FAU/NCHA Community Health Center Earns Federally Funded Designation

The Florida Atlantic University/Northwest Community Health Alliance Community Health Center in West Palm Beach. (Photo by Alex Dolce)

Access to high-quality primary care can make the difference between a health concern being identified early and becoming a more serious problem. For families who face financial, transportation or other barriers to care, having comprehensive health services available close to home is particularly important. Now, a growing community health center operated by Florida Atlantic University 's Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing is positioned to expand that access after earning a major federal designation that will bring new resources to its clinics and the communities they serve.

The Florida Atlantic University/Northwest Community Health Alliance Community Health Center (FAU/NCHA) was selected to receive a 2026 New Access Point award from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, through the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), marking its transition from a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike to a federally funded Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). FAU has been awarded $650,000 through the FY 2026 New Access Points program.

"Because the clinics are part of our college, expanding access to care also expands the opportunities we can provide our students," said Cameron G. Duncan, Ph.D., DNP, principal investigator, CEO of FAU/NCHA and the Holli Rockwell Trubinsky Eminent Dean of Nursing, FAU Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing. "Our students learn alongside faculty and experienced providers while seeing firsthand the impact of accessible, community-based care. This award will allow us to reach more patients while giving even more students the opportunity to learn through service to the community."

FAU/NCHA is among 158 health centers selected nationwide through a $102 million federal investment that will support 415 new service sites and expand access to comprehensive primary care for nearly 1 million people. New Access Point funding is the primary pathway for organizations to become HRSA-funded health centers while also supporting existing health centers as they expand into medically underserved communities.

For FAU/NCHA, the designation comes at a time when demand for care is reaching unprecedented levels. The center recorded 5,459 patient visits in 2025, including a monthly record of 542 visits last October. The center provides care regardless of patients' ability to pay and is now positioned to use federal support to strengthen its services and reach more patients.

"We are seeing more families turn to us for primary care, preventive services and help managing chronic conditions," said Monica Roundtree-Cleckley, DNP, APRN, director of FAU/NCHA Community Health Center. "This award reflects both the need for accessible care in our community and the center's ability to respond to it. It gives us an opportunity to strengthen that work and serve more families."

The center operates nurse-led clinics at the U.B. Kinsey Educational and Community Center and Westgate Community Health Center in West Palm Beach. Services for children, adults and older adults include primary and mental healthcare, immunizations, chronic disease management, physicals, vision and hearing screenings, telehealth and on-site laboratory testing. Walk-ins are welcome, with same-day and next-day appointments often available.

"This is an extraordinary accomplishment for the FAU/NCHA and, most importantly, for the families and individuals who depend on this center for care," said Ronald A. Davis, chair of the board of directors for FAU/NCHA. "This partnership brings together the strength of Florida Atlantic University, the commitment of the Christine E. Lynn College of Nursing, and the Northwest Community Health Alliance's deep connection to the community. Together, we have built something that is making a tangible difference in people's lives. This designation recognizes what is possible when a university and community come together around a shared commitment and vision for accessible healthcare."

The new federal designation represents the culmination of a long-standing partnership between FAU/NCHA, bringing together the university's academic and clinical resources with a community-focused commitment to improving access to care.

"Families can receive many of the services they need in one location," Roundtree-Cleckley said. "A parent can bring a child for a school physical, receive primary care and complete laboratory testing without navigating several providers and appointments. That convenience can make a big difference."

Established in 2014, the FAU/NCHA Community Health Center became Florida's first university-based health center to receive HRSA's Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike designation in 2021. Look-Alikes meet the same program requirements as federally funded health centers and serve patients regardless of their ability to pay, but they do not receive Health Center Program grant funding. The New Access Point award now provides the center with that federal support as a fully funded FQHC.

The need for community health centers extends well beyond West Palm Beach. HRSA-funded health centers serve more than 32 million people at more than 16,000 service sites nationwide, including 1 in 8 children, 1 in 5 rural residents and 1 in 15 adults age 65 and older. These centers provide comprehensive primary care and integrated services that include behavioral health, oral health and chronic disease prevention and management, helping patients access care in the communities where they live.

"This designation is a reflection of what can happen when a university, clinicians, students and a community work together toward a common goal," Duncan said. "After more than a decade of partnership, we have built a center that is providing essential care while preparing the next generation of nurses. This award gives us the resources to build on that foundation, expand access to care and continue serving our community for years to come."

From left, Cameron Duncan, Ph.D., DNP; Beth King, Ph.D., APRN; Monica Roundtree Cleckley, DNP, APRN; Rose Haklits, Ed.D.; Karen Wisdom-Chambers, DNP, APRN; Tracian Kelly, DNP, APRN; and Valentine Etienne.

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