Quick Finds: Governance

The COVID-19 Pandemic Resources and Information: Spanish and English (2020). We at Migrant Clinicians Network have a priority to support both clinicians and the vulnerable patients they serve. MCN continually develops strategies and resources to support health centers, health departments, community groups, and clinicians as they reach out to communities that are often overlooked and give care to patients who might otherwise have nowhere to go. We remain highly concerned for the vulnerable populations that already encounter numerous barriers to health and to care. More Details...

Modulos en capitación financiera para la junta directiva (2021). Esta es una serie de cinco sesiones de capacitación financiera para juntas y miembros de la junta directiva, presentada por la Asociación Nacional de Centros de Salud Comunitarios. More Details...

Recruiting and Retaining Board Members: Considerations During and Immediately Post-Pandemic: Contratación y retención de miembros de la junta: consideraciones durante e inmediatamente después de la pandemia (2021). This short resource outlines how health center boards and staff that work closely with the board can adapt board recruitment and retention practices during the pandemic and as we begin to emerge into a new post-pandemic environment. More Details...

Health Center Governance & Telehealth: Current and Future Considerations for Strategy and Oversight: Gobernanza y telesalud del centro de salud: Consideraciones actuales y futuras para la estrategia y la supervisión (2021). This article outlines various strategic and oversight considerations related to telehealth for health center boards. A list of discussion questions is included at the end of the article. More Details...

FQHC Roles and Opportunities Related to Rural Hospital Financial Distress and Closure (2021). This publication, prepared with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration, provides a high-level examination of the lived experiences of Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs) that serve rural communities, particularly in the context of rural hospital financial distress and closure. (Released in 2021) More Details...

Financial Impact of COVID-19 on California Federally Qualified Health Centers - Infographic (2021). Created with support from the California Health Care Foundation, this infographic highlights California FQHCs’ net projected losses from April through December 2020, after taking into account critical federal support made available through December 2020. More Details...

Federally Qualified Health Centers Financial and Operational Performance Analysis 2016-2019 (2021). This report, developed with support from the Health Resources and Services Administration, offers a framework for identifying strengths, challenges, and opportunities for performance improvement in a rapidly transforming health care landscape. (Released in 2021.) More Details...

Lectura y comprensión del balance general financiero (2021). Esta es la segunda parte de una serie de cinco sesiones de capacitación en finanzas para juntas y miembros de la junta directiva, presentada por la Asociación Nacional de Centros de Salud Comunitarios. La información de este curso fue preparada por Justin Kensinger de BKD, una firma nacional de Contadores Públicos Certificados. More Details...

Capitación financiera para la junta directiva (2021). Esta es la primera parte de una serie de cinco sesiones de capacitación financiera para juntas y miembros de la junta directiva, presentada por la Asociación Nacional de Centros de Salud Comunitarios. More Details...

Three Ways Health Center Board Members can Serve as Ambassadors for the COVID-19 Vaccine (2021). This short video focuses on the board's role in promoting vaccine confidence and awareness. In addition to handouts on talking points and questions for board discussions, links to important resources are provided. More Details...

Pandemic-Related Budgeting Considerations for Health Center Boards / Consideraciones presupuestarias relacionadas con la pandemia para las juntas de los centros de salud (2021). This article summarizes key pandemic-related considerations for health centers boards in the budgeting process. Additionally, this resource contains a list of discussion questions for boards at the end of the document. Este artículo resume las consideraciones clave relacionadas con la pandemia para las juntas de los centros de salud en el proceso de presupuestación. Además, este recurso contiene una lista de preguntas de discusión para los foros al final del documento. More Details...

Board Oversight of Quality During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2021). This short resource outlines various factors for board consideration regarding quality oversight and mitigating risks related to quality during the pandemic. More Details...

Memorandum of Understanding Template: A Partnership-Building Resource for Community Health Centers and Domestic Violence Programs (2021). The purpose of this model Memorandum of Understanding is to provide a model that contains best practices for building and sustaining health center and domestic violence program partnerships. More Details...

