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News and Updates
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Communities Engaged in Their Own Transformation
During the month of October, staff from The Center traveled to Kern County for outreach on the expansion of the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund for Round 3. In Bakersfield, we met with leaders and residents at a proposers’ conference, where we shared details about the funding opportunity. We had more than 50 people join us from organizations and local government in Kern County who are doing incredible work to address health inequities through a social determinants of health lens. We thank participants for being engaged, asking excellent questions and for the warm welcome to your community.
The UFW Foundation generously guided our time at La Paz in Keene. The UFW Foundation, a SJVHF partner, is engaging farm workers in civic participation and advocacy at a local, regional, state and federal level. With support from the SJVHF, they are increasing civic participation and advocacy on issues related to undocumented immigrants, farm worker pay and working conditions, and drought relief programs. For the farm worker movement, La Paz has deep importance as the headquarters of the UFW, César E. Chávez Monument, first retirement home for elderly displaced Filipino American farm workers, and as the final resting place for César and Helen Chávez. The farm worker movement is an example that social change and community mobilization is in the DNA of the San Joaquin Valley.
We were fortunate to break bread with community residents and were moved to hear their stories. In Kern County, we met with survivors of domestic violence who shared with us their hope for their children to grow up in healthy homes, with youth leaders who were part of the berry strike, with an undocumented mom of DACA youth who is registering people to vote, and with others who have broken free of their fears and are empowered to call out injustices. In the evening, we stood in solidarity with the Sikh community as they held an event to address recent hate crimes.
Our time in Kern exemplified, once again, that the biggest assets in a community are its people and reaffirmed the need for philanthropy to stand by community voices that are passionately calling for health and racial equity. Thank you all for being our partners, for your leadership and for lifting up the fact that the community must be engaged in their own transformation. To those in Kern County, thank you for the great work you’ve been doing and for welcoming us as a partner for future work. We’re proud to stand alongside you.
Photo: UFW Foundation staff, The Center staff and community residents
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San Joaquin Valley Health Fund Round 3 Funding
The application for Round 3 SJVHF grant funding has been released. The Center will award grants up to $20,000 to networks and organizations located and working in any of the nine counties of Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, San Joaquin, Stanislaus and Tulare. We are particularly interested in funding policy and systems change efforts designed to improve outcomes for populations that are disproportionately experiencing poor health. Similar to prior years, requests for direct services are not accepted.
More information and application materials are available on the SJVHF web page.
Please e-mail us any questions with the subject line: SJVHF Question.
The final webinar will be held on Wednesday, November 2, from 10 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Register online.
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Featured Partner: Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. According to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 32.9% of California women and 27.3% of California men experience intimate partner violence, intimate partner sexual violence and/or intimate partner stalking in their lifetimes. SJVHF partners like Haven Women’s Center of Stanislaus are busy raising awareness needed to create change.
Haven is working on preventing teen dating violence and promoting healthy relationships at Thomas Downey High School in Modesto through a youth leadership development and community mobilization strategy training and policy review. Thomas Downey High School is home to the second Healthy And Responsible Relationships Troop (H.A.R.R.T.) in Stanislaus County. H.A.R.R.T. is a youth leadership team whose mission is to raise awareness about Adolescent Relationship Abuse (ARA) and promote healthy, safe teen relationships both on campus and community-wide.
The H.A.R.R.T. model of ARA prevention was first piloted by Haven in 2015 at James C. Enochs High School with support from Blue Shield of California Foundation, the California Adolescent Health Collaborative and Futures Without Violence. With funding from the SJVHF, H.A.R.R.T. has expanded to a second high school.
ARA consists of a range of coercive and violent behaviors, which includes physical abuse, sexual abuse, harassment, digital abuse, stalking or psychological abuse in the context of a past or present romantic/consensual relationship of any adolescent person. Approximately one in three girls in the U.S. is a victim of ARA, which far exceeds the victimization rates for other types of violence affecting youth. One in three adolescents is a victim of physical, sexual or emotional abuse from a dating partner, and abuse can happen to anyone regardless of sexual orientation, religion, gender, race, ethnicity or socioeconomic background.
ARA is associated with negative health outcomes such as increased substance abuse, unhealthy weight, increased sexual risk behaviors, unintended pregnancy, depression, anxiety and suicide. The students and broader community served by this project will benefit from the project because addressing, reducing and ultimately preventing ARA improves health outcomes for survivors.
What do H.A.R.R.T. members have to say about the project?
