Bringing the Best Healthcare Professionals to an FQHC Near You

New Jersey’s Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), also known as Community Health Centers, provide high-quality, culturally component, and cost-effective healthcare to the community. At NJPCA, we support and strengthen FQHCs through community-based partnerships, targeted outreach, and innovative workforce development programs.

Federal Workforce Initiatives

The Health Resources and Services Administration’s (HRSA) Bureau of Health Workforce (BHW) provides several initiatives to strengthen the FQHC workforce and recruitment of healthcare professionals. The BHW administers scholarships, loans, and loan repayment programs as well as provides grants to support the training of health professionals. BHW also develops strategic partnerships and is a national resource for workforce research, information, and data. Please visit the BHW site to learn more.

National Health Service Corps (NHSC)

The NHSC awards scholarships and loan repayment for individuals who are employed by an NHSC-approved site, primarily in rural and underserved areas, for a specified amount of time. More than half of NHSC placements are at Community Health Centers across the nation. To learn more about the NHSC, please visit the NHSC site. Additionally, visit HRSA’s Workforce Connector to view open job opportunities at Health Centers and identify local NHSC sites.

National Institute for Medical Assistant Advancement (NIMAA)

NIMAA is a nonprofit education institute that trains Medical Assistants (MAs) to work in today’s high-performing primary care settings. If your health center is in need of MAs and interested in exploring how to become an externship site and partner with NIMAA to bring their MA students to your Health Center, reach out to [email protected] and visit www.nimaa.edu to learn more about the program. You can also contact NJPCA at 609-689-9930 for additional information.

Health Professional Shortage Area (HPSA)

HPSAs are geographic areas, populations, or facilities known to have a shortage of primary, dental, or mental health care providers. These shortage areas are determined by HRSA using a formula that considers factors like poverty levels and population-to- provider ratio. This formula is used to create a score, which can increase the federal funding a Health Center receives. Check your HPSA score or apply for designation on HRSA’s website.

The Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) Health Center Volunteer Health Professionals (VHP) Program

Through the enactment of Section 9025 of the 21st Century Cures Act (Pub. L. 114-255), subsection 224(q) was added to the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. § 233(q)), extending liability protections for the performance of medical, surgical, dental, and related functions to Volunteer Health Professionals (VHPs) at health centers that have also been deemed as employees of the Public Health Service (PHS). Through this process, VHPs of deemed health centers may receive deemed Public Health Service employment status, with associated Federal Tort Claims Act (FTCA) coverage.

To learn more about the FTCA Health Center Volunteer Health Professionals Program and learn about the application process, please visit https://bphc.hrsa.gov

State Workforce Initiatives

3RNet: National Rural Recruitment and Retention Network

3RNet is an online job posting website that is free of charge for FQHCs in New Jersey as part of their collaboration with the New Jersey Department of Health. Employers can upload job openings and access helpful resources through the 3RNet website. The 3RNet platform specifically publicizes job listings from employers who serve rural and underserved communities. As a result, applicants who are interested in working at a Community Health Center in New Jersey have a direct link to potential employers.

New Jersey Department of Health, Hannah Schonman and Brianna Foulks are New Jersey’s 3RNet Member Representatives. They both maintain state and regional web pages within the 3RNet website. These web pages provide information about communities, available opportunities, and loan repayment programs. If you have any questions or concerns regarding how to post positions, please contact Hannah Schonman at [email protected] and Brianna Foulks at [email protected]. 

To learn more, visit the 3RNet website here.

The Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program

The Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program promotes access to primary care services in medically underserved areas of the state by improving the distribution of primary care health providers, including physicians, dentists, physician assistants, certified nurse practitioners, and certified nurse midwives, by providing for the redemption of eligible student loan expenses of providers in exchange for a specified period of service in medically underserved areas. Funding for this program is subject to state appropriations. Subject to appropriation, the program will provide up to $120,000 in student loan redemption for two to four years of service at a primary care provider in areas of medicine defined by the Commissioner of Health or the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in areas reflecting a health professional shortage. Funding for this program is subject to state appropriations and available funding.

NJPCA Workforce Initiatives

NJPCA University/College Outreach Program

NJPCA participates in career fairs organized to engage non-profit and for-profit industries with students seeking healthcare-related careers. Career fairs foster environments that encourage students’ career development through academic, leadership, and experiential learning. This platform allows NJPCA to engage with undergraduate, graduate students, and alumni to discuss FQHC recruitment needs and increase awareness about available job opportunities for candidates that meet the qualifications. All attendees can discuss FQHC opportunities in clinical, administrative, pharmaceutical, and laboratory settings. Students and alumni can also ask questions, share their resume, and review qualifications for job postings with NJPCA.

NJPCA Job Board

NJPCA’s website features an online Job Board where current health center job opportunities are posted to assist health centers with recruitment. NJPCA also uploads all job listings to Handshake, a widely used platform that connects 15 million students and alumni from over 1,000 partner colleges and universities. These services are a great resource for health centers to share employment opportunities with health care professionals and students alike.

Additional Workforce Resources

Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources

As burnout rises in the healthcare industry, NJPCA is addressing burnout by providing free training and technical assistance on this topic as well as frequently sharing mental health and well-being resources with its members. Please see these resources below, which are free to access:

If you are looking for additional mental health and well-being resources, please reach out to NJPCA at 609-689-9930.

Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU)

The Solutions, Training, and Assistance for Recruitment and Retention (STAR²) Center is a project of the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) that provides resources, training, and technical assistance to help Health Center Program grantees with their clinician workforce challenges and questions. The STAR² Center is a National Training and Technical Assistance Partner of the Bureau of Primary Health Care. Visit the STAR² Center website to learn more.

Health Centers can also use the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved STAR2 Center’s updated Retention & Recruitment Plan Template to create their Workforce Plans, now called the Health Center Comprehensive Workforce Plan. It includes an instructions guide, a template, and an action plan. This plan is meant to be a working, living document that users can easily modify to stay updated with changing workforce needs and the evolving healthcare environment.

Recruiting Agencies & Comprehensive Workforce Plans

If you are looking into using a Staffing or Recruiting Agency to help with your recruiting needs, please contact NJPCA at 609-689-9930. NJPCA member health centers that regularly use a staffing or recruiting agency for their Workforce needs should share this information with NJPCA.

NJPCA member health centers receive free assistance in writing and compiling their Comprehensive Workforce Plans (CWPs). This includes receiving a workforce plan template, a resource toolkit, and one- on-one guidance via Zoom or phone call. CWPs are critical in planning and forecasting your health center’s workforce needs. The Health Resources & Services Administration Bureau of Health Workforce (HRSA BHW) is asking all FQHCs to have a CWP implemented. Reach out to NJPCA to get more information or one-on-one guidance.