Key Considerations in Planning Your Facility for Integrated, Comprehensive Care (0201). This webinar provides an overview of the most important factors to consider when planning a facility that will accommodate various types of integrated care. More Details...

Tips for Board Chairs and Other Board Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2021). This article provides tips and ideas for board chairs, board officers, and committee chairs who may hold new or more involved leadership roles as the pandemic continues. More Details...

On-demand Health Center Board Series Focused on Health Center Program Compliance and Related Good Practices (2021). These short videos from the Health Center Association of Nebraska are intended to increase the understanding of health center boards and the individual board members with HRSA’s governing board requirements as included in the Health Center Program Compliance Manual (last updated August 20, 2018) and the Health Center Program Site Visit Protocol (last updated February 20, 2020). Good governance practices are highlighted throughout the series. More Details...

Focusing on the Future: Strategic Planning and Thinking During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Enfoque en el futuro: planificación y pensamiento estratégicos durante la pandemia de la COVID-19 (2021). This short resource outlines how boards can use their strategic planning and thinking to support the health center as it navigates times of uncertainty and change. More Details...

Board Oversight of Risk Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2021). This short resource outlines considerations related to board oversight of risk management during the COVID-19 pandemic. More Details...

Virtual Board Retreats (2021). This short resource outlines how health center boards can plan a virtual retreat during the pandemic, and offers some tools and templates that can be customized by boards. More Details...

The Board’s Role in Evaluating Collaborative Relationships (Governance Legal Brief 4) (2020). This Governance Legal Brief describes why health centers collaborate with other providers, defines common collaboration goals, and discusses potential types of collaborative relationships; examines the board’s role in evaluating collaborative relationships; highlights certain requirements applicable to health center board autonomy in the context of collaborative relationships; and highlights certain key decisions that must be approved by the board, including decisions to subaward a portion of the federal Health Center Project grant. More Details...

Protecting Health Center Board Members and Other Volunteers from Personal Liability (Governance Legal Brief 2) (2020). This Governance Legal Brief summarizes the federal law that protects volunteers of nonprofit organizations: the Federal Volunteer Protection Act. You will learn who this law protects, how it does so, and what is excluded from its coverage. You will also learn about private insurance as an additional option to limit volunteer and health center risks. More Details...

Identifying, Disclosing, and Managing Board Members’ Conflicts of Interest (Governance Legal Brief 1) (2020). This Governance Legal Brief provides general advice for board members about how to identify, disclose, and manage conflicts of interest. This document also describes steps to ensure that a conflict does not impact board decision-making, which could expose the health center to potential risks and liabilities. More Details...

CEO and Senior Executive Compensation – Legal Considerations for Health Centers (Governance Legal Brief 3) (2020). This Governance Legal Brief outlines key considerations related to CEO and senior executive compensation. More Details...

Creating a Safer Environment for Patients and Staff: Architectural Design and Engineering Solutions – Part Two (2020). Part Two of this series focuses on engineering solutions as we explore best practices in building systems design and management as well as facility maintenance. Strategies for addressing challenges in HVAC and air flow, room/space capacity and equipment selection (air scrubbers, filtration, UV lights, HEPA filters) as well as key factors in disinfection including the role of negative pressure and temperature setting will be presented by senior engineers. More Details...

Creating a Safer Environment for Patients and Staff: Architectural Design and Engineering Solutions – Part Two (2020). Part Two of this series focuses on engineering solutions as we explore best practices in building systems design and management as well as facility maintenance. Strategies for addressing challenges in HVAC and air flow, room/space capacity and equipment selection (air scrubbers, filtration, UV lights, HEPA filters) as well as key factors in disinfection including the role of negative pressure and temperature setting will be presented by senior engineers. More Details...

The Board's Role in the Needs Assessment (2020). Each health center must undertake a community health needs assessment to understand critical needs in its community at least once every three years as required in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Compliance Manual (Compliance Manual), Chapter 3: Needs Assessment. This short module outlines key components of a Needs Assessment and discusses the board’s role related to the Needs Assessment. More Details...

