Affordable Healthcare for All: Research & Policy Insights
On October 22nd, 2024 the California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) convened a panel of experts from UC Berkeley, the California Black Health Network (CBHN), and the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health (LACDPH) to present and discuss research and policy related to healthcare affordability in California. The event was moderated by Cal-IHEA Faculty Associate, Dr. Dylan Roby from UC Irvine, with legislative remarks provided by California State Senator Josh Becker. The objective was to provide a timely update, data, and resources on healthcare affordability and related equity issues with actionable insights from policymakers, scholars, community leaders, and local health departments.
View the recording of the event here.
Read the Briefing Proceedings here.
Innovative Strategies to Diversify California’s Health Workforce
On May 23rd, 2024, the California Initiative for Health Equity and Action convened a panel of University of California (UC) experts to present and discuss “Innovative Strategies to Diversify California’s Health Workforce.” The goal was to identify ways in which educational pipeline and mentoring programs can better meet the needs of students who are aspiring health professionals and leaders in the state. Strategies to help address regional health personnel shortages and increase workforce sustainability and retention were also discussed in the webinar session. Panelists included Dr. Janet Coffman (UCSF), Dr. Alejandra Casillas (UCLA David Geffen School of Medicine), Dr. John Billimek (UC Irvine), and Dr. Rosa Manzo (UC Merced).
View the recording of the event here.
Read the Briefing Proceedings here.(PDF.file)
Policies and Initiatives to Prevent the Recurrence of Intimate Partner Violence
In a recently published policy report entitled “State Innovation to Prevent the Recurrence of Intimate Partner Violence,” Cal-IHEA examined how other states implement IPV prevention and intervention strategies through public health-oriented approaches to batterer interventions programs, the current primary intervention for those who cause harm. In this evidence briefing, academic, policy, and advocacy stakeholders discussed the report’s six policy recommendations and California’s path towards re-imagining the role of batterer interventions programs and promoting restorative justice as part of IPV prevention efforts.
Read the Briefing Proceedings here. (PDF file)
Connecting for Better Health Panel Series Session 3: Data Sharing to Support the Whole Person
On June 17, 2021, we partnered with BluePath Health and the Connecting for Better Health coalition to coordinate and co-sponsor a panel discussing social determinants of health through health information exchange and public health state influence in this process.
The issue brief(PDF file) provides vital background information on the history and current state of SDOH data including details on the Whole Person Care pilot and key take-aways from other states. The brief also outlines three policy recommendations for SDOH data collection and use in California. The proceedings document provides a recap of key points and policy recommendations presented during the panel.
Read the Briefing Proceedings here. (PDF file)
Environmental Health Equity: Moving from Evidence to Action
On June 2nd, 2021, the California Initiative for Health Equity and Action brought faculty researchers and community leaders together to share their work surrounding environmental health and the impact of hazardous exposures on vulnerable populations across California. Their findings indicate that pregnant people, low-income communities of color, and indigenous migrants are especially impacted by hazardous environmental exposures, and the interaction of multiple vulnerabilities poses increased health risks. With wildfires and accompanying pollution projected to increase in the coming decade, panelists discussed the next steps for research and offered evidence-based policy recommendations to effectively minimize adverse health and social impacts on California’s most vulnerable communities. Amy Padula, PhD (UC San Francisco), Camila Alvarez, PhD (UC Merced), Michael Mendez, PhD (UC Irvine), Omar Paz (North Bay Jobs with Justice), and Maria Salinas (Movimiento Cultural de la Unión Indígena) joined moderator Jay Graham, PhD (UC Berkeley) as panelists for this event.
View a recording of the event here.
Read the Briefing Proceedings here.(PDF file)
Data Sharing to Promote Health Equity
On April 28, 2021, Cal-IHEA and Connecting for Better Health convened a panel of experts for an interactive discussion on data sharing to advance health equity. The session highlighted the need for a statewide Health Information Exchange (HIE) in California to facilitate data exchange to improve care coordination and respond to public health emergencies. By securely collecting and sharing data related to race, ethnicity, and language, interventions can target vulnerable communities to effectively address health disparities. The panel also discussed the importance of establishing trust, and offered insights on how policy can support sustainable interoperability and data exchange.
This briefing proceeding provides key takeaways from our speakers: Dr. Julia Adler-Milstein (UCSF), Dr. Alice Chen (Covered California), Rhonda Smith (California Black Health Network), and moderated by Dr. Hector Rodriguez (Cal-IHEA). The briefing was the second of a three part series on HIE and Public Health, and the webinar was co-hosted by Cal-IHEA and the Connecting for Better Health Coalition.
View the full webinar here
Read the Briefing Proceedings here.(PDF file)
Advancing Digital Health Equity in California
On March 9th, 2021, the California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) convened a panel of experts to discuss key policies to move the needle on digital health interventions during the COVID-19 pandemic. Our goal was to identify ways in which policies concerning telehealth parity and other non-traditional forms of digital health interventions (ie. text-based interventions) can support Californian families that are struggling during the pandemic, and most importantly, how they can continue to access these technologies post-pandemic.
