Planning for a Community Health Center is a community-driven effort.  While IA/NEPCA staff is available to provide technical assistance and guidance throughout the effort, the community must be the driving force.  This effort should involve a broad cross-section of community members including representatives of health care, business, education, religious organizations, local government, citizens, and other stakeholders. 

Once a community determines that a CHC is an appropriate mechanism to meet its health care needs and decides to pursue new access point funding, IA/NEPCA provides assistance by:

·         educating the community on CHCs through a presentation in which all members of the community are invited to attend

·         providing technical assistance and advice as the new access point application is developed

·         providing ongoing assistance once new access point funds have been awarded

IA/NEPCA has developed a model through which the effort is guided by a community steering committee and work group structure.  This provides the community with an organized process for building support for the effort and developing a quality, comprehensive new start application.

Community Presentation

Work Group Structure/Tasks

For more information on community development assistance, contact Tori Squires, Community Development Director, at 515-244-9610 or tsquires@ianepca.com.