Portfolio. Meeting Health Care Challenges in the Inland Empire. The California Wellness Foundation INSIDE: Minimizing Exposure

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1 The California Wellness Foundation Portfolio S T O R I E S, I D E A S A N D L E S S O N S L E A R N E D F R O M O U R H E A L T H G R A N T M A K I N G Meeting Health Care Challenges in the Inland Empire W I N T E R INSIDE: Minimizing Exposure to Pollution Funding for Transitional Housing Supportive Health Policies for the Disabled How To Apply Grants List What's New Recognizing California's Leaders The 2006 honorees in three leadership recognition programs have been announced: the California Peace Prize, the Public Policy Leadership Award and the TCWF Sabbatical Program. For more information, see What's New on p. 15 or visit On the Cover: Elementary school students in Big Bear Valley receive health screenings through the Healthy Start program.

2 C O V E R S T O R Y Size and Diversity of Inland Empire Requires Creative Approaches to Health Care Early detection of hearing, vision and dental problems is one goal of the Bear Valley Healthy Start program. an Bernardino and Riverside S counties often referred to as California s Inland Empire account for approximately 10 percent of the state s population. They cover a vast geographic area that incorporates rapidly growing urban and suburban communities, miles of sparsely populated desert, and isolated rural mountain communities. Fifteen percent of households live below the poverty line and 23 percent have no health insurance. It is also a region where the development of nonprofit health care infrastructure has not kept pace with its rapid population growth. These factors combine to create a challenging environment for community-based organizations that offer preventive health services. In the Inland Empire, many organizations work hard to overcome barriers to providing access to health care such as geographic isolation or heavy reliance upon jobs in industries that don t provide health benefits, said Gary L. Yates, president and CEO of The California Wellness Foundation (TCWF). With its grantmaking, the Foundation can provide financial resources to support the provision of services that can improve the health of underserved populations in the region. TCWF s core operating support grants have funded organizations throughout the region to provide health care services, build community leadership to address health concerns, and improve organizational capacity to deliver services. The following are several examples of how organizations have used this type of support to provide health services for underserved populations in the Inland Empire. P r e v e n t i v e H e a l t h S c r e e n i n g s f o r C h i l d r e n Many Californians know Big Bear Lake as a resort destination high in the San Bernardino Mountains, famous for its skiing in the winter and a variety of other outdoor recreational activities throughout the year. But it is also the year-round home for about 20,000 people, many of whom rely on the resort and tourism industries for employment. Over the course of the year, many families shift among several low-wage, seasonal jobs that lack health insurance benefits for themselves or their families. Bear Valley Healthy Start is a collaborative effort, staffed by the local school district, that includes health care providers, community-based organizations and local businesses. It is designed to link families to free or low-cost health services and other assistance. Despite declining school enrollment, the district has seen a steady increase in the percentage of children eligible for free or reduced-cost lunches, a key indicator of families at or near the poverty level. In June 2005, Bear Valley Healthy Start received a three-year core support grant of $150,000 to continue to provide health screenings and medication management for students in the school 2

3 C O V E R S T O R Y The drive to San Bernardino, where many county-provided health services are located, can easily take two hours... and bus service down the mountain is limited. district and to strengthen its capacity to advocate for improved county services in the community. A cornerstone of the Healthy Start program is periodic vision, hearing and dental screenings for children attending the district s elementary schools. Typically offered each fall by health staff and local providers such as a team of dentists who volunteer their time the screenings are an opportunity for early detection and diagnosis. District staff then work with parents to help refer them to community-based providers. More than 1,600 students benefit from the Healthy Start screenings each year. The buy-in we receive from health professionals and other members of our community is a strength of our collaborative approach, said Tanya Perry, Healthy Start coordinator. For example, our partners agree to treat families at the Medi-Cal rate, and our local Lions Club chapter helps supply eyeglasses for children who need them. Helping families access services in the community is important in mountainous areas like Big Bear Lake. The drive to San Bernardino, where many county-provided health services are located, can easily take two hours longer in winter. And for those without access to a car, bus service down the mountain is limited. To raise awareness of services available in the community, the Healthy Start collaborators stage events such as an annual Community Family Fun Night. Typically scheduled for a Monday afternoon and evening to accommodate resort workers schedules, these events include games and activities for children and parents, health information booths, food vendors and other attractions. Big Bear Valley Healthy Start s collaborative approach can have an impact beyond the delivery of health care, said Sandra Martínez, TCWF program director. Its collective voice can also help the community advocate with county government for more equitable distribution of its resources to isolated mountain towns. C o m m u n i t y V o u c h e r P r o g r a m Idyllwild is a small mountain community in Riverside County s San Jacinto Mountains. Its yeararound population of about 3,000 full-time residents relies primarily upon tourism and related service-sector jobs that rarely provide employerfunded health benefits. Many residents juggle several jobs. The area is also seeing an increase in its homeless population, especially in the summer when the climate is more comfortable in the mountains than in the desert below. With no public transportation system or taxi service, low-income residents are isolated from larger population centers where county-funded health services are located. The Idyllwild HELP Center (IHC) was established in 1992 and has since become a lifeline for individuals in need of health care and related services in Idyllwild and in the neighboring mountain continued on page 4 IHC's community health fairs draw more than 100 attendees for services including flu shots and health education on a variety of topics. 3

