Health Center Governance
The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) offers a variety of training and online resources to support health center boards govern effectively and help boards navigate the complex health care environment.
To access these resources, visit:
- the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse (https://www.healthcenterinfo.org, under “Governance”) or
- the NACHC Library (https://conferences.nachc.org/nachc/, under “Health Center Governance”)
2021 Board Governance Training Events
Sessions tailored to health center Board members are offered at NACHC’s Community Health Institute and Policy & Issues Forum.
- Board Member Boot Camp*
Saturday, August 21, 2021
Hybrid (Orlando, FL and Virtual)
Information coming soon
Unless otherwise noted, all projects listed are supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $7,287,500 with individually noted percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
*Indicates projects not supported by the HRSA cooperative agreement.
Recorded Webinars and Modules
Various short videos and e-learning modules can be integrated into a health center board’s own ongoing education or new board member orientation.
Modules on Board Financial Oversight (five-part series that includes information on how to read various financial statements), now available in Spanish
The Board’s Role in Strategic Planning
The Board’s Role in Strategic Planning: Case Study
The Board’s Role in Strategic Planning: A Case Study on Cherokee Health
The Board’s Role in the Needs Assessment
Accountable Care for Health Center Boards
Unless otherwise noted, all projects listed are supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $7,287,500 with individually noted percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
*Indicates projects not supported by the HRSA cooperative agreement.
Top Governance Resources for Health Centers
- New Resource for Health Center Board Leadership
- Introduction to Resources for Health Center Boards – This short video provides an overview of resources available to support health center boards.
- NEW! New Board Member Orientation: PowerPoint Template and Facilitator Guide** — This “New Board Member Orientation – PowerPoint Template” (available in English and Spanish) can be customized for board orientation at your health center.
- Recruiting and Retaining Board Members: Considerations During and Immediately Post-Pandemic This short resource outlines how health center boards and staff that work closely with the board can adapt board recruitment and retention practices during the pandemic and as we begin to emerge into a new post-pandemic environment.
- NEW! Navigating CEO Transitions: A Toolkit for Boards – This toolkit provides an overview of steps involved in preparing for a CEO transition, searching for and selecting a CEO, and onboarding and supporting a new CEO. The appendix includes various templates and tools that can be customized by health center boards.
- NEW! CEO Succession Planning: A Toolkit for Boards – This toolkit provides health center boards with guidance on creating a Chief Executive Succession Policy and a Chief Executive Backup Plan. Various templates are included in the toolkit.
- Tips for Board Chairs and Other Board Leaders During the COVID-19 Pandemic – This article provides tips and ideas for board chairs, board officers, and committee chairs who may hold new or more involved leadership roles as the pandemic continues.
- New Resource for Boards on COVID-19 Vaccine Confidence
- New Resources for Boards on Navigating the Pandemic*
Through a generous grant from the Pfizer Foundation, a series of resources are available to Health Center Boards including:- NEW! Hybrid Board Meetings: Our Next Normal?**
- NEW! Health Center Boards & HRSA Health Center Program Compliance: Considerations During and After the Pandemic**
- Pandemic-Related Budgeting Considerations for Health Center Boards / Consideraciones presupuestarias relacionadas con la pandemia para las juntas de los centros de salud**
- Orienting New Health Center Board Members During the COVID-19 Pandemic**
- Board Oversight of Quality During the COVID-19 Pandemic**
- Virtual Board Retreats** – This short resource outlines how health center boards can plan a virtual retreat during the pandemic and offers some tools and templates that can be customized by boards.
- Board Oversight of Risk Management During the COVID-19 Pandemic** – This short resource outlines considerations related to board oversight of risk management during the COVID-19 pandemic.
- And more!
- New Series of Resources Available on the Board and Strategic Planning NACHC has newly released a series of resources that address the board’s role regarding strategic planning including:
- Focusing on the Future: Strategic Planning and Thinking During the COVID-19 Pandemic** – This short resource outlines how boards can use strategic planning and thinking to support the health center as it navigates times of uncertainty and change.
- The Board’s Role in Strategic Planning – This short video module identifies key components of a strategic planning process and discusses the role of the board in strategic planning.
- The Board’s Role in Strategic Planning: Case Study– This online case study offers an opportunity to apply concepts regarding strategic planning from the online video module titled, “The Board’s Role in Strategic Planning.”
- The Board’s Role in Strategic Planning: A Case Study on Cherokee Health – This online case study offers an overview of Cherokee Health Systems’ strategic planning methodology from both the CEO and the Chief Strategy Officer’s perspectives.
- The Board’s Role in the Needs Assessment – This short video module outlines key components of a Needs Assessment and discusses the board’s role related to the Needs Assessment.
- Governance Guide for Health Center Boards / Guía para las Juntas Directivas del Centro de Salud This guide addresses major areas of board responsibility and contextualizes them, where appropriate, in the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Health Center Program Compliance Manual and relevant state and federal laws. The Governance Guide also reflects the latest effective governance practices for nonprofit boards
- Payment Reform Fundamentals for Health Center Boards – This resource addresses: Why Payment Reform? What Does Payment Reform Mean for Health Centers? What is the Board’s Role in Supporting the Health Center in Payment Reform?
- Health Center Boards: Benefits to Health Centers / Juntas de los centros de salud: beneficios de los centros de salud
Additional Board Governance Resources: Visit the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse “Governance” page for more general governance resources, and visit the Health Center Resource Clearinghouse COVID-19 page and click on “Governance” to find information on various pandemic-related resources available to health center boards.
Additional Information
NACHC is winding down the Certificate in Health Center Governance. Those enrolled were notified in Spring 2021. In 2021-2022, based on stakeholder feedback, NACHC will be implementing new and refreshed ways to recognize board members for participation in governance education. We are working to intentionally tailor future education offerings to the experience level or role of a board member (e.g., new, intermediate, board chair, etc.). Please email trainings@nachc.org with questions.
Unless otherwise noted, all projects listed are supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of an award totaling $7,287,500 with individually noted percentage financed with non-governmental sources. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by HRSA, HHS, or the U.S. Government.
For more information, please visit HRSA.gov.
*Indicates projects not supported by the HRSA cooperative agreement.
**This resource was made possible through a generous grant from The Pfizer Foundation.