Washington Association for Community Health

06/04/2026

International Community Health Services (ICHS) has developed a geriatric-focused primary care model tailored to the unique needs of its large senior population. At the heart of this approach is the belief that aging care should be intentional and personalized, guided by the “5 M’s” framework: mind, mobility, medications, multicomplexity, and what matters most to each patient. Read this innovation report to learn more about how ICHS is redefining geriatric care.(https://na2.hubs.ly/H05YXL90)

04/30/2026

“I quickly realized how difficult it could be to balance school with full-time work. That’s what makes the YVFWC Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program so impactful—it removed those barriers for me.”

Brianna Madrigal Cruz began her career at Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic working behind the scenes. Today, she’s caring for patients as a Certified Medical Assistant, thanks to our Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program, offered in partnership with InReach Career Pathways, a division of the Washington Association for Community Health.

This paid, full-time apprenticeship allows employees to earn while they learn, ultimately providing a clear, supported pathway into healthcare without sacrificing financial stability. This program goes beyond training by investing in our employees, strengthening our healthcare workforce, and creating sustainable career pathways that benefit employees and patients.

Read the stories of others who have gone through the program here: https://monkeylink.co/dc5603

04/30/2026

04/27/2026

It's National Apprenticeship Week! HealthPoint's Medical Assistant Apprenticeship Program is training the next generation of MAs to become confident and successful leaders in health care. Apprentices complete a series of online coursework and on-the-job training, gaining valuable work experience and pathways to permanent Medical Assistant positions upon completion of the program.

The MA apprentice program is made possible by a partnership with InReach Career Pathways, a division of the Washington Association for Community Health. InReach supports community health centers by providing the learning elements of the program, including lab days. InReach currently operates training programs for Medical Assistants, Dental Assistants, and Medial Office Specialists to help providers fill critical gaps in their workforce with skilled staff rooted in their communities.

04/27/2026

Happy National Apprenticeship Week!

04/02/2026

Across Washington, community health centers are staffed by more than 13,000 dedicated professionals across many communities, disciplines, and languages. Their teams include physicians and nurses, but also dentists, behavioral health professionals, case managers, and many others who help make whole-person care possible.

Community health centers play an important role in making care more accessible and affordable for people who need it most. If you’re looking for meaningful work and want to make a difference in your community, we invite you to explore your local CHC job board with the below link and learn about opportunities at a health center near you.

Washington State is home to 27 Federally Qualified Community Health Centers (FQHC), which are non-profit public entities that serve medically underserved populations. These community health centers are all members of the Association.

03/27/2026

Happy National AHEC Week!

We want to take a moment to celebrate the amazing work that our SW WA AHEC program at Washington Association for Community Health is doing. They are making an incredible impact in our community with students interested in health care and serving rural areas. Some key programs include:

Career Pathway — Supporting 9th–12th grade students at career fairs, immersion opportunities, and more within the health care field.

Rural Underserved Opportunities Program (RUOP) — A four-week immersion experience in community medicine for first-year medical students, focused on rural and underserved communities.

AHEC Scholars — A two-year national certificate program preparing a diverse, skilled primary care workforce for rural and high-barrier communities.

Continuing Education (CE) — High-quality professional development covering a wide range of health care topics to help professionals grow their competency and maintain licensure.

Want to learn more about SW WA AHEC and everything they do? Visit https://na2.hubs.ly/H04xq0n0!

03/26/2026

We were so excited to celebrate the signing of SB 5981 alongside our CHCs and other safety net providers. This bill supports CHC financial sustainability by protecting critical 340B savings and helps ensure continued access to life-saving integrated care, regardless of a patient’s ability to pay.

Our organization and all 28 of our CHC members extend our sincere appreciation for the tireless work of our Legislature. We especially thank Sen. Annette Cleveland and Rep. My-Linh Thai for leading this legislation and Governor Bob Ferguson for his support.

03/19/2026

In partnership with the Center for Accelerating Care Transformation (ACT Center), WACH launched a Pathways to Better Diabetes Care Collaborative, bringing together nine community health centers to implement strategies to improve diabetes outcomes. In this Q&A, leaders from WACH and KP ACT Center share how the collaborative formed, how CHCs are engaging, and what they aim to achieve together.

https://na2.hubs.ly/H04nH9k0

02/11/2026

Our health center members gathered in Washington DC today to advocate for community health centers on Capitol Hill. We told Congress how important 340B funding is to our clinics and how detrimental the impacts of H.R. 1 will be on our patients. We greatly thank all of our members of Congress for their continued advocacy for the health care safety net!