4 C O V E R S T O R Y Programs Respond to Unique Challenges continued from page 3 Health care providers offer free mammograms and other services at QCOC's One Stop Health Workshops. communities of Pine Cove, Fern Valley and Mountain Center. The IHC operates a food bank and a thrift store that sells low-cost clothing, and also provides assistance with utility payments and limited emergency housing. In 2000, IHC was asked by the Idyllwild Community Fund to administer a small grant it had received for health care for those in need. IHC established an innovative voucher program for lowincome families that subsidizes the cost of health care services provided in local communities. IHC negotiated with community-based providers to secure reduced rates for treating clients referred through the program. Clients receive the vouchers from IHC and submit them to the health care provider in lieu of payment. The provider then bills IHC directly for reimbursement. Vouchers can also be used to purchase prescription drugs prescribed during the medical visits. IHC also provides vouchers for dental and vision care and other health care needs. For more complicated medical needs that can t be treated locally, IHC provides gas vouchers to help cover the cost of transit to county-funded community health centers in Hemet or Riverside. The organization depends upon volunteers to help staff its front desk, saving as much of its funding as possible to provide services. In September 2004, IHC was awarded a threeyear core support grant of $100,000 to continue to provide its voucher program that serves almost 200 individuals each year. IHC effectively built upon the strengths of its close-knit community to provide access to health care that is free or low-cost, as well as convenient, said TCWF s Martínez. Working adults don t have to miss a full day of work to travel long distances for routine health care. The organization has successfully mobilized the community to help make the voucher program a success. For example, school nurses identify families that may have unmet health needs and refer them to IHC for assistance. And the organization depends upon volunteers to help staff its front desk and the thrift store, saving as much of its funding as possible to provide services. IHC also sponsors periodic health fairs that draw more than 100 visitors. We have a strong sense of community here, said Sandy DeMann, coordinator of the voucher program. We work together to support people in need. E a r l y D e t e c t i o n o f B r e a s t a n d C e r v i c a l C a n c e r For Moreno Valley-based Quinn Community Outreach Corporation (QCOC), geographic isolation isn t typically a factor. The organization provides services throughout San Bernardino and Riverside counties, frequently through religious congregations. But because social and cultural barriers are frequent obstacles in programs designed to increase awareness regarding breast and cervical cancer among African-American women and Latinas, the corporation s Southern California continued on page 14 4

5 G R A N T E E I N F O C U S Environmental Health Grassroots Efforts Build Community Capacity To Address Harmful Health Effects of Polluted River eandering north from Mexicali, M Mexico, into the California city of Calexico and onward to the Salton Sea, the New River often referred to as the most polluted river in North America has been used as a waste drainage system for generations. Before reaching the border with California, the waterway is systematically polluted with biological waste from the growing population in Mexicali and industrial refuse from Mexican manufacturing plants, or maquiladoras, along the border. Pollutants from chemical runoff from California s agricultural industry also contribute to the river s toxic ecosystem. As a result, the waterway contains a sludge of nearly 100 biological contaminants, heavy metals, pesticides and disease-causing toxins that flows through the mostly immigrant and lowincome communities of the Imperial Valley. Exposure to the polluted river has resulted in cases of cholera, typhoid, hepatitis and encephalitis. To address this environmental health hazard, a group of residents, together with state, county and city officials, formed the Calexico New River Committee (CNRC) in Part of CNRC s mission is to provide community members, migrant workers and others who visit the region with a safe and healthy environment by eliminating exposure to the river s toxic pollutants. In June 2005, the organization received a threeyear, $125,000 grant from TCWF to educate community members and policymakers about the river s health hazards. CNRC s collaborative approach to creating solutions has brought together individuals from the community, government and regional Native American tribes to review health data, monitor regulatory and legislative efforts, and work to develop and implement a shared strategy to address health and pollution issues. According to Miguel Figueroa, CNRC s executive director, they play an important role in educating the public at events, answering their questions, and assuring them that something is being done to help their situation. For residents, it s hard because they don t see immediate progress, said Figueroa. Our events give us an opportunity to explain what we are doing and show them how they can help be part of the solution. To that end, CNRC holds regular town hall meetings and environmental justice workshops and conducts elementary school outreach throughout the region to educate the community about its work and connect them with volunteer opportunities to help advance its public education campaign. The recent hiring of two promotoras has helped spread its reach into the community even further. As a result of its community-based work, a major long-term goal emerged: the encasement of the portion of the river that flows through Calexico by rerouting it into a completely enclosed box culvert to minimize exposure to the pollution and disease. Although it will cost an estimated $100 million to complete, a recent legislative victory has helped move this project forward. In July, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed SB 387, which authorizes the state to implement a comprehensive project within California to encase, treat and clean the New River. Given that Calexico has little economic and political influence, this legislative victory is a testament to CNRC s effective grassroots efforts to harness enthusiastic support from the community and to educate representatives and legislators about the need to take effective action to reduce the health hazards posed by the New River, said Fatima Angeles, TCWF program director. CNRC members have advocated for policies to clean the visibly polluted New River. For more information, please visit 5

