The Alliance partners with our CHCs to advance clinical quality and performance through a focus on continuous quality improvement (QI). We promote QI best practices, facilitate QI collaboratives, and discuss methods for the effective deployment of QI initiatives at both the individual CHC and network levels. We also support the optimization of reporting tools to ensure CHCs have consistent and up-to-date access to their quality measures and gaps in patient care. With a focus on improving care delivery and health outcomes, our team monitors key data points throughout the year and uses that data to identify opportunities for training and technical assistance.

CHCs employ a comprehensive, whole-person, integrated model of care that includes primary medical, oral health, behavioral health, pharmacy, and other preventive and enabling services. Because everyone deserves quality healthcare, we:

• Partner with our CHCs to promote oral health as essential to overall health and integrate oral health services into primary care
• Work with our CHCs, payers, and other key stakeholders to ensure the effective delivery and integration of behavioral health services in a primary care environment in response to the growing need for mental health care
• Share best practices related to the development and growth of CHC pharmacy operations and provide technical assistance to CHCs interested in starting a pharmacy program, including a 340B Program.

CHCs have responded to the growing need for substance use disorder (SUD) treatment by building capacity and integrating SUD services into their care delivery model. Arizona CHCs more than doubled their SUD staff between 2018 and 2020 and tripled the number of patients receiving Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT)/Medication for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). The Alliance also works with CHCs to expand services and supports for patients with SUD/OUD and to reduce the stigma that prevents people from seeking and receiving needed services. Because everyone deserves quality healthcare, we:

• Provide opioid-related training, facilitate linkages to care, and expand resources for the clinical support of patients with chronic pain in urban and rural areas of the state
• Work with CHCs, academic institutions, and community partners to identify, assess, and implement SUD and OUD prevention, treatment, and recovery services
• Collaborate with CHCs on the development of MAT/MOUD and intensive outpatient treatment programs
• Produce materials, such as our video series on stigma and substance use, to reduce stigma by educating CHC providers on SUD/OUD

Domestic and sexual violence occur in every community and impacts health outcomes.  CHCs are trusted, confidential community-based service providers where victims can receive services while accessing primary healthcare. The Alliance has worked to integrate domestic and sexual violence services into the primary healthcare setting since 2007.  Because everyone deserves quality healthcare, we:

• Collaborate with CHCs to ensure that survivors, their children, and all touched by domestic and sexual violence have access to resources and services
• Provide training and technical assistance to CHCs on establishing and maintaining domestic and sexual violence advocacy programs
• Create opportunities to educate health center staff on the prevalence of domestic and sexual violence and their impact on health
• Partner with CHCs to provide community education that increases awareness and reduces stigma around domestic and sexual violence
• Train Community Health Workers on sexual violence, its impacts, and how to support clients
• Support CHC participation in coordinated community response to domestic violence, including regular collaboration with a wide variety of community partners, to better address accountability for perpetrators and needs of victims

Some CHCs receive funding from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) to outreach and provide services to federally designated special populations. These special populations include migrant and seasonal agricultural workers, families experiencing homelessness, and residents of public housing.  The Alliance provides training and technical assistance and facilitates partnerships to ensure that the unique healthcare needs of these populations are met.

The Alliance also provides support to CHCs in outreaching and serving other populations with unique needs such as gender and sexual minorities, persons living with HIV/AIDS, persons formerly incarcerated, and veterans.