The Board's Role in Strategic Planning: Case Study (2020). This case study offers an opportunity to apply concepts regarding strategic planning from the online module titled, “The Board’s Role Related to Strategic Planning.” More Details...

The Board's Role in Strategic Planning (2020). Strategic planning is the board and management team’s attempt to create the health center’s future, achieve its vision, advance its mission, and exert some influence over an uncertain future. This short module identifies key components of a strategic planning process and discusses the role of the board in strategic planning. More Details...

Public Entity and Co-Applicant Boards: Roles & Responsibilites (2020). This short video provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of public entity co-applicant boards, as well as a discussion of compliance and good governance practices for boards. More Details...

Orienting New Health Center Board Members During the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020). This short resource outlines how health center boards and staff that work closely with the board can adapt board orientation during the pandemic. More Details...

Health Center Governance & Continuing to Navigate COVID-19 / Gobernanza de los centros de salud y continuar navegando por la COVID-19 (2020). This short article summarizes current focus areas for health center boards and details some forthcoming resources that will be available to boards in the coming weeks and months ahead. En este breve artículo, se resumen las áreas de foco actuales para las juntas de los centros de salud y se detallan algunos recursos futuros que estarán disponibles para las juntas en las próximas semanas y meses. More Details...

The Board's Role in Strategic Planning: A Case Study of Cherokee Health Systems (2020). This case study offers an overview of Cherokee Health Systems' strategic planning methodology from both the CEO and the Chief Strategy Officer's perspectives. It augments the other lessons in this series, providing a pragmatic example of strategic planning in action. More Details...

EnVision Centers, Jobs Plus and Health Centers Interactive Map (2020). NCHPH recently launched a new interactive map. This map shows the location of Health Centers, Envision Centers and Jobs Plus sites. EnVision Centers are centralized hubs that provide people living in public housing with resources and support needed to excel. Jobs Plus Sites. The place-based Jobs Plus Initiative program addresses poverty among public housing residents by incentivizing and enabling employment. Health Centers interested in partnering with near Envision Centers and Jobs Plus sites, visit this NCHPH resource and hover over the organization you want to partner with. Contact information will then be displayed in the information box. More Details...

Health Center Board Training (2020). These short videos from the Virginia Community Healthcare Association provides an overview of good governance for health center boards. This series of training modules are based on the National Association of Community Health Center’s (NACHC) Governance Guide for Health Centers which can be accessed (in English and Spanish) at https://www.healthcenterinfo.org/details/?id=2302. They are designed for new and seasoned board members and can be very useful as a refresher training. Each health center board member can reference the full NACHC Governance Guide for Health Center Boards for additional information (https://www.healthcenterinfo.org/details/?id=2302). More Details...

Health Center Board Roles (2020). This short video from the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) provides an overview of the roles and responsibilities of health center boards. The video highlights where boards and board members can turn to for additional information on compliance with requirements from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program and for good governance practices. More Details...

CARES Act Funding and Financial Statements: Considerations for Health Center Boards (2020). This short article addresses CARES Act funding and considerations for health center boards related to the impact on the center’s financial statements. This article was written at NACHC’s request by Jeff Allen and Sara Grenier from BKD, a national CPA and advisory firm. More Details...

Consumer Advisory Board Manual (2020). Special-populations-only health centers are eligible for a waiver of the consumer-majority Board if it meets special efforts to engage consumers. The best way to do this for Health Care for the Homeless health centers is the Consumer Advisory Board (CAB). Championed by the National CAB of the National Health Care for the Homeless Council, this manual includes updated lessons from decades of relevant experience. More Details...

Grants Compliance During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Considerations for Health Center Boards (2020). This short article addresses considerations for health center boards related to the accountability required of health centers that have received additional grant funds during the COVID-19 crisis. This article was written at NACHC’s request by Jansen Otterness and Scott Gold from BKD, a national CPA and advisory firm. More Details...