6 G R A N T E E I N F O C U S Mental Health Core Operating Support Helps Organization Overcome Lost Federal Funds The Center's transitional housing program provides GLBT homeless youth an opportunity to move off the streets and into a supportive environment. or many social service agencies that F provide mental health services for underserved communities, federal government grants and contracts form a significant part of the budget for direct services. At the Los Angeles Gay and Lesbian Community Services Center (the Center), federal funds covered much of the cost of providing mental health and transitional housing programs for gay, lesbian, bisexual or transgender (GLBT) homeless youth. When the federal government unexpectedly cut the Center s funding, its programs faced a large budget shortfall. The organization s leaders mobilized to fill the gap, including submitting an application for core operating support funds from TCWF. In September 2005, the Center received a three-year core support grant of $300,000 from TCWF to continue to provide case management, psychological counseling and transitional living services, and to sustain efforts of its government relations department to restore federal funds for its youth services. For GLBT homeless and runaway youth many of whom have been forced to leave home the Center s spectrum of youth programs are a lifeline, said TCWF Program Director Jeffrey Seungkyu Kim. Emergency drop-in services act as an entry point to build trust and ultimately lead to the opportunity of transitional housing and a plan for long-term self-sufficiency. More than 300 young people visit the Jeff Griffith Youth Center each year. Many learn about its services from street outreach workers. Word-ofmouth among the population of homeless youth in Hollywood brings in youth as well. They can get a hot shower, a change of clothes or a meal, or if needed, a referral to the Center s medical clinic. Case managers are also on-site to help access a variety of mental health services at other youthserving agencies in the Hollywood area. Recreational activities, cultural events and holiday parties throughout the year help build a sense of community among the youth. For those who decide they are ready and interested in leaving their lives on the streets, the Center has a 24-bed, 18-month transitional living program that serves youth ages 18 to 24. Many young people come into the program feeling traumatized, said Dylan Gailey, the Center s director of youth services. But in the residential setting, they develop a sense of camaraderie and begin to see their own potential for the future. Staff members strive to make it a comfortable and supportive environment where youth receive ongoing case management and mental health services while building independent living skills such as GED preparation, employment assistance and money management. They also learn about nutrition and preparing healthy meals. The idea is to have them leave the program for some type of independent living situation, Gailey said. The Center also recognizes that this isn t an easy process for young people who have no other support system beyond the program and their peers. They all get a re-entry plan when they leave, Gailey added. It can take more than once to make it. The Center s leadership is committed to maintaining its services for youth despite the challenging funding climate, and they are hopeful that the federal funds will be restored when the organization reapplies to the program next year. 6 For more information, please visit

7 G R A N T E E I N F O C U S Work and Health Advocating for Supportive Health Policies for People With Disabilities he World Institute on Disability T (WID), an Oakland-based nonprofit research, public policy and advocacy center established in 1983, cites complex health policies and a lack of accurate information about benefits rules for deterring people with disabilities from working and leading independent lives. WID also finds that since many disabled people believe they cannot work without jeopardizing their benefits, they live at or below the poverty level. According to a national 2001 Urban Institute study, 20.1 percent of nonworking adults with a disability say they are discouraged from seeking employment for fear of losing the health insurance or Medicaid they depend on to survive. In June 2005, TCWF awarded WID a three-year core support grant of $200,000 to sustain its policy advocacy work. These efforts focus on updating state health policies on employment that enable people with disabilities to retain or obtain work while maintaining access to preventive and rehabilitative health services. To address disincentives to work, WID established the California Work Incentives Initiative (CWII) in 2000, which educates policymakers on state health policies that allow people with disabilities to work without losing critical access to care. Its ongoing efforts include gathering information from the disability community, making policy recommendations to the Governor s Committee on Employment of People with Disabilities, and testifying about legislation. WID played an integral role in two legislative victories for people with disabilities in recent years: the 2002 passage and implementation of the Workforce Inclusion Act, which requires state agencies to work together in new ways to improve service delivery and oversight for the disabled; and the September 2006 passage of SB 1270, which ensures that benefits planners at all 21 regional centers across the state clearly explain work incentives associated with such programs as Social Security Disability Insurance, Supplemental Security Income and Medicaid, in an effort to help disabled people plan their futures. An innovative, new tool for benefits planners and disabled individuals alike is WID s Benefits to Work, a free online calculator at Launched in July, the calculator allows users to explore scenarios that match their life situations and delve into how health care and benefits are affected when financial circumstances like employment or marital status change. A Spanish-language version, Planificación de Beneficios, is also available at the same website. The calculator is a great tool for disabled people to plug in specific information about themselves and actually see how their benefits will be impacted if they work, said Kathy Martinez, executive director of WID. It helps them evaluate the risk and decide what path to take. Already, WID has received positive feedback from benefits planners, disability advocates and participants at WID-sponsored benefits planning trainings across the state. WID is at the forefront of advocating for people with disabilities living in California, said Fatima Angeles, TCWF program director. And the calculator is a great example of a practical solution to inform disabled workers about health care and benefits. At WID's trainings, advocates strategize about how to help disabled individuals enter the workforce. For more information, please visit 7

