Health Work Group

Lower San Antonio (LSA) Collaborative
Steering Committee Meeting
April 1, 2002, 12-2pm
Hismen Hin-Nu

I. Attendees

William Wong (AECF), Camila Chavez (Alameda County Health Care Services), Fred Blackwell (AECF), Nobuko Mizoguchi (Alameda County Public Health), Jessica Pitt (Urban Strategies Council), Matt Beyers (Urban Strategies Council), Asia Evans (SACDC), Diana Lee (Sickle Cell County Health Network)

II. Annie E. Casey Introduction to Health Work Group

Fred gave a brief introduction to the work of Making Connections and its role in the lower San Antonio community. He noted that the foundation views health and health care as a vehicle for strengthening families. The model the foundation was hoping to adapt to the lower San Antonio grew out of the New Orleans site where a lack of health service providers led the community to identify and train community organizers to enroll families into the various types of health insurance programs. Jessica then gave some background on the interest of the collaborative in this. She recalled Glen Rosselli’s visit and the ensuing collaborative conversation about greater participation in the area of community health.

III. Potential Health Work Group Projects in the Lower San Antonio

Juan suggested that the group begin by working with the school district to organize community health campaigns. He suggested the group contact Oakland Schools for Healthy Kids Program and the Nurses of Oakland Unified School District.

Camila gave a description of the programs the county is working on to inform various Oakland communities about health care initiatives. The County has received $600,000 to be split into three areas of work:

• A Task Force for enrollment events. Six of the nine events have taken place and 250 people have signed up.
• A media campaign involving ads for the informational 800 number.
• A call center for families to get information about services. The families that are calling in for services are being archived in a database. To date there are almost 1000 families registered.

She noted that of the previous and planned events none have been held in the Lower San Antonio .

Juan noted that another resource the group should tap into is local physicians.

Diana noted the group should also spend time focusing on community members with serious diseases.

Carmen suggested that the group consider using an enrollment in the Lower San Antonio to survey the community to determine their needs in the areas of:

1. Insurance
2. Proper care
3. Access to affordable housing
4. Access to education
5. Access to networking technologies for families and children

To plan an event would take between 6-8 weeks. Incentives should be provided for community member to participate in the campaign. The event could also be used to promote the county 800 number.

The group also discussed the importance of identifying a community based organization in the Lower San Antonio to take the lead on the community organizing end of the work. The groups identified are:

• EBAYC
• School District Healthy Kids Program
• CTWO
• Spanish Speaking Unity Council
• Native American Health Center
• La Clinica
• Community Health Academy

IV. Next Steps

1. Camila will contact Matt regarding the accessibility of the county zip code information and will find out if it is possible to host an extra county event in the Lower San Antonio .
2. Carmen will contact all identified organizations and invite them to the next Health Work Group meeting.

Possible Anchor Organizations