Health Leadership Program Class XV to begin in October

We look forward to welcoming the 27 members of Health Leadership Program Class XV for their first session starting on Oct. 3. Class members are current or emerging leaders in organizations that work to improve community health and well-being and reduce health disparities across a broad range of issue areas. Participants have the opportunity to increase their abilities and strengthen their organizations, with a deepened commitment to address health disparities and health equity in underserved communities in Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley.

The Health Leadership Program is led by Kenneth W. Kizer, MD, MPH, of the Institute for Population Health Improvement at UC Davis in partnership with Richard F. Callahan, DPA, of TAP International.

Since 2001, the Health Leadership Program has supported 369 nonprofit and public executives and emerging leaders in developing their skills to lead their organizations and improve community health and well-being.

See the Class XV list and learn more on the Health Leadership Program web page.

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Funding partners join San Joaquin Valley Health Fund to support policy change for health equity

We are pleased to announce three new funding partners that have joined the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund. This month, Health Net, The Grove Foundation and Werner-Kohnstamm Family Giving Fund joined 12 other state and national funders to support communities and organizations in the San Joaquin Valley.

Since the Fund launched in 2014, funding partners have committed more than $6 million for 90 organizations in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare counties. These partner organizations are working to improve health and well-being by advancing programs and policy changes that promote community health and health equity for all. Their efforts are addressing critical issues, such as food security, air quality, clean drinking water, domestic violence, housing, health care, education, employment, immigrant rights, open space and neighborhood safety.

“We are thrilled to welcome Health Net, The Grove Foundation and Werner-Kohnstamm Family Giving Fund as they join our network of funders – now 15 strong,” said Kaying Hang, Vice President of Programs and Partnerships for The Center at Sierra Health Foundation. “Together we are committed to supporting our partner organizations in the San Joaquin Valley and their critical work to ensure all families and individuals have the opportunity to live healthy lives.”

Learn more on the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund web page.

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Summit supports youth-powered change in California

Young people of color are California’s future leaders and across the state they are leading powerful movements for change in our communities. The Youth Power Summit, held August 10-13 on the UC Davis campus and at the State Capitol, brought together hundreds of youth advocates of color from across the state to kick off a youth civic engagement campaign and advance a new vision for a more just and equitable California.

The summit included a youth-led and moderated “Youth Power to the Polls” forum with candidates for California State Superintendent of Public Instruction, which addressed issues such as school discipline policies and restorative justice, school push-out and education in youth detention facilities.

The summit culminated in the “Youth Power to the Capitol” advocacy day, with a rally to call for solutions to mass incarceration, education equity, police violence and other issues that impact youth and their communities. They also heard from elected officials, including Assemblymembers David Chiu, Reggie Jones-Sawyer, Dr. Shirley Weber and Jose Medina, before conducting more than 100 legislative visits.

The summit was organized and hosted by PolicyLink and the Alliance for Boys and Men of Color with fundraising support from California Funders for Boys and Men of Color. Learn more and see photos at #YouthPower2018.

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Grants support nonprofits providing needed resources for Carr and Ferguson fires

Sierra Health Foundation funding is supporting five organizations that are providing critical emergency fire relief services to individuals and families affected by the Carr and Ferguson fires. The organizations include Alliance for Community Transformations, Human Response Network, Salvation Army Redding Corps, Shasta Regional Community Foundation and United Way of Northern California. All five organizations are expanding their current services to include emergency or recovery fire relief services in affected communities. Funding from the foundation totals $40,000 to the five organizations.

“We commend these community organizations that are providing essential services and resources to those impacted by the disastrous fires in our region,” said Chet P. Hewitt, President and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation. “We know they are doing everything possible to improve the emotional and physical well-being of families and individuals in their communities during this very difficult time.”

Read the news release.

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Chet P. Hewitt “Dishes with Doris”

Sierra Health Foundation President and CEO Chet P. Hewitt joined Congresswoman Doris Matsui for her video series Dishing with Doris, in which she talks with Sacramento leaders to highlight the work being done in various sectors. They sat down on Aug. 2 to talk about health, racial and economic equity, and the need to make Sacramento’s growth inclusive and intentional. Watch the video on YouTube.

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California Influencers series continues election year conversations

The California Influencer series continues in The Sacramento Bee and other McClatchy newspapers in California throughout this election year. A panel of 60 influential Californians – including Sierra Health Foundation President and CEO Chet P. Hewitt – are offering their views on topics such as education, the environment and immigration in a weekly conversation. Learn more and read responses on The Sacramento Bee web site.

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Partner Spotlight: Central California Environmental Justice Network

On July 17, the Arvin City Council voted in support of an ordinance that will create expanded buffer zones between new oil and gas operations and sensitive-use locations such as homes, parks, schools and hospitals. The decision represented only part of the decade-long work by the community and organizations that advocate for environmental justice in Kern County.

The grassroots victory reflects the power that community has to create true systems change, and how a community science project helped lead to one of the most important victories in Arvin to protect public health. The network of partners in Arvin that made this happen included the people of Arvin, Committee for a Better Arvin, Center for Race, Poverty & the Environment, and the Central California Environmental Justice Network, a San Joaquin Valley Health Fund partner. Learn more

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Promotions and new staff at Sierra Health Foundation and The Center

Promotions:

• Matt Cervantes is now the Director of Health Programs.
• Joan Kassis is now the Director of Accounting and Administration.
• Lisa Hailey is now the Grants and Contracts Administrator.
• Tina Jerue is now the Accounts Payable Specialist.

New staff:

• Deborah Pollard is the Executive Assistant to President and CEO Chet P. Hewitt and Senior Vice President of Finance and Administration and CFO Gil Alvarado.
• Karissa Rogers officially joins us as Receptionist, a position she supported for more than six months.
• Kimberly Yost joins us as Controller in the Accounting and Administration Department.

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Photography exhibit honors late artist Joshua Boone Reynolds

We are pleased to exhibit a tribute to the late artist Joshua Boone Reynolds, featuring a series of photographs representing his life, city and love of nature. Reynolds’ photography has previously been displayed at Sierra Health Foundation as part of the Sacramento County Mental Illness: It’s Not Always What You Think project. Reynolds died by suicide in December 2015 and his family is proud to continue to share his art with his community. The exhibit will be on display through October at our Conference and Education Center, 1321 Garden Highway in Sacramento.

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The Development Minute – Metrics and Major Gifts

Our Development Minute video series shares insights to help nonprofits build organizational and personal capacity to raise funds, recruit board members and donors, and develop relationships with partners and community members. The project is in collaboration with the Association of Fundraising Professionals – California Capital Chapter.

Two new episodes look at Metrics with Jennifer Halm, Director of Member Services at Capital Public Radio, and Major Gifts with Pat Callahan, of the Association of Fundraising Professionals' Wine Country Chapter.

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#PeoplePursuing

Throughout 2018, we’re continuing to highlight the work of our partners through the #PeoplePursuing campaign. We invite you to visit our Facebook and Instagram pages for new inspiring posts!

Learn about Shawheen Kennerson and her work at Blessed Dove, Inc., which empowers, educates and brings together women for wellness, recovery, career mentoring, peer support, substance abuse education, life skills, parenting, financial management and self-esteem-building.

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