagement, and other pathways. They may also be engaged in data collection and communication to amplify the voices of people and communities struggling against inequities.

Interested organizations must register to apply before 4:00 pm CT/ 3:00 pm MT on Friday, May 5. Complete applications are due before 4:00 pm CT/ 3:00 pm MT on Monday, June 12. Organizations must have an annual operating budget of at least $1 million and no more than $5 million for at least two of the last four fiscal years to be eligible to apply. Click here to learn more and apply.

Attention health care professionals! Become part of the solution to increase access to health care while qualifying for $50,000- $100,000 in tax-free educational loan repayment. In addition to tax-free loan repayment, people receive a competitive salary and a chance to impact underserved communities significantly.

The National Health Service Corps (NHSC) is now accepting applications for three loan repayment programs. Each program has a different award level and varying eligibility.

NHSC Loan Repayment Program provides up to $50,000 for a two-year service commitment.
NHSC Substance Use Disorder Workforce Loan Repayment Program provides up to $75,000 for a three-year service commitment.
NHSC Rural Community Loan Repayment Program provides up to $100,000 for a three-year service commitment.

Join a community of over 20,000 NHSC members providing culturally competent care to 21 million medically underserved people nationwide. The application deadline is Tuesday, April 25, at 6:30 pm CT/ 5:30 pm MT.

Help Changing EHRs
This webinar is intended for health centers that have recently undergone or are anticipating an EHR migration. Existing DRVS users will gain a glimpse into the ins and outs of reimplementation, including what historical data will be migrated to the new EHR, how gaps will be filled for data that is not migrated, and what data is available for conversion into a new instance of DRVS.

Thursday, April 6
1:00 pm CT/ 12:00 pm MT
Register here.

Azara DRVS for Quality Improvement Series: It’s Time to Measure Up

Session Three: Leveraging Azara to Improve Access to Preventative Health

“It’s Time to Measure Up” preventative health services! In this session, presenters will discuss evidence-based strategies to increase the delivery of preventative health services at health centers, review the data available within Azara to identify patients in need of care, and discuss how to measure improvements. The session will also include a review of PDSA cycles and an interactive discussion on strategies for success when planning improvement projects.

Tuesday, April 11

12:00 pm CT / 11:00 am MT

The Unsung Heroes of DRVS: Registries & Other Population Health Management Tools
Registries offer endless possibilities for managing the health of patients with chronic conditions, comorbidities, social drivers of health triggers -- the list goes on. And yet, registries are one of DRVS’ most underutilized functionalities. Join this webinar to learn about the unsung heroes of DRVS - registries, care effectiveness reports, and pediatric reports - and how they can support health centers in advancing population health goals.

Thursday, April 13
1:00 pm CT/ 12:00 pm MT
Register here.

Introduction to Innovative Workforce Development Programs
Join CHAD for a presentation introducing health centers to different nursing apprenticeship programs and CareerStep’s on-the-job training options for dental assisting and health center billing and coding. This webinar will give participants a first look at the programs offered, the time requirements for each program, and the commitment required by the health center and the trainee with time in the end for
Q & A. This webinar will be an introduction to a two-part session at the upcoming CHAD annual conference in May with content experts from Lake Region Technical College, the University of South Dakota School of Nursing, and CareerStep.

CHAD’s Mary Hoffman, director of people and culture, and Shelly Hegerle, human resources and workforce manager, will lead this presentation. This webinar is intended for HR and leadership, clinical leads, and oral health program leads. You do not have to register for the CHAD annual conference to attend this webinar.

Thursday, April 6
12:30 pm – 1:15 pm CT/ 11:30 am – 12:15 pm MT
Register here.

HRSA Deeming Application Clinic - Registration Ends April 17
The Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) is thrilled to announce the Deeming Application Clinic, an exciting virtual event that replaces the annual deeming-and-redeeming application call. Join this hands-on journey and learn directly from industry experts in the risk management field. Participants will expand their knowledge and gain insights into completing their deeming application like a pro.

The clinic is free for all health centers. Attendees can attend the training sessions and workshops relevant to their work or required for annual training requirements. Register today and secure your spot. Everyone who joins must register independently to obtain certificates of fulfillment.

Wednesday and Thursday, May 3-4
12:00 pm - 5:00 pm CT/ 11:00 am – 4:00 pm MT
Register here.

NEW DATE: Building Inclusive Health Care Experiences for Persons Living with Disabilities

How do organizations design health care environments that are fully welcoming and inclusive of persons with disabilities? This requires thoughtful practices and policies designed to identify and remove barriers, such as physical, communication, and attitudinal. Often these practices benefit people of all ages and abilities. In this session, the presenter will define disabilities and discuss the health inequities experienced by these populations, as well as tangible strategies to build inclusion and accessibility into everyday health care practices. This CHAD Equity Talk is open to all health center staff & partners.

Thursday, May 11

12:00 pm CT/ 11:00 am MT

Register Now for the Annual South Dakota CHW Conference
Make plans now to attend the annual South Dakota CHW conference. This in-person conference has expanded from the first year and will include a day and a half of keynotes, panels, breakout sessions, networking, and more! It is an opportunity for CHWs, CHRs, supervisors, and allies to come together for a day-and-a-half of networking and education and to learn more about Community Health Worker (CHW) initiatives and workforce development in South Dakota. This event is free this year due to grant funding from the South Dakota Department of Health, Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion.

Monday, May 15, 1:00–5:00 pm CT
Tuesday, May 16th, 8:00 am – 3:30 pm CT
Sioux Falls, SD
Register here.