8 H O W T O A P P L Y he Foundation prioritizes eight health T issues for funding and responds to timely issues or special projects outside the funding priorities. We encourage requests for core operating support, but requests for project funding are also welcome. Core operating support can be used to help underwrite the regular, ongoing health care, health promotion and disease prevention activities of your organization. Such funds can be used for ongoing organizational costs such as salaries for key administrative staff or operating expenses. Core support funds can also be used for strengthening organizational capacity through activities such as engaging in strategic planning, facilitating board development or developing information systems. Each prioritized health issue is described below. Diversity in the Health Professions Grants that address the issue of diversity in the health professions are commonly given to organizations that provide pipeline programs, scholarships, outreach and retention programs, internships, fellowships and loan repayment programs for ethnic minorities that are underrepresented in the health professions. Careers in medicine, nursing, public health and other allied health professions are included. Organizations that support leadership development for people of color in the health professions are also eligible for funding. In addition, the Foundation funds organizations that educate policymakers and advocate for public and institutional policies that promote diversity in the health professions. Environmental Health Grants that address the issue of environmental health are commonly given to organizations that provide environmental health education and awareness activities; community organizing to promote environmental health; screening and testing for exposure to environmental toxins; leadership development; and collaborations such as partnerships between public health departments and communitybased health programs to improve environmental health. The Foundation also funds efforts to inform policymakers and advocate for policies that could improve environmental health among underserved populations. Healthy Aging Grants that address the issue of healthy aging are commonly given to organizations that provide clinical preventive services, fall prevention programs, food and nutrition programs and in-home support. Also funded are organizations that support relationships between youth and older adults through activities such as intergenerational volunteering and mentoring. In addition, the Foundation funds agencies that educate policymakers and advocate for policies that promote healthy aging, as well as organizations that provide leadership development programs for seniors. Mental Health Grants that address the issue of mental health are commonly given to organizations that provide services for transition-age youth (ages 16-23) with a focus on those in, or exiting from, foster care and on runaway/homeless youth. In addition, the Foundation funds organizations that provide leadership development programs for mental health professionals, as well as organizations that inform policymakers and advocate for effective mental health programs and policies for transition-age youth. Teenage Pregnancy Prevention Grants that address the issue of teenage pregnancy prevention are commonly given to organizations that provide outreach activities for reproductive health care, access to contraceptive services, and comprehensive programs for pregnant teens. An emphasis is placed on funding peer-provider clinics and other reproductive health organizations that work with high-risk, sexually active, underserved teen populations. The Foundation also funds organizations that provide leadership development activities for reproductive health care workers and organizations that inform policymakers and opinion leaders about effective policies and programs to prevent teen pregnancy. Violence Prevention Grants that address the issue of violence prevention are commonly given to organizations that provide services for youth (ages 12 24) including mentoring programs, gang intervention programs, reentry programs, community-based violence prevention programs and after-school programs. An emphasis is placed on funding organizations that work with 8

9 H O W T O A P P L Y at-risk youth, including gang-affiliated and previously incarcerated youth. Grants are also made to organizations that provide leadership development activities to those working in the field of violence prevention, as well as organizations that inform policymakers and advocate for public policies that prevent violence against youth. Women s Health Grants that address the issue of women s health are commonly given to organizations that provide reproductive health care, prenatal care, communitybased comprehensive health care services, HIV/AIDS programs for women of color, case management, and supportive housing for homeless women. Priority is given to organizations that create welcoming environments for women in underserved communities. The Foundation also funds organizations that provide leadership development activities for women and those that educate policymakers and advocate for effective policies and programs that promote women s health. Work and Health Grants that address the issue of work and health are commonly given to nonprofit organizations that provide health care services to farm workers, in-home health workers, garment workers, day laborers and other low-income workers. Worker centers that provide culturally sensitive and linguistically appropriate services such as health education and access to health care for low-wage workers are also prioritized for funding. In addition, the Foundation funds organizations that provide leadership development programs for low-wage workers. Organizations that educate policymakers about the connections between work and health and advocate for policies that could improve the health of low-income workers are funded as well. Special Projects Each year, the Foundation sets aside a pool of dollars to respond in a timely fashion to opportunities that fit our mission but are outside the eight health issues prioritized for funding. The Foundation places an emphasis on grants to support and strengthen safety net providers of health care, to help low-income consumers understand and navigate the health care system, and to inform public decision making through policy analysis and advocacy. The Foundation also provides funding to address the health care needs of the Cal/Mex border population, the urban homeless, and culturally appropriate programs for underserved ethnic populations. Application Process To present The California Wellness Foundation with a grant request, an organization should first write a one- to two-page letter of interest that describes the organization s mission, activities and operating budget; the region and population(s) served; the total funds requested from the Foundation; and how the funds will be used. If you are requesting project funding, please include the project s goals, leadership and duration. Your letter will be processed most accurately if you clearly indicate the TCWF funding priority for which you want your request considered (for example, healthy aging, mental health). No application form is needed, and formal proposals are not accepted at this preliminary stage. Foundation staff will review letters of interest on an ongoing basis and notify prospective applicants of the results normally within three months. Those encouraged to submit a proposal will receive further guidance at that time. Eligibility Criteria With rare exception, the Foundation funds nonprofit organizations that are exempt under Section501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code and that are not private foundations as defined in IRC Section 509(a) or are public charities as defined in IRC Section 170(b)(A)(vi). Grants are not generally awarded for annual fund drives, building campaigns, major equipment or biomedical research. Activities that exclusively benefit the members of sectarian or religious organizations are not considered. The Foundation does not provide international funding or fund organizations located outside the United States. Letters of interest should be directed to: Director of Grants Management, The California Wellness Foundation, 6320 Canoga Avenue, Suite 1700, Woodland Hills, CA

