Snapshots

Summer of 2021: ULV joined forces with #1 Contra Costa Coalition a project of Healthy Richmond and the Richmond Community Foundation to assure that all community residents no matter their documentation status had access to health care.

November of 2021: ULV to sit on a Contra Costa County committee with the County Health Department and County leaders to investigate options for increasing access to care for those without documentation status. ULV was represented by Doreen Moreno hotlink to profile).

Spring of 2022: the State of California opened access to its state MediCal program in May to low-income older adults 50+ years of age regardless of their immigration status.  ULV and the County planning committee advocate for increasing access to care for people between the ages of 26-49 this population via the Contra Costa Cares program (a program funded in 2015 by the County Board of Supervisors and local hospital partners to provide access to care for the undocumented population through county community clinics).ULV advocates for the expansion of the Contra Cares Program and community outreach to promote enrollment into this expansion including:

  • Participation in coalition planning meetings
  • Continued participation in the County planning committee
  • Letters and emails to the County Board of Supervisors
  • Presentations at County Board Meetings
  • Meeting with elected officials

RESULTS

Through the collective efforts of coalition members in June of 2022 the County Board of Supervisors agreed to expand access to the Contra Costa Cares program not only for physical health but also for mental health visits and additionally agreed to provide between $500,000 – $800,000 to create better community clinics enrollment staff and to provide funds to support 15 community non-profits in enrollment outreach efforts.  This was an incredible victory for our Latino community and for other vulnerable populations not eligible for access to care.  ULV witnessed the power community residents can have to create systemic change when in partnership with others.