Responsive Grants Program funding available
Responsive Grants Program funding continues in 2019, with grants up to $15,000 to support projects that improve health and quality of life for people throughout our 26-county funding region. There will be one funding round this year, with a total of $500,000 available. We will award at least 30 percent for projects serving rural areas of the region.
Online applications are due by March 18 at 1 p.m.
We will hold a proposers’ webinar on Feb. 6 and an in-person proposers’ conference in Oroville on Feb. 11. Participation in the webinar or the in-person conference is recommended, but not required.
Register for the proposers’ webinar or conference and download application materials on the Responsive Grants Program web page.
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San Joaquin Valley leaders, residents to stand in unity at Equity on the Mall
For far too long, communities across the San Joaquin Valley haven’t had access to the same opportunities that make California golden for other regions. Many families continue to struggle without access to such basic needs as clean water, clean air, quality educational opportunities, and safe and affordable housing.
On March 6, leaders, residents and advocates from the San Joaquin Valley will gather at the California State Capitol in Sacramento for the fourth annual Equity on the Mall — a day to empower the Valley, hold elected officials accountable and rise together to make positive change.
Organized by the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund and The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, the day will include a powerful program at the west steps of the Capitol with remarks by elected representatives and community leaders, music, spoken word and an equity policy platform on some of the most pressing issues impacting communities in the San Joaquin Valley.
We invite you to stand in unity with San Joaquin Valley residents and leaders for immigrants, children, youth, women, families, LGBTQ and vulnerable communities. Learn more on the Equity on the Mall web page.
Together, we can create positive change.
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San Joaquin Valley census research reports reveal serious consequences of adding the citizenship question to Census 2020
Just-released survey results from San Joaquin Valley demographic experts show that the U.S. Department of Commerce’s decision to add a citizenship question to the 2020 Census would be likely to have a major impact in suppressing census response among San Joaquin Valley Latino immigrants and their social networks, who make up one-third of the region’s total population.
Because federal and state funding throughout the post-census decade is allocated based on census-derived data and political representation is determined by a community’s, county’s or state’s share of the national population, census fairness and accuracy is crucial to community well-being. The new reports show that lowered response and resulting undercount might result in the loss of close to $2 billion dollars of federal funding during the post-census decade for the eight-county region.
The San Joaquin Valley Census Research Project’s first two reports on consequences of adding the citizenship question and other barriers to a complete count are based on research conducted for The Center at Sierra Health Foundation and its San Joaquin Valley Health Fund. Four additional reports will be published soon.
The reports are available on the San Joaquin Valley Census Research Project web page and below.
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The Center’s San Joaquin Valley office moves to downtown Fresno
After six years in downtown Merced, The Center’s San Joaquin Valley office recently moved and now is located at 2409 Merced St. #101 in downtown Fresno. The office’s phone number remains the same, (209) 600-7030, as well as the e-mail address. We will have more details about the new office and partnership opportunities next month.
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Community pop-up events support safety and opportunity for youth
After a Sacramento mall experienced a teen violence incident earlier this month, Sierra Health Foundation stepped in to provide support for community-based organizations working in underserved neighborhoods to create pop-up youth engagement events, which were held simultaneously throughout the city on Jan. 4. The events were designed to provide positive, safe environments and activities for all local youth during the holiday break.
The participating community organizations are trusted partners in their communities and understand the importance of positive youth development, which includes the delivery of social activities that provide healthy experiences for children and youth.
“The goal is to have dedicated community members stand in the ‘holiday gap,’ providing positive youth development strategies and alleviating unsupported out-of-school-time that can lead to escalated issues involving youth,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation and The Center.
A press conference was held in collaboration with Sacramento Mayor Darrell Steinberg’s office on Jan. 3 at the Greater Sacramento Urban League to announce the funding and youth-supportive events.
Photo: Youth played basketball at the Simmons Community Center in South Sacramento at one of the youth pop-up events on Jan. 4.
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Sacramento County sees decrease in preventable African-American child deaths
The Black Child Legacy Campaign reported a dramatic decrease in African American child deaths in its first year of programming, based on data provided by the Child Death Review Team. The Steering Committee on Reduction of African American Child Deaths, in partnership with the Sacramento County Department of Child, Family and Adult Services, Sacramento County Department of Human Assistance, Sacramento County Probation Department, First 5 Sacramento and the Child Death Review Team, reported the efforts to reduce African-American child death during a county Board of Supervisors meeting on Jan. 29.
