|
|
LHCC >> Action Teams
 As part of the 1999-2001 health care project at Fresno Metro Ministry, which was funded by The California Wellness Foundation, the Local Health Care Coalition created three Action Teams to address health care issues in the Fresno area. The focus areas of these teams were developed from all of the topics and themes of the Community Health Care Roundtables since their inception in 1997.
The topics were categorized into main focus areas, which now designate the Action Teams listed below: Uninsured/Indigent, Insured Underserved and Community Health. At the end, you will find several overarching issues that are addressed in all of the teams, the overall goal of the Action Teams, membership and leadership commitments, and support for the Action Teams.
The goal for each of the Action Teams is to 'engage public and private community sectors in service delivery and public policy action for the purpose of increasing health care access for low income unserved and underserved and improving public health' within the focus area of that particular Action Team.
The Action Teams serve as on-going committees of the Local Health Care Coalition, with each entity providing and receiving input from the Community Health Care Roundtables. The initial issues for the teams were developed by the Local Health Care Coalition as a starting point for each of the Action Teams.
The Action Teams meet on a monthly basis or more often if necessary. The commitment time for members is about two hours per month and about four hours per month for the members in leadership positions, plus any other time commitments that each participant agrees to fulfill. Working alongside the volunteer leadership, Fresno Metro Ministry provides staff support for each Action Team.
Metro staff or Action Team members present written and/or oral updates at each Community Health Care Roundtable.
- Uninsured/Indigent
This group is addressing health care issues that effect people who are without medical insurance, some of whom are eligible for
special government programs.
- This team has recently created the Fresno Area Opportunities for Health Care eligibility binder as a community resource. To read more about the eligibility binder or to download the latest version, please go to Eligibility.
Some other possible issues to address within this Action Team include:
- Identification of uninsured populations and current providers of that population
- Outreach regarding eligibility and public charge, and to businesses to promote better health care benefits
- Monitoring the contract between Fresno County and Community Medical Centers to provide care for the indigent population
- Influencing health and welfare policy, as well as service delivery by government agencies
- Supporting local efforts for Universal Health Care
<< Back to Top >>
- Insured Underserved
This group addresses health care issues that effect people who have medical insurance, such as Medi-Cal or private coverage, but are not able to fully utilize it because of various barriers and access issues.
- This team has been assisting Healthy House in Merced and the California Health Collaborative with a Health Care Interpreter Training Project for the Central Valley. So far, there have been four training sessions held in the Fresno area based on a 40-hour curriculum called Bridging the Gap. These sessions were each attended by an average of 30 health care workers and others who are called upon in their professions to interpret for patients. There is now a branch of the California Health Care Interpreters Association (CHIA) in the Central Valley that is working towards the certification and on-going training of health care interpreters.
- This team is also addressing transportation as an overarching barrier to health care access. The Action Team plans to pull together transportation agencies and those in need of transportation services to discuss collaborative planning and grant making for needed transit services.
Some other possible issues to address within this Action Team include:
- Identifying various populations that are insured but underserved
- Increasing cultural and linguistic competence and sensitivity
- Strengthening the safety net with hospitals, clinics and physicians
- Researching Medi-Cal and Medicare issues, including reimbursement rates and referrals to specialists
- Promoting preventive care
- Addressing transportation barriers
- Finding ways to increase and improve employee benefits, including sick leave
- Advocating for one-stop centers with health and social services located where these services are most needed
- Educating consumers and the public about 'public charge'
<< Back to Top >>
- Community Health
This group is addressing health care issues related to public health, such as communicable diseases, pesticide poisoning, air quality, substance abuse and violence, as well as health care issues regarding services provided by or related to the Fresno County Human Services System.
- This team has been working with a group of physicians to advocate for authorization of needle exchange programs to reduce injury and death in Fresno County related to injection drug use. Due to Proposition 136, passed by the California voters in 1999, authorization of needle exchange programs is allowed on a county-by-county basis. Please see our Health Issues Page for more information about needle exchange.
- The team has also become involved in the implementation of Proposition 36, which would place certain drug offenders in treatment instead of incarceration. The Fresno County Human Services System is the lead agency for Fresno County. They are working with various law enforcement agencies to plan for implementation of the legislation, which will take effect July 1, 2001. This Action Team is advocating for the involvement of drug treatment program representatives, county advisory board members, health care advocates and consumers in the planning and implementation process.
Some other possible issues to address within this Action Team include:
- Advocating for improving effective means of communicable disease prevention and control, including researching policies on isolation practices in Fresno County
- Developing strategies for addressing air pollution to improve air quality
- Addressing issues related to water quality and quantity
- Seeking out strategies to reduce the incidence of pesticide exposure in both occupational and residential settings
- Finding prevention and intervention methods to reduce violence
- Working with the Mental Health Advisory Board to improve mental health and substance abuse services
- Advocating for a qualified public health officer to provide full-time leadership and vision to the Fresno County Human Services System
- Monitoring the Children and Families Commission of Fresno County in the use of child development funding through Proposition 10 for children 0-5 years of age
- Researching health services for jail inmates
- Monitoring use of the tobacco settlement money
- Evaluating welfare to work transitions
- Promoting one-stop centers for providing health care and social services
- Helping consumers be made aware of their legal rights
<< Back to Top >>
- Overarching Issues Addressed in All Action Teams
- Transportation
- Paperwork Reduction
- Cultural Competence
- Valid Information
- Long Term Planning
- Prevention
The Action Teams serve as on-going committees of the Local Health Care Coalition, with each entity providing and receiving input from the Community Health Care Roundtables. The initial issues for the teams were developed by the Local Health Care Coalition as a starting point for each of the Action Teams.
The Action Teams meet on a monthly basis or more often if necessary. The commitment time for members is about two hours per month and about four hours per month for the members in leadership positions, plus any other time commitments that each participant agrees to fulfill. Working alongside the volunteer leadership, Fresno Metro Ministry provides staff support for each Action Team.
Metro staff or Action Team members present written and/or oral updates at each Community Health Care Roundtable.
<< Back to Top >>
|
|
