ELEVATING COMMUNITIES, TRANSFORMING CARE. Fall 2024

Hello Linda,

It’s hard to believe we’re already nearing the end of another year—time truly flies when you’re immersed in meaningful work and ambitious projects.

As we wrap up 2024, I’m still energized by the memories of our recent annual Partner Summit. It was two unforgettable days with grantees and partners, filled with conversation, laughter, and even a few tears. The tone of our discussions, and the personal stories that surfaced so naturally, really underscored something important: we are not just a network; we are becoming a true community.

The trust in the room was palpable, and it was clear to everyone present that we’re building something unique — a circle of people united around a shared vision for an equitable and community-centered emergency response system. What sets this community apart is its diversity. We’re not a monolith; we bring together researchers, clinicians, data scientists, community activists, and EMS personnel, all engaging in dialogue where every voice matters.

As I mentioned in my opening remarks, a community like this — focused and united around a common vision — can achieve remarkable things. Highlights from our time together included a special screening of In the Red, chronicling the journey of five aspiring firefighters, and an inspiring talk from John Moon, a pioneer from the Freedom House Ambulance Service. We were truly lucky to have him.

Our team will be taking a well-deserved rest in December, but we’re already gearing up to make 2025 even more impactful. Let’s keep the momentum going!

Tanir Ami

CEO, CARESTAR Foundation

THE LATEST NEWS FROM CARESTAR

Thank you to all who joined for our 2024 Partner Summit!

Check out the full photo album from the event.

Photo credit: Brooke Anderson Photography and Bryan Gibel of Focal Point Films.

CARESTAR Partners with Possibility Lab and Alameda County EMS for Groundbreaking EMS Equity Study

We're thrilled to announce a new partnership with Possibility Lab at UC Berkeley and the Alameda County Emergency Medical Services Agency to study racial and gender disparities in the workforce.

This first-of-its-kind study aims to capture the first-hand perspectives and experiences of EMS providers across California, particularly looking at differences in aspects by race and gender. The findings will help to inform recruitment, retention and employment in the field, to improve diversity and ultimately the quality of prehospital care. This is a really exciting and important project for the field, and an inspiring partnership for us at CARESTAR. Learn more

Riggs Ambulance Service Honored with CARESTAR Leadership in Equity Award

Riggs Ambulance Service has been recognized with the CARESTAR Foundation Leadership in Equity Award for California Ambulance Association (CAA) Members. The award, presented at the CAA Annual Convention on September 19, celebrates exceptional individuals and teams from member organizations who have made significant strides in promoting racial equity and eliminating disparities in EMS.

Carly Strong and Adam Perez of Riggs Ambulance Service were honored for their efforts at the Dos Palos Pre-Harvest Safety Summit, an initiative aimed at increasing the utilization of EMS services among migrant farmworker communities in Lassen and Merced Counties. By actively engaging with these underserved populations and addressing barriers to accessing healthcare, Riggs has demonstrated its dedication to promoting equitable EMS practices and ensuring that all individuals, receive the care they need during emergencies.

GRANTEES IN ACTION

Q&A with the CARE Collaborative

We recently sat down with Jacob Rosen, Managing Mental Health Clinician with the CARE Collaborative to talk about bringing human-centered approaches and inter-agency cooperation to address community needs. The collaborative is a grantee of the CARESTAR Foundation and includes law enforcement, emergency medical services, mental health crisis response, and various social service organizations.

What makes the CARE Collaborative unique?

CARE often serves as an intermediary between different agencies, thanks to its flexible mobile crisis service. This allows CARE to support clients in accessing resources from multiple organizations, helping to reduce the silo effect. The collaborative's ability to interact frequently with community partners while responding to crises enhances its effectiveness.

Please share 1-2 highlights of the Collaborative's work thus far?

A notable success involved a suicidal homeless veteran who was initially engaged through crisis negotiations. Through collaboration with the VA and other agencies, CARE provided short-term case management that helped the individual transition to stable housing, employment, and improved mental health. Months later, the individual reported significant life improvements, including purchasing a work truck and moving into their own housing.

What kind of data are you collecting? Why?

CARE and Eureka Police Department collect both outcome and functional data to drive services and funding. Outcome data includes metrics like the rate of diversions from emergency departments for mental health crises. Functional data helps optimize service delivery, such as determining peak hours for crisis calls. Additionally, they conduct a comprehensive homelessness survey every two years to gather self-reported data on various aspects of the homeless population's experiences.

Anything else you want to share with the CARESTAR Community?

The City of Eureka is committed to integrating law enforcement, housing and social support, and mental health and substance use crisis response. They believe success comes from collaboration between these interconnected fields. The team emphasizes the need for mental health services to provide true EMS-style crisis intervention, operating mobile services beyond standard business hours to address the critical issue of suicide and mental health emergencies. Learn more

EMSA Director, Elizabeth Basnett, Appointed to the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Services (FICEMS)

The CARESTAR Foundation is excited to celebrate Elizabeth (Liz) Basnett, Director of the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), on her recent appointment to the Federal Interagency Committee on Emergency Services (FICEMS).

Appointed by the U.S. Department of Transportation, this honor highlights her dedication and expertise in emergency medical services. We’re thrilled for her and can’t wait to see the great things she’ll accomplish on this national stage!

As noted by EMSA, "Director Basnett's appointment to FICEMS is a testament to her commitment to advancing EMS." We celebrate this well-deserved recognition and look forward to the positive impact she will make on emergency services nationwide!

Study: Black stroke patients face 28-minute delay in emergency care

Data from 600,000 stroke patients nationwide shows EMS providers were 20% less likely to give prehospital notification for Black patients. EMS1

Hundreds of places in the US said racism was a public health crisis. What’s changed?

Years after the declarations, community organizers and public health advocates in Milwaukee and Sacramento County say not much has changed. Officials counter that it’ll take more than a few years to undo centuries of structural and institutional racism. AP News

Local behavior health nonprofit receives $500,000 federal grant in partnership with Vallejo Police

TabiMOMS, founded by Courtney Davis, will partner with the city to bolster the police’s mobile crisis response unit. The organization routinely hosts workshops for community members to educate parents on behavioral health resources, crisis intervention and mental health in general. Vallejo Times Herald