Gloria Rodriguez’s Contributions to the Community Recognized by Top Latina Leaders

3/11/08 - CCALAC President & CEO, Gloria Rodriguez with US Congresswoman Hilda Solis, CA-32

Washington, DC, March 10, 2008 - The Imagen Foundation, in cooperation with Honorary Chair Congresswoman Hilda L. Solis (D-CA), will host an event tomorrow night to celebrate Women’s History Month by honoring the contributions that Latinas have made in their communities. Gloria Rodriguez, CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County along with six other extraordinary Latinas and Latina Magazine will be recognized for their leadership and work. They will be joined by a prestigious Honorary Committee including Congresswomen Grace F. Napolitano (D-CA), Ileana Ros-Lehtinen (R-FL), Lucille Roybal-Allard (D-CA), Linda T. Sanchez (D-CA), and Loretta Sanchez (D-CA). 

“Gloria’s work in healthcare has made a positive impact on the Latina community and is an inspiration to countless young people nationwide,” said Honorary Chair, Congresswoman Hilda Solis. “This dinner, being held at the Library of Congress, will give Latina leaders in business, government, media, and entertainment the opportunity to celebrate the accomplishments of Gloria Rodriguez and the other distinguished honorees.” 

President of The Imagen Foundation Helen Hernandez said, “The Imagen Foundation’s early mission to recognize and celebrate positive portrayals of Latinas in television and film has been expanded.  This year’s honorees include Latinas from many different professional fields, all of whom are making positive contributions to our country’s overall social fabric.” Hernandez continued, “This event provides the Latina community with the chance to honor those who have made phenomenal progress in their professional careers, as well as teach young Latina women that they can truly make a difference.” 

Gloria Rodriguez has more than 27 years of experience in healthcare operations, management, funding, public policy, advocacy, and health education.  In November 2005, she returned to Los Angeles to become the CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County.  Prior to this she served for more than seven years as the CEO for the Washington Association of Community and Migrant Health Centers. Rodriguez was instrumental in establishing the University of Washington Chicano/Latino Mentor Network for health professional students.  She was awarded the Distinguished Alumnus Award by the University of Washington in 2002 for this work which significantly increased Latino enrollment and retention.  Rodriguez was also the founding CEO of the Alliance for Multi-Cultural Health in Tacoma, Washington.  The Alliance is a statewide organization dedicated to eliminating healthcare disparities in minority and disadvantaged communities through capacity building, community development and workforce development. 

The other honorees include Univision Television talk show host, Cristina Saralegui, former CNN reporter Maria Hinojosa, Latina Magazine, LULAC national President Rosa Rosales, environmental justice youth advocates from New York’s UPROSE Jennifer Casamayor, Crystal Castro, and Judith Cardenas.  

The Nielsen Company is the presenting sponsor of the Latina Leaders-Celebrating Our Voices Dinner. Grifols, Inc. is the major sponsor of the evening, with several other corporations joining as sponsors including AT&T, Southwest Airlines, Arbitron and El Proyecto Del Barrio. 

The Imagen Foundation, best known for its annual Imagen Awards which honors positive portrayals of Latinos and Latino cultures in television and film, was established in 1985. Imagen provides access, education, and resources to Latinos in the industry and those looking for careers in entertainment.  Imagen has expanded its Awards to include events that profile positive and successful Latino/as as a way to share with the nation their positive influence on society and insight into the U.S. Latino experience.

L to R - Dr. Richard Carmona, MD, MPH, FACS, 17th Surgeon General of the United States (2002-2006),
Nancy Mintie, Executive Director of Uncommon Good, Gloria Rodriguez, MPH, President & CEO of CCALAC

The presentations and photos from the Symposium are on our website.
 

The Los Angeles Free Clinic Announces
Largest Gift In The Clinic's History

Free Clinic to be renamed in honor of donors Haim and Cheryl Saban 

Los Angeles, March 3, 2008 – The Los Angeles Free Clinic today announced an extraordinary gift of $10 million from philanthropists Haim and Cheryl Saban.  The Clinic will be renamed The Saban Free Clinic in honor of the gift, which is the largest in the Los Angeles Free Clinic’s 41-year history.  The endowment will provide much needed discretionary funds for special projects at the Clinic. 

Haim Saban, who founded Saban Entertainment and Fox Family Worldwide, is currently the Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Saban Capital Group and Chairman of the Board of Univision Communications Inc.  Cheryl Saban, PhD is an author and advocate for children’s health and education. The gift marks the culmination of the Sabans’ 16 years of support for the Clinic.   

