Community Catalyst Inc

TO BUILD THE POWER OF PEOPLE TO CREATE A HEALTH SYSTEM ROOTED IN RACE EQUITY AND HEALTH JUSTICE AND A SOCIETY WHERE HEALTH IS A RIGHT FOR ALL.

THE CENTER FOR CONSUMER ENGAGEMENT IN HEALTH INNOVATION WORKS DIRECTLY WITH ADVOCATES TO INCREASE THE SKILLS AND POWER THEY MUST ESTABLISH TO CREATE A PERMANENT AND EFFECTIVE VOICE FOR CONSUMERS, PARTICULARLY THOSE WITH COMPLEX HEALTH AND SOCIAL NEEDS. COLLABORATING WITH HEALTH PLANS, HOSPITALS AND PROVIDERS, THE CENTER SEEKS TO INCORPORATE THE COMMUNITY EXPERIENCE INTO THE DESIGN OF SYSTEMS OF CARE. THE CENTER WORKS WITH STATE AND FEDERAL POLICYMAKERS TO MAKE SYSTEMS MORE RESPONSIVE TO COMMUNITIES BY ADVOCATING FOR POLICIES THAT REDUCE INEQUITIES AND IMPROVE HEALTH. THE CENTER ALSO OFFERS FEE-BASED CONSULTING SERVICES TO HELP PUBLIC PROGRAMS, HEALTH PLANS, HOSPITALS AND HEALTH SYSTEMS ENGAGE COMMUNITIES IN MEANINGFUL WAYS TO ACHIEVE HEALTH SYSTEM TRANSFORMATION, DRIVING BETTER HEALTH OUTCOMES AND BETTER BUSINESS RESULTS.

