Blue Shield of California Foundation

Local governments in California are making an effort to improve engagement with community, but there are still many challenges to this. That's why at the foundation, we support work that aligns systems with community priorities.  In this month's newsletter, we highlight some of the innovative work happening to center community voices. Here's what you'll find inside this month's Intersections:  ➡️Our grantee partners San Joaquin Valley Health Fund, The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, and Public Health Institute are creating accessible spaces for people with lived expertise to have a seat at the table.  ➡️A multi-sector collaboration, Safety & Healing in Networks of Equity (SHINE), is creating safer, more supportive communities that can drive systemic change in domestic violence prevention and response.  ➡️Our partners Onside Partners and ThinkForward Strategies conducted research on how public health agencies are actively using an equiy-centered approach. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gnTcy7Pv

We're so thrilled that over the weekend Office of California Governor Gavin Newsom approved $103 million in one-time funding for victims’services programs. The cuts to the federal Victims of Crime Act funding would have been devestating for so many survivors of domestic violence and the organizations that offer them support. This victory would not have been possible without the tireless work of so many of our partners and hundreds of advocates and survivors. ValorUS California Partnership to End Domestic Violence https://lnkd.in/gVrYSscS

Each year, our gift from Blue Shield of California allows us to continue our mission of making California the healthiest state and ending domestic violence. By removing barriers to health and well-being, especially for Californians most affected, we can create a more just and equitable future. Some grantee highlights include: Our work with Jenesse Center Inc. to organize cross-sector collaboration for domestic violence prevention in Los Angeles County. By involving people who work in fields like health care in the work to advance systems change and improve prevention services, domestic violence survivors and their families are ultimately better served. “Jenesse helped me reach for a better life. I felt safe and positive and even went back to school … I will be grateful for the rest of my life," said survivor Tolisha. Our work with Public Health Advocates, which supported advocating for a more equitable government response to the COVID-19 pandemic. “The systems we create produce the outcomes that we see in our society,” said Abigail Hewins, program manager for Public Health Advocates. “As we approach emergencies and disasters that are increasingly common, from infectious diseases to extreme weather events, we must focus on repairing inequities so that our most disinvested communities do not bear the brunt of the harm.” And our work with California Community Colleges CalWORKs Association's project SPARC, a program where parenting students do research and help design solutions to address the barriers they face in trying to recieve higher education while also navigating the public assistance system. “I would really like to see a clearer path out of poverty for recipients of CalWORKs,” said SPARC leader Shannon Riley, who is now a college graduate with her associate degree, and finishing her bachelor's at Oregon State University. “I think we have potential to make a huge difference.” Learn more about our three funding areas: https://lnkd.in/gjGwyfG8

Care workers are essential to our society but despite the important role they play for so many families, they are often paid low wages, have no job benefits, and face tough working conditions, such as long hours and no paid time off. Our senior program officer Rachel Wick sat down with Van Ton-Quinlivan to discuss why it is critical to support this workforce for Futuro Health's WorkforceRx podcast. https://lnkd.in/dhAs6_uQ 

Domestic Violence Housing First is a proven program that keeps thousands of survivors of domestic violence safe and housed. But now, California braces to lose more than half of its funding from the federal Victims of Crime Act in 2025 for Housing First and other housing programs. We know that domesticv violence and homelessness are so connected that we cannot solve one without addressing the other. California needs to replace federal funding being taken from Housing First and other programs in order to continue to support survivors and prevent homelessness. California Partnership to End Domestic Violence https://lnkd.in/g5e4csMk

Congratulations to Blue Shield of California for the latest Mission Report, and the work you do for members and communities. We couldn't do our work to achieve health equity and end domestic violence in California without your annual gift. Thank you! https://lnkd.in/g2tWFxSz

Domestic violence is everywhere, but it’s not inevitable. It is healable and preventable, and we all have a role to play to end it. Check out this informative and important article our CEO Debbie Chang wrote about how we can all do our part to end domestic violence. #LetsEndDV

What an honor for our chief program director, Lucia Corral Pena to join the White House briefing celebrating the first anniversary of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. We were proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all the leaders in this work, and Rosie Hidalgo's announcement of a $23 million initiative by Justice Department’s Office of Violence Against Women to support restorative practices underscores the momentum we're seeing. In California, we're complementing these efforts by transforming our state's social services to better support survivors, focusing on racial equity and healing-informed care, and more. These are changes that not only impact individual lives but also reshape our society's approach to health and violence. Let’s keep pushing for these vital system changes. #EndGenderBasedViolence #LetsEndDV

What an honor for our chief program director, Lucia Corral Pena to join the White House briefing celebrating the first anniversary of the National Plan to End Gender-Based Violence. We were proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with all the leaders in this work, and Rosie Hidalgo's announcement of a $23 million initiative by Justice Department’s Office of Violence Against Women to support restorative practices underscores the momentum we're seeing. In California, we're complementing these efforts by transforming our state's social services to better support survivors, focusing on racial equity and healing-informed care, and more. These are changes that not only impact individual lives but also reshape our society's approach to health and violence. Let’s keep pushing for these vital system changes. #EndGenderBasedViolence #LetsEndDV

We were thrilled to support the San Joaquin Valley Health Fund and The Center at the Sierra Health Foundation as they hosted their Equity on the Road regional townhalls in Bakersfield, Madera and Stockton. These events brought together community members and elected officials to discuss policy issues that impact residents from low-income communities throughout the Central Valley. If we want to advance more policies and investments that prioritize health and racial equity for all California residents, we should follow in the footsteps of all the leaders who showed up and spoke out for their communities and the future of our state.