Iyad Afalqa, HC-EMBA

💲California’s subsidy system is a source of income for #childcare providers, including eligible Family, Friend, and Neighbor (FFN) caregivers. Early Edge California, Catholic Charities of Santa Clara County, San Jose Public Library, and Vision y Compromiso’s newest FFN policy brief, Increasing Access to Family, Friend, and Neighbor Caregiver Wages through California’s Child Care Subsidy System, outlines key barriers to subsidies for FFN caregivers and recommendations for addressing these barriers. 🚧 Key barriers to FFN caregivers accessing #ChildCareSubsidies include: ▪️ Lack of awareness of subsidies ▪️ Fear and mistrust amongst FFN caregivers and families (i.e. concerns related to immigration status; fear of subsidy impacting benefit eligibility; fear of government oversight and intervention) ▪️ Challenges navigating process and requirements ▪️ Challenges with information sharing and language and technology accessibility Read the brief to learn more: https://ow.ly/S3Wm50RFYKX #FFNcare #SupportFFNs

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From 2015-2022, I worked in the safety net healthcare system at Alameda Health System. This NYT article by Dr. Lindsay Ryan, a physician across the Bay at UCSF, resonated with me. She and her colleagues have coined the term “end-stage poverty” to describe the condition of patients who come through the doors of safety net hospitals like AHS and UCSF every day. They live in extreme poverty and die of treatable health conditions because they do not have access to stable housing, food, a steady income, mental health treatment, and other basic services. “Medical textbooks usually don’t discuss fixing your patient’s housing. They seldom include making sure your patient has enough food and some way to get to a clinic. But textbooks miss what my med students don’t: that people die for lack of these basics.” I have been working in and around the healthcare sector for over 15+ years and I am very heartened by the accelerating shift within medicine to address the drivers of poverty and “treat” the social determinants of health. We have a long way to go, but we are moving in the right direction. I am so glad to see articles like this one appear on the pages of mainstream news outlets. There’s still much work to do to amplify the importance of addressing social needs in conjunction with medical needs, but the movement is growing. https://lnkd.in/gSX3cZp8 #healthequity #socialhealth #UCSF

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In case you missed the May 2024 UCLA Tarjan Center’s Distinguished Lecture, “Short Takes on #Disability and Sexual and Reproductive Health” you can listen to the recording and download the slides at https://lnkd.in/gsVrmdxt. Topics include sex education, maternal health services, right to parent and #accessibility of health services. #DisabilitySupport #disabilities #DisabilityHealth #StudentHealth Beth Stoffmacher #SexualHealth #ReproductiveHealth #MaternalHealth #SexEducation #HealthAccess #EquityInHealthcare

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More and more providers are implementing the Data Exchange Framework everyday, giving providers a clearer picture of a patient’s full health history. Today, over 30 million Californians are supported by statewide data exchange, helping ensure access to the best possible care.

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This is GREAT news for thousands of California school children and their families! I remember attending a recent CA Senate Committee hearing on Universal Student Meals. One committee member was questioning why we were feeding “rich” kids. This is after the committee was told that over 40% of families in California do not qualify for Free or Reduced meals based on the National income eligibility guidelines for families. In other words, 40% of families living in CA live at or above the national “poverty” income levels, but below the cost of living income standards. No sir, those children are not rich. Consequently, thousands of those children have not participated in the school meal program in the past because their families cannot afford to pay for school meals. Additionally, universal school meals does not mean universal student participation. What is does is allow all children that want to participate in school meals to be treated with equal dignity and respect for wanting a school meal. We, at the National Farm to School Network , will continue to work tirelessly on ensuring Universal school meal legislation is enacted in every state and at the Federal level. We can’t do this work alone and will continue to work with our partners and members to make universal student meals a standard across the nation.

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The latest from UC Irvine. Exciting things happening in University of California, Irvine - School of Social Ecology. Thanks to our partners and sponsors in this work, including the Orange County Business Council, the CEO Leadership Alliance Orange County (CLAOC), Bank of America, UCI Health, the Newport Beach Chamber of Commerce, the Orange County Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and the Haynes Foundation. A big shout out to researchers at the Association of American Universities (AAU) for all their help. UC IRVINE NEWS   UC Irvine-OC Poll highlights county’s brain-drain   According to the latest UC Irvine-OC Poll, a little over half of Orange County’s residents have or are considering relocating. The School of Social Ecology survey polled 1,100 current and former Orange County residents to find out why they left, why they may be considering leaving and what can be done to attract and retain residents and skilled employees. One-third of respondents said they were actively considering relocating. “This poll provides a fuller accounting of the risks facing Orange County and the factors that motivate staying and leaving,” said Jon Gould, dean of the School of Social Ecology.