Adapt, Refocus, and Retool: How Health Center Boards Can Support a Focus on the Future (2020). This short article is provided to help boards and CEOs strategically initiate conversation about the future and prepare to adapt in a collaborative way. More Details...

Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) and Non-Traditional Financing for FQHCs during COVID-19 (2020). This webinar discusses non-traditional financing opportunities for health centers dealing with financial downturn during COVID-19, focusing on the latest developments in the Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) administered by the Small Business Administration (SBA) and tips for strengthening health center participation in the PPP. More Details...

Developing Cross-Sector Partnerships (2020). This guide provides health center staff with tools and strategies to initiate, develop, and sustain community partnerships to better serve older adult residents of public housing. Content of this publication was developed through a 4-session learning collaborative launched by the SDOH academy with a small cohort of HRSA-funded health centers, HCCNs, and PCAs. More Details...

Virtual Board Meetings: A Spotlight on One Health Center’s Approach (2020). This short article highlights tips from one health center, HRHCare (NY), that has experience with virtual board meetings. More Details...

The Board and CEO Partnership During the Current Public Health Emergency (English/Spanish) (2020). This short article includes items boards may wish to consider as they think about how to effectively support and partner with the CEO of the health center in the weeks and months ahead as health centers remain on the frontlines of responding to COVID-19. More Details...

Legal Considerations: Board Meetings During COVID-19 (2020). This short blog focuses on some legal considerations related to board meetings during COVID-19. More Details...

Virtual Board Meetings: Tips for Health Center Boards (English/Spanish) (2020). This short blog focuses on tips health centers can use if quickly adopting virtual meetings or increasing their use of such meetings given COVID-19. More Details...

Overview for the Board — COVID-19 (2020). This resource was developed by Lisa Bujno, APRN, Assistant Medical Director, Ammonoosuc Community Health Services, Inc. (ACHS) in New Hampshire. This resource was adapted to share with a broader audience. It is shared with permission and contains segments that can be adapted for use with the board at your health center. More Details...

Health Center Boards and Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) (English/Spanish) (2020). This short document discusses how health center boards are exercising their governance duties related to COVID-19. More Details...

The Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net Webinar Training Series - Cost Allocation: Getting the Basics Right (2020). To assist health center finance and accounting staff in preparing for the transition from fee-for-service to value-based care, The Delta Center for a Thriving Safety Net is hosting a webinar training series, Understanding Your Costs in an Evolving Payment Environment, facilitated by Capital Link. More Details...

Juntas de los centros de salud: beneficios de los centros de salud (2020). This short document, available in English and Spanish, discusses the benefits of the health center board model. More Details...

Health Center Boards: Benefits to Health Centers (2020). This short document, available in English and Spanish, discusses the benefits of the health center board model. More Details...

Facilitating Change: Working Together, Engaging Others and Motivating for Change (2020). Health centers are undergoing tremendous changes: considering shifting to value-based payment models; continuing to implement and optimize technology; creating data-driven quality improvement programs; and developing and enhancing multi-disciplinary care teams. More Details...

Public Centers Monograph (2020). This monograph discusses the category of health centers known as “public centers,” previously known as public entities. The publication highlights some of the key considerations, challenging aspects, strategic advantages, and answers some of the frequently asked questions about the public center model. More Details...

Governance Guide for Health Center Boards (English/Spanish) (2019). The Governance Guide for Health Center Boards addresses major areas of board responsibility and contextualizes them, where appropriate, in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program Compliance Manual (Compliance Manual) and relevant state and federal laws. The Governance Guide also reflects the latest effective governance practices for nonprofit boards. The Governance Guide for Health Center Boards will also be available in Spanish (forthcoming) and replaces the “Health Center Program Governing Board Workbook.” More Details...

