WASHINGTON ASSOCIATION FOR COMMUNITY HEALTH

WORKFORCE:THE ASSOCIATION PROVIDES TRAINING AND LEARNING MEETINGS TO SUPPORT HEALTH CENTERS IN ADDRESSING WORKFORCE SHORTAGES, IMPLEMENTING INNOVATIVE HEALTH PROFESSION TRAINING PROGRAMS, AND UNDERSTANDING LEGISLATIVE UPDATES. THE ASSOCIATION ADMINISTERED A REGISTERED APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IN MEDICAL ASSISTING THROUGH MARCH 2025. FROM APRIL 1, 2024 TO MARCH 31, 2025, THERE WERE 8 ACTIVE MEDICAL ASSISTANT APPRENTICESHIP COHORTS, AND 312 APPRENTICES WERE ENROLLED. MEDICAL ASSISTING APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM HAS A COMPLETION RATE OF 81% WITH 1,400 STUDENTS GRADUATED OR ON TRACK TO GRADUATE SINCE INCEPTION. THE MA PROGRAM HAD AN OVERALL CERTIFICATION EXAM PASS RATE OF 94.5% FOR THIS PERIOD. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO OFFERS A DENTAL ASSISTING TRAINING PROGRAM THAT IS AVAILABLE TO ALL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS, THERE WERE 2 ACTIVE DENTAL ASSISTANT COHORTS AND 14 WERE ENROLLED. THE ASSOCIATION ALSO OFFERS A MEDICAL ASSISTING PREAPPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM THAT IS AVAILABLE TO HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, THERE WAS 1 ACTIVE PRE-APPRENTICESHIP COHORT AND 8 WERE ENROLLED. THE ASSOCIATION'S HEALTHCARE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS CONTINUE TO BE RECOGNIZED NATION-WIDE AND CONSULTATION WORK, INCLUDING CURRICULUM LICENSING, FOR OUT OF STATE ORGANIZATIONS CONTINUES TO GROW. THE IN-REACH CURRICULUM IS NOW BEING USED IN 11 STATES.DURING 2024-2025 THE ASSOCIATION DEEPENED ITS IDENTITY AS THE SW REGIONAL AREA HEATLH EDUCATION CENTER (SW AHEC). THE SW AHEC SUPPORTED 29 SECOND YEAR AND 39 FIRST YEAR AHEC SCHOLARS, WHICH PREPARES A SKILLED PRIMARY CARE WORKFORCE IN RURAL AND UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE SW AHEC ALSO PLACED 17 MEDICAL STUDENTS IN THE RURAL UNDERSERVED OPPORTUNITIES PROGRAM, ALLOWING THE STUDENTS TO WORK ALONGSIDE GENERAL OR PEDIATRIC PHYSICIAN PRECEPTORS PROVIDING HEALTH CAREWITHIN RURAL AND URBAN UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES. THE SW AHEC ALSO SUPPORTED MANY COMMUNITY-BASED HEALTH CAREER PROMOTION AND PREPARATION ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE REGION THAT IMPACTED 198 YOUTH, 68 AHEC SCHOLARS, AND OVER 50 HEALTH CARE PROVIDERS.

POLICY AND ADVOCACY:IN THE LAST FISCAL YEAR, THE ASSOCIATION'S POLICY AND ADVOCACY TEAM HAS CONTINUED TO ADVOCATE FOR THE REAUTHORIZATION OF THE FEDERAL COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER FUND AND THE PROTECTION OF WASHINGTON'S HEALTHCARE SAFETY NET SYSTEM, SECURED CAPITAL FUNDS FOR DENTAL CLINIC EXPANSIONS, AND ADVANCED LEGISLATIVE CONVERSATIONS ON VALUE BASED PAYMENT. THE ASSOCIATION POLICY AND ADVOCACY TEAM PROVIDED CONSISTENT AND CONSIDERABLE TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE TO COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTERS IN UNDERSTANDING FEDERAL AND STATE PROGRAMS, OPERATIONALIZING POLICY AND REGULATORY CHANGES, AND NAVIGATING THE POLICY AND REGULATORY ENVIRONMENT.