Wellbeing-Icon

Healing, Equity, Advocacy & Leadership (HEAL) Project

Who We Are

HEAL  aims to promote healthy behaviors and environments as a substance use prevention strategy for Latinx & Black Youth.

goals-icon

Reduce 30 day substance use among 9th grade Latino students
Reduce drug related suspensions by Hispanic/Latino and African American students

1) Healing Circles

  • Provide the space to heal, share, and build relations

2) Youth Coalitions

  • Engage youth in advocacy, leadership, and peer to peer education

3) Art Engagement

  • Engage youth in the arts as a tool for advocacy, expression, and connection

4) Youth Advocacy Summit

  • Peer to Peer engagement and leadership development

Youth Coalitions

Establish Youth Leadership Coalitions (YLC) in Visalia high schools for African American and Latino youth to engage with their peers in the development and implementation of community solutions surrounding social justice issues, including the disproportionate suspension of African American youth and the high number of alcohol and tobacco retailers in communities of color

Art Engagement

With the support of local Latino and African American Art Ambassadors, engage  Latino and African American youth in art expression, such as painting/graffiti art, spoken poetry, and rap/song and host an annual art showcase around the topics of social justice and health equity.

Youth Advocacy Summit

Support Latino and African American youth leaders annually in organizing and leading an Annual Summer Youth Leadership Summit for Latino and African American youth each year in support of building resiliency, enhancing leadership skills and engaging youth in discussions on how to improve their communities

This project is funded by Elevate Youth California. Elevate Youth California is funded by State of California’s Department of Health Care Services through the Proposition 64 Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account and is administered by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation.

Image Gallery

HEAL Team


Community Photos


Wellbeing-Icon

Healing, Equity, Advocacy & Leadership (HEAL) Project

Who We Are

HEAL  aims to promote healthy behaviors and environments as a substance use prevention strategy for Latinx & Black Youth.

goals-icon

Reduce 30 day substance use among 9th grade Latino students
Reduce drug related suspensions by Hispanic/Latino and African American students

1) Healing Circles

  • Provide the space to heal, share, and build relations

2) Youth Coalitions

  • Engage youth in advocacy, leadership, and peer to peer education

3) Art Engagement

  • Engage youth in the arts as a tool for advocacy, expression, and connection

4) Youth Advocacy Summit

  • Peer to Peer engagement and leadership development

Youth Coalitions

Establish Youth Leadership Coalitions (YLC) in Visalia high schools for African American and Latino youth to engage with their peers in the development and implementation of community solutions surrounding social justice issues, including the disproportionate suspension of African American youth and the high number of alcohol and tobacco retailers in communities of color

Art Engagement

With the support of local Latino and African American Art Ambassadors, engage  Latino and African American youth in art expression, such as painting/graffiti art, spoken poetry, and rap/song and host an annual art showcase around the topics of social justice and health equity.

Youth Advocacy Summit

Support Latino and African American youth leaders annually in organizing and leading an Annual Summer Youth Leadership Summit for Latino and African American youth each year in support of building resiliency, enhancing leadership skills and engaging youth in discussions on how to improve their communities

This project is funded by Elevate Youth California. Elevate Youth California is funded by State of California’s Department of Health Care Services through the Proposition 64 Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account and is administered by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation.

Resources

RESOURCES


INSTAGRAM POSTS
@HEAL.PROJECT


Systemic racism and the tobacco industry
Feagin defines systemic racism in the introduction to "Racist America: Roots, Current Realities, and Future Reparations": "Systemic racism includes the complex array of antiblack practices, the unjustly gained political-economic power of whites, the continuing economic and other resource inequalities along racial lines, and the white racist ideologies and attitudes created to maintain and rationalize white privilege and power. Systemic here means that the core racist realities are manifested in each of society's major parts [...] each major part of U.S. society - the economy, politics, education, religion, the family - reflects the fundamental reality of systemic racism." Swipe to learn more about how you can seek justice and stop the harmful practices of the tobacco industry. Citation: NPR Morning Edition, What Systemic Racism Means and the Way it Harms Communities, July 2020
The Tobacco Industry: Today, the tobacco industry has admitted to the harms of cigarettes, yet our youth face a new threat with vape and other tobacco products.  Historical targeting of communities of color: Today, tobacco-related diseases are still the number one cause of death in the African-American community. Lower-income communities are less likely to be protected by smoke-free laws overall and African American children and adults are more likely to be exposed to secondhand smoke than any other racial or ethnic group. Research also shows that deaths caused by secondhand smoke have a disproportionate impact on African-Americans and Hispanics.  Disproportionate impact tobacco has on youth: African-Americans have the highest rate of cigar use. Cigars include a variety of products, including traditional large cigars, longer and slimmer versions of large cigars called cigarillos, and little cigars, which are like cigarillos, but generally have a filter like cigarettes. E-cigarettes are the most commonly used tobacco product among Hispanic/Latino high school students (23.2%) and middle school students (13.1%). Overall, 10.5% of middle schoolers and 27.5% of high schoolers use e-cigarettes.
What We Can Do: The community of Visalia has over 107 tobacco stores with the highest concentration of the stores being in communities of color, particularly the lowest income area.  May 17th: Visalia city council voted 2-1 in favor to allow a smoke shop to operate about 500 feet away from Houston Elementary School.  May 24th: Visalia planning commission meeting todat at 7pm. Submit a public comment by emailing Susan.currier@visalia.city.  Public comment email template on next slide. Deadline to send email is today at 4pm.  Mail letter to: City of Visalia Planning Commission Attn. Susan Currier 315 East Acequia Avenue Visalia, CA 93291  Benefits: Maintain a list of tobacco and e-cigarette retailers. Reduce the density or clustering of retailers. Reduce sales to youth. Restrict retailers located near schools or youth-oriented facilities.
Mail letter to: City of Visalia Planning Commission Attn. Susan Currier 315 East Acequia Avenue Visalia, CA 93291  Email: susan.currier@visalia.city (by May 24th at 4pm)  Template: My name is [blank] and I am a (parent, student, community member, etc.). I do not support the decision to allow a smoke shop, PRD Cigarettes, to operate around 500 feet away from Houston Elementary School or other youth-sensitive spaces. [Include your reason for your stance above, and sign your name.]