Modules on Board Financial Oversight (2019). The Modules on Board Financial Oversight were produced by NACHC and feature subject matter experts from BKD. This five-part series addresses the board’s role in financial oversight, how to read key financial statements, and highlights some key financial performance indicators typically monitored by health center boards. The content in the modules is foundational and intended for those new to board service, board members who want to build their confidence related to financial oversight, or board members that want a refresher on this topic. The Modules can be viewed by individual board members, by the full board as part of its own ongoing board education,* or during new board member orientation.* The Modules include: Module 1: The Board's Role in Financial Oversight Module 2: Reading and Understanding the Balance Sheet (Statement of Financial Position) Module 3: Reading and Understanding the Income Statement (Statement of Activities) Module 4: Understanding the Importance of Cash Flow Module 5: Key Financial Performance Indicators More Details...

Key Financial Performance Indicators (2019). This elearning module is the last in a five-part series that examines the health center board's role in overseeing its financial health. This module provides an overview of key performance indicators, focusing on how these indicators are determined and their meaning when assessing health center financial health. This module can be viewed by individual board members, by the full board as part of its own ongoing board education, or during new board member orientation. More Details...

Financial Training for Boards of Directors: Understanding the Importance of Cash Flow (2019). This elearning module is the fourth in a five-part series that examines the health center board's role in overseeing its financial health. This module provides an overview of the statement of cash flows, focusing on both how it is put together and how to interpret its meaning. This module can be viewed by individual board members, by the full board as part of its own ongoing board education, or during new board member orientation. More Details...

Reading and Understanding the Income Statement (Statement of Activities) (2019). This elearning module is the third in a five-part series that examines the health center board's role in overseeing its financial health. This module provides an overview of the income statement (“statement of activities”), focusing on both how it is put together and how to interpret its meaning. This module can be viewed by individual board members, by the full board as part of its own ongoing board education, or during new board member orientation. More Details...

A Guide for Rural Health Care Collaboration and Coordination (2019). A Guide for Rural Health Care Collaboration and Coordination was developed in cooperation with local, state, and national level leaders representing various rural health care organizations. This document discusses key lessons learned from efforts these leaders have pursued in their own rural communities. More Details...

Finance Training for Boards of Directors: Reading and Understanding the Balance Sheet (Statement of Financial Position) (2019). This elearning module is the second in a five-part series that examines the health center board's role in overseeing its financial health. This short module provides an overview of how to read and understand a balance sheet (statement of financial position). The remaining modules will be launched in the coming weeks. This module can be viewed by individual board members, by the full board as part of its own ongoing board education, or during new board member orientation. More Details...

Successful Practices in Accountable Care: Financial and Operational Analysis, Management and Strategy (2019). This document focuses on Capital Link, who, in coordination with the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, have assisted health centers in analyzing and managing such opportunities with their Advancing Financial and Operational Strength training program. More Details...

So You Want to Start a Health Center? (2019). This publication is a guide for health care providers and organizations, public agencies, or community-based organizations and individuals interested in becoming part of the Health Center Program. This guide outlines the many considerations and recommended steps a community must consider for assessing readiness to apply to become a community health center. It also provides links to resources and toolkits that support each step of the process. More Details...

Finance Training for Boards of Directors: The Board's Role in Financial Oversight (2019). This elearning module is the first in a five-part series that examines the health center board's role in overseeing its financial health. This module provides an overview of the board’s role in the financial oversight of a health center and discuss the responsibilities of individual board members in carrying out this important oversight. The remaining modules will be launched in the coming weeks. This module can be viewed by individual board members, by the full board as part of its own ongoing board education, or during new board member orientation. More Details...

Accountable Care for Health Center Boards (2019). Accountable Care for Health Center Boards is a short online module for health center boards and board members that defines critical concepts and major steps in the health center journey from safety net to accountable care. It provides a solid foundation to understanding health center financing and raises questions that a board can ask to better understand how the health center it governs is related to the movement toward accountable care. More Details...

HITEQ Highlights: Managing Data as a Strategic Asset: Data Governance Fundamentals (2019). In this webinar, the HITEQ Center presented the essentials of good data management processes and introduce the Center for Care Innovation’s Data Governance Handbook, offering ideas for action and tools to improve data quality, increase data literacy, and maximize access to data. More Details...

