National technical assistance programs (NTAP) cooperative agreements - the national association of community health centers (NACHC) is applying for national technical assistance programs (NTAP)…

The Health Resources and Services Administration awarded the National Association of Community Health Centers, Inc. (NACHC) $16 million on August 1, 2026, under the National Technical Assistance Programs (NTAPs) cooperative agreement (CFDA 93.129) to serve as the national technical assistance and coordination center.

NACHC will develop and deliver technical assistance to existing and potential health centers through multiple channels: expanding technical assistance materials on the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse platform, increasing user access to learning resources, conducting two national health center technical assistance needs assessments, fostering partnerships to improve health outcomes, strengthening collaboration among HRSA-supported technical assistance programs, coordinating response to emergent public health needs, and supporting health center compliance with program requirements. The organization will establish 13 communities of practice focused on health center leadership and governing board development, each running for one budget year with at least six sessions and drawing from at least 12 participating health centers. The communities of practice will address board engagement and strategic navigation, chief executive officer leadership exchange, chief workforce officer and chief human resource officer exchange, and chief financial officer exchange, among other topics. NACHC targets 588 board members and executive staff from health centers to receive technical assistance through these communities of practice, with peer learning and pre-assessment-driven customization to address each cohort's unique needs.

The award period runs through July 31, 2030, with place of performance in Bethesda, Maryland.

National technical assistance programs (NTAP) cooperative agreements - the national association of community health centers (NACHC) is applying for national technical assistance programs (NTAP) funding as the national TA and coordination center NTAP applicant. Through NTAP funding, NACHC will develop and deliver high-impact TA to existing and potential health centers by: • increasing the number of TA materials on the health center resource clearinghouse platform • increasing the number of individuals who access TA learning resources on the health center resource clearinghouse platform • completing two national health center TA needs assessments • fostering partnerships and collaborations to improve health outcomes • strengthening collaboration and knowledge exchange among hrsa-supported TA programs • strengthening the capacity of health center leadership and governing boards • coordinating and supporting response to emergent public health needs and priorities • supporting health centers to continuously comply with program requirements NACHC will provide 13 communities of practice (COP) to strengthen the capacity of health center leadership and governing boards. The objective's measure of success is that 588 health centers' board members and executive staff will receive TA through a COP. Each COP will (1) run for one budget year, (2) offer at least six sessions, (3) focus on the unique needs of the participating health centers which will be determined through a pre-assessment, (4) include leaders from at least 12 health centers, (5) focus on developing health center leadership and boards with an emphasis on their unique roles in facilitating health center change, and (6) focus on peer learning. The topics include: (1) board engagement and navigating strategic issues (2) leadership exchange for chief executive officers (3) leadership exchange for chief workforce officers and chief human resource officers (4) leadership exchange for chief financial officers (5) leadership exchange for chief clinical officers and chief medical officers (6) board chair-CEO partnership (7) board oversight and good governance practices (8) health IT performance improvement strategies roadmap and implementation (9) financial and operational performance improvement strategy lab (10) health center operational planning (11) look-alike health center oversight and sustainability (12) strategic planning for your health center (13) enhancing health center program compliance and operational site visit preparation through addressing top compliance findings as a national TA and coordination center NTAP applicant, NACHC is not required to use outcomes-focused cohorts for TA activities. NACHC has a demonstrated record of reliable organizational capacity to anticipate and respond to health centers' increasingly complex TA needs, in partnership with hrsa and the health center program. NACHC anticipates, and is already preparing for TA that responds to emerging health center needs, such as safely advancing artificial intelligence (AI), integrating changing technology to maximize workforce and improve the staffing environment, pursuing new models of financial sustainability, and providing a coordination role in response to emerging public health needs or priorities. NACHC supports this work through an organizational infrastructure which includes health center operations and governance, community health (including clinical practice, public health priorities, and value-based care), public policy, research, finance, communications, partnership development, and innovation. The development and delivery of impactful TA to over 1500 funded and look-alike health centers and potential health centers has been a continuous part of NACHC's 55-year history and one that NACHC is committed to pursuing in collaboration with other partners, subject matter experts, and hrsa to improve health outcomes, program compliance, and operational efficiency across the nation.