The National Center for Farmworker Health is dedicated to improving the health status of farmworker families by providing information, services and products to more than 600 migrant health center service sites in the US. These centers exist to provide healthcare services that are culturally and linguistically appropriate, affordable and accessible to migrant and seasonal farmworkers and their families. Migrant Health Centers (MHC) are vital points of access to care for farmworkers, but their economic survival is challenged by competing demands for care and the fact that they must operate within the escalating costs of the health care industry. In addition to these economic challenges, they often operate in poor, isolated and rural communities, which present additional challenges for management support and recruitment and retention of staff of all disciplines. Currently, MHCs serve more than half a million farmworker patients a year, less than 20% of the total available population. In order to survive as critical points of access, MHCs must be able to compete within the health care industry and still maintain their focus on mission and serving the underserved and uninsured. In order to do so, the network needs strong and active leaders engaged in all aspects of strengthening the network.

NCFH is committed to strengthening the network of providers of care to the Farmworker population nationwide by offering a multi-disciplinary training center which delivers a comprehensive set of leadership development opportunities to current and potential migrant and community health center employees. The Center for Leadership Training has been created with the goal of increasing the knowledge, skills and leadership abilities of current and future MHC staff and board members.

The Migrant Health Leadership Development and Training Center offers training programs designed to develop migrant specific expertise in the areas of:

• Health Center Governance
• Health Center Management
• Migrant Health Orientation and Training

These services are available on a fee-for-service basis, including venues such as those described below. Fee discounts and scholarships are available to Migrant Health Centers on a negotiated basis.

The Center provides the following services:

• Leadership training seminars
• Conferences and workshops
• On-site consultation and facilitation
• A Migrant Health credentialing program (under development)

Benefits of these programs include:

• Strengthen a Migrant/Community Health Center's infrastructure
• Minimize institutional barriers for farmworkers' access to health care
• Increase a Migrant/Community Health Center's capacity to provide culturally and linguistically competent health care services to farmworkers
• Promote the ability of Migrant/Community Health Center staff to exercise their leadership potential
• Increase networking opportunities for Migrant/Community Health Center staff
• Promote access to a cadre of migrant health experts for technical assistance
• Enhance work place environment
• Maximize quality of care provided to the farmworker population

For more information, contact Alicia Gonzales ()