The pandemic has pushed health care further into the future with the emergence of brand new ideas and the application of existing ones in surprising new ways. Knowing that health centers have been innovating way before COVID-19, we are excited to present: the SDOH Academy Innovations Showcase Competition. The multi-part interactive activity kicks off with a webinar on January 13, 2022 featuring guest speaker, Hasshan Batts, DHSc, MSW, Robert Wood Johnson Culture of Health Leader and Executive Director of Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley. Through the kick-off webinar, participants will learn more about how to access an on-demand 3-part micro-training module on the SDOHs and enter a competition to be featured as an outstanding SDOH innovation on our May 12, 2022 “SDOH Innovations Showcase” national webinar.

Recruiting and retaining providers is a challenge for many health centers and given the increased challenges of a global pandemic, the Great Resignation, and a pending Great Retirement in healthcare, health centers now, more than ever, must approach workforce development and “grow-your-own” efforts strategically. This Learning Collaborative, conducted in collaboration between the STAR² Center and Wipfli, will provide health centers an opportunity to develop a Strategic Workforce Plan focusing on Health Professions Education & Training (HP-ET) strategies to enhance capabilities to recruit, develop, and retain their provider workforce.