Data from 2016 compiled by the Child Death Review Team shows a downward trend in three of the four leading causes of death for African American children from 2014 baseline data:
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Infant-sleep related death rate decreased from 2.8 to 1.5 per 1,000 births
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Child abuse and neglect homicides rate decreased from 7.1 to 4.5 per 100,000 children
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Third-party homicides rate decreased from 4.5 to 1.8 per 100,000 children
The Black Child Legacy Campaign released its 2016 Community Indicator Report, which details these trends, as well as indicators related to leading causes of death. Trends in child deaths are presented as a three-year rolling average.
The Black Child Legacy Campaign is the community-driven movement established by the Steering Committee on Reduction of African American Child Deaths, which is working to reduce deaths of African American children by 10 percent to 20 percent by 2020 in Sacramento County. Learn more.
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The Center to manage California MAT Access Points project addressing opioid use, recovery
California Department of Health Care Services has selected The Center at Sierra Health Foundation to oversee, manage and provide consulting services for the implementation of California’s Medication Assisted Treatment Access Points project (MAT Access Points). The Center will support the project’s start-up activities and enhancement efforts in at least 200 MAT Access Points throughout urban and rural areas across the state to address opioid use and recovery.
We will release a request for applications in early 2019 for organizations to apply to become MAT Access Points. Organizations that might apply include primary care sites, hospitals, emergency departments, medication units, jails, residential centers, tribal health centers, DUI providers, and community or county mental health centers. The project will take place from June 1, 2019, through Aug. 30, 2020.
Watch for the February issue of Partnerships for more details.
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Sacramento Kings recognize My Brother’s Keeper Sacramento with award honoring the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.
The Center at Sierra Health Foundation was awarded the 2019 Sacramento Kings MLK Jr. Community Impact Award at the Jan. 14 Kings game for their leadership of the My Brother’s Keeper Sacramento Collaborative, which works in collaboration with its Black Child Legacy Campaign and Positive Youth Justice Initiative. The award honors an individual or organization that embodies the values of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. through their work, including values of equality, leadership and education.
“We are honored to receive the MLK Community Impact Award recognizing the work of the My Brother's Keeper Sacramento Collaborative, working in partnership with the Black Child Legacy Campaign's Healing the Hood Initiative and the Positive Youth Justice Initiative to improve opportunities and outcomes for boys and young men of color,” said Chet P. Hewitt, president and CEO of Sierra Health Foundation and The Center and co-chair of the Steering Committee on Reduction of African-American Child Deaths. “We continue to build upon our partnerships with community organizations, families and youth to create a more hopeful future for all young people.”
“We are pleased to recognize The Center at Sierra Health Foundation with the MLK Jr. Community Impact Award for their leadership with the My Brother’s Keeper Sacramento Collaborative,” said Sacramento Kings Chief Operating Officer Matina Kolokotronis. “Through their commitment to improve outcomes for local boys and men of color, the Collaborative instills Dr. King’s values on a daily-basis, creating health, education and employment opportunities for young men of color in the Sacramento region.”
My Brother’s Keeper Sacramento invests in and supports community-led change with the My Brother’s Keeper Youth Fellowship program and trusted partners, such as Advance Peace, Sacramento City Unified School District’s Men’s Leadership Academy, Improve Your Tomorrow and others that utilize mentorship, restorative justice and healing-centered, trauma-informed practices to create opportunity for boys and men of color. Learn more.
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Art exhibit honors African Americans in the military
We’re pleased to announce our current art exhibit, which showcases the work of Lisa Daniels of the Unsung Heroes Living History Project, a photo collection in honor of African-American troops and their military experiences over the last hundred years. The photos are intentionally hung without descriptions to give the feeling of a family portrait wall. Daniels has researched and interviewed hundreds of veterans to create multiple exhibits and documentaries. The exhibit is on display through Feb. 28 at our Conference and Education Center at 1321 Garden Highway in Sacramento. Learn more about Unsung Heroes.
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