Health Center Week’s HCH DayWEDNESDAY, AUGUST 14

Celebrating America’s Health Centers: Powering Healthier Communities

This publication was supported by Grant/Cooperative Agreement Number U30CS09746-0400 from the Health Resources and Services Administration, Bureau of Primary Health Care (HRSA/BPHC). Its contents are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official views of HRSA/BPHC.

Today’s Presenters

Brian Zralek, MSSWConsumer Advocate; National HCH Council

Amy GrassetteFormer Chair; National Consumer Advisory Board

Hch day

• 20.2 million served by community health centers nationwide in 2011

• 1,087,431people experiencing homelessness were served by health centers nationwide in 2011

• 825,295 were served by HCH grantees• Health Center Week and HCH Day recognize the

work Health Centers do to ensure everyone has access to health care

2012 Health Center Week Recognition

A proclamation from President Obama

Recognition from at least 11 Governors and numerous other public officials

Extensive media coverage

Ideas for Your Event

• Host a health fair with screenings• Make signs and rally in a public place (make

sure to have proper permits, first!)• Clinic open house• Conduct voter registration• Event with music, food, beverages, street kits,

and opportunity for consumers to talk about what HCH does for them

• Engage public officials

Medicaid Outreach

• 62% of HCH clients are uninsured• 24 states/DC are expanding Medicaid• 27 have not yet opted to expand• Medicaid expansion is very important

for people experiencing homelessness• HCH Day priorities are different

depending on Medicaid Expansion

Health Fair

• Set up tables in a public space• Offer health screenings• Hand out diabetic socks, first aid kits,

nutritious snacks, water, electrolyte replacement

• Flyers for services offered• Disease awareness brochures

Rally

• Make signs and gather in a public place to talk about the value added by HCH projects

• Hand out information to passers-by about the benefits to the community of the HCH project

• Raise awareness of Medicaid Expansion opportunities

• Offer opportunities for community to volunteer to help those who are homeless

Open House

• Host an open house of HCH clinic and other partner agencies

• Invite public officials and general public to come in and see what the clinic does

• Explain what services are still lacking and how community can support adding them

• Talk about the work of the Consumer Advisory Board and how the community can help

Celebration

• Music, food, and beverages• Offer mic to talk about how HCH is

helping the community• Get corporate sponsors to offer their

goods and services in support of the HCH and the community it serves

Public Official Activity or Event

• Proclamation• Write a piece for their website• Invite them to speak• Op-ed from public official about the

role of HCH in providing a safety net for vulnerable

• Incorporate ACA/Medicaid Expansion

Other ideas

• Theme Day – kids, women, men, diabetes, TB, cancer, hypertension, etc.

• Award ceremony – honor policy makers, staff, board members, volunteers, community leaders, patient advocates

• Consumer recognition – recognize individuals who are leading the CAB and are helping others with their struggles.

Amy’s experience with HCH Day

Amy Grassette is past-Chair of NCAB

Consumer Comments

• “HCH day [is a day] for us to honor those who assist us”

• “We do an event in our city every year – it’s a way for us to say ‘thank you’ to those who don’t hear it enough”

• “It helps the community know about what our HCH project does and how they help people like me get off the streets and into housing”

Resources• Post or find an event, tools and ideas:

http://www.healthcenterweek.org/events.cfm • Learn more about HCH Day 2012:

https://www.nhchc.org/hch-day/ • Find out if your state is moving forward with Medicaid

Expansion: http://kff.org/medicaid/state-indicator/state-activity-around-expanding-medicaid-under-the-affordable-care-act/

• For more on Health Reform and Medicaid Expansion: https://www.nhchc.org/policy-advocacy/reform/nhchc-health-reform-materials/ or www.healthcare.gov

Thank you

• Email Brian Zralek with pictures, stories, or questions: bzralek@nhchc.org

• Please fill out the evaluation: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/HCHDay2013

• Thank you!