In the last week of June, Communities Lifting Communities (CLC) sponsored a series of health equity events in partnership with HASC. In line with CLC’s vision, the gatherings aimed to promote health care system transformation, reduce inequities and improve community health.
Diverse Vendor Fair
On June 20, Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles (CHLA) hosted a diverse vendor fair. Over 60 attended, including hospital members, diverse-owned firms and community stakeholders.
Audrey Chang, project manager of vendor diversity, presented CHLA’s supplier diversity initiative and guided business owners on becoming potential vendors for the hospital. One vendor shared that the event provided insight and guidance on approaching hospital projects.
Supplier Diversity Mixer
More than 125 people attended the June 25 supplier diversity mixer hosted by Cedars-Sinai and Huntington Health, a Cedars-Sinai affiliate. Dr. Lori Morgan, president and CEO of Huntington Health, provided opening remarks about the hospital’s commitment to advancing supplier diversity.
CLC and HASC are excited to continue helping advance health equity and economic development by creating opportunities for diverse-owned vendors to connect with our hospital members. Join CLC’s next event, the second annual Supplier Diversity Conference, on September 26. Learn more on the event website.
Birth Equity Initiative Virtual Roundtable
The Birth Equity Roundtable, featuring team members from MemorialCare Miller Children’s and Women’s Hospital, drew over 30 participants from HASC member hospitals.
Rev. Candace Kelly, DMin, MDiv; Sherilyn Kelly, executive director of women’s and neonatal services; and Lauren M. Yu, MD, OB hospitalist, shared about their journey with the Cherished Futures for Black Moms & Babies program. The team also discussed its latest successes and the hospital’s commitment to advancing birth equity within the community.
Inland Empire Behavioral Health Collaborative Meeting
The Inland Empire Behavioral Health Collaborative’s third meeting on June 26 focused on improving behavioral and mental health care in Riverside and San Bernardino counties. Fifty-plus attendees from hospitals, health systems, health plans and behavioral health departments discussed ways to help people in crisis, reduce emergency department wait times, and ensure timely transportation for patients. Participants also talked about sharing best practices, improving staff training, working with schools and housing for people experiencing homelessness.
Los Angeles Community Health Assessment and Action Partnership (LA Partnership) Convening
The LA Partnership hosted a virtual convening on June 27 to discuss ways to improve community health and address homelessness. The meeting included participants from hospital and health care organizations, local public health departments, and community-based groups.
Key topics of discussion included the Pasadena Outreach and Response Team (PORT), which serves chronically homeless individuals. PORT is a program of the Pasadena public health and fire departments, Union Station Homeless Services and Huntington Health. The City of Long Beach Health and Human Services team described its Multi-service Center, mobile access center, REACH Teams and Community Crisis Response Team. These programs aim to provide direct services, case management and intensive support for unhoused people.
Additionally, the collaborative explored strategies for program evaluation and sharing best practices across California. Other topics included securing additional resources for street medicine programs and the potential of community health navigators.
To learn more about CLC’s health equity events, please visit https://communities.hasc.org or contact Karen Ochoa, [email protected].