Collaboration

Through the formation of ad hoc committees and by means of its town meetings, the Council has brought together hundreds of individuals, representing scores of community based organizations, to provide input for the Council's most vulnerable populations, including children and adolescents, older adults and the disabled, individuals and families without health insurance coverage, persons with behavioral health care needs, and those with HIV and AIDS.

New coalitions formed under the aegis of the Health Care Council include the Orange County Immunization Coalition and the Life Options Coalition of Orange County, an active and flourishing organization formerly sponsored by the Health Care Council and administered by the Feedback Foundation.

In June, 2004 when county budget reductions cut off funds for the Immunization Coalition, the Health Care Council agreed to become the fiscal intermediary for the Orange County Immunization Coalition under the Council’s 501 (c) (3) non-profit designation in order to preserve this valuable collaboration.

The Council also participates in many other collaborative and community-  based projects such as the Countywide Health Needs Assessment, the Future Search Coalition sponsored by the St. Joseph Health System, Families and Communities Together (FaCT) and First things First, sponsored by the Community Development Council.

The formation of public-private partnerships and effective community building are key functions of the Health Care Council, and they are of vital of importance to Orange County.

Health care continues to be in a state of flux. Increasing numbers of Americans including children are without any health care coverage at all. There has never been a time when the need was greater for a strong, unified voice for health care as a right

Join the Health Care Council

With your help, we will be able to continue to concentrate on five priority areas this year:

• Developing a countywide system of career ladders and helping to fund increased training opportunities for minority nursing students.
• Helping to reduce the numbers of uninsured Orange County residents, encouraging employers to help their low-paid employees and clients to obtain low-cost or free health insurance coverage for their uninsured children.
• Assisting in the development of increased resources to meet the growing needs of older adults and persons with disabilities, working to develop shared housing, and monitoring implementation of the California Olmstead Plan.
• Helping to implement the countywide immunization registry, the health needs assessment and education.
• Continuing to advocate for adequate health care funding, and supporting Orange County’s safety net providers.

Please send your tax-free contributions, or join the Health Care Council today!

YOUR SUPPORT AND YOUR TAX-DEDUCTIBLE CONTRIBUTION WILL BE GREATLY APPRECIATED