“The Sabans’ generosity is extraordinary.  We are very grateful that they understand the urgent need to provide a safety net of health services for the uninsured in Los Angeles.  We recognize that there are many other charitable organizations that they could have donated to, and we are proud to call them our partner,” said Sam Fischer, who was the 40th Anniversary Campaign Chair for the Clinic and worked with the Sabans to structure their gift.

The Saban Free Clinic will continue to provide services to children and adults at four sites in Los Angeles.  All medical services are provided for free, although patients are asked to donate what they can for their visits.   

“I have had a deep respect for The Los Angeles Free Clinic ever since, as a single mother, I turned to them for my own medical care, more than 25 years ago,” said Cheryl Saban. “The services I received were professional and kind.  And, now that I am in the privileged position of being a philanthropist, I am also impressed with their record as a charitable money manager, with the breadth of their donor and volunteer pool, and with their longevity as a service provider.  Haim and I are proud to have our name associated with theirs,” concluded Saban.    

“We have always been impressed with The Los Angeles Free Clinic and the work it does for those in need,” said Haim Saban.  “Our greatest wish for this gift is that it inspires other donors to recognize the important role of the Clinic in providing heath services to the uninsured in Los Angeles.  Anyone can fall through the insurance safety net,” Saban concluded. 

 “While our name is changing, The Saban Free Clinic is, and will be, the same institution as The Los Angeles Free Clinic, offering high quality medical dental, mental health care and social services to Los Angeles’ uninsured residents,” said Abbe Land,  Co-CEO of the Clinic.   “The Sabans’ enormous generosity will give us some breathing room, especially in these insecure times, and we will continue to rely on the generosity of the entire community to fund our services,” continued co-CEO Jeffrey Bujer.     

“The need for high-quality, low-cost health care is so pressing that we are delighted to see this important investment in the Clinic," said Wendy Garen, President and CEO of the Ralph M. Parsons Foundation.   "It takes all of us -- foundations, donors and key partners --  to help fund The Saban Free Clinic services.  We are delighted to applaud this very special contribution from the Sabans."   

The Saban Free Clinic is officially set to be unveiled during a ceremony in the spring of 2008. 

The American Indian Healing Center Receives Funding to Treat Uninsured Patients

Whittier, CA. January 24, 2008 – The American Indian Healing Center today announced that it has received a one year grant from the S. Mark Taper Foundation to provide clinic services to low income, uninsured Native Americans residing in Los Angeles and Orange Counties. The S. Mark Taper Foundation, founded in 1989, is a private family foundation dedicated to enhancing the quality of people’s lives by supporting nonprofit organizations and their work in our communities.

“We greatly appreciate the financial assistance we have received from The S. Mark Taper Foundation,” says Javier Davila, M.D., Medical Director and co-founder of the American Indian Healing Center. “Our mission is to provide the highest quality, culturally competent primary medical care to American Indians. This grant will allow us to continue to provide high quality, culturally appropriate and sensitive care to an ever increasing number of urban American Indians. Nearly 80% of our patients are uninsured and not in a position to pay for desperately needed services. Financial support from the S. Mark Taper Foundation is extremely helpful and will go a long way toward the delivery of primary care services”

The American Indian Healing Center is a non profit 501(c) 3, state licensed community clinic dedicated to providing high quality, culturally sensitive, primary healthcare services to urban American Indians with limited or no access to healthcare. AIHC offers a full range of primary care services which include but are not limited to:

·        Health Screenings – Diabetes, Hypertension, Cholesterol, Colorectal Cancer, Prostate Cancer, Tuberculosis, Anemia, EKG, Visual Acuity, Smoking Cessation

·        Health Maintenance – Physicals Exams, Well Child, Sports Physicals

·        Women’s Health – Pap Smear, Breast Exam, Mammography Referral, Pregnancy Testing, Prenatal Referral, Perimenopausal Care

·        Chronic Disease Management – Diabetes, Hypertension, Asthma, Thyroid Disorders, Gastroesophageal Reflux, Infectious Disease, Anxiety/Depression

·        Immunizations - DTP, Hib, Polio, MMR, Varicella, Hepatitis A & B, Tetanus, Pneumonia Vaccine, Flu Vaccine.

·        Traditional Indian Health Program.