“I am very dedicated to preventing dating violence and promoting healthy relationships. I’ve had friends and my own mother put into this situation and it deeply affects me.” -M.H. 12th Grade
“I feel that there are people who aren’t able to speak out and I want people to know they have somebody to talk to and they don’t have to feel trapped in a relationship of any type.” –N.R. 11th Grade
Photo: Downey H.A.R.R.T. members (by nickname/not all pictured): Peanut, Ky, Margles, Rainbow, Mandison, Sonboy, Mikizzle, Nutella, Freckles and Xan the Man.
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Policy Committee Updates
At our September Policy Committee meeting, as the conclusion of our three-part series in 2016 on civic engagement, Faith in the Valley shared about their non-partisan effort titled Together We Vote. Faith in the Valley is a grassroots community organization that includes Congregations Building Community Modesto, Faith in Action Kern County, Faith in Community, Merced Organizing Project, People and Congregations Together for Stockton. Together, they are engaging in a regional effort so that low-propensity voters, generally defined as individuals who vote infrequently even though they are eligible to vote, are registered to vote and feel connected to the civic process.
At our October meeting, we did a legislative recap of the California State Assembly, as September 30 was the last day for Governor Brown to sign or veto bills passed by the legislature. The recap was an important opportunity for partners to share information with one another, and included legislation that is now law and will be implemented starting in 2017, budget victories and bills that did not get signed. Note: While SJVHF partners cannot use SJVHF funds for lobbying, 501c3 nonprofit organizations can lobby legally with their other funds that are not restricted. For additional information and tools, visit the Alliance for Justice web site.
Join us at the next SJVHF Policy Committee meeting on Tuesday, November 22, via Zoom Video Conferencing or in-person at The Center’s San Joaquin Valley office at 521 W. Main St. in Merced from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. In November, partners will engage in a legislative recap of the California State Senate and other learning opportunities.
To learn more about the committee, contact Program Officer Amparo Cid or Program Associate Nora Dunlap.
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Funding Partner Updates
Are Valley Communities Giving Up on Government?
In The California Wellness Foundation’s Advancing Wellness Poll, Central Valley residents were more likely than those in other parts of the state to give their communities poor ratings regarding neighborhood health. As the Valley has grown into a major urban area, its infrastructure — in health, education, transit and other public services — has struggled to keep up with the need. Many communities are bridging the gaps with homegrown solutions — from the doctor who operates a clinic out of an old bus, to residents who run free taxis for their neighbors. How much can communities get done by themselves? Is self-reliance the future or a stopgap until institutions catch up?
On October 25, Rey Leon of Valley LEAP’s Green Raiteros rideshare, the Tulare County Food Bank’s Sarah Ramirez, and Fresno State social work researcher Kris Clarke visited Zócalo to examine what it takes to make a healthy neighborhood in the heart of the Valley. Access the key findings from the poll online.
Our New Path Forward: Sierra Health Foundation and The Center
“We will be bold, smart and respectfully impatient.” On October 20, Sierra Health Foundation and The Center announced their new branding, as well as their vision for moving forward to create a more equitable California.
Learn more online
Watch their new video
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Community News and Events
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Job Board
Director of Equity and Social Justice
Collaborative Philanthropy Manager
Northern California Grantmakers (NCG) is looking for two dynamic individuals to join their team. Applications are due by November 4 at 5 p.m. Contact NCG for more information.
Strategic Initiatives Officer
First 5 Fresno County is seeking a Strategic Initiatives Officer. Applications are due by November 9. Learn more.
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Resources
SJVHF Video Series
Part 1: Learn about the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund, meet three grantee partners who are doing great work in the Valley and hear from three of the funding partners.
Part 2: SJVHF partners are working to make the Valley a healthier place to live, work and prosper. This second video highlights grantee partners and the work they are doing in the Valley.
Peer Learning
We encourage peer learning and sharing among SJVHF partners. To facilitate regional collaboration on systems and policy change work, we encourage you to reach out to your fellow colleagues using this contact list of all 58 funded partners.
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We Want to Hear From You
This newsletter is for you and is by you. Please share stories, photos and upcoming events to be included in the newsletter. Contact Nora Dunlap.
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SJVHF is Social
If you or your organization tweets, please use the hashtag #SJVHF to call attention to the work you are doing in San Joaquin Valley communities!
Like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter. These social media pages are resources for collaboration and connection with other organizations doing similar work. Please feel free to post upcoming opportunities, job announcements, etc.
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