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.

One of the programs HRSA’s BHW offers healthcare professionals is the 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.

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NJPCA Workforce Initiatives

NJPCA supports a strong Community Health Center workforce in New Jersey through community-based partnerships, outreach to potential applicants, and the implementation of workforce programs.

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 as 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 ranked by the Commissioner of Health reflecting a health professional shortage. Funding for this program is subject to state appropriations and available funding.”

Primary Care Practitioner Loan Redemption Program

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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 and information 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 Rural Health Project Officer in the Office of Primary Care and Rural Health, Marisol Meyers is New Jersey’s 3RNet Member Representative. Marisol maintains 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 Marisol Meyer at Marisol.Meyer@doh.nj.gov.

To learn more, visit the 3RNet website here.

Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU) Health Center Workforce Program

A recruitment and retention resource, 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 website Solutions, Training, and Assistance for Recruitment and Retention (STAR2) Center Resource Library

NJPCA University/College Outreach Program

NJPCA attends university/college job fairs across the state to educate students and professionals about the various careers that are available at a Community Health Center. Over the course of the program, NJPCA has engaged with hundreds of potential applicants to discuss the skills and education required to apply for positions. With continued outreach to college campuses, NJPCA’s goal is to increase awareness of FQHCs and inspire students to develop their career at an FQHC.

To have your Community Health Center’s job openings included in NJPCA’s Statewide University/College Fair Outreach Program, please contact: NJPCA Program Manager, Megan D’Ariano at mdariano@njpca.org.

NJPCA partners with various academic institutions to recruit healthcare professionals for positions at Community Health Centers across the state. Examples of current partnerships include, NYU-Langone Dental Medicine Postdoctoral Residency Program and Rutgers University Division of Life Sciences.

COVID-19 Workforce Resources

COVID-19 has created challenges in the Workforce in Health Centers. NJPCA aims to provide resources to help Health Centers with recruitment and retention, staffing, and access to helpful and relevant information, trainings, and webinars.

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, read FQHCs, and learn about the application process, please visit https://bphc.hrsa.gov

Recruitment and Retention Resources

Several resources exist to assist Federally Qualified Health Centers with recruitment and retention efforts.

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 and information 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. To learn more, visit the 3RNet website here.

A recruitment and retention resource, 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 the 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 website Solutions, Training, and Assistance for Recruitment and Retention (STAR2) Center Resource Library

Community Health Center Inc. (CHC, Inc.)  CHC, Inc. is a major center for education and training for the next generation including Nurse Practioner Residency programs, Medical Assistant programs, and other student and trainee programs. Their website provides resources and information on how to start a Health Profession Education Program to grow and expand your own workforce. Explore their programs Here.

If you are looking into using a Staffing or Recruiting Agency to help with your recruiting needs, please contact Megan D’Ariano, Workforce Program Manager at mdariano@njpca.org. NJPCA member Health Centers that regularly use a staffing or recruiting agency for their Workforce needs should reach out to Megan to let her know and share this information with her.

NJPCA member Health Centers can 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 telephone calls. 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 in place by July 2022. Reach out to Megan at mdariano@njpca.org, to get more information or one on one guidance.

NJPCA regularly sends out training opportunities, webinars, notices of funding opportunities, and other resources related to workforce, to its members. If you work on an HR team at a New Jersey Health Center and you would like to engage with the NJPCA Workforce Peer Group, please reach out to Megan D’Ariano, NJPCA Workforce Program Manager, at Mdariano@njpca.org to find out more.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Resources

As burnout rises in the healthcare industry, NJPCA is addressing burnout by providing free trainings and technical assistance on this topic as well as frequently sharing mental health and wellbeing resources with its members. Please see a collection of some of those resources below, that are free to access:

• COVID-19 Workforce Resilience/Sustainability Resources topic page
• NAMI Front Line Wellness Resources
• #FirstRespondersFirst: Mental Resilience and Well-Being for Nurses
• STAR² Center Workforce Self-Care Resources
• STAR² Center Burnout Assessment Tool
• STAR2 Center Self-Care Guide for the Health Center Workforce 
• Johns Hopkins Mental Health Self Care Training Course
• Changing Work Systems to Improve Engagement and Reduce Burnout NACHC Webinar
• Webinar: Caring for the Healers Part II: Preventing Suicide Among Providers and Staff
• The All In: WellBeing First for Healthcare Resilience Library
• The Association of Clinicians for the Underserved’s (ACU) STAR² Center’s new fact sheet

If you are looking for additional mental health and wellbeing resources, please reach out to Megan D’Ariano at Mdariano@njpca.org

NJPCA TrainUp Day

The NJPCA TrainUp Day initiative is a statewide event where New Jersey’s FQHCs feature the achievements of team members who have grown professionally within their organizations. Additionally, Community Health Centers provide information and resources to inform employees of the opportunities available that enable them to grow in their role. Examples of events held at Community Health Centers include:

• Community Health Centers can share peer success stories with staff to highlight professional growth and to inspire team members to achieve their goals.
• A local community college can be invited to discuss affordable continuing education opportunities to Community Health Center staff.
• The Human Resources team can provide tuition reimbursement information and additional resources on how to move up the ladder at an FQHC.
• Community Health Center CEOs can share their personal career journeys with their teams.

As part of TrainUp Day, Community Health Centers also share descriptions of various departments and open positions to showcase the many opportunities that are available to employees. Federally Qualified Health Centers offer a variety of job opportunities in healthcare, administration, finance, and health information technology. New Jersey’s 24 FQHCs provide more than 3,000 individuals with meaningful opportunities to pursue their dreams; including over 1,800 medical professionals.