THE HEALTH CARE COUNCIL OF ORANGE COUNTY HAS SERVED FOR 21 YEARS AS A VOICE FOR HEALTH CARE REFORM

This organization has provided a forum for consumers and providers of health care services and has conducted programs and supported services for the benefit of all Orange County residents.  Among other successes, the Council:

• Built a coalition to foster educational opportunities for minority health professional students, contracted with community clinics to support preceptorships and provided emergency interest-free loans for minority nursing students experiencing unexpected financial difficulties
• Mobilized employers of low-paid workers to promote Healthy Families and Children’s MediCal health insurance for children, and assisted many families in completing applications for health insurance for their children
• Brought the community together to develop an Action Plan to repair the safety net of health care services which developed into the Orange County Health Needs Assessment
• Campaigned for Measure ‘H’ to dedicate the tobacco settlement to fund health care programs
• Helped to save the Nursing Education Program at California State University, Fullerton from closure and provided much-needed funding for that program for several years, as well as providing funding for the family nurse practitioner program at UCI
• Raised the issues around the proposed privatization of UCI Medical Center before the public and the media
• Obtained federal funding for county programs as Orange County’s Area Health Education Center
• Developed Caring Connections, a friendly home visitation program, now conducted by the Council on Aging, and presented three Annual Disability Rights Workshops, now a program of the Dayle McIntosh Center
• Produced an action plan for implementation of the Immunization Registry in private physician offices and clinics, and acts as the Orange County Immunization Coalition’s fiscal intermediary
• Frequently testified before the Board of Supervisors and helped to educate State and Federal legislators in support of increased health care funding and universal health insurance.

Over the years, the Health Care Council has received support and encouragement from many foundations and organizations, including:

The Weingart Foundation, Irvine Health Foundation, California Endowment, Kaiser Permanente of Orange County, George Hoag Family Foundation, California Consumer Protection Foundation, Community Development Corporation, Hoag Memorial Hospital, Presbyterian, St. Joseph Health System, Fieldstone Foundation, Charter Oaks Foundation, PacifiCare Foundation, California Wellness Foundation, Human Relations Commission Fund, Gruenther Foundation, Center for Advanced Pharmacy Care, Children and Families Commission, Sisters of St. Joseph Health Foundation, CalOPTIMA, Agouron Pharmaceuticals, Pacific Life Foundation, Lon V. Smith Foundation, Orange County Department of Education, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, Archstone Foundation, and Union Bank Foundation as well as many generous individuals.

Now, in our 21st year, as competition for scarce grant funding becomes more and more difficult, the Health Care Council is in urgent need of funding to meet our day-to-day expenses, and appeals to all readers of HEALTH CARE MATTERS

Won’t you please send us a tax-deductible contribution so that we may continue to advocate for improved access to necessary health care services for all Orange County residents?

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