·        Domestic Violence Treatment and Prevention Program

·        Awakening the Spirit Diabetes Treatment and Prevention Program..

Founded in December of 2000 by Javier “Hawk” Davila M.D. and Debbie Bent MS, FNP-C, the American Indian Healing Center is the only community clinic in Los Angeles County dedicated to providing culturally sensitive, primary care services to the more than 77,000 urban American Indians residing in L.A. and Orange Counties. The clinic is located at 12456 E. Washington Blvd.

AIHC’s office hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday through Friday. Phone number is: 562-693 -4325. The clinic accepts Medi-Cal, Medicare, commercial insurances and utilizes a sliding fee schedule for uninsured, low income patients.

A Tale of Two Summits

This year’s Health Care Policy Summit, “On the Frontline: The Safety Net’s Role in Health Care Reform,” came at a time when health care reform has reached the forefront of national attention.  The Summit attracted speakers and participants from across the state, with 215 attendees.  Among those in attendance were: California Lt. Governor John Garamendi, DHS Director Sandra Shewry, Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky, State Senator Mark Ridley-Thomas, and Assemblymember Hector De La Torre.  With many of the State’s major players at the table, the panelist discussed how health care policy is affecting the safety net’s role in health care reform. Sandra Shewry focused on how the Governor’s healthcare reform proposal supports clinics, while also discussing several initiatives of the Administration that are expected to positively impact the safety net.  

The Summit also included the Community Health Star Awards Ceremony where Lt. Gov. Garamendi presented awards to Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger (Visionary Star), Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (Public Policy Star), and L.A. Times Columnist Steve Lopez (Public Service Star) were awarded for their outstanding commitment to improving health care access to uninsured or underserved populations of Los Angeles County.   

The 2007 Health Care Policy Summit was an extremely informative and successful event, drawing media attention (e.g., KNX Radio).  We look forward to next year’s Summit!  

Click here to see more pictures from the Health Care Policy Summit

 §

On Friday, July 20^th and Saturday, July 21^st CCALAC sponsored the 5th annual Congressional Minority Tri-Caucus Health Summit held at the Omni Hotel in San Diego.  The event opened with gala reception on Friday evening.  On Saturday over 200 attendees interacted with members of Congress on various topics ranging from homelessness to chronic disease management.  A press conference was held Saturday morning that brought attention to the importance of community clinics in providing health care to low income, uninsured and underinsured populations.   

This was an unprecedented opportunity for CCALAC members and clinics throughout California to have access to members of Congress from across the nation.  Members of Congress in attendance included: Rep. Hilda Solis; Rep. Mike Honda; Rep. John Conyers; Rep. G.K. Butterfield; Rep. Susan Davis; Rep. Wm. Lacy Clay; Rep. Bob Filner; Rep. Raul Grijalva; Rep. Luis Gutierrez; Rep. Gwen Moore; and Rep. Stephanie Tubbs-Jones.  The following sent staff to represent them:  Sen. Barbara Boxer; Rep. Diane Watson; Rep. Donna Christensen; Rep. John Sarbanes; Rep. Lois Capps; Rep. Loretta Sanchez; Rep. Sheila Jackson-Lee; and Rep. Yvette D. Clark.   

Saturday concluded with CCALAC being recognized with a Congressional Certificate of Recognition for hosting the most successful Tri-Caucus Summit ever held.  In addition, CCALAC President & CEO, Gloria Rodriguez, received an individual Congressional Certificate of Recognition.   

Click here to see more pictures from the 5^th Annual Congressional Tri-Caucus Minority Health Summit

Medicare’s A Healthier US Starts Here Initiative Visits

Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc.
 

Federal Officials See How Primary and Prevention Health Services

are Provided to Diverse Asian and Latino Communities in East Hollywood

Several federal government officials including Tom Lorentzen, regional director of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Charlotte Yeh, M.D., regional administrator of the U.S. Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Melissa Johnson, the Executive Director of the President’s Council on Physical Fitness visited Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc. (APHCV) in east Hollywood on Monday August 27^th.  

