STICH is CHCACT’s AmeriCorps program. In this program, 20+ AmeriCorps members serve in health centers across the state, providing health insurance literacy, health education, community outreach, patient engagement and other services. This program is funded by the Connecticut Commission on Community Service.
CHCACT Programs Options
Hepatis C Testing
For this grant, funded by the Gilead Foundation, CHCACT works with health centers to develop universal HIV/ Hepatitis C screening in primary care settings as well as best practices for linkage to care.
Clinical Quality Improvement
CHCACT has a variety of programs that focus on improving clinical quality and health outcomes at health centers, such as PTN, HCCN and the Clinical Quality Committee. CHCACT’s goal is that patients at CT health centers receive the very best health care available in Connecticut!
HUSKY / Insurance Enrollment
All health centers in Connecticut have on-site Certified Application Counselors (CACs), who help people enroll in HUSKY/Medicaid and Access Health CT insurance plans. Through funding from HRSA and the State of CT Department of Social Services, CHCACT facilitates training/technical assistance for CACs, helps troubleshoot individual cases, identifies and works to resolve systemic issues, and acts as a liaison with relevant state agencies.
Dental Programs
CHCACT receives funding from the DentaQuest Foundation to participate in the National Oral Health Innovation and Integration Network (NOHIIN). NOHIIN comprises representatives from CHCACT and 35 sister organizations across the country, who have formed a learning community to share best practices around improving access to oral health care for low-income populations, improving oral health integration in health centers and improving oral health outcomes.
HIV/AIDS Programs
CHCACT works with nine health centers in CT to help them provide health and support services to people living with and/or impacted by HIV or AIDS. These services include training for patients to better self-manage the disease, as well as care coordination, referrals and assistance with transportation. The HIV/AIDS Programs are part of HRSA’s Ryan White grant programs.
Emergency Preparedness
CHCACT plans, coordinates and conducts Emergency Preparedness activities for the health centers, through funding from the State of CT Department of Public Health and HRSA. Activities include quarterly meetings of the Community Health Emergency Response Network (CHERN), attendance at regional and statewide EP meetings, and N95 fit testing. CHCACT also works with health centers to coordinate and facilitate exercises to model appropriate responses to a variety of human and natural emergencies.
Leadership Development Programs
CHCACT helps develop the next generation of health center leaders. For example, "Prescription for Leading Yourself & Others" is a leadership development program for mid-level managers at the health centers. CHCACT also hosts the "Critical Management Skills for New Health Center Supervisors" training on an annual basis. These initiatives are funded by HRSA.
Futures without Violence - Domestic Violence & Human Trafficking
CHCACT participates in Futures without Violence’s “Project Catalyst,” as part of a team with the State of CT Department of Public Health and the CT Coalition Against Domestic Violence (CCADV). This project is funding similar teams from four states to improve the health and safety outcomes for survivors of Intimate Partner Violence and human trafficking and to promote prevention.
Practice Transformation Network
The Practice Transformation Network (PTN), funded by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Innovation, joins together CHCACT member health centers, specialty providers, and others; provides clinical practices with resources, quality improvement expertise, coaching & training; shares best practices; and builds “on-the-ground” infrastructure and processes to deliver high quality care to prepare for value based payment.
Health Center Controlled Network
The Health Center Controlled Network (HCCN), funded by HRSA, supports health centers in achieving meaningful use of ONC-certified electronic health records (EHRs), adopting technology-enabled quality improvement strategies, and engaging in health information exchange (HIE) to strengthen the quality of care and improve patient health outcomes.
Workgroups for Health Center Staff
One of the most important roles CHCACT has is to facilitate learning communities among health center staff and leaders. Through funding from HRSA, CHCACT runs the following workgroups that meet several times annually: Billing Managers, Chief Financial Officers, Clinical Quality Committee, Community Health Workers, Corporate Compliance, Human Resources Directors, Information Technology Directors, and Marketing/Communications Staff. Members of these groups also communicate outside of meetings/trainings to share best practices and resources.
