SF Workforce Development

San Francisco Community Clinic Consortium (SFCCC) serves as the federally designated Area Health Education Center (AHEC) for San Francisco.  The AHEC program, which is administered at the federal level by the US Department of Health & Human Services, promotes health care workforce development, focusing on underserved communities.  Our San Francisco AHEC activities include continuing education of current health care providers and staff; arranging community-based clinical rotations and placements for health professions students, interns and residents; and creating a health careers’ “pipeline” that encourages young people to pursue careers in community health.   

Community HealthCorps (AmeriCorps)
Since 1995, SFCCC has participated in an AmeriCorps program called the Community HealthCorps, in partnership with the federal Corporation for National and Community Service (CNS) and the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC).  Each year, SFCCC recruits 20 to 25 Community HealthCorps members and places them in SFCCC partner health clinics, SFDPH sites, and other community health sites.  Members serve full time from September to July, and receive a monthly stipend and health benefits.  They expand clinic capacity for case management, health education, outreach, and other needed direct services.  Members are trained on a variety of health care topics, and gain first-hand exposure to career opportunities and work experience in the community health field.  Upon completion of their terms of service, members receive an educational award for future educational expenses or repayment of qualified student loans.   The majority of our AmeriCorps members matriculate to a health professions school, notably medical school, and others are hired on by their placement site or another community health program.

VISTA Program
Annually 5 to 8 Volunteers in Service to America (VISTA) members are recruited to serve in SFCCC-affiliated sites.  VISTA members focus on developing programs and systems that alleviate poverty and reduce health disparities in low-income communities.  Members work full-time for one year and receive a living stipend, health insurance, and an educational award upon successful completion of their terms of service.   

Peer Groups
SFCCC regularly convenes staff from our partner health clinics for peer meetings.  Peer groups include Clinicians Leadership Council, Clinic Managers, Information Technology Managers, Volunteer Coordinators, and Development Directors. These groups meet for the purposes of networking, sharing of best practices, joint problem-solving, and continuing education.  Having a forum for clinic counterpoints to meet collegially has also been shown to increase job satisfaction and employee retention.

Disaster Preparedness
SFCCC’s Disaster Preparedness program works to create and support disaster resiliency on the part of SFCCC and our partner clinics.  Our goal is to be ready to effectively respond to man-made and natural disasters, and minimize disruptions to patient services.  Our activities include planning and training to ensure preparedness, in collaboration with other local responders, including SFDPH and San Francisco Community Agencies Responding to Disaster (SFCARD)   The program is partially supported by federal funding administered by the California Primary Care Association (CPCA).

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