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A new report uses information from California's colleges and universities to analyze the return on investment that undergraduates can expect from specific programs and institutions, finding that the vast majority of them allow graduates to recoup their costs within 5 years. #GreatCollegeAdvice #ROI #CollegeDegrees

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New Research Highlights Gap Between Religious Knowledge and Application A recent study from Dr. George Barna at the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University on evangelical Christians reveals a significant insight applicable to many fields, including healthcare and wellness: understanding principles doesn't always translate to applying them effectively. Key Findings: • Many evangelicals grasp core Christian teachings but struggle to apply them to daily life. • True faith integration requires a "coherent spiritual perspective that results in a lifestyle robustly aligned with biblical beliefs." • There's a need for more holistic approaches to faith that encompass all life aspects, including health and well-being. This research underscores a universal challenge: bridging the gap between knowledge and application. Whether in faith, healthcare, or professional development, the ability to translate understanding into action is crucial. For healthcare professionals and wellness advocates, this suggests an opportunity to explore how belief systems can be leveraged to promote healthier lifestyles and better adherence to medical advice. How can we better help individuals apply their core beliefs and faith to daily decision-making, especially regarding health and wellness? https://lnkd.in/gwHwPTuE #FaithAndHealth #KnowledgeApplication #HolisticWellness

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Last week, First 5 California’s Chief Deputy Director, Dr. Angelo Williams, Deputy Director of External and Governmental Affairs, Jorge De La Cruz, and Deputy Director of Program Innovation and Evaluation, Dr. Martha Dominguez-Brinkley, participated in Capitol Impact's Health Policy Education Institute (HPEI). This invaluable session, held at the Capitol Annex Swing Space in Sacramento, provided California legislative staff with essential health education focused on creating a more equitable future for all Californians. Our team highlighted the critical importance of affordable childcare in shaping the well-being of California’s youngest children and their families. We also discussed the Raise CA Strong campaign, sharing why this initiative is crucial to ensuring access to affordable, high-quality childcare. By advocating for increased childcare support through this campaign, we aim to make a lasting impact on the future of California’s children, families, and communities. We are proud to be part of this ongoing dialogue, ensuring that the needs of California’s children and families are front and center in health policy discussions. A special thank you to the California Department of Health Care Access and Information, California Department of Managed Health Care, Covered California, Mental Health Services Oversight & Accountability Commission, and California Department of Developmental Services for their participation and collaboration in this important conversation. #First5California #HealthPolicy #EarlyChildhoodEducation #Childcare #RaiseCAStrong #Equity #PublicPolicy

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Check out "Deep Dive in Five with Sandra Hirsh on The Future of Libraries," an interview with Dr. Sandra Hirsh, Associate Dean of Academics at San José State University’s College of Professional and Global Education. "I want people to understand the critical role that libraries are playing and will continue to play in the future for students, faculty and staff. Libraries like King Library are so much more than just books! Libraries today are about access to information, innovation and experimentation, information/digital/AI literacy and co-creation of knowledge — just to name a few. And this will become an even bigger focus in libraries in the future." Read the full interview here: https://ow.ly/kNue50SlWJA Or find it by heading to the link in our bio!

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Intergenerational poverty creates long-term impacts for the health of children and families, especially in perpetuating racial and ethnic disparities that prevent children of color form experiencing upward mobility, In "Reducing Intergenerational Poverty," National Academies shares evidence-based policy recommendations that have been directly linked to reducing poverty across a variety of health drivers including family structure and education. Share this report with your networks and communities to promote programs that can help put an end to cycles of poverty. https://buff.ly/3tQFwkU #IntergenerationalPoverty #NationalAcademies

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FREE WEBINAR Dr. Pastor, a distinguished professor and director of the Equity Research Institute at the University of Southern California, has dedicated his career to understanding the intersection of economic growth, social equity and community empowerment. In this webinar, he will share groundbreaking research, compelling stories and actionable strategies to drive meaningful change in your community. Building Equitable Communities with Dr. Manuel Pastor December 11, 2024 4:00-5:30 p.m. ET  Register: https://lnkd.in/gcG-EZVa Key topics will include: > Practical steps for advancing equity in policy and practice. > Strategies to address systemic barriers and create inclusive opportunities. > The role of collaboration, innovation and resilience in building stronger communities StriveTogether

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UCLA and APAIT/SSG partnership secure new research grant to study integration of universal basic income among housing insecure people living with HIV  On Monday, December 2, 2024, the UC Regents California HIV/AIDS Research Program (CHRP) announced five million dollars of investment across sixteen newly funded HIV research grants focused on implementation science and policy research. One of the newly funded projects under the area of Economic Justice Interventions to Address HIV and HIV Syndemic Factors in California, is called Project CARE: Californians Access to Resources for Housing and Economic Security to Promote HIV Care.  Project Care is a collaboration between academic and community partners UCLA School of Nursing and Access to Prevention Advocacy Intervention and Treatment, a division of Special Service for Groups (APAIT/SSG). The research team includes Principal Investigator Dr. Wei-Ti Chen and Dr. Chengshi Shiu of UCLA School of Nursing and Jury Candelario, LCSW, of APAIT/SSG. The research team has a long, successful track record of collaboration including a recent Ending the HIV Epidemic (EHE) project funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH). A partial snapshot of the implementation science-based project abstract is below: Integrating housing services with universal basic income (UBI) is emerging as a promising approach for mitigating the adverse effects of homelessness and income insecurity on care engagement among people living with HIV (PLH). However, most current research examines the impacts of housing services or UBI separately, leaving a notable gap in our understanding of their combined effects. To address this gap, the aim of this study is to pilot test an economic intervention for its acceptability, appropriateness, feasibility, and preliminary efficacy in promoting healthcare engagement among 24 PLH experiencing housing instability in the LA metropolitan area. This intervention will consist of UBI, housing services, and the combination of UBI and housing service, allowing for a more accurate evaluation of their implementation outcomes and impacts on health care engagement, both as individual components and in combination. Comparative studies to better understand the potential synergies of these interventions in promoting care engagement among Californian PLH with housing instability are urgently needed. 

