Southwest Attends NACHC P&I Forum

Recently, Southwest attended the annual Policy and Issues Forum held in our nation’s capital of Washington, D.C. This four-day event is sponsored by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) and serves as a key component to the advocacy efforts tied to the mission of all community health centers across the nation. With our current political climate and the anticipated reauthorization of the federal 330 grant, NACHC had a tight agenda filled with congressional visits, learning sessions and vital brainstorming efforts to help preserve the life line of our organizations. In total, Connecticut brought 40 representatives to the event. This number comprised of 28 CHCACT/FQHC representatives (4 Southwest staff – Katherine S. Yacavone, President/CEO, Marshall Touponse, Board Chair, Homi Dastoor, Board Member and Samuel Diaz III, Director of Communications) and 12 Professions Students from the Urban Service Track Program. As we stormed the congressional hill, our team framed the discussion around three important topics for our communities - the impending health center “funding cliff”, the value of Medicaid for our communities and the importance of workforce recruitment for programs. Although we are continuing to fight, this event gave Community Health Centers a unified platform to let our voices be heard.

Thank you to all of our staff who assisted with the National Call-In Day and helped to gather petition signatures in support of community health centers across the nation. Without your efforts, our patients would not have access to the great care that is Southwest Community Health Center.