Health Center Governance
Non-profit community-based health centers operate in a constantly changing and increasingly complex environment. NACHC offers a variety of trainings and publications to help health center Board members understand the legal, administrative, financial and clinical aspects of health center governance.
Board Governance Training Events
Sessions tailored to health center Board members are offered at NACHC’s Community Health Institute and Policy & Issues Forum.
Attend Board Member Boot Camp at CHI 2019
In-Person or Virtually!
Hyatt Regency Chicago | Chicago, Illinois
Saturday, August 17, 2019 | 8:00 am – 2:45 pm Central time
Register online here.
Boards of directors play a vital role in the overall success and sustainability of health centers. A strong board that understands its role and effective governance practices is better able to help its health center adapt and thrive in the changing and increasingly complex health care environment.
To be effective, health center board members must be fully knowledgeable about their roles and responsibilities as well as the many issues health centers face as health care businesses. NACHC’s Board Member Boot Camp is designed for new health center board members and those health center board members in need of a refresher. The agenda covers some of the fundamentals of board roles and responsibilities, including: legal responsibilities, quality oversight, CEO oversight, and financial oversight.
As part of the 2019 Community Health Institute (CHI) & EXPO, board members may opt to participate in Board Member Boot Camp either in-person in Chicago, IL or virtually!
In-Person Participation
In-person participation affords board members with the opportunity to sit next to and meet their peers face-to-face from across the country!
Virtual Participation
Virtual participants can access the same great content from the comfort and convenience of their home or anywhere they have access to a computer/laptop/tablet and sufficient internet access! Each board member participating in Board Member Boot Camp virtually must be individually registered in order to be eligible to receive credits toward the NACHC Certificate in Health Center Governance (discussed below).
Register here online for CHI NOW!
Participants in Boot Camp can earn credits toward the NACHC Certificate in Health Center Governance Program!
NACHC’s Certificate in Health Center Governance Program is designed for health center board members who wish to follow a formal path of training in the area of overall health center governance. To obtain certification, participants must complete a total of 31 contact hours through participation in education sessions offered at NACHC’s national conferences. Participation in Board Member Boot Camp is required and counts for 5 contact hours.
Earn credit by attending in-person or virtually. Note: Each board member participating in Boot Camp virtually must be individually registered in order to be eligible to receive credits toward the NACHC Certificate in Health Center Governance.
Board members can enroll in the Certificate in Health Center Governance Program on the MyNACHC Learning Center (Visit mylearning.nachc.com and log in following the instructions. Information can be found under the “Governance Program” tab).
New to Board Service?
Health center board members that are new to board service may find it helpful to view Introduction to Board Service: Part 1 & 2 prior to attending Boot Camp. Available on mylearning.nachc.com, Part 1 discusses the importance of governing boards and provides a high level overview of board and board member roles and responsibilities. Part 2 introduces some of the fundamentals of how boards conduct their work and governance terminology.
Recently Recorded Webinars
The Board’s Role in CEO Succession Planning
Introduction to Board Service: Parts 1 and 2
Top Resources
Health Center Program Governing Board Workbook
Spanish Translation of Governance Workbook: Programa de Centros Comunitarios de Salud Libro de Ejercicios del Consejo de Gobierno
Payment Reform: Supplement to Governing Board Workbook
Governing Board Succession Planning: A Case Study on Cherry Health
Spanish Translation of Governing Board Succession Planning Case Study: Planificación de sucesión de la junta directiva de los centros de salud comunitarios: Un caso práctico sobre Cherry Health
Essential Guides to Sustainability, Succession and Transition Planning (contains information on CEO Succession and CEO Transition/Hiring)
Creating an Annual Board Work Plan
NACHC Certificate in Health Center Governance
NACHC offers a certificate program designed for Health Center Board Members who wish to follow a formal path of training and skills enhancement in the area of overall health center governance.
How do I earn certification in Health Center Governance?
To obtain certification, you must complete a total of 31 contact hours through attendance/participation in education sessions offered at NACHC’s national conferences including the Community Health Institute (CHI) and Policy & Issues Forum (P&I). One contact hour equals one hour of session time. The total 31 contact hours must be completed within three years of enrollment in the program.
Program participants must participate in the following sessions:
- Board Member Boot Camp (5 contact hours offered at the CHI and P&I)
- Setting the Bar: Legal Approaches to Health Center Board Compliance (2 contact hours offered at the CHI)
In addition to the required sessions listed above (Boot Camp and Setting the Bar), participants need to complete an additional 24 contact hours and may choose from other NACHC conference education sessions that are designated for contact hours in the areas of GOVERNANCE, POLICY, and ADVOCACY,* among others. Participants are encouraged to select a comprehensive course of study based on individual interests and the governance needs of the health center board on which they serve.
In addition to earning educational credits through NACHC conference attendance, participants can receive credits online via MyNACHC Learning Center (MyNACHC) at mylearning.nachc.com by listening to and completing audiotaped sessions associated with a conference they have attended.
How do I register or check on my progress?
To register or check your progress, visit the MyNACHC Learning Center (MyNACHC) at mylearning.nachc.com. Log in using the email address we have on record and password. Information for the governance program will be found under the “Governance Program” tab. If you need login assistance or additional information, contact training@nachc.com or (301) 347-0400.
*NACHC also has a Board Member Advocacy Certificate (BMAC) Program designed to educate and engage board members on advocacy and policy issues; for more information visit http://www.hcadvocacy.org/bmac.
For answers to health center governance questions and for more information, contact Emily Heard, Director, Health Center Governance Training, at 301-347-0400.