Community Health Councils, with our two coalitions Covering Kids and Families (CKF) and LA Access to Health Coverage, collaborated with California Coverage and Health Initiatives to host Capitol Day on April 3rd, 2018. Eight partner organizations (Los Angeles County Department of Education, Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County, Child and Family Guidance Center, Vision y Compromiso, Venice Family Clinic, Southside Coalition of Community Health Centers and Asian Americans Advancing Justice – Los Angeles) joined us as we visited 13 legislative offices representing LA County.
The legislative visits provided an opportunity for partner organizations to share the work that they are doing and advocate for the continuous improvement of our health care system. Both the CKF and LA Access coalitions are committed to ensuring equitable access to and utilization of health coverage in the county and state through the exchange of information and experiences, and policy development and implementation. As such, the focus of these visits was to urge legislators to prioritize state bills that would improve existing health systems, increase access to coverage for all Californians, and build towards a future of universal health coverage. For information on specific bills discussed in these visits, check out CHC’s priority bills here.
In addition to thanking the legislators for their hard work in upholding the progressive values of California and protecting health care during a turbulent federal climate, groups advocated for sustaining and improving safety-net programs, prioritizing comprehensive enrollment services, and focus on generating revenue for the state. CHC will continue to monitor policies and advocate at the state and local level to ensure a healthier future for all of our communities. If you have any questions about participating in advocacy activities, please contact Bhavika Patel at bpatel@risingcommunities.org.