Now Available: Special Rural Health Supplement for the Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved, Free to NACHC Members

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact: Michael King,

[email protected]

BETHESDA, MD - August 14, 2026 - In partnership with the Meharry Medical College and Johns Hopkins University Press, the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) is excited to announce special, no-cost access to their members for the latest Journal of Health Care for the Poor and Underserved (JHCPU) supplement. JHCPU is a quarterly peer-reviewed journal that addresses critical topics in health care affecting underserved populations in North and Central America, the Caribbean, and sub-Saharan Africa. Its focus on community health makes it a strong platform to showcase strategies, analysis, and innovations, especially those developed by Community Health Centers (CHCs).

"Community Health Centers serve 52.3 million people. That's 1 in 7 Americans - 1 in 3 people in rural communities - who rely on CHCs as their primary source of health care" said Dr. Kyu Rhee, MD, MPP, President and CEO of NACHC. "Rural health centers are innovators that show how much progress is possible through integrated services and strategic partnerships."

JHCPU's August's Rural Health Supplement shines a light on the barriers rural communities face in the United States when it comes to accessing high-quality health care. CHCs are the primary access point for primary care, behavioral health, vision care, oral health services, chronic disease management, and preventative screenings. The supplement presents peer-reviewed studies and scholarly research that highlight measurable improvements in care delivery across areas such as tobacco cessation and hypertension control, as well as practical insights on how CHCs are advancing diverse care delivery models, such as mobile health units, in rural communities. Topics include:

• Strengthening preventative care through structured delivery

• Achieving chronic disease outcomes through structured care and sustained implementation

• Redesigning care delivery to expand access

• Addressing social and behavioral factors that shape health outcomes

• Strengthening impact through partnerships and research

• Sustaining progress through policy and investment

NACHC's work with Meharry Medical College and Johns Hopkins University Press will be featured at a special fireside chat during CHI 2026. The interactive discussion will explore how health centers are translating research into practice, building cross-sector partnerships, and addressing the unique challenges facing rural communities. Virginia M. Brennan, PhD, MA, editor for JHCPU, will be a featured panelist alongside James Werth, PhD, ABPP, CEO of Tri-Area Community Health, and Susan Harvey, PhD, author of "Lessons from the Fields of Kansas: Food Is Medicine Implementation in a Predominantly Rural State."

The next JHCPU August Supplement will focus on TechQuity: the intersection of technology and health equity. NACHC is sponsoring this special supplement that will focus on the use of technology to deliver better health outcomes for the populations CHCs serves. The submission deadline is January 15, 2027.

To learn more about the partnership and access the journal, visit https://www.nachc.org/special-member-access-journal-of-health-care-for-the-poor-and-underserved/

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About NACHC

NACHC's mission is to champion Community Health Centers delivering affordable, effective, comprehensive primary care that is community-driven and improves health for all. For more information, visit https://www.nachc.org.