Strengthening California's Health Center Workforce: Insights from CPCA’s Workforce Program Portfolio
CPCA is dedicated to advancing the health center workforce across California by leading innovative programs, fostering collaboration, and providing valuable training opportunities. This year, we hit the ground running by hosting the 2024 Workforce Symposium, which brought together health center leaders, clinicians, and stakeholders from across the state to share ideas and strategies to address workforce challenges within community health centers (CHCs).
Held on January 29–30, the symposium served as a platform for discussing actionable solutions to the most pressing workforce issues. Attendees participated in two dynamic tracks designed to equip CHCs with practical approaches to workforce development:
Employer of Choice Sessions: These sessions centered on building and maintaining a positive workplace culture. Discussions covered retention strategies for high-turnover roles, navigating federal funding shifts through effective succession planning, and ensuring compliance with California’s evolving labor and employment laws.
Health Professions Education & Training Track: This track emphasized strengthening workforce pipelines through partnerships with academic institutions, including California’s Community Colleges Chancellor’s Office, Area Health Education Centers, and AT Still University. By fostering collaboration between health centers and educational partners, the track aimed to expand training opportunities and bolster workforce sustainability.
In addition to the symposium, CPCA continues to develop resources that support CHCs in recruiting, training, and retaining critical workforce roles. One of our newest resources, the CHW/P/Rs Toolkit, is designed to help health centers empower Community Health Workers/Promotores/Representatives (CHW/P/Rs) to thrive in California’s healthcare landscape. The toolkit compiles research, field insights, and strategies for addressing common challenges, such as funding gaps and access to training. It’s available on the CPCA Workforce Website and is an essential resource for CHCs looking to build and maintain a strong CHW workforce.
CPCA is also proud to announce the release of the California Health Center Workforce State Profile, which provides comprehensive data on the economic impact of CHCs across the state. In 2023 alone, California’s CHCs generated over 134,000 jobs, produced $25.5 billion in economic output, and contributed $3.1 billion in tax revenue. Additionally, CHCs play a crucial role in training the next generation of healthcare professionals, offering clinical training opportunities to 16,500 health professionals through residency programs, internships, and rotations. These initiatives not only strengthen the workforce pipeline but also increase provider retention in rural and underserved communities.
CPCA’s commitment to enhancing workforce development extends to our recent achievement of joint accreditation from the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME). This new status empowers us to provide continuing medical education (CME) at our events, such as the upcoming Quality and Technology Conference and the Region IX Clinical Excellence Conference in June 2025. This accreditation also opens doors for collaboration with other organizations to expand CME offerings throughout the year.
Looking ahead, CPCA continues to expand its workforce initiatives by building on existing programs and advocacy efforts. Our Strategic Workforce Planning Program and Emergency Management+ Program offer targeted strategies to address workforce challenges faced by health centers. Additionally, we remain active in our advocacy work, including submitting a joint letter in support of Teaching Health Centers and partnering with HCAI to help FQHCs access critical funding opportunities.
Through collaboration, innovation, and targeted resources, CPCA remains at the forefront of strengthening California’s health center workforce. To learn more about our ongoing initiatives and the impact of our programs, visit Workforce on CPCA’s website.