On September 13th, Sacramento Native American Health Center received a $225,000 grant from the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services to enhance the treatment of Native American/Alaska Native (AIAN) child victims of abuse.

SNAHC will provide comprehensive services to minors who are or have been victims of physical, sexual, and/or emotional abuse, neglect, domestic violence, and bullying. Nicole Bozzo, SNAHC’s Behavioral Health Manager said that “child abuse is a difficult but important topic to address; however, culturally appropriate youth mental health services are always necessary,” and that “this funding will allow us to link vulnerable community members for comprehensive services in a health home environment where they can begin their healing process.”

This award arrives in the wake of two others received by SNAHC and aimed at preventing behavioral health issues among Native youth. Together, over $2.4 million has ben secured for prevention and treatment of mental health suicide, and substance use over the next five years.

As a member of CCUIH, SNAHC has been an exemplary case of a Native American clinic providing the culturally competent and effective services needed by this specific community. SNAHC has made great strides to pioneer innovative services and remain dedicated to providing for the AIAN community at large.

On August 20th, 2016, the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) awarded Sacramento Native American Health Center (SNAHC) with its accreditation. SNAHC also received Patient Centered Health Home (PCHH) Certification in addition to their accreditation. Accreditation distinguishes this community health center from many other outpatient facilities by providing the highest quality of care to its patients as determined by an independent, external process of evaluation. As a member of the California Consortium for Urban Indian Health, SNAHC embodies the high standards of quality care that we strive to promote.

Since 2007, when SNAHC received its Federally Qualified Health Home (FQHC) status, it has treated patients in the Sacramento area, bringing high quality, compassionate, and culturally relevant health care to the Sacramento area. Their medical department consists of four providers specializing in the diagnosis and evaluation of both acute and chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and cancer. Their behavioral health department, consisting of counselors, doctors, and therapists, offers integrated behavioral health services that combine substance abuse and mental health treatment with traditional Native American practices.

AAAHC requires ambulatory health care organizations seeking accreditation to undergo an extensive self-assessment and on-site survey by AAAHC expert surveyors – physicians, nurses, and administrators who are actively involved in ambulatory health care. The survey is consultative and educational, presenting best practices to help an organization improve its care and services.

“We believe our patients deserve the absolute best,” stated Britta Guerrero, CEO “When you see our certificate of accreditation, you will know that AAAHC, an independent, not-for-profit organization, has closely examined our facility and procedures. It means we as an organization care enough about our patients to strive for the highest level of care possible.”

In order to earn accreditation, Sacramento Native American Health Center, as a health care organization, had to demonstrate its ability to meet or exceed nationally-recognized AAAHC standards of health care and sufficiently adhere to its own policies, procedures, processes and their desired patient outcomes.

About AAAHC
The Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care, founded in 1979, is the leader in ambulatory health care accreditation with more than 5,000 organizations accredited nationwide. AAAHC accredits a variety of organizations including, ambulatory surgery centers, office-based surgery centers, endoscopy centers, student health centers, military health care clinics, and large medical and dental practices. AAAHC serves as an advocate for the provision of high-quality health care through the development of nationally recognized standards and through its survey and accreditation programs. AAAHC accreditation is recognized as a symbol of quality by third-party payers,

View below to read the update on Sacramento Native American Health Center’s expansion, which will increase their number of medical exam rooms to 17 and number of dental chairs to 13 — and also will include an optometry clinic. These changes will allow the health center to serve 18,000 to 20,000 patients, up from 8,000 now.

Native American health clinic in midtown begins $3.8M expansion

Demolition is done, construction on a $3.8 million expansion of the Sacramento Native American Health Center is underway — and most of the money to pay for it has been raised.

The expansion will more than double clinic space to 36,000 square feet. It will allow the center at 2020 J St. to serve up to 20,000 patients when it opens in mid-January. The nonprofit currently serves about 12,000.

A variety of loans, grants and donations from Native American tribes, providers, foundations and others have promised or paid almost $3.4 million to fund the project. About $330,000 remains to be raised.

A big loan of more than $2 million came from Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians. Other big funders include Capital Impact Partners ($750,000 loan), Anthem Blue Cross and River City Medical Group ($247,680 grant), Sutter Health ($150,000 donation) and Yocha Dehee Wintun Nation ($100,000 grant). Other support came from the Sierra Health Foundation, UC Davis School of Medicine, Newman’s Own Foundation and Indian Health Services.

“We are thrilled at the variety of funders that have stepped forward to fund our expansion,” health center CEO Britta Guerrero said.
The nonprofit used to serve mostly Native American patients, but growth of the Medi-Cal program brought in a more diverse clientele. Roughly 60 percent of the patients now served are non-Native American, Guerrero said. “We still maintain our identity as Native American, but are seeing everyone who needs care, in keeping with our cultural beliefs,” Guerrero said.

The health center “has served the underserved members of the greater Sacramento area for many years and has always been open to doing more for the populations they serve,” said Sean Atha, vice president of network and business development at River City Medical Group.

The expansion will increase the number of medical exam rooms to 17, the number of dental chairs to 13 and include an optometry clinic. Once work on the medical clinic is done, construction will begin on the expanded dental space.

Kathy Robertson covers health care, law and lobbying, labor, workplace issues and immigration for the Sacramento Business Journal.

CCUIH is pleased to announce that Britta Guerrero, CEO of Sacramento Native American Health Center, has accepted a seat on the board of the California Primary Care Association (CPCA).

The CPCA is a statewide leader and recognized voice representing the interests of California community clinics and health centers and their patients. CCUIH works closely with CPCA to ensure that Urban Indians are included in planning efforts to increase health care access and reduce health disparities of marginalized groups.

Britta will be the first Urban Indian Health Organization leader to serve on the Board of CPCA, which will be great for Urban Indian health programs’ exposure and collaboration with the community health center network.