10 G R A N T S L I S T Awarded June 2006 TCWF's Board of Directors approved the following grants in support of the Foundation's mission of improving the health of the people of California and to further its four goals: addressing the health needs of underserved communities, supporting and strengthening nonprofit organizations, recognizing and encouraging leaders, and informing the development of public policies. For current application guidelines, please see the preceding How To Apply pages. SAHRA ABDI San Diego, CA $25,000 over one year For the 2006 California Peace Prize, which acknowledges the past violence prevention activities of this individual working to address the root causes of violence in her community. ALL FOR HEALTH, HEALTH FOR ALL, INC. Glendale, CA $100,000 over three years provide primary health care services for underserved residents of Glendale, Burbank, Pasadena and neighboring cities. ALMANOR BASIN COMMUNITY CORPORATION Chester, CA provide a range of healthy aging services, including preventive health care, food assistance and in-home support for seniors in the rural Almanor Basin region of Plumas County. BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF ORANGE COUNTY Tustin, CA For core operating support to continue the provision of adult mentors for at-risk youth throughout Orange County, as a violence prevention strategy. CALIFORNIA HEALTH ADVOCATES Sacramento, CA $225,000 over three years provide education and advocacy for California s Medicare beneficiaries and their families. CALIFORNIA MEDICAL ASSOCIATION FOUNDATION/NETWORK OF ETHNIC PHYSICIAN ORGANIZATIONS Sacramento, CA For the Network of Ethnic Physician Organizations to enable ethnic physicians to advocate for improved health care and increased health workforce diversity in their communities statewide. CALIFORNIA PAN-ETHNIC HEALTH NETWORK advocate for public policies that improve the health of communities of color in California. CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY FOUNDATION/CALIFORNIA STATE LIBRARY, CALIFORNIA RESEARCH BUREAU Sacramento, CA $150,000 over two years To support the California Research Bureau in conducting research and public policy forums to inform policymakers, service providers and others about the mental health and social connectedness of runaway and homeless youth across the state. CENTER FOR ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH $175,000 over three years For core operating support to sustain public policy efforts that help protect Californians from environmental health hazards. CENTER FOR YOUNG WOMEN S DEVELOPMENT provide health and wellness services to young women involved with the juvenile justice system in the Bay Area. CENTER ON RACE, POVERTY, & ENVIRONMENT educate policymakers and provide legal, technical and organizing assistance to communities facing environmental health threats in Kern, Kings, Fresno and Tulare Counties. CENTER ON RACE, POVERTY, & ENVIRONMENT $165,000 over three years To support the Central Valley Air Quality Coalition, which advocates for policies and regulations that improve air quality and educates community residents on health issues related to air quality. CHILDREN NOW $100,000 over two years To support efforts to educate and inform policymakers about expanding access to California s after-school programs, as a violence prevention strategy. CHILDREN S HOSPITAL & RESEARCH CENTER AT OAKLAND $240,000 over three years For core operating support for the FACES for the Future program to continue to provide academic support and health career development for underrepresented minority youth in Alameda County. CHINESE PROGRESSIVE ASSOCIATION $180,000 over three years To support the Worker Organizing Center to provide occupational health and safety education and leadership development training to immigrant Chinese restaurant and garment workers in the Bay Area. CLINICAS DEL CAMINO REAL, INC. Ventura, CA For core operating support for a mobile clinic to continue to provide dental and health education and services to farmworkers in Ventura County. COALITION FOR CLEAN AIR $165,000 over three years educate policymakers and the general public on the health effects of air pollution and ways to reduce air pollution in California. THE COMMUNITY CLINIC CONSORTIUM OF CONTRA COSTA San Pablo, CA $250,000 over three years For core operating support to strengthen infrastructure and sustain the provision of primary and preventive health services. COMMUNITY HEALTH SYSTEMS, INC./FALLBROOK FAMILY HEALTH CENTER Fallbrook, CA $300,000 over three years For core operating support for the Fallbrook Family Health Center to continue to provide reproductive health services to low-income women in rural San Diego County. 10

