By Audrey Haberman, CEO, The Sheri and Les Biller Family Foundation
As part of our commitment to equitable change, this year we began forging partnerships with organizations across the country who are championing health equity in communities most impacted by health inequities and working to combat health disparities: preventable differences in the impact of disease, injury, violence, or opportunities to achieve optimal health. These differences are experienced by populations that have been disadvantaged by their social or economic status, geographic location, and environment.
We engaged with organizations working toward equitable access to healthcare by putting community voices at the center, and ensuring health care is culturally relevant.
We have recently awarded general operating grants to the following organizations who serve communities and people most impacted by health inequities. These organizations have all been successful through programs and advocacy to bridge gaps in healthcare access and provide crucial services to under-resourced communities:
Alameda County Care Alliance (ACCA): https://www.care-alliance.org/
Helping to bridge the gap between health delivery systems, community organizations, faith-based communities and communities of color in managing advanced illness.
Cancer Support Community (CSC): https://www.cancersupportcommunity.org/
Uplifts and strengthens people impacted by cancer by providing support, fostering compassionate communities, and breaking down barriers to care.
Latino Health Access (LHA): https://www.latinohealthaccess.org/
Partnering with communities to bring health, equity, and sustainable change through education, services, consciousness-raising, and civic participation.
MHP Salud: https://mhpsalud.org/
Serving communities by embracing the strengths and experiences of individuals and families, engaging them to achieve health and well-being.
Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN): https://www.migrantclinician.org/
Creating practical solutions at the intersection of vulnerability, migration, and health and working for a world based on health justice and equity, where migration is never an impediment to well-being.
National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC): https://www.nachc.org/
Promoting efficient, high-quality, comprehensive health care that is accessible, culturally and linguistically competent, community directed, and patient-centered for all.
National Minority Health Association (NMHA): https://www.thenmha.org/
Working toward health equity and closing disparities in health and healthcare for underserved, marginalized, and hard-to-reach, communities of color.
PAUSE: https://www.timetopause.org/
Supporting people of color through grief and end of life with safe, culturally sensitive, and expert-informed resources.
The Coalition to Transform Advanced Care (C-TAC): https://thectac.org/
Ensuring everyone facing a serious illness has the care that they need, when and where they need it.
The National Association of Community Health Workers (NACHW): https://nachw.org/
Unifying community health workers across geography, ethnicity, sector and experience to support communities to achieve health, equity and social justice.
Venice Family Clinic: https://venicefamilyclinic.org/
A federally Qualified Health Center providing primary health care to people in need and improving the health of people and communities through accessible, quality care in Los Angeles.
These organizations’ important work aligns with our mission to make early, equitable access to supportive cancer care possible for everyone. Supportive care goes beyond cancer treatment; it encompasses holistic support for patients and their caregivers, addressing their physical, emotional, and social needs. By supporting these organizations, we are not only investing in the health of individuals but also in the strength and resilience of entire communities.
These organizations – and the individuals who are part of them — can have on the lives of others and advancing health equity in the communities they serve. We’re humbled to support these organizations in their mission and work to create healthier, more equitable communities, where everyone has a fair and just opportunity to attain their highest level of health.
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