In the first quarter of 2023, CHCF plans to launch an 18-month initiative (pending project approval) called “Strengthening Capacity of Safety-Net Providers to Care for an Aging Population.” CHCF is considering ways to support California safety-net primary care provider organizations with some combination of technical assistance, funding, and peer learning activities with the goal of helping to increase their capacity to serve older adults. CHCF will use this RFI to gauge interest and assess needs.

This effort is motivated by the findings and opportunities described in the CHCF report, Improving Care for California’s Older Adults: The Role of Community Health Centers and Public Hospital Systems. The report found that while older adults are the fastest-growing segment of California’s community health centers (CHCs), most of these organizations have not yet developed specific strategies or services aimed at supporting this population. However, CHCs are well positioned to provide coordinated, integrated, high-quality care to older adults, given their unique skill set and culture supporting comprehensive care for complex populations. While some CHCs are on the leading edge of developing specific programs and services for older adults, others are aware of the need to prepare and adapt but have not yet done so. CHCF is exploring opportunities to potentially help both types of organizations accelerate their progress through this initiative.

Pending project approval, CHCF plans to support five to eight Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHCs), non-FQHC community health centers, or public health care system outpatient primary care clinics to plan and implement projects that advance the organizations’ readiness and ability to care for an aging population.

The full RFI, including information on potential program elements and a list of questions for interested organizations to develop response submissions, is available under “Document Downloads.”