11 G R A N T S L I S T COMMUNITY PARTNERS $250,000 over two years To coordinate a retreat for TCWF grantees advocating for improved public policies on environmental health throughout California. COMMUNITY PARTNERS $300,000 over two years To coordinate two annual conferences for TCWF grantees and other interested parties to promote networking and sharing of best practices on the issue of transition-age youth. COMMUNITY PARTNERS/CONSEJO DE FEDERACIONES MEXICANAS EN NORTE AMERICA To build the capacity of membership to advocate for policies that improve the health of California s immigrants. COMMUNITY PARTNERS/PASADENA BIRTHING PROJECT $90,000 over three years For the Pasadena Birthing Project to address preterm births, low-birthweight babies and infant mortality in Pasadena. DENTAL HEALTH FOUNDATION For core operating support to continue advocacy efforts to increase access to dental care for underserved Californians and to strengthen organizational infrastructure. MARGARET DIAZ Victorville, CA $25,000 over one year For the 2006 California Peace Prize, which acknowledges the past violence prevention activities of this individual working to address the root causes of violence in her community. FIELD RESEARCH CORPORATION $300,000 over two years To place health and health policy questions on statewide public opinion surveys, and to examine and update public opinion on such topics. GOLDEN CARE WORKFORCE INSTITUTE San Diego, CA $180,000 over three years provide Certified Nursing Assistant training to low-income individuals in San Diego. HEALTH INITIATIVES FOR YOUTH INC. For core operating support to sustain the provision of sexuality education and teen pregnancy prevention services for teens in San Francisco and Oakland. HEALTHY TEEN NETWORK Washington, DC For core operating support to strengthen technical assistance capacity focused on adolescent reproductive health issues and to expand membership services in California. HORIZONS FOUNDATION $400,000 over two years To support a project to promote healthy aging among lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender seniors in Bay Area counties through a regranting, technical assistance and convening program. INTERFAITH COALITION FOR IMMIGRANT RIGHTS strengthen the capacity of religious and immigrant communities to advocate for state policies that protect and increase access to health care and social services for immigrants. INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL SERVICES FOR HEALTH/MOTHERNET L. A. Sterling, VA $100,000 over three years For core operating support for MotherNet L.A. to continue to provide health access and referal activities to low-income families in the city of Compton. JEFFERSON UNION HIGH SCHOOL DISTRICT/DALY CITY YOUTH HEALTH CENTER Daly City, CA $225,000 over three years For core operating support for the Daly City Youth Health Center to continue to provide reproductive health services targeting teens in Daly City and surrounding communities. JOINT CENTER FOR POLITICAL AND ECONOMIC STUDIES, INC. Washington, DC $120,000 over three years For The Sullivan Alliance to work with educational institutions in California to increase diversity in the health professions. LATINO ISSUES FORUM $180,000 over three years educate policymakers, advocates and communities about the environmental health issues affecting Latino communities in California. LEGAL ASSISTANCE FOR SENIORS, INC. $150,000 over two years To support an expansion of the agency s legal services capacity to address Medicare Part D appeals cases and other health-related legal concerns for low-income seniors in Alameda, Contra Costa and San Francisco Counties. LEGAL COMMUNITY AGAINST VIOLENCE $225,000 over three years For core operating support to continue legal policy research and analysis, educational outreach and advocacy efforts to prevent gun violence in California. LIGHTHOUSE FOR THE BLIND AND VISUALLY IMPAIRED provide vision rehabilitation services to blind and visually impaired seniors of Del Norte, Humboldt and Marin Counties. LITERACY FOR ENVIRONMENTAL JUSTICE $160,000 over three years provide environmental health education, community organizing and youth empowerment projects that address the health concerns of Bayview Hunters Point and other low-income neighborhoods in San Francisco. LOS ANGELES YOUTH NETWORK $300,000 over three years provide safe housing and mental health services for homeless and runaway youth in Los Angeles County. MATERNAL OUTREACH MANAGEMENT SYSTEM Santa Ana, CA $300,000 over three years provide perinatal case management services to pregnant and parenting, low-income women in Orange County. continued on page 12 11

12 G R A N T S L I S T MENDOCINO COAST CLINIC Fort Bragg, CA provide primary health care services for underserved residents along the Mendocino coast. MOSS BEACH HOMES, INC. Daly City, CA For core operating support for the Experience Corps Bay Area intergenerational volunteerbased tutoring program to continue to improve the health of seniors in Alameda and San Francisco Counties. MOUNTAIN VALLEYS HEALTH CENTERS Bieber, CA provide primary health care services for underserved residents in four rural counties. NATIONAL COUNCIL ON CRIME AND DELINQUENCY $300,000 over three years For support to organize a 10-city network to educate and inform municipalities and policymakers on strategies to prevent the adverse community impact of youth gang violence. NATIONAL IMMIGRATION LAW CENTER educate policymakers, advocates and opinion leaders about policies affecting immigrant access to health care in California and to strengthen communications infrastructure. NEW MORNING YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES Placerville, CA For core operating support for the Children s Shelter to continue to provide mental health and supportive services for runaway and homeless youth in El Dorado County. OGILVY PUBLIC RELATIONS WORLDWIDE Sacramento, CA $200,000 over 6 months To conduct media outreach to promote a newly developed health careers website in California. OPERATION SAFE HOUSE, INC. Riverside, CA $225,000 over three years provide mental health and other supportive services through emergency shelter and transitional living programs for homeless teens and transition-age youth in Riverside County. PACIFIC NEWS SERVICE To support a three-year project aimed at expanding the capacity of California s ethnic media to cover environmental health issues. PEOPLE AND CONGREGATIONS TOGETHER FOR STOCKTON, INC. Stockton, CA For core operating support to strengthen organizational capacity to continue to mobilize the community to advocate for increased access to health care services in low-income neighborhoods of Stockton and East Lodi. PEOPLE RESOURCES, INC. Woodland, CA provide nutritious meals at home and in congregate settings to improve the health of seniors in Yolo County. PROJECT AMIGA South El Monte, CA To support a pregnancy prevention program targeting sexually active, at-risk young males in East Los Angeles and San Gabriel Valley. PROJECT CONCERN INTERNATIONAL San Diego, CA $300,000 over three years For core operating support for the Border Health Initiative to continue to provide capacity and network-building services to improve access to health care for underserved communities in the California/Baja California border region. PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE/CALIFORNIA ADOLESCENT HEALTH COLLABORATIVE inform the development of policies and coordinate advocacy efforts to improve adolescent health. PUBLIC HEALTH INSTITUTE/CENTER FOR CIVIC PARTNERSHIPS $1,500,000 over three years To support the Center for Civic Partnerships to implement an organizational technical support program for TCWF grantees working to improve the health of underserved populations in California. PUBLIC INTEREST PROJECTS New York, NY $80,000 over two years For the California Fulfilling the Dream Fund to support organizations working to increase diversity in the health professions in California. THE RECTOR WARDENS & VESTRY OF THE CHURCH OF OUR SAVIOUR IN SAN GABRIEL, CALIFORNIA/OUR SAVIOUR CENTER, CLEAVER FAMILY WELLNESS San Gabriel, CA $240,000 over three years For core operating support for the Cleaver Family Wellness Clinic to continue to provide clinical health services to uninsured and underinsured women in the El Monte area. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, BERKELEY/LABOR OCCUPATIONAL HEALTH PROGRAM Berkeley, CA For core operating support for the Labor Occupational Health Program to sustain efforts to improve health and safety conditions for youth and immigrant workers in California. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES/CENTER FOR HEALTH POLICY RESEARCH $300,000 over three years To support the Center for Health Policy Research to pursue a set of data collection, analyses, printed and Internet products, and dissemination activities to strengthen understanding about significant healthy aging issues in California. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES/SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA EDUCATION AND RESEARCH CENTER $160,000 over three years To support the Southern California Education and Research Center to train health providers and employers on identifying and treating workplace illness and injury of low-wage workers in the Los Angeles area. 12

