Latest News & Program Reminders

Jan 14th, 2025

Equity TA Office Hours: Technical Assistance Menu of Services Update

Office Hours will be held on Zoom from 12:30 to 1:30 PM. Register Here.    

The Equity Technical Assistance (TA) Team will be hosting an Office Hour on Tuesday, January 14th from 12:30 to 1:30PM. The TA Team will share updates on the 2025-2026 TA Menu of Services and will be seeking feedback from Local Health Jurisdictions on these services. The TA Team will also present statewide results of the 2024 Organizational Assessment for Equity Infrastructure. 

Registration is required.

Jan 17th, 2025

CERI Year 4, Quarter 2 Report Submission Due

For Local Health Jurisdictions participating in the California Equitable Recovery Initiative (CERI) grant, CERI Year 4, Quarter 2 (Y4Q2) report submissions will be due on Friday, January 17th, 2025.

This report submission will include the following: 

• Y4Q2 Spend Plan & Expenditure Report (October – December 2024) 
• Invoice for spending between October 1st – December 31st, 2024 
• Work Plan & Progress Report Updates from July 1st, 2024 – December 31st, 2024

For questions or concerns, please reach out to your assigned Technical Assistance Specialist.

Jan 17th, 2025

Release of the 2024 Organizational Assessment for Equity Infrastructure Results Report

The Equity Technical Assistance (TA) Team is releasing the 2024 Organizational Assessment for Equity Infrastructure results report on Friday, January 17th. 57 out of the 61 LHJs completed the organizational assessment in 2024, and we are excited to share the results with you all. The TA Team will provide a high-level overview of the statewide results at the January office hour. Optional LHJ consultations for the organizational assessment are coming soon!

Climate and Health Equity Advisory Group (CHEAG)

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is seeking people who are interested in serving on the new Climate and Health Equity Advisory Group (CHEAG). The CHEAG will be composed of a diverse group of members from across the state with lived experience and/or expertise on the health and equity impacts of climate change in California.

The goals of the CHEAG are the following:

• Inform and advance climate change and health equity-related projects and programs within CDPH.
• Collaborate with a diverse cohort from across the state, representing communities disproportionately impacted by climate change and those involved in climate change and health equity efforts 
• Identify gaps in CDPH’s climate change and health equity-related programs and priorities.
• Advise CDPH on community perspectives, strategic planning, and funding opportunities to advance critical work on climate change and health.

CDPH seeks to hear from viewpoints outside of state government agencies, such as academia, community-based organizations (CBOs), local health jurisdiction (LHJ) staff, California Federally and non-Federally recognized Tribes, Tribal organizations, tribal serving organizations, Urban Indian Organizations, and from individuals with valuable lived experience and expertise who are actively working within their communities or with organizations to address climate, environmental, economic, racial, and/or heath inequities by pushing for policy changes in institutional and social systems.

The CHEAG application will be going live in January 2025. For those who are interested in learning more, we will also be hosting information sessions after the application opens to provide additional background on the CHEAG and an overview of the application process. Additional details will soon be made available on the CHEAG webpage.

We invite you to share this opportunity with anyone within your networks who may be interested. If you or others within your networks would like to learn more about this opportunity, please visit the Climate Change and Health Equity webpage.

Training of the Month

Self Paced Course: Health Equity

Brought to you by the Western Region Public Health Training Center, this interactive and engaging training will lay the foundation for health equity. You will learn practical ways to advance health equity in order to help all individuals attain their full health potential. The Health Equity training challenges all public health and health professionals to apply a health equity lens to their area of focus and expertise. 

Learning Objectives: 

• Define health equity  
• Explore life expectancy and public health 
• Identify ways to use a health equity lens in public health and clinical work 
• Discuss frameworks for improving health equity

To register for the Health Equity online training, click here.

Resources

Department of Public Health Resources (CDPH)

The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) protects Californians from infectious diseases, provides accurate public health information and services, and promotes health equity.

CDPH values the health of all Californians. Members of the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer/Questioning, and Plus (LGBTQ+) communities, similar to other communities, experience some distinct health concerns, inequities, and disparities. Some of the health issues that affect everyone can affect LGBTQ+ individuals differently. LGBTQ+ people of every age, race/ethnicity, and background need to be mindful of the need to make caring for their health a priority. CDPH has resources available which can assist you in determining what screenings are necessary at each stage of life, to understand which health issues impact LGBTQ+ individuals most often.

For more information and to view available resources, visit the CDPH LGBTQ+ Health Resources webpage.

Department of Managed Health Care Resources (DMHC)

The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) educates consumers about their health care rights, resolves consumer complaints against health plans, helps consumers understand their coverage, and assists consumers in getting timely access to appropriate health care services. 

California law prohibits health plans from denying health care or discriminating against individuals because of the individual’s gender, including gender identity or gender expression. In 2023, California implemented the Transgender, Gender Diverse, and Intersex (TGI) Inclusive Care Act which protects the right of Californians to access Gender-Affirming health care services. 

For more information and to view available resources, please visit the DMHC TGI Resources webpage.

Technical Assistance (TA) Services Available:

For general inquiries or to schedule a 1:1 consultation, submit an inquiry to your Equity TA Specialist (below) via the Equity Technical Assistance Portal: 

Rural North | Haley Ni 

Greater Sierra-Sacramento | Claudia Medina 

Central California | TBD 

Bay Area | Salina Ramachhita 

Southern California/ Los Angeles | Jessica Medina

To share an event, resource, job opportunity, or highlight a success story from your LHJ, please contact us through the Equity Portal by the 20th of the month.