Urban Health Plan is proud to be recognized as a Gold Level Advocacy Center of Excellence by the National Association of Community Health Centers, a distinction that reflects our unwavering commitment to advancing health equity and championing the needs of our community. This prestigious award highlights our leadership in advocacy efforts, including engaging policymakers, empowering patients to share their stories, and driving meaningful change in public health policy. Achieving Gold Level status demonstrates not only the strength of our programs but also the passion and dedication of our staff, partners, and supporters who work tirelessly to ensure accessible, high-quality care for all.

What is an Advocacy Center of Excellence?

NACHC’s Advocacy Center of Excellence, or ACE, Program supports and recognizes health centers that achieve specific measures of advocacy success and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to advocacy by making it an organizational priority. An Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) is recognized for prioritizing advocacy engagement to ensure that key stakeholders and policymakers commit to investing in the affordable, comprehensive, and innovative care that Community Health Centers (CHCs) provide. ACEs actively partner with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) on federal policy issues, as well as their regional/state Primary Care Association (PCA) on key local-level policy issues impacting health centers and their patients.

There are three ACE levels – Bronze, Silver, and Gold. The ACE designation is valid for two years. Previously, Urban Health Plan achieved Gold Level status in 2016-2018 and 2018-2020.

ACE collaborates with NACHC and the state Primary Care Associations regarding federal policy issues and critical state and local-level policy topics impacting health centers and their patients.