Workforce

NACHC urges states to fund rural residency slots with rural health money

On October 15, 2026, NACHC said only about 2% of residency training happens in rural communities and 3.5% in safety-net clinics. It urged states to use Rural Health Transformation money for net-new resident slots, as a bridge rather than permanent funding. Teaching health centers trained 1,254 physicians in 2024-2025.

Health care added 17,000 jobs in September, below its usual pace

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on October 2, 2026 that health care added 17,000 jobs in September, against a 12-month average of 33,000. Ambulatory care added 13,000 jobs and hospitals 12,000, while nursing and residential care lost 9,000. The October report comes out November 6.

Newsom signs AB 96 dropping diploma rule for peer support certification

Governor Newsom signed AB 96 by Assemblymember Corey Jackson on September 27, 2026, as Chapter 497. Applicants for Medi-Cal peer support specialist certification no longer need a high school diploma or equivalent, but must still be at least 18. The change widens the pool of certified peer staff that clinics can hire.

Newsom signs AB 1811 keeping 2025 shortage areas in state law

Governor Newsom signed AB 1811 by Assemblymember Chris Rogers on September 27, 2026, as Chapter 549. Until January 1, 2035, state programs count an area as a health professional shortage area if the federal government listed it on January 1, 2025, even if that listing later ends. HCAI can also name shortage areas and revoke those designations.

SAC Health lays off 49 and closes two San Bernardino clinics

SAC Health laid off 49 nonclinical workers effective September 3, 2026, to reduce a $10 million operating gap, the San Bernardino Sun reported. Two San Bernardino clinics, on South K Street and East 3rd Street, closed in August as services moved to the Brier campus. At 49, the layoff was one below California's 50-worker WARN threshold.

Health care added 13,000 jobs in August, well below its usual pace

The Bureau of Labor Statistics reported on September 4, 2026 that health care added 13,000 jobs in August, against a 12-month average of 32,000. Home health and hospitals drove the gain, outpatient care centers were flat, and dental offices lost about 4,600 jobs. The September report comes out October 2.

Homeless Health Care Los Angeles files WARN notices for 134 layoffs

Homeless Health Care Los Angeles filed California WARN notices on September 2, 2026, for 134 permanent layoffs effective November 3. HHCLA is not a health center. Los Angeles County lists it with Wesley Health Centers, an FQHC, and Social Model Recovery Systems as operators of the Skid Row Care Campus, site of 117 of the layoffs.

HRSA opens NHSC loan repayment form changes for comment until October 27

HRSA published a notice on August 28, 2026 that revises National Health Service Corps loan repayment forms and renames the Verification of Disadvantaged Background Form the Certification of Vulnerable Background Form. Comments are due October 27, 2026. Award amounts and site eligibility stay the same.

Palau seeks bids for mobile clinic driver and boat operators

Palau's Bureau of Human Resources posted a notice on August 21 for boat operators and a licensed driver to support its Primary Community Health Center. The notice runs through September 6, bids run September 7 to 21, and opening is September 22. This is a bid for a contract, and it lists no amount or wage.

California sets nurse staffing ratios for acute psychiatric hospitals

The California Department of Public Health filed emergency rules on June 1, 2026 that set nurse ratios for acute psychiatric hospitals under AB 116. Hospitals must have at least one licensed nurse for every six adult patients and one for every five patients under 18. Nothing in the rules ties them to any hospital's layoffs or lost beds.

CHCF study finds its CHW program trained or hired 350 workers

On August 7, 2026, the California Health Care Foundation published an evaluation of its Amplifying Impact Initiative for community health workers. The 28 funded organizations trained or hired 350 workers and served more than 3,400 members through the CHW benefit. Organizations said Medi-Cal rates do not fully cover the work, so they mix in philanthropic and public funding.

Health care added 22,000 July jobs, and BLS later revised payrolls up

On August 7, 2026, BLS reported that total nonfarm payrolls fell 23,000 in July while health care added 22,000 jobs, 18,100 of them in ambulatory health care services. On September 4, BLS revised July payrolls to a gain of 21,000. The ambulatory series covers physician and dental offices, labs and home health, and does not count FQHC jobs separately.

NACHC opens a members-only library of 150-plus workforce programs

On August 4, 2026, NACHC published its Workforce Pathways Promising Practices Repository, a searchable library of more than 150 workforce programs. It has 48 states and regions taking part, and NACHC says apprenticeships and work-based learning are the most common strong strategy. Access is limited to members of the health center community.

