LOS ANGELES—JAN. 12, 2021—The Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC), in partnership with the Chin Family Institute for Nursing (CFIN) at Cal State LA, have launched the Family Nurse Practitioner Community Care Residency Program. Under the program, newly licensed family nurse practitioners (FNPs) will receive post-graduate training at community health centers across Los Angeles.
FNPs are educated to provide high quality, community-based primary care to patient populations across the life span with complex health care needs. FNPs operate at a higher level of autonomy, and do not require the supervision of a physician. With California experiencing a major shortage of primary care physicians, CCALAC partnered with Cal State LA to develop a pipeline program specifically designed for community health centers. It is only the second FNP program in the County.
The 8-month program provides intensive training and on-the-job experience to FNP residents, while supporting the needs of health centers and their patients. The inaugural program cohort of nine residents is training at five community health centers in Los Angeles: Chinatown Service Center, Clínica Romero, Kedren Community Health Center, Universal Community Health Center and Via Care Community Health Center. Simultaneously, residents will receive didactic education in areas including population-based health, quality improvement and telehealth from Cal State LA’s top-ranked nursing faculty.
“FNPs are essential to our community clinic model. Along with helping meet the demand for healthcare services for low-income families in East Los Angeles, our family nurse practitioners assess not only the physical aspects of patient care, but also the mental and psychosocial needs as well. This is especially important for our patients that often face poverty and violence in addition to poor health. Via Care is extremely grateful and proud to be a part of this FNP community care residency program with CCALAC,” said Deborah Villar, CEO of Via Care Community Health Center.
“The Chin Family Institute for Nursing at Cal State LA is proud to be teaming with CCALAC to offer this post-graduate FNP residency to nine highly qualified newly licensed and nationally certified FNPs,” said Lorie H. Judson, Executive Director of Cal State LA’s CFIN. “This program will serve to hone and refine the skills these residents learned while in their respective graduate programs, preparing them to offer the best health care to the often underserved population. This endeavor exemplifies the purpose and mission of the Chin Family Institute for Nursing, which is to provide post graduate nursing education with an emphasis on health care for the underserved.”
Residents are recent graduates of Columbia University School of Nursing, North Park University in Chicago, Azusa Pacific University, Sonoma State, Johns Hopkins University, UCLA, UC San Francisco School of Nursing and Cal State LA. All are licensed FNPs who hold master’s or doctorate degrees in nursing and additional certification beyond a regular nursing degree. All wish to work with underserved populations.
“I want to be a family nurse practitioner who offers underserved communities the culturally competent care they need,” said Lisa Tran, a resident at Chinatown Service Center. “I am excited to learn from experienced clinicians who provide care and education at a community health clinic that serves the diverse Los Angeles County population. I want to be a provider that creates a safe space for marginalized communities to feel empowered to become an equal partner in their own care, something I wish was conveyed to my family.”
Once the program is complete in August, clinics may extend an employment offer to residents. “This is a win-win situation—we set new FNPs up for success and create a pipeline of qualified primary care providers within the community health center setting,” said CCALAC President and CEO Louise McCarthy.
The FNP Community Care Residency Program is generously supported by Kaiser Permanente and the California Area Health Education Center.
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About the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
The Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC) is the largest regional association of community clinics and health centers in California. Founded in 1994, CCALAC has 64 members that serve nearly 1.7 million patients throughout LA County. The majority of these patients live below the poverty line. CCALAC is dedicated to serving and representing the interests of its member clinics as providers of quality health care, including medical, dental and pharmacy services. For more information about CCALAC, visit www.ccalac.org or call (213) 201-6500.
About the Chin Family Institute for Nursing at Cal State LA
California State University, Los Angeles is the premier comprehensive public university in the heart of Los Angeles. Cal State LA is ranked number one in the United States for the upward mobility of its students. Cal State LA is dedicated to engagement, service, and the public good, offering nationally recognized programs in science, the arts, business, criminal justice, engineering, nursing, education, and the humanities. Founded in 1947, the University serves more than 26,000 students and has more than 250,000 distinguished alumni.
The Chin Family Institute for Nursing at Cal State LA was created as a result of a philanthropic gift by Drs. Patricia and William Chin in 2016. Dr. Patricia Chin was a professor and director of the now named Patricia A. Chin School of Nursing. The mission of the Chin Family Institute for Nursing focuses on the advancement of nursing education, advocacy, leadership, and action. The Institute serves as a center for nursing excellence with an emphasis on caring for diverse, underserved urban populations. For more information, visit www.CalStateLA.edu.
Media Contact
Taryn Burks, Communications Specialist
Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County
e: tburks@ccalac.org | t: (213) 201-6529