The webinar was co-sponsored by Health Tech 4 Medicaid and the Office of Assemblymember Cecilia Aguiar-Curry, with financial support provided by The Blue Shield of California Foundation. Panelists include Dr. Adrian Aguilera (UC Berkeley), Dr. Mary Reed (Kaiser Permanente), and Dr. Katherine Kim (UC Davis). The panel was moderated by the Executive Director of HealthTech for Medicaid, Adimika Arthur, with opening remarks from Assemblywoman Cecilia Aguiar-Curry.
Watch the webinar recording here.
Read the Briefing Proceedings here. (PDF file)
Increasing Economic Support for Low-Income Californian Families during the COVID-19 Pandemic
On December 10th, 2020 the California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) convened a panel of experts to discuss key policies to move the needle on economic and labor supports for Californian families during the COVID-19 Pandemic. Our goal was to identify ways in which policies like the Earned Income Tax Credit and paid family leave can support Californian families that are struggling during the Pandemic. The webinar was co-sponsored by The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Policies for Action Research Hub at The Institute for Women’s Policy Research (IWPR), The Office of Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks, and Blue Shield of California Foundation.
This briefing proceeding provides key takeaways from our speakers: Dr. Michael Reich (UC Berkeley), Dr. Rita Hamad (UCSF), Jenna Gerry (Legal Aid At Work), and Bridget Shea(Paid Leave U.S.). Their presentations focusing on paid leave, the impact of labor market policies on mental health, and the Earned Income Tax Credit. Assemblywoman Buffy Wicks provided opening remarks, and the panel was moderated by Professor Will Dow from UC Berkeley’s School of Public Health.
Read the Briefing Proceedings here. (PDF file)
Expanding California’s Behavioral Health Workforce in Response to COVID-19
On November 19, 2020, the California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) convened an expert panel of behavioral health care leaders to discuss and highlight opportunities and policy solutions to support and expand the state’s behavioral health workforce in response to COVID-19. Our goal was to identify behavioral health workforce needs, demands, and promising policy/practice solutions. This webinar was sponsored by the Blue Shield of California Foundation and co-hosted by the Office of California State Senator, Jim Beall (15th Senate District).
Read the Briefing Proceedings here.(PDF file)
Disrupting Upstream Determinants of Family & Community Violence in the Era of COVID-19
On September 16, 2020, the California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) convened an expert panel to discuss policies and practices that can disrupt upstream determinants of family and community violence. Our goal was to identify strategies to overcome barriers to re-framing domestic and intimate partner violence in terms of its structural determinants. This webinar was sponsored by The Blue Shield of California Foundation and co-sponsored by the Office of California State Senator, Melissa Hurtado (14th Senate District).
COVID-19 has highlighted the need for economic support, affordable housing, and other equity-focused investments in low-income and minoritized communities throughout California. For Cal-IHEA, this includes the need to re-frame domestic and intimate partner violence in terms of its social and structural determinants. This briefing highlighted how primary prevention investments can protect and support families and neighborhoods impacted by violence, especially communities of color.
View the full webinar here.
Read the full Briefing Proceedings HERE.(PDF file)
Tackling the Digital Divide by Improving Internet and Telehealth Access for Low-Income Californians
On July 28th 2020, the California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) convened an expert panel to discuss research, policy, and practice aimed at exploring and closing the digital divide between low-income individuals and the rest of the California population. While telehealth has been around for decades, COVID-19 has made it imperative that patients are able to access high-quality remote care to ensure their health and safety. This has increased the urgency to ensure that low-income patients are not left behind as we shift to care that relies even more heavily on the ability to afford high-speed internet services as well as smartphones, tablets, and computers. The briefing highlighted efforts that are already underway to improve and ensure access to internet and digital devices in California and beyond.
View the Webinar HERE.
Read the full Briefing Proceedings HERE(PDF file).
Addressing the Latino Physician Shortage
The California Initiative for Health Equity & Action (Cal-IHEA) and The Latino Policy and Politics Initiative (LPPI) jointly convened an expert panel on May 28, 2020 to showcase research focused on addressing the Latino physician shortage in California and supporting Latino physicians in practice. California has a growing shortage of primary care physicians, which presents significant access barriers for monolingual Spanish-speaking Latinos. There is an urgent need to improve the representation of Latinos in medicine and to ensure that Latino physicians are professionally supported. The briefing highlighted how workforce policies aimed at increasing the Latino physician pipeline can advance health equity for Latinos across the state.
Read the Briefing Proceedings HERE.(PDF file)
Priority Actions for California to Reduce the Impact of Housing Instability and Homelessness on Health
Housing instability and homelessness in California have been exacerbated by COVID-19. On March 11, 2020, Cal-IHEA co-sponsored a briefing with Assemblymember David Chiu, the Chair of Assembly Housing and Community Development Committee, focused on “housing as a health intervention”. The briefing highlighted gaps in addressing homelessness and highlighted existing innovative solutions that promote housing as a way to improve health outcomes of people experiencing homelessness and unstable housing.
Read the Briefing Proceedings HERE.