Standardized data enables consistent data collection across settings, allowing for outcome comparisons, data exchange, and benchmarking within and across Community Health Center (CHC) environments. It also supports improved care coordination and planning, ultimately leading to better patient outcomes.

The use of PRAPARE® is not limited to health centers and can be used by others, including community-based or social service organizations, hospitals, and health systems.

• Actionable and Evidence Based: Uses robust data to drive meaningful change.
• Standardized and Widely Used: Adopted nationwide with consistent measures.
• Built into EHRs and other HIT: Seamlessly integrates into existing systems.
• Flexible and Patient-Centered: Adapts to any workflow and prioritizes patient needs.
• Stakeholder Driven: Designed collaboratively to reflect real-world perspectives.
• Designed to Drive Organizational Transformation: Helps identify patients with complex needs who may benefit from targeted, coordinated support.

View the “What is PRAPARE” Infographic for more information.

Health centers that use PRAPARE® should develop individualized workflows based on their local care team and staffing models. Many adopt a “no wrong door” approach, meaning any staff member can administer the questions depending on the workflow and staffing resources available.

The National PRAPARE® Team also offers tailored training and technical assistance (TTA): Hands-on support designed to meet the unique needs of your health center, including guidance on workflow design, staff role integration, and strategies for maximizing patient engagement.

It is important to demonstrate how PRAPARE® is making a difference in your organization and/or
your community to sustain engagement and motivation.
There are several ways to do this:
• Celebrate successes!
• Encourage friendly competition.
• Visualize and share the data.
• Apply lessons learned.

PRAPARE® can be administered by both clinical and non-clinical staff. To support effective implementation, the PRAPARE® Implementation and Action Toolkit is available to guide staff through the process. For additional assistance, the National PRAPARE® Team offers training and technical assistance (TTA) for a fee to help organizations implement PRAPARE® successfully. Contact the team: prapare@nachc.org.

Once PRAPARE® is explained—covering what it is and why it’s being used—patients often respond positively, viewing the questions as a sign that their health care team cares about them as a whole person, not just their immediate medical concerns. Many appreciate being asked about their broader needs and experiences, which help build trust and strengthen the patient provider relationship.

The questions within PRAPARE® are not required for all implementations. They are provided to give organizations the flexibility to tailor PRAPARE® to their staffing capacity, workflow, patient population, and available resources—ensuring the process remains both meaningful and manageable within local contexts.

Before beginning the screening process, staff should take time to explain the “what” and “why” behind PRAPARE®. They should ask for the patient’s permission to proceed and remind them that they can decline to answer any question or stop the screening at any time without penalty. Staff can be trained in empathic inquiry approaches and motivational techniques to navigate sensitive topics respectfully, ensuring that patients feel safe and supported. If certain questions are consistently skipped, organizations can explore underlying reasons—such as health literacy and adjust their approach accordingly.

It is important to demonstrate how PRAPARE® is making a difference in your organization and/or your community to sustain engagement and motivation.

There are several ways to do this:

• Celebrate successes!
• Encourage friendly competition.
• Visualize and share the data.
• Apply lessons learned.

The PRAPARE® Validation Fact Sheet highlights how PRAPARE® was developed and validated using the 8 “Gold Standard” Stages of Measure  Development.

Organizations can decide on the frequency of administering PRAPARE®, although we recommend at least annually. For example a health center might determine that a material security question needs to be asked at each visit due to the local economic condition or as a follow-up to a previous positive screen.

No, modifications should not be made to the wording of the official PRAPARE® questions. Maintaining the integrity of the questions is essential for ensuring standardized data collection across health centers, which allows for meaningful comparison and analysis at local, state, and national levels. However, PRAPARE® can be combined with other assessments, and the way you ask the questions during a patient conversation may be adapted to fit your workflow or improve patient comfort. For example, questions can be rephrased conversationally—as long as the core intent and wording are preserved in documentation and data entry. This approach helps maintain data fidelity while supporting patient-centered care.

There is no official version of PRAPARE® specifically tailored for pediatric or adolescent populations.

There is no official short version of PRAPARE®. However, the tool is designed to be flexible. Health centers are encouraged to tailor it based on community priorities and workflow needs. To reduce duplication, we recommend reviewing existing processes. Many PRAPARE® questions also align with UDS data elements, helping streamline both care delivery and documentation.

Yes, there is a cost associated with using PRAPARE®. Regardless of how you intend to use it—whether for analysis, hosting on a digital platform, publication, or other purposes—a license agreement with NACHC is required. For additional information on licensing agreements and associated costs, please contact PRAPARE@nachc.org. 

There are several Electronic Health Records (EHR)  that have PRAPARE® built out on their platforms.  To confirm if your EHR has PRAPARE® please contract the National PRAPARE® team at prapare@nachc.org

The PRAPARE® Screening Tool has been translated in over 25 languages to extend accessibility to the populations you serve. To obtain access to the PRAPARE® Tool— English version and all translated versions—an active license agreement is required. Please contact the National PRAPARE® Team at prapare@nachc.org to request access or to initiate the licensing process.

Join the PRAPARE® Listserv

E-mail: prapare@nachc.org

Website: www.nachc.org/prapare