ELEVATING COMMUNITIES, TRANSFORMING CARE. Summer 2024

Hello Linda,

As the CARESTAR Foundation heads into Fall, we're reflecting on our commitment to drive meaningful change through strategic partnerships. Recently, as you'll read below, we proudly announced a $400,000 grant to the California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA), marking a crucial step towards advancing racial equity in prehospital care.

This grant signifies our belief in fostering systemic change, recognizing that government institutions play a pivotal role in shaping lasting impact. By investing in EMSA's efforts to enhance statewide data capture and creating working definitions and equity goals, we aim to lay a foundation for improved health outcomes among diverse patient populations. We firmly believe that supporting mission-aligned government agencies amplifies their capacity, accelerating our collective journey towards equitable practices in EMS and making changes sustainable for the long haul.

As stewards of philanthropy, we understand the questions surrounding our investment in quasi-public institutions. At CARESTAR, we see these collaborations as opportunities to leverage resources effectively, catalyzing lasting momentum for racial equity transformations. We are dedicated to driving sustainable change by bringing together public entities and local, community-based non-profits into partnership with one another. We believe those partnerships are the key to driving lasting change that meets the needs of our communities.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these critical endeavors together.

Tanir Ami

CEO, CARESTAR Foundation

THE LATEST NEWS FROM CARESTAR

CARESTAR Foundation Awards $400,000 Grant to California Emergency Medical Services Authority for Comprehensive Equity and Access Project

In a significant step towards advancing equity and accessibility in California's emergency medical services (EMS), the CARESTAR Foundation and California Emergency Medical Services Authority (EMSA) are pleased to announce a two-year, $400,000 strategic grant.

This funding directly supports EMSA's equity priorities within its new 10-year EMS System Strategic Plan, furthering the organization's vision for a more equitable, effective, and innovative EMS system throughout the state. Learn more.

Grantee News!

CARESTAR grantees have been hard at work these past few months. We're happy to share some of the most recent updates on a few projects/programs!

The First Response Transformation Campaign, led by Public Health Advocates, has partnered with TabiMOMS (Vallejo) and Exhaling Injustice (San Diego) to conduct listening sessions aimed at gathering testimonials from community members on their firsthand experiences with Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and hearing their aspirations for the system.

The Community Crisis Response Collaborative of Del Norte County has initiated outreach efforts to promote its Mobile Crisis Support program. These initiatives include radio segments featuring staff discussing the program and sharing essential resources, as well as participation in community health fairs to provide information about behavioral health services.

The EMS Equity Learning Community continues to hold monthly meetings, recently focusing on community engagement strategies. The discussion centered on how EMS can authentically connect, engage, and collaborate with communities to prioritize their needs and input. The next session, "Addressing Workforce Diversity" is scheduled for August 9 at 12pm PT. Register to join .

And finally, congratulations to the 19 students from CityEMT who graduated as part of the organization's 7th cohort of young EMTs in June, bringing the total number of graduates to 115.

UCLA Center for Prehospital Care Leads Groundbreaking EMS Equity Research Workshop

The UCLA Center for Prehospital Care established the Prehospital Care Research Forum (PCRF) to promote, educate, and disseminate prehospital research, advancing the future of EMS.

The Forum convenes clinicians, educators, government representatives, EMS providers from both public and private sectors, and equipment manufacturers for workshops that begin with brainstorming sessions to tackle research questions and investigate a narrowed set of topics.

With funding from the CARESTAR Foundation, from May 1-3, 2024, the Center hosted a research workshop focused on EMS and equity in California, emphasizing BIPOC provider inclusion.

The event gathered novice researchers, leading EMS statisticians, EMSA and LEMSA leaders, and representatives from local 211 agencies. Participants explored topics including EMS transportation for unhoused patients and stroke recognition in patients with limited English proficiency.

Several of these subjects are slated for further development and potential publication, with some of the group's ideas and findings scheduled to be presented at EMS World Expo, the world's largest annual EMS-focused education conference, in September.

We are thrilled to see that the May workshop not only catalyzed critical EMS and equity research, but will also inspire a new cohort of researchers, fostering their confidence and future contributions to the field.

My Day in the Ambulance with Sonoma County Fire EMS

By Sedella Jefferson, Program Officer at the CARESTAR Foundation

The day started early-ish, ensuring the ambulance was clean and ready to receive patients. Every surface was scrubbed, every piece of equipment checked, and every supply restocked. The sense of anticipation was palpable as we geared up for the day ahead.

Our first call came from a clinic where a non-English speaking patient needed transport due to a possible heart issue. Watching the paramedic use Google Translate to communicate with the patient was truly inspiring. The technology bridged the language gap, allowing us to understand the patient's concerns and reassure them in their native language. It was a perfect blend of compassion and innovation.

Our second call took us to a bus station where a woman had fallen and injured her back. The fire department had already responded by the time we arrived. The paramedics worked seamlessly with the firefighters, and I was struck by the kindness and professionalism exhibited by everyone on the scene. We carefully transported her, ensuring her comfort and safety throughout the journey.

The last call of the day was the most intense. We were dispatched to a woman showing signs of a stroke, and the fire department was already on the scene. As we assessed her condition, she confided in the paramedic about the struggles she had faced over the past few years, particularly caring for her sick mother. The paramedic's response was filled with empathy and understanding, reminding me of the profound humanity required in this line of work.

As the day wrapped up and we returned to the post, I couldn't help but feel a deep admiration for the paramedics and their unwavering dedication to their patients. It was an eye-opening experience, one that highlighted the blend of technical skill, compassion, and humanity that defines emergency medical services.

Progress on health disparities is slow after 20 years: report

The National Academies of Sciences Engineering and Medicine said law and policy changes aimed at eliminating health disparities have made slow and uneven progress improving racial inequities over the past 20 years. The Ending Unequal Treatment report found that people of color in 2024 are still disproportionately uninsured, underutilizing care services and underrepresented in the healthcare workforce. Modern Healthcare

What You Should Know About LA's New Unarmed Teams Responding To Mental Health Crises

A new program in Los Angeles is deploying teams of clinicians — not police officers — to respond to incidents involving people in mental health crisis, city leaders announced earlier this year. The news comes several years after city authorities promised to develop an unarmed crisis response program in the wake of the 2020 murder of George Floyd by Minneapolis police and the local uprisings that followed. LAIst

Calif. officials call for stable funding of behavioral health programs

There are two street outreach programs in Humboldt County that work with people with significant behavioral health issues. These teams are the subject of the latest Humboldt County Civil Grand Jury report released in July. The report dove into the teams and found proactive outreach by the programs is essential, but one needs a more stable funding source. Mobile Intervention and Services Team (MIST) and Crisis Alternative Response Eureka ( CARE ) are government programs that send professionals to help people with severe, often untreated mental health and substance abuse issues, some living homeless. EMS1