Responsive Grants Program awards go to 19 organizations

We’re pleased to announce 19 grant awards in this year’s first funding round of the Responsive Grants Program. The grants of up to $15,000 will support programs and projects in 16 of the 26 counties in our funding region.

The grants, which total $255,042, will provide support for activities designed by nonprofits and public agencies to improve health and quality of life in their communities. We received 213 eligible applications.

See our Responsive Grants Program web page for the grant list and project descriptions.

We will have a second funding round this year, which we plan to announce in June. A total of $500,000 is available in 2014.

Please e-mail us any questions.

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Health Leadership Program offers learning opportunity for leaders in Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley

Our Health Leadership Program has been redesigned this year to develop the skills of current and emerging leaders in organizations that work to improve community health and well-being and reduce health disparities across a broad range of issue areas.

Program participants have the opportunity to improve existing skills while developing new competencies that strengthen their organizations, and deepen their ability and commitment to address health disparities and health equity in underserved communities in Northern California and the San Joaquin Valley.

Applications for Health Leadership Program Class XI are due by June 2 at noon.

Visit the Health Leadership Program web page to download the application and brochure.

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Sacramento Creating Community Solutions Network begins implementation of Mental Health Action Plan

In the March issue of Partnerships, we announced that the Sacramento County Office of Education was selected to implement Sacramento’s Mental Health Action Plan as part of President Obama’s National Dialogue on Mental Health. Earlier this month, 100 community members came together at Sierra Health Foundation to begin the plan’s implementation.

The energetic group participated in asset mapping and created a shared vision for successful implementation of the plan by summer 2015. They also heard from local leaders, including Kari Lacosta from Congresswoman Doris Matsui’s office, Cassandra Jennings from Sacramento Mayor Kevin Johnson’s office, Sacramento County Superintendent of Schools David Gordon and youth advocate Patrick Ma.

Community members in Sacramento County are invited to participate in the project. Learn more and complete an interest form on the Sacramento Creating Community Solutions Network web page.

Photo: Patrick Ma of Mental Health America of Northern California shares his story at the May 2 meeting.

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Respite Partnership Collaborative seeks community members

On behalf of the Respite Partnership Collaborative (RPC), Sierra Health Foundation’s Center for Health Program Management is accepting applications for membership in the RPC.

The RPC is a community-driven body of dedicated volunteers working together on an innovative project that supports respite programs as a way to respond to mental health crisis in Sacramento County.

The RPC project is a partnership of selected community members, the County of Sacramento Division of Behavioral Health Services and Sierra Health Foundation: Center for Health Program Management. The RPC is funded through the Sacramento County Mental Health Services Act (MHSA) Innovation Component.

Learn more about the RPC and download application materials on the Center for Health Program Management web site.

Applications are due by noon on June 5.

Please e-mail us any questions.

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Community forum focuses on health equity

In early May, we welcomed staff from the Texas Health Institute to conduct a Community Forum on Achieving Health Equity through the Affordable Care Act.

Participating health care and nonprofit leaders learned about and discussed the opportunities and requirements in the Affordable Care Act for advancing racial and ethnic health equity. They also learned about emerging models, best practices and lessons learned.

Dennis Andrulis, Senior Research Scientist at the Texas Health Institute, leads a group discussion.

The session was designed as a first step in increasing the Sacramento region’s knowledge of the health equity provisions within the Affordable Care Act, readiness to advance health equity and willingness to take on health equity in organizations.

A survey created by the Institute to assess the Sacramento region’s health care and nonprofit leaders found that the health care community is very familiar with how the Affordable Care Act’s health equity provision impacted the health insurance marketplace, but were less familiar with many of the workforce, prevention and health system health equity provisions and issues. Many stakeholders feel they have the knowledge and skills to advance health equity, and many are interested and have a willingness to address health equity priorities, but they cite insufficient funding, a lack of staff and a lack of overall resources as barriers for doing the work.

It’s evident from the survey and the forum that there is more work to be done regarding health equity and Affordable Care Act implementation. Through our Sacramento Region Health Care Partnership, we will continue to explore ways to assess how the Affordable Care Act can improve the lives of people in low-income communities and communities of color.

The goal of the Health Care Partnership is to find ways to improve access, care coordination and quality of the region’s primary care safety net system. The vision is to increase and improve primary care access and quality in El Dorado, Placer, Sacramento and Yolo counties. Learn more on our Sacramento Region Health Care Partnership web page.

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Grizzly Creek Ranch offers Summer Camps

Since opening our Grizzly Creek Ranch camp in Plumas County in 2003, we and our partners have provided educational and leadership opportunities for children with physical, developmental, social and behavioral challenges. In 2010, we partnered with nonprofit Sierra Nevada Journeys to launch an experiential education initiative at the camp that provides innovative outdoor science education opportunities for students, families and community members to promote health, well-being and an appreciation of the outdoors.

Sierra Nevada Journeys also offers week-long Summer Camps for children ages 8 to 17 that focus on fun, adventure, friendship and science. A Family Camp will be held on Labor Day weekend. Download the Summer Camp brochure.

Learn more about these opportunities on the Sierra Nevada Journeys web site.

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