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The California State Legislature through Assembly Bill 988 (AB988) has directed the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) to develop a five-year implementation plan for a comprehensive 988 system. 9-8-8 is a universal entry point that help seekers can call or text for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. CalHHS contracted Health Management Associates (HMA) to support this effort. Central to this work is hearing directly from individuals and families who have personal experience with California’s behavioral health crisis services and systems or who may be at greater risk of engaging with the system (e.g., individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance misuse challenges). We are especially interested in those who have called the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or who have experienced a behavioral health crisis event and sought assistance. The survey should take no more than 5 – 10 minutes to complete. All responses will be anonymous. The first 200 individuals who complete the survey* will receive a $15 online Amazon gift card.   Survey Link: https://lnkd.in/eBGCWu3f The survey will ask about your interest in participating in a 90-minute virtual focus group to talk more about your experiences with the crisis system.** Focus group participation is optional and selections will be made the week after the survey closes. Focus group participants who are selected will receive an additional $75 gift card for their time.  *Note: To receive the gift card, respondents will need to provide their email address so that the card can be administered. **Expressing interest does not guarantee that you will be asked to participate in a focus group. HMA may contact you if you express interest in participating in a focus group.

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The California State Legislature through Assembly Bill 988 (AB988) has directed the California Health and Human Services Agency (CalHHS) to develop a five-year implementation plan for a comprehensive 988 system. 9-8-8 is a universal entry point that help seekers can call or text for themselves or if they are worried about a loved one who may need crisis support. CalHHS contracted Health Management Associates (HMA) to support this effort. Central to this work is hearing directly from individuals and families who have personal experience with California’s behavioral health crisis services and systems or who may be at greater risk of engaging with the system (e.g., individuals experiencing mental health and/or substance misuse challenges). We are especially interested in those who have called the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline or who have experienced a behavioral health crisis event and sought assistance. The survey should take no more than 5 – 10 minutes to complete. All responses will be anonymous. The first 200 individuals who complete the survey* will receive a $15 online Amazon gift card.   Survey Link: https://lnkd.in/eBGCWu3f The survey will ask about your interest in participating in a 90-minute virtual focus group to talk more about your experiences with the crisis system.** Focus group participation is optional and selections will be made the week after the survey closes. Focus group participants who are selected will receive an additional $75 gift card for their time.  *Note: To receive the gift card, respondents will need to provide their email address so that the card can be administered. **Expressing interest does not guarantee that you will be asked to participate in a focus group. HMA may contact you if you express interest in participating in a focus group.

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EdVoice Institute, our sister organization, has released its comprehensive, long-term policy agenda with nearly 100 policy recommendations to reshape California's public education system by 2040. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gCsStWbt The policy recs span across 5 pillars identified by EdVoice Institute's team of education policy experts as those necessary to dismantle the system’s inherent inequities. To effectively implement these pillars and ensure educational equity for children from low-income communities, EdVoice Institute also calls on California to meet 2 foundational conditions. #CaliforniaLegislature #PolicyChange #EducationMatters #EducationEquity #ChangingPolicyChangingLives #EdVoice #PublicSchools

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Homelessness in California IN CALIFORNIA, more than 171,000 people experience homelessness daily. California is home to 12% of the nation’s population, 30% of the nation’s homeless population, and half the nation’s unsheltered population. While homelessness is a major issue for California, there are many conflicting ideas about what to do about it. To design effective programs and policies to address homelessness, we need to understand who is experiencing it, how they became homeless, what their experiences are, and what is preventing them from exiting homelessness. Read more: https://lnkd.in/g9j7CyD7

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Districts and county offices of education throughout California face an ever-growing list of mandated state and federal reports, data submissions and planning documents. Although individual reports may not present an undue burden, the cumulative impact draws resources away from critical tasks and responsibilities among staff, especially in smaller districts and COEs. Take a look at just a sampling of the plethora of reports LEAs must submit in CSBA’s “Drowning in Documentation” brief: https://lnkd.in/gtMxz6b4 CSBA co-sponsored SB 1315 would require the California Department of Education to produce a report on the number of state and federal reports required of LEAs in an effort to identify where info could be condensed and where some reports could be eliminated — helping LEAs free up more time and resources to provide for the needs of California’s students.

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