THE DENTAL ACCESS PROJECT PARTNERS WITH COMMUNITY ADVOCATES TO IDENTIFY AND IMPLEMENT COMMUNITY-BASED SOLUTIONS. THIS INCLUDES SUPPORTING STATE AND TRIBAL PARTNERS IN CREATING POLICY CHANGE THAT HELPS PEOPLE GET QUALITY, AFFORDABLE DENTAL CARE WHERE AND WHEN THEY NEED IT, IN THEIR OWN COMMUNITIES, WITH PARTICULAR ATTENTION TO COMMUNITIES OF COLOR, TRIBAL COMMUNITIES AND LOW-INCOME POPULATIONS, AS WELL AS OTHER GROUPS WHO HAVE BEEN IGNORED BY OR INTENTIONALLY EXCLUDED FROM THE CURRENT ORAL HEALTH DELIVERY SYSTEM. THE GENDER EQUITY AND HEALTH JUSTICE PROGRAM WORKS TO DEFEND COVERAGE GAINS, AND TO IMPROVE ACCESS TO A WIDE RANGE OF HEALTH CARE SERVICES FOR WOMEN AND FAMILIES. THE PROJECT HAS A PARTICULAR FOCUS ON LIFTING UP THE VOICES OF WOMEN WHO ARE RARELY REPRESENTED IN HEALTH POLICY DISCUSSIONS, SUCH AS YOUNG WOMEN, WOMEN OF COLOR, IMMIGRANT WOMEN, OLDER WOMEN, LOW-INCOME WOMEN, TRANSGENDER PEOPLE, AND LGBTQ+ WOMEN. THE HOSPITAL EQUITY AND ACCOUNTABILITY PROJECT IS AN EFFORT DESIGNED TO ADDRESS THE NEGATIVE IMPACT OF HOSPITAL AND HEALTH INDUSTRY CONSOLIDATION ON SYSTEMICALLY EXCLUDED COMMUNITIES INCLUDING ASIAN, BLACK, INDIGENOUS, LATINX, AND PACIFIC ISLANDER COMMUNITIES, IMMIGRANTS, WOMEN, LGBTQ+ PEOPLE, PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES, OLDER ADULTS, AND RURAL RESIDENTS. FOR THIS PROJECT, CCI COLLABORATES WITH A CROSS-MOVEMENT, NATIONAL STRATEGIC WORKING GROUP ON RELIGIOUS HEALTH RESTRICTIONS AS WELL AS CONDUCTS STATE-SPECIFIC WORK IN NEW YORK.THE SUBSTANCE USE DISORDERS AND JUSTICE-INVOLVED POPULATIONS PROGRAM WORKS TO BUILDS BROAD BASED ADVOCACY FOR NEW AND PROVEN STRATEGIES TO ADDRESS ADDICTION AND OTHER MISUSE OF DRUGS AND ALCOHOL. CCI HELPS PEOPLE LEAD HEALTHIER LIVES BY IMPROVING THE QUALITY OF AND ACCESS TO HEALTH SERVICES AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTS. THESE SERVICES RANGE FROM PREVENTION AND TREATMENT TO HOUSING AND TRANSPORTATION.THE CONSUMER SOLUTIONS FOR HEALTH EQUITY PROGRAM SEEKS TO MAKE LOCAL HEALTH CARE SYSTEMS MORE RESPONSIVE TO THE NEEDS OF THE COMMUNITY BY ELEVATING THE VOICES, STORIES, AND PRIORITIES OF PEOPLE WHO DESERVE A SEAT AT THE TABLE. WITH FUNDING SUPPORT FROM THE ROBERT WOOD JOHNSON FOUNDATION, CSHE PROVIDES GRASSROOTS ORGANIZATIONS WITH RESOURCES NEEDED TO INCREASE THEIR ABILITY TO ORGANIZE MEMBERS, BUILD PARTNERSHIPS WITH OTHER CONSTITUENCIES, AND DEVELOP EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATIONALL OF WHICH ARE CRITICAL TO SHARED DECISION-MAKING.VACCINE EQUITY & ACCESS PROGRAM (VEAP) WAS DEVELOPED WITH FUNDING FROM THE CENTERS FOR DISEASE CONTROL AND PREVENTION (CDC) TO ADDRESS VACCINE CONFIDENCE AND INCREASE INFLUENZA AND COVID-19 VACCINATION COVERAGE FOR ADULTS IN RACIAL AND/OR ETHNIC POPULATIONS EXPERIENCING DISPIRITING IN THE UNITED STATES. THE GOAL OF THE VACCINE EQUITY AND ACCESS PROGRAM IS TO INCREASE VACCINATION COVERAGE FOR ADULTS IN RACIAL AND/OR ETHNIC POPULATIONS EXPERIENCING DISPARITIES IN THE U.S.THE RESTUCCIA HEALTH JUSTICE FELLOWSHIP IS DEDICATED TO SUPPORTING THE GROWTH AND REACH OF DIVERSE ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS AND THEIR LEADERSHIP TEAMS SITUATED AT THE INTERSECTION OF HEALTH EQUITY, RACIAL JUSTICE, AND ORGANIZATIONAL TRANSFORMATION. THE FELLOWSHIP'S PRIMARY OBJECTIVE IS TO EQUIP DIVERSE TEAMS WITHIN LOCAL, STATE, AND NATIONAL HEALTH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS WITH THE TOOLS, RESOURCES, AND TEAMWORK THEY NEED TO TRANSFORM THEIR ORGANIZATIONS. FROM THIS, THESE ORGANIZATIONS WILL BE ABLE TO TAKE GREATER STRIDES TOWARDS HEALTH EQUITY AND RACIAL JUSTICE.VOICES FOR HEALTH JUSTICE PROJECT IS BUILDING THE POWER OF HEALTH CARE CONSUMER ADVOCATES WITH A FOCUS ON GRASSROOTS ORGANIZING, RACIAL JUSTICE AND ANTI-RACISM. THE PROJECT PROVIDES GRANTEES ACROSS SEVERAL STATES FINANCIAL RESOURCES AND TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE BASED ON COMMUNITY CATALYST'S SYSTEM OF ADVOCACY. EACH OF THESE PROJECTS EMPHASIZES BUILDING THE POWER OF PEOPLE AT THE GRASSROOTS LEVEL TO DEMAND AND WIN HEALTH SYSTEM POLICY CHANGE AT THE NATIONAL, STATE AND LOCAL LEVEL.ORGANIZING FOR OUTREACH IS FOCUSED ON BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS TO CONNECT WITH PEOPLE WHO ARE MORE LIKELY TO BE OR BECOME UNINSURED AND HELP MAKE THE ENROLLMENT PROCESS MUCH EASIER. BY TEAMING UP WITH EXISTING GROUPS THAT ARE EMBEDDED IN COMMUNITIESINCLUDING NATIONAL, STATE, AND LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT EXCEL IN POWER BUILDING AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH EFFORTSCCI IS ABLE TO REACH PEOPLE WHO ARE UNINSURED AND INADEQUATELY-INSURED TO MAKE SURE THEY KNOW WHAT KIND OF COVERAGE THEY MAY BE ELIGIBLE FOR, AND HELP THEM GET ENROLLED. CCI SUPPORTS ON-THE-GROUND OUTREACH, OFFERS TAILORED MESSAGES AND RESOURCES, AND BRINGS PARTNERS TOGETHER FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY TO DISCUSS ORGANIZING AND EDUCATION STRATEGIES, SUCCESSES, AND CHALLENGES.THE COMMUNITY BENEFIT AND ECONOMIC STABILITY PROJECT WORKS WITH STATE AND LOCAL PARTNERS TO DEVELOP COMMUNITY-DRIVEN FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE PRACTICES AND BILLING AND COLLECTION POLICIES. CCI IS ALSO INVOLVED IN COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT IN HEALTH NEEDS ASSESSMENT TO HELP HOSPITALS BETTER SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES AND PROMOTE ECONOMIC JUSTICE. THIS INCLUDES EFFORTS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY BENEFIT PROGRAMMING, HOSPITAL POLICIES ON FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, AND TO END PREDATORY BILLING AND COLLECTION PRACTICES. CCI ALSO PROVIDES A PLATFORM FOR PEOPLE WHO HAVE MEDICAL DEBT TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCES, WHICH HELPS TO SHAPE POLICIES AIMED AT REDUCING AND ELIMINATING MEDICAL DEBT.

