Public Health Institute

Improved air quality in California’s San Joaquin Valley through installation of new air filtration systems and supported community-led climate resilience by documenting farmworker experiences during climate events.

Provided vaccine equity access and information to 840,000 and 14.5 million Californians respectively, distributed 10 million PPE items during the pandemic, and disbursed $14.7 million to support community-led vaccination efforts in high-impact areas of Los Angeles.

Launched Unidad Ñuu Savi in 2024 to serve Mixtec and Zapotec communities across Oaxaca, Mexico and California through seed banks, women’s savings groups, recipe exchanges, Mixteco-speaking doulas, and a bi-national mentorship program promoting mental health and gender equity.

Provides 37,000 ADA compliance consultations annually, trains over 1,000 hiring managers on disability awareness and accommodations, and distributes critical emergency and public health information to disabled and vulnerable Californians.

Provides 37,000 ADA compliance consultations annually and has trained over 1,000 hiring managers on disability awareness and reasonable accommodations to promote workplace and societal inclusion.

Distributed 10 million pieces of PPE to California and Washington within three weeks during the pandemic and disbursed $14.7 million to support community-led vaccination efforts in high-impact areas of Los Angeles.

Engaged over 339,000 residents across three California counties in inclusive emergency planning, supported farmworker safety through a Mixteco- and Zapoteco-language emergency air quality alert system, and collaborated with communities to document climate experiences for community-led solutions.

Distributed COVID-19 information and resources to 134,000 disabled and socially vulnerable Californians, connected over 134,000 Californians with disabilities to safety resources during the pandemic, and engaged over 339,000 residents in inclusive emergency planning across three counties.

Improved access to care for 6,000 to 7,000 Californians with sickle cell disease through targeted health interventions, contributing to a 10-year increase in life expectancy for individuals with the condition.

Contributed to increasing life expectancy by 10 years for individuals with sickle cell disease and improved access to care for 6,000–7,000 Californians through targeted health interventions.

Improved air quality for residents in California’s San Joaquin Valley through implementation of new air filtration systems.

Contributed to 13 million low-income Californians meeting federal nutrition guidelines.

Contributed to 13 million low-income Californians meeting federal nutrition guidelines through targeted public health programs.

Provided sexual health information to 27,000 youth in Central America.

Provided sexual health information to 27,000 youth in Central America through targeted outreach and education programs.

Launched Unidad Ñuu Savi in 2024 to serve Mixtec and Zapotec communities through seed banks, women’s savings groups, recipe exchanges, Mixteco-speaking doulas, bi-national mentorship, and emergency air quality alerts in Indigenous languages.

Provided greater vaccine access to 840,000 Californians and delivered vaccine equity information to 14.5 million people during the pandemic.

Directed $272 million in pandemic relief funding to disproportionately impacted communities using the Healthy Places Index, influenced local cannabis policies affecting over 13.5 million residents, supported a $15 million asthma funding appropriation, and advanced telehealth policy through the Center for Connected Health Policy.

Secured Medi-Cal policy expansions for asthma home visiting services and supported a $15 million budget appropriation to assist 2 million people with asthma, advancing equitable health access through sustained advocacy.

Secured two Medi-Cal policies expanding access to asthma home visiting services and supported a $15 million budget appropriation benefiting 2 million people with asthma.

Helped establish regulations to reduce diesel emissions and other air pollutants in low-income communities and communities of color, and advocated for improved air quality alerts for farmworkers during wildfires.

Advocated for landmark policies including California's recognition of mold as a substandard housing condition, SB 32 and SB 1383 climate legislation, AB 548 for improved multi-unit housing conditions, and regulations reducing diesel emissions in overburdened communities.

Advocated for landmark policy changes including California's recognition of mold as a substandard housing condition, passage of climate legislation SB 32 and SB 1383, AB 548 improving housing conditions for 6.8 million renters, and restrictions on cannabis retail outlets in communities representing over 13.5 million residents.

Advanced telehealth policy in California for a decade through the Center for Connected Health Policy, influencing equitable access to remote care.

Conducted research finding that 53 million adults in the U.S. are harmed by another person's drinking, informing public health strategies on alcohol policy and prevention.

Identified over 11,000 new cancer cases through surveillance projects and used enhanced monitoring via the Tracking California program to detect ten times more pollution episodes than previously recorded.

Identified over 11,000 new cancer cases through surveillance and data projects, contributing to public health monitoring and intervention planning.

Assessed all 539 cities and counties in California on local cannabis regulations, providing data to inform equitable policy development.

Developed the California Healthy Places Index to provide census-tract level data on social determinants of health and equity, and supported its use in allocating over $450,000 in state grants and directing $272 million in pandemic relief funding.

Developed the California Healthy Places Index (HPI), a census-tract level tool that provides data on social determinants of health and equity, used to direct $272 million in funding and support state and local grant allocation.

Enabled community-installed air monitors through the Tracking California program, identifying ten times more pollution episodes than previously detected and enhancing public health data accuracy.

Conducted studies revealing that 53 million U.S. adults are harmed by another person's drinking and assessed all 539 cities and counties in California on local cannabis regulations.

Conducted 50 years of research on the links between chemical exposures during pregnancy and long-term health outcomes across generations.

Conducted 50 years of research on the links between chemical exposures during pregnancy and long-term health outcomes across generations.

Conducted research showing that substance use navigator support doubles the likelihood of addiction treatment, and published a 2024 study revealing lower alcohol treatment completion rates among racially and ethnically minoritized women.

Conducted research showing that substance use navigator support doubles the likelihood of addiction treatment engagement and published findings on disparities in alcohol treatment completion among racially and ethnically minoritized women.

Supported adoption of the CA Bridge model in over 200 hospitals to provide 24/7 Medication Assisted Treatment for substance use disorders, improving access to life-saving interventions.

Supported adoption of the CA Bridge model in over 200 hospitals to provide 24/7 Medication Assisted Treatment for substance use disorders, scaling evidence-based care across California.

Funded 548 community-based organizations in California through the Together Toward Health initiative to strengthen local leadership in pandemic response and public health action.

Facilitates collaboration among 1,800 funders, developers, and researchers to advance multipurpose prevention technologies.

Facilitates collaboration among 1,800 funders, developers, and researchers on multipurpose prevention technologies to advance global health innovation.

Facilitated over $1 million in seed funding for women and girls' rights initiatives across 10 countries and supported 172 million people impacted by related policy changes through the Rise Up initiative.

Runs the Together Toward Equity Fellowship, a year-long leadership program for 15 individuals from community-based organizations across nine California counties, and supports STAR Fellows, with 100% reporting willingness to recommend the program.

Launched the Together Toward Equity Fellowship in 2023, a year-long leadership program for fifteen individuals from community-based organizations in nine California counties, and supports the STAR Fellows program with high participant satisfaction.

Funded 548 community-based organizations in California through the Together Toward Health initiative to strengthen local leadership in combating COVID-19.

Supports the FACES program, which ensures all students graduate high school, contributing to long-term community health through education.

Facilitates the Rise Up initiative, impacting 172 million people through policy change, and has facilitated over $1 million in seed funding for women and girls’ rights initiatives across 10 countries.