Moving toward more just health across Santa Clara County requires focused efforts in each issue area. Each year, the Health Equity Agenda builds on pervious years. It then turns community members’ feedback and data from the metrics into plans and task.
Find out more about what the Health Equity Agenda is focusing on this year. Learn more about the research behind the metrics.
Access to Care Access to high quality care is important for everyone’s health and wellbeing. Access can be hampered by things like cost of care, transportation, provider shortages, long waits for specialty referrals, and difficult to navigate systems.
The HEA is researching and developing a work plan that will increase the number of culturally-responsive health care providers in Santa Clara County.
Air Quality Air Quality is typically the measure of how clean or polluted the air is. Heat increases the amount of ozone pollution and particulate pollution. Air Quality and extreme heat impact everyone’s health and impacts those with chronic lower respiratory issues (COPD, asthma) even more
The HEA is providing free, portable, indoor HEPA air filtration units to vulnerable, low-income residents to mitigate exposure to poor indoor air quality.
Behavioral Health Behavioral health includes both mental health and substance use. Unfortunately, many people experience shame or stigma when seeking these services, which can prevent them from getting needed help.
The HEA is developing a workforce project that will build a pipeline of diverse staff trained in behavioral health.
Diabetes Diabetes is a chronic health condition that affects how your body turns food into energy. There are two types of diabetes, Type 1 and Type 2. While there is no cure for diabetes, there are treatments to help manage it.
The HEA is researching and creating a comprehensive work plan to address diabetes, including policy.
Homelessness There is a significant lack of sufficient shelter and affordable housing options in our county. This shortage creates stigma and makes it challenging for individuals to access the limited resources that do exist.
The HEA is working toward passing a local policy that will mean all Santa Clara County residents have a right to counsel in the face of eviction. (Local Policy: Right to Counsel)
Working off the issues shared by our community, the Health Equity Agenda Steering Committee has implemented ways to create positive change. Find out more about each of the issues and the areas of focus this year below. The Health Equity Agenda’s Areas of Focus use a “both and” approach. This means we focus on prevention as well.
Navigating the health care system greatly affects an individual’s health and adherence to care plans. Community Workers, or promotoras, are vital in helping people understand and navigate this system. To improve this support, the HEA is forming a Community Worker Council to boost their availability and launch a Patients’ Rights Campaign.
Santa Clara County struggles with insufficient data on race/ethnicity, gender, and sexual orientation, complicating efforts to create inclusive policies. To address this, the HEA is implementing a detailed disaggregated data program to better capture and analyze information for specific groups, enhancing future focus and inclusivity.
Our journey to equitable health in Santa Clara County requires focused efforts in each issue area. Each year, the Health Equity Agenda builds on past successes, transforming community feedback and data into actionable strategies.