From Community Impact to Career Pathways
Posted by NaTasha Lleras on August 7, 2025
On Population Focus Day (August 7), National Health Center Week highlights CHCs’ work in communities facing systemic disparities: rural areas, veteran populations, public housing residents, the unhoused, and agricultural workers. In 2023, HRSA-funded centers served over 31 million people, with more than 90% of patients earning under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level. These centers are critical to delivering equitable primary care and health access. (BPHC).
Health centers and population health equity
CHCs reduce health disparities through preventive care, chronic disease management, substance use disorder treatment, and maternal and child health programs. They are among the few providers actively working to improve outcomes among underserved groups and minimize avoidable emergency department use. (Commonwealth Fund)
They serve substantial numbers of minors, rural residents, public housing occupants, and people experiencing homelessness. By expanding behavioral health services, cancer screenings, infectious disease testing, and prenatal care, CHCs are shifting the focus toward preventive population health.
Workforce challenges in serving diverse populations
Despite this impact, workforce pressures persist. In 2024, nearly three-quarters of CHCs reported shortages of primary care physicians, nurses, and behavioral health professionals. This is coupled with high vacancy rates across nursing and support roles nationally, intensifying care gaps and burdening existing staff]. (clinicians.org)
Many centers also report challenges in recruiting multilingual, culturally competent staff to serve diverse communities where over 25% of patients require language services. (BPHC).
Career pathways strategy through training
Training is essential for transforming workforce potential into community impact:
- Develop skill matrices aligned with population health priorities such as maternal health, behavioral health, and substance use treatment BPHC
- Create structured career pathways, coupling frontline roles with advancement opportunities in care coordination, health education, or leadership
- Leverage partnerships with local colleges or training pipelines, similar to Area Health Education Centers (AHECs), to recruit diverse talent and expose students to CHC settings early
These strategies help retain staff, build institutional expertise, and reinforce mission-driven service.
Penn Foster’s role in healthcare training
Penn Foster supports CHCs by enabling scalable, flexible health care training that addresses the realities of community-delivered care. Training modules, from clinical foundational skills to cultural competence and behavioral health fundamentals, help frontline staff deliver high-quality, equitable services.
By aligning workforce development with population needs, health centers can deepen impact while offering staff visible careers that empower professionals to feel invested in both mission and personal progress.
Actionable steps for health center leaders
- Use Population Focus Day as a launchpad to unveil new training pathways targeting community health priorities
- Present training data publicly—such as the percentage of staff certified in cultural competence or behavioral screening—as part of week-long recognition
- Encourage partnerships with local educational institutions or workforce boards to prioritize recruitment pipelines
- Offer internal incentives like role-flex badge systems or peer-led workshops to reinforce skill application and growth
Work with Penn Foster for scalable training solutions
Health centers’ profound community impact relies on a workforce equipped to meet unique population needs. Career pathways rooted in structured learning not only strengthen care but reinforce mission-driven retention. By situating population-focused training at the core of culture, health centers can continue their legacy while cultivating sustainable staff engagement. Penn Foster supports that journey with thoughtful, scalable training solutions. To learn more about our training programs and partnership, reach out to our experts today!