CEO Succession and Transition: A Case Study on Extended CEO Transition at East Boston Neighborhood Health Center (English/Spanish) (2018). This case study describes one community health center’s approach to CEO succession and transition which included a multi-year overlap between the exiting CEO and the incoming leader. More Details...

Payment Reform Fundamentals for Health Center Boards (2020). To get control of the high cost of health care, payers such as Medicare, Medicaid, and health insurance companies are changing how they pay for care. They want to see more value for their money. As payers change how they pay for what they value, health care providers, including health centers, must change how they deliver care so it is more valuable without costing more. This document is intended to help health center board members understand changes to the health center payment and care model in order to meet their fiduciary responsibilities of providing oversight and acting for the good of the health center and protecting the health center's assets. This resource addresses: Why Payment Reform? What Does Payment Reform Mean for Health Centers? What is the Board’s Role in Supporting the Health Center in Payment Reform? More Details...

Using Outreach Data to Support Health Center Board Engagement (2016). Outreach programs have unique access to community data that can enhance a health center’s governing board’s ability to make strategic decisions about providing appropriate and responsive care to patients in a financially sustainable manner. This webinar will address how to leverage outreach data to support health center planning and decision-making. HOP will present two effective tools that health center leadership, including board members, can use to inform their work: needs assessments and the Outreach Business Value Toolkit. More Details...

RM Information Bulletin 10: Developing Comprehensive Standards of Conduct (2017). This information bulletin addresses elements that are recommended for a "model" Standards of Conduct, including conflict of interest, compensation, gifts and gratuities, and confidential information. Health centers can use this model to develop their own standards of conduct. More Details...

Quick Guide:Consumer Engagement of Governance of HCH Programs (2016). Health centers serving people experiencing homelessness must meaningfully involve consumers with the lived experience of homelessness in their governance, either on their governance Board or through structures like Consumer Advisory Boards. This guide provides practical tips for organizations in setting up effective, empowering consumer governance structures and supports. The ideas in this Quick Guide were developed through conversations with over 20 key informants: consumer leaders, consumer support staff, and executive leaders of HCH projects who have facilitated consumer leadership both locally and nationally. More Details...

Partnering - Key Qualities of Successful Partnerships (n.a.). No annotation provided by the authoring organization. More Details...

If You Build It, Will They Come?: Recruiting and Retaining Consumers Experiencing Homelessness in Health Center Governance (2018). This publication discusses common challenges and offers solutions in how to recruit new consumer leaders, as well as how to create structures and environments that encourage them to continue to engage. Also included are useful lessons on creating healthy group dynamics. More Details...

Governing Board Succession Planning: A Case Study on Cherry Health (English/Spanish) (2018). This case study describes how one community health center takes a strategic approach to its board composition by implementing a board succession planning process that entails proactive efforts to: assess and identify future board composition needs, build a pipeline of candidates, and utilize board committee membership as a way to vet and prepare candidates for the board. More Details...

Building Data Teams and Skills: Maximizing Data Literacy and Data Governance for a Data Driven Culture: A compendium of references and tools, created in October 2018 (2018). This compendium of references and tools is intended to support Quality Improvement efforts and to build skills across health center staff, in particular those who may be tasked with leading data literacy and data governance activities or are new to the health center world.  More Details...

Board Succession Planning (2018). This webinar will discuss the key components of effective board member recruitment and succession. A recently published case study featuring the experience of Cherry Health, a community health center in Michigan, will be highlighted. More Details...

Becoming a Leader in Migrant Health (2014). This training toolkit was developed by NCFH to increase the recruitment, orientation and successful integration of agricultural workers and other health center consumers into health center boards. It is designed to help health centers build capacity among patients and community members to for board membership. This unique resource also includes a leadership development component based on the needs of agricultural workers and other special populations. The toolkit includes all content, instructions and materials needed to be able to conduct this training in your community. More Details...

Addressing the Needs of LGBT People in Community Health Centers: What Governing Board Needs to Know (2017). This fact sheet offers governing board members an introduction to LGBT people their health needs and what health centers can do to support them. More Details...