Dates: May 7, 2026 – June 18, 2026 from 3:00 - 4:30 PM ET

The deadline to apply is Tuesday, April 14, 2026 (midnight ET)

Overview

NACHC is hosting an exciting 4-session Community of Practice introducing health center and Look-Alike staff to the common behavioral health and primary care integration models used within a community-based primary care setting. This virtual offering also provides a unique opportunity to learn from those in the field with case studies on how these models operate in practice.

The goals of this Community of Practice are to:

• Gain a clear understanding and working knowledge of key integration models and their strengths, limitations, and appropriate use in health center environments. 
• Learn actionable approaches to team-based care coordination to support sustainable integration across clinical and administrative systems. 
• Identify best practices for warm handoffs, patient intake, follow-up care, and cross-team communication that enhance integrated service delivery. 
• Greater clarity on billing codes, reimbursement pathways, value-based care opportunities, and policy considerations necessary to sustain this work long-term. 

The Community of Practice will consist of four virtual sessions between May 7, 2026 and June 18, 2026.

Participant Expectations + Requirements

• Be a health center or Look-Alike staff member.
• Agree to attend all four sessions.
• Commit to completing the relevant homework activities.
• Have the support of your supervisor/leadership.

Workshop Dates

• Session #1: Overview of Integration Models and Frameworks

Thursday, May 7, 2026, 3:00 pm – 4:30 PM ET (90 minutes)
This kick-off session will introduce the Community of Practice’s goals, format, and expectations. Participants will hear from health center staff as they provide an overview of the most used integration models in health centers and SAMHSA’s Levels of Integration.

• Session #2: Workforce Development and Staffing for the Different Integration Models

Thursday, May 21, 2026, 3:00 pm – 4:30 PM ET (90 minutes)
This session will describe the many behavioral health staff roles at health centers, staffing considerations for different integration models, and considerations regarding licensing and reimbursement for staff and services provided. Speakers will also discuss how to develop an organizationally unified coordinated care system between behavioral health and primary care teams.

• Session #3: Integrative Clinical and Administrative Workflows

Thursday, June 4, 2026, 3:00 pm – 4:30 PM ET (90 minutes)
This session will present case studies on different integration model workflows and methods for warm handoffs, patient intake, follow-up care coordination, and communication between behavioral health and primary care teams.

• Session #4: Financial Sustainability and Compliance

Thursday, June 18, 2026, 3:00 pm – 4:30 PM ET (90 minutes)
This final session will focus on billing and codes for integrated care, different funding mechanisms (e.g., grants, bundled payments, value-based care), and policy innovations and barriers for financial sustainability and compliance.

For more information, please contact Natalie Florez at [email protected].