PSE


Healing, Equity, Advocacy & Leadership (HEAL) Project

Youth Development

Healing, Equity, Advocacy & Leadership (HEAL) Project

Wellbeing-Icon

Healing, Equity, Advocacy & Leadership (HEAL) Project

Who We Are

HEAL  aims to promote healthy behaviors and environments as a substance use prevention strategy for Latinx & Black Youth.

goals-icon

Reduce 30 day substance use among 9th grade Latino students
Reduce drug related suspensions by Hispanic/Latino and African American students

1) Healing Circles

  • Provide the space to heal, share, and build relations

2) Youth Coalitions

  • Engage youth in advocacy, leadership, and peer to peer education

3) Art Engagement

  • Engage youth in the arts as a tool for advocacy, expression, and connection

4) Youth Advocacy Summit

  • Peer to Peer engagement and leadership development

Youth Coalitions

Establish Youth Leadership Coalitions (YLC) in Visalia high schools for African American and Latino youth to engage with their peers in the development and implementation of community solutions surrounding social justice issues, including the disproportionate suspension of African American youth and the high number of alcohol and tobacco retailers in communities of color

Art Engagement

With the support of local Latino and African American Art Ambassadors, engage  Latino and African American youth in art expression, such as painting/graffiti art, spoken poetry, and rap/song and host an annual art showcase around the topics of social justice and health equity.

Youth Advocacy Summit

Support Latino and African American youth leaders annually in organizing and leading an Annual Summer Youth Leadership Summit for Latino and African American youth each year in support of building resiliency, enhancing leadership skills and engaging youth in discussions on how to improve their communities

This project is funded by Elevate Youth California. Elevate Youth California is funded by State of California’s Department of Health Care Services through the Proposition 64 Youth Education, Prevention, Early Intervention and Treatment Account and is administered by The Center at Sierra Health Foundation.

Every Woman Counts

Who We Are

Every Woman Counts provides free comprehensive breast and cervical cancer early detection services for age/income-eligible uninsured/underinsured California residents.

Regions


Bay Area

Central Valley

Desert Sierra

Gold Country

Los Angeles County

San Diego/Imperial Counties

Northern California Regions


Resources

State & National Breast & Cervical Resources

Cancer Legal Resource Center

CLRC hosts a national, toll-free Telephone Assistance Line where callers can receive free and confidential information about relevant laws and resources for their particular situation.

Pay for housing during breast cancer treatment

Region 1 – San Diego & Imperial Counties

Region 4 – Los Angeles County

211 LA County
2-1-1 or 1.800.339.6993

211 LA County is an effective resource line providing access to comprehensive social services and support for L.A. County residents. With one phone call, clients are directly screened and connected with the services they need for themselves or their children, including shelters, meals, autism screening, veterans’ services, substance abuse programs, health care, and mental health services.

Los Angeles County
Department of Health Services

Safety net provider for LA County with 4 hospitals and 19 clinic sites. No patient is turned away.

PALS for Health
213.553.1818

PALS provides no-cost healthcare interpretation services in the Los Angeles County area

Region 8 – Bay Area

Breast Cancer Prevention Partners

BCPP works to prevent breast cancer by elimination our exposure to toxic chemicals and radiation linked to the disease.

Breast Cancer Emergency Fund
(San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara Counties)

BCEF provides emergency financial assistance to low=income women and mane battling breast cancer.

Breast Cancer Action

Breast Cancer Action’s mission is to achieve health justice for all women at risk of and living with breast cancer.

211 Bay Area

211 Connects Bay Area residents with health and human service programs in their local community.

Contra Costa Crisis Center

Dedicated to keeping people alive and safe, helping them through crises, and providing or connected them with culturally relevant resources in the community.

