RCHN Community Health Foundation
RCHN CHF focuses on initiatives to drive positive sustainable change for the community health center market. The Foundation concentrates its programmatic work on issues related to health care access and center stability, health information technology and other areas of importance to the health center community. Through strategic investments and outreach, education and policy research, RCHN CHF is helping to address community health center’s primary challenges and establish opportunities to sustain health centers in the future.
AEH has committed its resources, through a mutual agreement, as signed by its Chief Executive Officer, to work with the MPHCA on a common objective to implement initiatives to drive positive change in recruitment and retention of the workforce for the Mississippi Delta community health center market. Therefore, in cooperation with four other agencies and health care centers, AEH is working to implement planning and development activities designed to accomplish the following:
- Expand awareness of the broad array of career opportunities in community health centers.
- Offer high-quality, “real-world” curricula and internships.
- Reduce obstacles or bottlenecks that have historically limited access to specific courses or career preparation programs.
- Establish true collaborations and partnerships between community health centers, educational institutions and workforce development organizations.
Delta Workforce Initiative (DWI) Collaborative
Is a model for developing curriculums for the training of new and existing entry-level employees who are pursuing health care careers. This program will enhance the knowledge and skills of these individuals in areas of personal development and competency. Existing employees will have the option to advance within a company, thereby minimizing employee turnover.
It is the goal of the DWI Collaborative (with 21 Community Health Centers across the state), to change the face of health care personnel to a more professionally empowered and upwardly mobile workforce.
Starting from within and outside the organization, AEH showcases these two entry-level employees as they begin a career ladder to excellence:
- Ms. Ternice Liner is a former AEH custodian who pursued upward mobility in the area of Billing and Coding. Medical billing & coding is the process of submitting and following up on claims to insurance companies in order to receive payment for services rendered by a healthcare provider. The same process is used for most insurance companies, whether they are private companies or government-owned. Medical billers are encouraged, but not required by law to become certified by taking an exam such as the CMRS Exam, RHIA Exam and others. Certification schools are intended to provide a theoretical grounding for students entering the medical billing field.
Ms. Liner is a 32-year-old mother of two sons. She has close ties with her family and is inspired by the loss of her deceased brother Jason (wanting to make him proud), to build a better life for herself and her son. Armed with the wisdom she has received from her grandparents, Ternice went on to achieve a B.S. Degree in Healthcare Administration online. While enrolled in a Medical Billing class, she continued to work as a custodian and trainee in the Billing & Coding Dept at AEHCHC. Her goal is to get a Master's Degree in Healthcare Administration. She is a very proud and determined young woman who is striving to be the best mother she can be to her sons. 
Ms. Vernice Wright is a TANF worker pursuing a career in nursing. She is a divorcee and a mother of two, Neikea and Asia. Her previous employment with Harrah’s Casino afforded her the opportunity to learn many skills that propelled her from an “entry-level” employee ($7.00/hr.), into a position as “Concierge” ($35,000 per year). As Concierge, Vernice had her hands on the pulse of the company's PR, booking hotels and flight manifests, greeting planes, and meeting celebrities of all types. Sadly, after years of doing what she loved, her world came crashing down around her and she was let go from her job, due to family problems. Now, with no means of support except TANF funds, Ms. Wright is trying to rebuild her life in the medical field. Drawing on her previous CNA training in 2006, she intends to follow a career path to her goal as a nurse practitioner. However, she’s keeping her options open, while going up that ladder, for all available opportunities.
What is TANF?
The TANF program, administered by the Mississippi Department of Human Services (MDHS), provides assistance for needy families with children up to age 18 years without regard to race, creed, color, gender, age, disability or national origin. Monthly TANF monetary payments are made for children and their caretaker relatives who do not have enough income or resources to meet their everyday needs by state program standards.
What about work requirements for TANF?
All adults in the TANF household must participate satisfactorily in the TANF Work Program (TWP) unless they meet work exemptions, i.e., incapacity, age 60 or above, parent caring for a disabled household member, third trimester pregnancy with complications, caring for a child under 12 months old, treatment for substance abuse, and victims of domestic violence. The TANF Work Program serves all TANF adults who must participate or who volunteer in order to receive assistance in finding and keeping a job. Support services are available.
[1] Nurse Practitioner- NPs can serve as a patient's primary health care provider, and see patients of all ages depending on their specialty (family, pediatrics, geriatrics, etc.). The core philosophy of the field is individualized care that focuses on patients' conditions as well as the effects of illness on the lives of the patients and their families. NPs make prevention, wellness, and patient education priorities. In addition to health care services, NPs conduct research and are often active in patient advocacy activities. To become licensed/certified to practice, Nurse Practitioners hold national board certification in an area of specialty (such as family, women's health, pediatrics, adult, acute care, etc.), and are licensed through the state nursing boards.
Ms. Wright is presently enrolled in CCC’s nursing program. Her evenings are spent working with Ms. Josephine Rhymes of Tri-County Workforce Alliance (TCWA), on projects concerning middle school and high school youth WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSION. Through the collaboration of AEH and TWI, DWI (Delta Workforce Initiative), was formed.
Ms. Wright is presently enrolled in CCC’s nursing program. Her evenings are spent working with Ms. Josephine Rhymes of Tri-County Workforce Alliance (TCWA), on projects concerning middle school and high school youth WHO ARE INTERESTED IN THE HEALTH CARE PROFESSION. Through the collaboration of AEH and TWI, DWI (Delta Workforce Initiative), was formed.
See also