Everyone Deserves Quality Healthcare
Population Health
The Arizona Alliance for Community Health Centers (the Alliance) collaborates with Community Health Centers (CHCs) to advance clinical quality and performance by advising on care considerations and approaches to best meet patients’ real-life situations. We recognize social determinants of health (the conditions in the environments where people are born, live, learn, work, play, worship, and age) have a profound impact on health outcomes. We work with our CHCs to address health disparities and ensure everyone has the opportunity to achieve optimal health. Our areas of focus include quality improvement, integrated services (including & behavioral health and pharmacy), substance use disorder, domestic & sexual violence, and special populations.
HRSA Funded Special Populations
The Alliance supports efforts to reach out to federally-designated special populations, which include migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, individuals and families experiencing homelessness, and those living in public housing. Some Community Health Centers receive additional funding to focus on ensuring these groups receive health services. Learn more about each population below and visit our Training & Events page for information on upcoming trainings that may address these topics.
- Agricultural Workers
Individuals and Families - Experiencing Homelessness
- Residents of Public Housing
Organizations are eligible to receive funding under the section 330 (g) portion of the Public Health Service Act to provide health services to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers and their families. Requirements of 330(g) funding include:
- Providing available and accessible primary healthcare, preventative, and enabling services, which include oral health, mental health, and substance use services to migratory and seasonal agricultural workers and their families in the area to be served;
- Making adjustments for service delivery during peak and off-season cycles; and
- Addressing special environmental and occupational health concerns.
Organizations serving only migratory and seasonal agricultural workers may request a “good cause” exemption to provide certain required primary health services only during certain periods of the year. Additionally, health centers funded to serve agricultural workers and their families must provide occupational related health services, including screening for infectious diseases and injury prevention programs. In Arizona, Adelante Healthcare, Chiricahua Community Health Centers, and Sunset Health are funded to serve this population.
The Alliance also participates in and is a board member on the Arizona Interagency Farmworkers Coalition (AIFC). AIFC is a collaboration between organizations in Arizona that serves as a resource for service providers to migrant and seasonal agricultural workers. AIFC organizes an annual training and networking conference for agricultural worker serving partners, as well as provides scholarships to high school students of farmworker families to pursue higher education goals.
- Providing available and accessible primary healthcare, preventative, and enabling services, which include oral health, mental health, and substance use services, and
- Either providing or collaborating to ensure the delivery of comprehensive substance use services in non-hospital settings. In Arizona, Circle the City and El Rio Health are funded to serve this population.
Community Health Centers are eligible to receive funding under the section 330 (i) portion of the Public Health Service Act for providing health services to persons living in public housing, designated as Public Housing Primary Care (PHPC) program. Requirements of 330 (i) funding include:
- Providing available and accessible primary healthcare, preventive, and enabling services, which include oral health, mental health, and substance use services to residents of public housing, and
- Enabling residents to be involved in the application process and planning and administering of the program.
The PHPC program stipulates that there must be a health center location, either within the public housing space or nearby where it is easily accessible to residents to be considered for funding. Furthermore, potential applicants also must consult with the current residents to develop an appropriate model of care for potential patients. Grantees also must have a written agreement with their local Public Housing Authority (PHA) as part of the application process. As part of the program, Section 8 housing is considered public housing, but only if it is served in conjunction with traditional public housing. Additionally, delivery of services may be difficult due to how spread-out Section 8 recipients commonly are.
Other Special Populations
The Alliance also supports our Community Health Centers in their efforts to better serve other special populations, including gender and sexual minorities, persons living with HIV/AIDS, persons recently released from prison/jail, and veterans. If there are any other special populations in the state that may need specific considerations, please reach out to us and we will do our best to find resources to help you better serve these populations.
- Gender and Sexual Minorities
- Persons Living with HIV/AIDS
- Persons Recently Released from Prison/Jail
- Veterans
“Gender and sexual minorities” is a term that encompasses all lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning, queer, and ++ populations. We work to assist our health centers in providing safe, welcoming spaces for all patients who live in the health centers’ services areas. Community Health Centers listed as LGBTQ friendly include: Adelante Healthcare, El Rio Health, and Mountain Park Health Center.
Arizona has two Community Health Centers that specialize in HIV/AIDS care: El Rio Community Health Center’s Special Immunology Associates Clinic in Tucson and Valleywise Community Health Center – McDowell, which is located in the Parson’s Center in Phoenix. The Valleywise Health clinic specializes in testing, treatment, and health and wellness programs. El Rio Community Health Center and Valleywise Health also offer dental services to HIV/AIDS patients.
The transition for individuals recently released from prison/jail can be challenging, and Community Health Centers are often a source of assistance and support. Currently, there are two Arizona CHCs operating programs targeted to this population.
Arizona Department of Economic Security (DES) Division of Benefits and Medical Eligibility (DBME) is currently on site at NATIVE HEALTH Central on Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday, 8am-4pm offering assistance with employment services and/or resources.
Terros Health works closely with Maricopa County Adult Probation to provide whole-person healthcare to meet the physical and mental health needs of the justice community. Individuals have the opportunity to meet with their probation officers and Terros Health medical providers and mental health professionals in an environment focused on well-being. They operate two Justice Centers:
27th Avenue Integrated Care Clinic (co-located)
3864 North 27th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ 85017
602.685.6000
Maricopa County Adult Probation Black Canyon building (co-located)
2445 West Indianola Ave
Phoenix, AZ 85015
602.372.2301
Language Access
In partnership with the Arizona Department of Health Services Health Disparities Center, we have developed materials to make it easier for Limited English Proficiency patients to identify their language to providers, as well as make providers and patients aware of the patients’ rights. Click here to access a printable language card you can use at your clinic.
Have questions or want to learn more about the work we are doing in this area? Contact our Director of Special Populations and Population Health, Emily Oake, at emilyo@aachc.org.