Center for Civic Partnerships

Solano Health Improvement Initiative

For more information on the Health Partnership's work contact:

Yolanda Braxton, Population Heath Improvement Coordinator
975 Sereno Drive
Vallejo, CA 94589
Tel: (707) 651-3508
Email: Yolanda.E.Braxton@ncal.kaiperm.org

Cancer -- Residents impacted by cancer will have improved health and well being through increased cancer prevention, early detection and other services:

Young, Modern and Tobacco Free –reached over 200 teenage females in Dixon, Fairfield and Vacaville to lead smoke-free lives.
Health Education Community Conversations –Over 100 ethnic-racial residents joined in on sessions that provided free health information, education and screening as well as an opportunity to share personal experiences about health care.
Mammography Day –71 women participated in this event (offered twice) that focused on mammography care for women in order to practice early detection of breast cancer.
From Me to You –created, designed, developed and currently distributing this cancer care handbook that is composed of personal stories, poems and antidotes of residents impacted by cancer.
For Our Sisters – While our original goal was to have 5 –7 beauty consultants enrolled as informal breast care consultants. There are 15 breast care consultant in beauty salons who have directly impacted the lives of over 300 African American women, and over 45 up and coming beauty consultants have been involved in the For Our Sisters training. Numerous displays encouraging women to care for their breast by practicing early detection techniques exist throughout the county; the project have been successful in obtaining funds that have allowed it to operate throughout the duration of the initiative.

Diabetes -- Those with diabetes or at risk of diabetes will live well and independently in the community.

Diabetes Screening Campaign - Over 5,000 residents have had their blood sugar screened for diabetes.
Come Taste the Diabetic Cuisine –Over 290 participants. A diabetic focused specialized event that provides sessions that target nutritional and physical aspects of diabetes.
Diabetes Support Group –considered to be something of a phenomenon because of its high turn out rates, the Hispanic American diabetes support group continues to draw a minimum of 15 participants on a monthly basis.
With upwards of 120 people in attendance the Diabetes Task Force designed and implemented Solano County's first Diabetes Awareness Countywide conference.

CCP Health Partnership Newsbrief: February 2001

TEAMS Builds Teams

Building capacity, leadership and a creating a place for diverse community voices are the primary goals of a creative new program called TEAMS (Transformation, Education and Mutual Support). In six short months, TEAMS has recruited a core group of mothers from five diverse communities to work on issues of their choice to improve the health and wellness of their children. Each participant serves as a liaison/recruiter for her respective community. Their success has already been visible by their presence at community hearings conducted by the Board of Supervisors to hear the community’s hopes for the use of Tobacco Settlement Funds. Parents are also becoming regular and active members of their respective city health teams. In May, three of the mothers and Judith Rosenburg, the TEAMS facilitator, attended the National Community Building Network in Los Angeles.

CCP Health Partnership Newsbrief: Summer 2000

Solano Kids Insurance Program Recognized as a National Model

Solano Health Improvement Initiative's (SHII) Solano Kids Insurance Program's (SKIP) innovative marketing continues to serve as a national model for children's healthcare enrollment. SKIP was designed to provide one-stop-service for enrollment information on a variety of insurance plans available for children (e.g., Medi-Cal, Healthy Families). One of the marketing approaches utilized by the program is SKIPPER, a Disney type mascot. SKIPPER was recently invited to participate in a national conference focusing on schools' role in enrolling children. To date SKIP has enrolled over 2500 Solano children. SKIP has just received a grant of $115,000 to expand its work through June 2000.

CCP Health Partnership Newsbrief: Winter 2000

Solano Collaborative Supports Innovative Cancer Program

"Support and informed guidance" are the cornerstones of Solano Health Improvement Initiative’s (SHII) innovative Patient Navigator System. The Patient Navigator System serves people diagnosed with cancer by assisting them in effectively accessing and negotiating the health care system; providing emotional and psychosocial support; and eliminating barriers that may delay needed treatment. To insure program success, a strong infrastructure is being created which includes the formalization of relationships with major health care providers in South County. The Patient Navigator System promotes a shift in the way health providers promote co-management of diseases. At the same time, the Patient Navigator provides direct services through the case management of disease.

CCP Health Partnership Newsbrief: Summer 99

Solano Collaborative Promotes Insurance Enrollment

The Solano Health Improvement Initiative continues to be involved in an innovative program they helped reduce the number of uninsured children in Solano County. The Solano Kids Insurance Program (SKIP) uses a one-stop shopping approach to provide information on a variety of insurance plans available for children (e.g., Medi-Cal, Healthy Families). The SKIP manager helps parents, caregivers and healthcare providers make an informed choice and enroll children in the appropriate health plan. The collaborative hopes that the outreach using SKIP, which is not associated with a particular insurance program, will reach families who may not respond to ads for Medi-Cal or Healthy Families. They are also working with others statewide to overcome barriers such as "public charge" concerns and the complexity of the Medi-Cal/Healthy Families application form.

CCP Health Partnership Newsbrief: Winter 99

Solano Health Improvement Initiative Welfare Reform Activities

The Solano Health Partnership has been centrally involved in welfare reform planning and coordination. They convened 10 community forums co-sponsored by local community-based organizations. Community Issues Forum volunteers, connected to the Ohio-based Kettering Foundation, facilitated the forums. In several forums, AFDC recipients shared their views and challenged the "welfare mom" stereotypes. The Partnership has also directly impacted the state plan through their legislative delegation, which includes Senate Budget chair Mike Thompson. They helped save Solano $1.3 million in childcare funding that had been threatened by proposed changes in county funding formulas. Solano is concerned about the lack of jobs and childcare slots for those projected to be cut from welfare. One sign of hope is a new, integrated job readiness center, which has already met the first year TANF placement target. More importantly, after six months, 85 percent of the individuals placed are still in their jobs.

The Solano Integrated Services bill passed the Assembly and the Senate Human Resources Committee. The bill is central to their Health Improvement Initiative implementation plan. They have secured the support of Grantland Johnson, Department of Health and Human Services Region IX Director, to work with the state administration in developing the waiver approval process set forth in the bill.

Health Partnership members have also been actively involved in sponsoring and speaking at community forums on children's health issues sponsored by Solano County’s three congressional representatives. These forums addressed insurance for children and other child health priorities associated with the Solano Health Partnership’s core outcome, "All children will be healthy and ready to learn when they enter school."

CCP Health Partnership Newsbrief: Spring 97