Community Health Workforce Development Act

The Community Health Workforce Development Act proposes to amend the Public Health Service Act by establishing a new entity: the Advisory Committee on Training in Community Health Centers . This committee will play a crucial role in enhancing the workforce development within community health centers across the nation. Its primary function is to provide expert advice and recommendations to the Secretary concerning policy and program development related to training activities. The Advisory Committee will consist of 15 appointed members, who must not be federal employees, serving 3-year terms with staggered initial appointments. Membership requirements ensure a diverse and experienced group, including at least 75 percent health professionals and at least one patient of a community health center. Additionally, the committee must represent a fair balance of health professions and broad geographic representation, encompassing both urban and rural areas. Key duties of the committee include developing, publishing, and implementing performance measures for relevant programs, as well as creating guidelines for their longitudinal evaluations. The committee is mandated to meet at least twice annually, with meeting agendas and summaries made publicly available. It will also submit annual reports to the Secretary and Congress, detailing its activities, findings, and recommendations, including suggestions for appropriations.