13 G R A N T S L I S T REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES/UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES, SCHOOL OF PUBLIC HEALTH $270,000 over three years For the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Public Health to recruit and provide scholarships for underrepresented ethnic minority students. REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, OFFICE OF THE PRESIDENT/CALIFORNIA-MEXICO HEALTH INITIATIVE To support the California-Mexico Health Initiative Collaborative Border Health Project to develop a plan to address the health and health care needs of residents in the Imperial County border area. SACRAMENTO COMMUNITY CLINIC ASSOCIATION Sacramento, CA For core operating support to strengthen operations and infrastructure to better serve clinic members in the Sacramento region. SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION $180,000 over two years To support the Environmental Health and Justice Initiative to improve air quality through regranting, technical assistance and local and regional policy advocacy. SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION COMMUNITY INITIATIVE FUNDS/AT THE CROSSROADS $225,000 over three years For core operating support for At The Crossroads to continue to provide mental health services and other assistance to homeless, transition-age youth in San Francisco County. SAN FRANCISCO FOUNDATION COMMUNITY INITIATIVE FUNDS/SAN FRANCISCO HUMAN SERVICES NETWORK advocate for policies that strengthen San Francisco s nonprofit sector and preserve health and welfare services to the city s underserved. SISTERSONG Atlanta, GA $50,000 over 3 months To plan and implement a conference in Los Angeles addressing reproductive justice. SIX RIVERS PLANNED PARENTHOOD Eureka, CA $180,000 over three years provide reproductive health services to women in Trinity, Humboldt and Del Norte Counties. ST. JOSEPH HOSPITAL OF ORANGE/PUENTE A LA SALUD Orange, CA $195,000 over three years For core operating support for the mobile clinic program, Puente a La Salud, to continue to provide vision education, eye exams and treatment to agricultural workers in Orange County. ST. VINCENT DE PAUL VILLAGE, INC. San Diego, CA For core operating support for the Toussaint Academy of the Arts and Sciences to continue to provide mental health and supportive housing services for homeless and formerly homeless, transition-age youth in San Diego County. ANTHONY THIGPENN $25,000 over one year For the 2006 California Peace Prize, which acknowledges the past violence prevention activities of this individual working to address the root causes of violence in his community. TIDES CENTER/LATINO COALITION FOR A HEALTHY CALIFORNIA build the capacity of community-based Latino organizations to inform the development of public policies and services to improve Latino health and to strengthen its organizational infrastructure. UNCOMMON GOOD Claremont, CA $240,000 over three years For core operating support for the Adopt an Angel program to continue to provide debt relief to minority physicians providing care at community clinics in Los Angeles. VALLEY COMMUNITY CLINIC North Hollywood, CA $250,000 over three years For core operating support to sustain the provision of peer-driven reproductive health services and education for teens in the San Fernando Valley. VISION USA CALIFORNIA Sacramento, CA $180,000 over three years provide vision screening, education, care and referrals to low-wage workers and their families throughout California. VISTA COMMUNITY CLINIC Vista, CA For core operating support for the Farm Worker Health and Safety Program to continue to provide health education and services to migrant farmworkers in northern San Diego County. WESTERN CENTER ON LAW AND POVERTY $180,000 over three years To support continued monitoring and enforcement of Los Angeles County s compliance with federal court-ordered improvements in mental health services for children and youth who are in, or at risk of entering, foster care. WOMEN S CARE COTTAGE improve the health of homeless women and children in Los Angeles. WORKSAFE, INC. $180,000 over three years educate policymakers on issues of occupational safety and health for low-wage workers. YOUTH ALIVE $175,000 over three years For core operating support to sustain provision of youth violence prevention services in Oakland and Los Angeles, and to implement capacity-building activities to diversify funding sources. 13