Circulo de Vida

Ciculo de Vida’s mission is to walk alongside Latinos living with cancer and their families as they find their way through the fear, confusion, and uncertainty of a cancer diagnosis.

Shanti Project

Shanti Project exists to enhance the health, quality of life, and well-being of people with terminal, life-threatening or disabling illness or conditions. Through a continuum of services, including in-home and onsite patient and care navigation, emotional and practical support and preserving the human-animal bond, Shanti strives to achieve the highest medical and quality of life outcomes of San Francisco’s most vulnerable.

Region 10 – Northern California

2-1-1-Norcal; serving Shasta and
Tehama Counties or dial 2-1-1

2-1-1- Butte and Glenn Counties.
Dial 2-1-1 or Text your zip code to 898211

Region 3 – Desert Sierra

American Cancer Society-Inland Empire
951.300.1200

ACS provides information, guidance, transportation to treatment and support groups. They also offer up to date information on major cancer sites and provide peer support before, during and after treatment.

Susan G Komen Inland Empire Affiliate
951.676.7465

Susan G Komen Inland Empire Affiliate goals are to increase breast health awareness and offer women and families residing in Inland Empire life-saving information and support. The Komen Inland Empire’s service area covers all of Riverside and San Bernardino Counties including the Coachella Valley.

Catholic Charities – Inland Empire
909.388.1239 or 951.924.9964

Catholic Charities San Bernardino & Riverside Counties is dedicated to the alleviation of the suffering and the advancement of the poor and those in crisis in local communities. Catholic Charities serves all persons in need without regard for religious affiliation. In partnership with individuals, families and communities, they advocate for needs and support client’s right to self-determination.

211 – San Bernardino and
Riverside Inland Empire United Way
909.980.2857

Inland Empire United Way is committed to improve the lives and futures of those in need by strategically investing in education, health and financial stability. Ensure low-income families have their basic needs met and move from poverty to self-sufficiency.

Michelle’s Place Cancer Resource Center
951.699.5455

Michelle’s place empowers individuals and families impacted by cancer through education and support services.

Region 6 – Central Valley

Region 9 – Gold Country

Albie Aware Breast Cancer Foundation

Provides assistance for diagnostic testing, patient advocacy, prevention education and compassionate support to local individuals facing or fighting breast cancer.  They serve the greater Sacramento area.  (916) 927-1592.

UC Davis Comprehensive Cancer Center

Community Outreach and Engagement office with support groups in surrounding counties 1-800-770-9261

Every Woman Counts

Who We Are

Every Woman Counts provides free comprehensive breast and cervical cancer early detection services for age/income-eligible uninsured/underinsured California residents.

Regions


Bay Area

Central Valley

Desert Sierra

Gold Country

Los Angeles County

San Diego/Imperial Counties

Northern California Regions


Events

November 2024

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Every Woman Counts

Who We Are

Every Woman Counts provides free comprehensive breast and cervical cancer early detection services for age/income-eligible uninsured/underinsured California residents.

Regions


Bay Area

Central Valley

Desert Sierra

Gold Country

Los Angeles County

San Diego/Imperial Counties

Northern California Regions


Contact

English and Spanish Translation Services Available.
Patient Assistance 1-844-496-6366 (1-844-4women)

Clara Omogbai, Dr.PH, MPH, MLS Project Director

REGION 1 – San Diego/Imperial Counties


Shannon Sadoudi, RN, MSN, PHN Clinical Coordinator

Karla Tickes, MPH Health Educator

REGION 3 – Desert Sierra

Inyo, Riverside, San Bernardino


Denise Stoll, RN, MSN Clinical Coordinator

Asia Brown-Johnson, BS Health Educator

REGION 4 – Los Angeles County


Marilyn Kleinhein, RN, MN, NP Clinical Coordinator

Charmaine Lopez, RN Clinical Coordinator

Jenifer Metz, MPH Health Educator

REGION 6 – Central Valley

Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Mariposa, Merced, Tulare, Tuolumne, and Stanislaus Counties


Sharon Mather, BSN, RN, PHN, CCM Clinical Coordinator

Katelyn Luna, RN Clinical Coordinator

Argelia Flores, BA Health Educator

REGION 8 – Bay Area

Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, San Francisco, San Mateo, and Solano Counties


Mary Ann Redding, RN, MSN, PHN Clinical Coordinator

Karen McCarthy, RN, BSN, PHN, CCM Clinical Coordinator

Larissa Lazaro, BS Health Educator

REGION 9 – Gold Country

Amador, Alpine, Calaveras, El Dorado, Mono, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, San Joaquin, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, and Yuba


Michelle Outlaw, BA Health Educator

Mary Ann Redding, RN, MSN Clinical Coordinator

REGION 10 – Northern California

Butte, Colusa, Del Norte, Glenn, Humboldt, Lake, Lassen, Mendocino, Modoc, Napa, Plumas, Shasta, Siskiyou, Sonoma, Tehama, and Trinity


Karen McCarthy, RN Clinical Coordinator

Kellen Kaiser, MS Health Educator