An Advocacy Center of Excellence (ACE) is a Community Health Center that creates a culture of advocacy to ensure that policymakers at all levels of government commit to investing in the affordable, equitable, and innovative care that health centers provide. ACE levels recognize consistent engagement and demonstrate an ongoing commitment to making advocacy an organizational priority. ACEs actively partner with the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) on federal policy issues, as well as their 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. Each ACE designation is valid for two years.

“The ACE program recognizes and rewards Community Health Centers that demonstrate excellence in formalizing their advocacy program to make it an institutional part of health center operations. As a Silver ACE, your health center serves as an example to other organizations striving to achieve advocacy excellence. Your commitment also strengthens the Health Center Advocacy Network as a whole by enabling greater effectiveness of advocacy efforts on a national scale. Thank you for your dedication and outstanding work related to health center advocacy.” – NACHC