THE STATE CONSUMER HEALTH ADVOCACY PROGRAM ENCOMPASSES PROJECTS AIMED AT SUPPORTING AND EXPANDING THE CAPACITY OF CONSUMER ADVOCATES TO PARTICIPATE IN AND INFLUENCE PUBLIC POLICY ON A BROAD RANGE OF ISSUES SUCH AS HEALTH CARE ACCESS, AFFORDABILITY, AND EQUITY; ENROLLMENT IN HEALTH INSURANCE; PRIVATE INSURANCE REFORM; AND MEDICAID EXPANSION. IT ALSO ENCOMPASSES SOUTHERN HEALTH PARTNERS, WHICH WORKS WITH ADVOCACY ORGANIZATIONS IN 12 STATES TO APPLY A REGIONAL APPROACH TO STATE HEALTH POLICY ISSUES IN THE REGION.

TOGETHER FOR MEDICAID IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN COMMUNITY CATALYST, THE CENTER ON BUDGET AND POLICY PRIORITIES AND THE GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY CENTER FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES THAT CREATES ADVOCACY CAMPAIGNS WITH COMMUNITY-BASED ORGANIZATIONS AND A DYNAMIC COHORT OF MEDICAID EXPANSION ADVOCATES TO BUILD DEMAND FOR MEDICAID EXPANSION. THE PROJECT CENTERS PEOPLE MOST AFFECTED BY THE LACK OF MEDICAID COVERAGE IN THESE EFFORTS.