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) have launched a nationwide campaign “A Healthier US Starts Here” using a 75-foot-long Medicare bus that will visit each of the 48 continental states over the course of this spring and summer. The tour includes spokespersons who work with community partners, city and State leaders, and disease prevention advocates involved in these initiatives to raise awareness of the availability of preventive benefits through Medicare.  These services include flu shots, cardiovascular screenings, colorectal cancer screenings, colonoscopies, bone mass measurement to detect osteoporosis, mammograms, prostate cancer screening, and diabetes screening.  Dr. Charlotte Yeh shared that “the rate of diabetes among Asians and Pacific Islanders is the fastest among all groups.”  Early screenings and interventions can help seniors prolong an active, quality of life.  “We are so happy to see that APHCV is a resource that provides many of these Medicare covered services such as bone density screening and treatment service for their patients, particularly for elderly women, as many of their patients are higher risks for osteoporosis,” Dr. Yeh applauded.  Additional information about preventive screenings available through Medicare can be found at www.mymedicare.gov. 

As the federal officials toured around APHCV, they witnessed the diverse Asian ethnic communities served.  “We provide not only medical services, but physical activities such as Yoga, dance and Tai-Chi classes to our patients and people in the communities.” Kazue Shibata, CEO of APHCV said. “Many people do begin to change their eating habits and become more physically active if only they are given the opportunity and in fact feel better by doing it. Our work is to help them to experience that here.” “We are excited to see that APHCV is providing these vital health services including activities to promote healthier life style, which are challenging for many low-income communities,” Melissa Johnson said pointing out various physical activity classes that APHCV offers. Throughout the spring and summer, CMS is working with various health organizations at health events and community forums to provide information on preventive services and learn about the services they may be eligible to receive to manage their healthcare.   

Asian Pacific Health Care Venture, Inc. located in Hollywood and serving the greater Los Angeles area, is a Federally Qualified Health Center that provides culturally competent health education and primary care services to more than 9,800 patients annually, 75% of whom are uninsured. APHCV provides its health education and health care services in nine Asian languages (Thai, Vietnamese, Tagalog, Khmer, Japanese, Bengali, Mandarin, Cantonese, and Indonesian), English and Spanish.  It is currently expanding its elderly health services and pediatric services. APHCV is celebrating its 20^th year anniversary on Saturday, September 8^th at Vibiana Space. For more information, visit www.aphcv.org.

CCALAC recognizes
Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard

    Pictured from left to right Gloria Rodriguez, President & CEO of CCALAC; Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard, (D) CA-34;
   Nik Gupta, CEO & CFO of Mission City Community Network, serving North Hills, Pacoima, Reseda and Hollywood;
Jann Hamilton Lee, President & CEO of South Bay Family Healthcare Center, serving Gardena, Inglewood and Redondo Beach.

(March 20, 2007) Washington, D.C. - In recognition of the congresswoman's longstanding advocacy on behalf of community health care clinics and the uninsured, CCALAC on behalf of the National Association of Community Health Centers, presented Congresswoman Lucille Roybal-Allard (CA-34) with its 2007 Distinguished Community Health Defender Award for her "commitment during the Second Session of the 109th Congress to strengthen and preserve access to quality health care for America's medically underserved."  The national organization also recognized the congresswoman twice previously with its 2005 Distinguished Community Health Defender Award and its 2000 Distinguished Community Health Champion Award.  From her seat on the Labor, Health and Human Services and Education Subcommittee of Appropriations, the congresswoman advocates on behalf of the federal funding needs of the community clinics and health centers which are independent not-for-profit providers of comprehensive primary health care services.  The clinics serve the working poor, the uninsured, medically high-risk and vulnerable populations, regardless of a person's ability to pay.
 

Congresswoman Hilda Solis recognizes our CEO, Gloria Rodriguez

From left to right: Alicia Mardini, CEO of East Valley Community Health Center; Dr. Marie Torres, Senior Vice President at AltaMed Health Services; Corinne Sanchez, Esq., President & CEO of El Proyecto del Barrio Family Health Care Clinic; Gloria Rodriguez, CEO of CCALAC; Congresswoman Hilda Solis, 32nd District; Castulo De La Rocha, President & CEO of AltaMed

Click here to view the official Congressional Record

Saving the ER for real emergencies
L.A. County tests clinic care for expensive chronically ill patients.
In the true spirit of a Public Private Partnership Clinica Monseñor Oscar Romero has joined with LAC/USC and COPE Health Solutions for a pilot project targeting "frequent fliers" of LAC/USC's emergency room.  Our goal of providing a "medical home" for 22% of the population that uses the emergency room as a primary care home has begun to take shape as evidenced by the L.A. Times article.
Click Here to View the Complete Article

Project Brochure

We invite you to contact your elected representatives
on issues related to health care.