14 C O V E R S T O R Y Cultural Competency Helps Ensure Success continued from page 4 Witness Project (SCWP) is designed to meet this need. The mainstream breast cancer field has experienced significant challenges in educating women of color about preventive breast health, said TCWF Program Director Saba Brelvi. This is in spite of research that indicates that African- American women and Latinas have later detection and higher mortality rates from breast and cervical cancer than their Caucasian peers. In church, we witness to save souls. In the Witness Project, we witness to save lives. In December 2004, QCOC received a three-year, $95,000 core support grant from TCWF to continue to provide the SCWP program and to develop a plan to diversify the program s funding. The SCWP builds on a national model developed at the University of Arkansas and implemented throughout the country in conjunction with the African Methodist Episcopal Church. At SCWP s group sessions, Witness Role Models women with cancer or cancer survivors who have received training in telling their stories share their experiences with cancer. By sharing how they navigated the health care system and proving that cancer isn t an automatic death sentence, they are powerful role models for women, encouraging them to take steps to protect their own health. More than 100 of the group sessions are held throughout the region each year. In church, we witness to save souls, said Eudora Mitchell, president of QCOC. In the Witness Project, we witness to save lives. At each session the role models are paired with Lay Health Advisors who discuss facts and myths about cancer and demonstrate breast self-exams using ethnic breast models. Participants are able to feel what different types of tumors feel like. Follow-up attention is given to each workshop participant. The program coordinator telephones all women to answer any remaining questions or concerns and to offer referrals to mammogram services. SCWP also sponsors periodic One Stop Health Workshops at locations throughout the Inland Empire where women can receive both clinical breast exams and mammograms free of charge. The national Witness Project model was designed to serve African-American women; however, recognizing that early detection rates among Latinas are also low, SCWP is piloting a new program model for that community Esperanza Y Vida (Hope and Life). Both programs depend on a base of committed volunteers, many of whom have been with the program since its inception, according to Mitchell. In addition to the personal benefits many women experience by sharing their stories with others, they develop important leadership and advocacy skills. For information about the organizations in this article, please contact: Bear Valley Healthy Start Idyllwild HELP Center (909) Quinn Community Outreach Corporation (951)

15 W H A T S N E W Sahra Abdi Margaret Diaz Anthony Thigpenn V i o l e n c e P r e v e n t i o n L e a d e r s R e c e i v e T C W F s C a l i f o r n i a P e a c e P r i z e On November 14, TCWF honored three grassroots activists with its 14th annual California Peace Prize at an awards ceremony in Los Angeles. Sahra Abdi of San Diego teaches Somali and African refugees and immigrants who have fled their violent homelands how to control anger and manage stress. Margaret Diaz of Victorville, a former victim of domestic violence, established a shelter and a pioneering transitional housing program for women and children. Anthony Thigpenn helps train people in African-American and Latino communities of Los Angeles to understand and participate in public policy decision-making to prevent violence. In recognition of their efforts to prevent violence and promote peace, the honorees will each receive a cash award of $25,000. To learn more about the honorees, visit Xavier Flores of Pueblo Y Salud; Harry Foster of Family Healthcare Network; Michael Green of Center for Environmental Health; Rojane Jackson of Community Interface Services; and Pheng Lo of Lao Family Community of Stockton, Inc. Additional information about the program and its recipients is available at N o n p r o f i t H e a l t h S e c t o r E x e c u t i v e s R e c e i v e T C W F s S a b b a t i c a l P r o g r a m A w a r d TCWF created the sabbatical program to improve the long-term effectiveness of nonprofit health organizations by providing their executives with the rest they need to continue to direct their organizations missions. The leadership support program now in its fourth year provides eight organizations each with a $35,000 grant to cover their leaders salaries and expenses during the sabbatical, which lasts a minimum of three months. The eight 2006 sabbatical recipients are: Speranza Avram of Northern Sierra Rural Health Network; Louis Chicoine of Tri-City Homeless Coalition; Brian Contreras of 2nd Chance Family & Youth Services; D e p a r t i n g P u b l i c O f f i c i a l s R e c e i v e R e c o g n i t i o n f o r T h e i r L e a d e r s h i p i n P o l i c y A r e n a TCWF presented its 2006 Public Policy Leadership Award to Sen. Martha Escutia, Attorney General Bill Lockyer and Sen. Jackie Speier. These three California elected officials have influenced millions of lives by advancing public policies that promote the health of Californians. They were recognized at a ceremony in Sacramento on August 9. Additional information about the award and the honorees can be found at T C W F S p o n s o r s H e a l t h F o r u m s a t t h e C o m m o n w e a l t h C l u b o f C a l i f o r n i a TCWF sponsored two forums at San Francisco s Commonwealth Club. An August 9 panel discussion on micro-pollution included TCWF grantees Meena continued on page 16 15