In the month of May, Alliance Healthcare Foundation (AHF) organized several events in Imperial County.

Managed Care Medi-Cal Imperial County Discussion

On May 4, a packed house of business and community leaders attended a discussion on Managed Care held at the Imperial County Department of Social Services. Leaders from Molina Healthcare and California Health & Wellness shared key points on health care coverage (Managed Care Medi-Cal) that would help the attendees better serve the Imperial County community. See notes from the discussion.

 

2017 Imperial County Point-in-Time Count Report Release

On May 11, the most recent “Point-in-Time Count” report on homelessness in Imperial County was released at a press briefing at Catholic Charities in Imperial County. Speakers included:

• Nancy Sasaki, Executive Director of Alliance Healthcare Foundation
• Les Smith, President of El Centro Chamber of Commerce
• Deborah D. Owen, Assistant District Attorney Imperial County
• Peggy Price, Director of Imperial County Dept of Social Services

The 2017 “Point-in-Time Count” report reveals that our region has twice the state average rate of homelessness with 1,071 sheltered and unsheltered homeless people. Learn more about key findings of the report, the methodology used to analyze data, and what the Imperial County Continuum of Care Council (IVCCC) recommends in order to end homelessness in Imperial County.

“The Imperial Valley Continuum of Care Council is a task force made up of local organizations working to end homelessness in our region,” says Les Smith, Chair of the IVCCC. Smith, who is also President of the El Centro Chamber of Commerce, says, “The report is a useful tool for providing good information and educating our entire community, and local and regional elected officials, about the causes and impact of homelessness,” he says.

Nancy Sasaki, Executive Director of the Alliance Healthcare Foundation says, “Imperial County did an amazing job in gaining a better understanding of who is experiencing homelessness and why. This level of in-depth analysis is the first of its kind in terms of both highlighting our challenges and giving us insight on solutions moving forward.”

• 2017 “Point-in-Time Count” report
• Press release – released May 9, 2017
• High Unemployment, Low Wages Drive Growing Homeless Population In Imperial County – KBPS News
• Annual Point-in-Time Count survey shows increase in homelessness – KYMA-TV
• Report finds that Imperial County has twice as much homeless as state average – Imperial Valley Press
• Report says Imperial County homeless count appears to have doubled, but is due to more efficient counting methods – The Desert Review
• Recap by Adelante Valle (Spanish)

Imperial Valley Bus Tour – Board of Trustees

AHF board of trustees and staff visited Imperial Valley by bus on May 12. At the Imperial County Public Health Department, the board of trustees heard from Helina Hoyt and Christina Olson about their Community Health Assessment and Community Health Improvement Plans, Local Health Authority and CACHI work. Thereafter, El Centro Regional Medical Center CEO, Dr. Adolphe Edward, DHA and Pioneers Memorial Hospital CEO, Mr. Larry Lewis discussed the hospitals’ partnerships and affiliations with San Diego based hospitals and care networks. A discussion about homelessness in Imperial County and the recent release of the Point in Time Count Report was led by Les Smith, outgoing chair of El Centro Chamber of Commerce and current chair of the Imperial Valley Continuum of Care Council Executive Board, during the lunch session at Calexico Neighborhood House. After lunch, trustees met and networked with Imperial County grantees to understand the biggest challenges and accomplishments of the year.

• Court Appointed Special Advocates – Alex Cardenas, Executive Director
• Imperial Valley Food Bank – Sara Griffen, Executive Director
• Comité Civico del Valle – Luis Olmedo, Executive Director
• Calexico Neighborhood House – Ricardo Ortega, Executive Director
• Cancer Resource Center of the Desert – Helen Palomino, CEO
• 2-1-1 Imperial – Orlando Johnson, County Coordinator
• Boys & Girls Club – Misty Lee, Executive Director

In the afternoon, the trustees visited the future site of the Imperial Valley Food Bank. Then they discussed environmental health and the current state of Salton Sea at Alford’s Distributing with Comite Civico de Valle, Californian Rural Legal Assistance, and Campesinos Unidos. The day ended with the Board of Trustees meeting before the drive back to the AHF office. AHF would like to thank everyone that participated in the Imperial Valley bus tour.