HRSA posts 2025 UDS data with 32,746,392 health center patients

As of July 31, 2026, HRSA's national UDS data tool shows the 2025 reporting year, with 32,746,392 patients across 1,356 awardees. Medicaid or CHIP covered 47.92% of patients, and 17.21% were uninsured. The 32.4 million figure in HRSA's August 4, 2025 release is 2024 data.

HRSA forecasts $16 million for new teaching health center residencies

On July 27, 2026, HRSA posted a forecast for HRSA-27-084, a Teaching Health Center GME round for new residency programs. It estimates $16 million, awards of $160,000 to $960,000, applications due about November 16, 2026, and a July 1, 2027 start. Health centers with an accredited primary care residency never paid by THCGME can prepare.

SAC Health opens a school and community clinic at Pacific High School

SAC Health announced on July 14, 2026 that its new clinic at Pacific High School in San Bernardino saw its first patients on July 6. It offers primary and family medicine, pediatric care, and behavioral health to students and neighbors. The announcement lists no hiring plan, so check SAC Health's current postings before you apply.

Study finds about one-third of eligible FQHCs lack onsite prenatal care

A study published July 14 in Annals of Internal Medicine found that about one-third of 1,326 FQHCs operating in 2024 did not offer onsite prenatal care. Onsite care was more common at urban centers and at centers serving more Black, Hispanic, Medicaid and limited-English-proficiency patients. Maternity care deserts often had no FQHC, or one without onsite prenatal care.

Golden Valley Health Centers builds a Stockton health complex for autumn 2026

Golden Valley Health Centers is building a Stockton Health Complex at 848 East Hammer Lane, set to open in autumn 2026 with urgent care and senior services. It follows the Le Grand Clinic reopening on June 15 and expanded Merced pharmacy services on June 3. Golden Valley has not shared square footage, staffing or investment.

Education Department lists nursing and PA programs as professional degrees for now

On June 24, 2026, a federal court in Washington, D.C., paused part of the Education Department's narrower definition of a professional degree. The department's June 29 interim list includes MSN, DNP and PA programs, and a July 10 update clarified the nursing entries. Schools may use higher loan limits for them during the stay, which is temporary.

Petaluma Health Center recruits 14 bilingual, bicultural clinicians from Mexico

Petaluma Health Center has enrolled 14 physicians, psychiatrists and dentists from Mexico under California's 2024 AB 2860/2864 program, the Petaluma Voice reported. Two have started, and the other 12, including three full-time Spanish-speaking psychiatrists, are expected in September or October, most on O-1 visas. Petaluma grew its first four slots to 14 by working with state legislators.

California recommends at least 80 training hours for CHWs and promotores

HCAI and DHCS published a voluntary Best Practices Framework for community health worker, promotor and representative training programs on July 2. It recommends at least 80 training hours for a certificate of completion, at least six hours of yearly professional development, and no diploma, GED or English requirement. It is not a certification and does not change Medi-Cal CHW rules.

HCAI posts California's final 2026-2030 behavioral health workforce plan

HCAI posted California's final 2026-2030 workforce plan under the Behavioral Health Services Act, approved June 19, and work begins July 1, 2026. It targets peer pathways, lived experience, and shortages that are especially severe in the San Joaquin Valley and Inland Empire. The plan notes California is far more Spanish-speaking than its licensed behavioral health workforce.

Stanislaus County closes most promotora groups as Prop 1 moves prevention money

Stanislaus County's RAIZ Promotores program is closing most of its 13 community health worker groups by June 30, 2026, The Intersection reported. The groups, founded in 2008, serve close to 400 mostly Latino immigrants. Proposition 1's Behavioral Health Services Act shifted about $140 million a year in county mental health tax money to the state and put treatment first.

Dignity drops Santa Cruz Medical Group, and over a dozen clinicians leave

Dignity Health Medical Foundation ended its contract with the roughly 120-member Santa Cruz Medical Group and began contracting with Foundation Physicians Medical Group, Lookout Santa Cruz reported June 29. More than a dozen doctors and advanced practice providers reportedly left or retired early, and Dignity said it plans to fill most open roles by year-end. No FQHC is named.

NACHC and ClearPoint Health launch a benefits program for health center staff

On June 26, NACHC and ClearPoint Health announced NACHC Cares, which offers customizable employer-sponsored health plans and benefits help to community health center staff. About 330,000 employees at 1,512 health centers can use it. NACHC calls it a way to keep staff while health centers face heavy financial pressure.