Partners helps concept, find funding and lead the Antelope Valley Partnership for Health
With the leadership of Partners in Care Foundation as one of its founding members, AVPH as a collaborative has taken a leadership role in improving the health and wellness of the Antelope Valley residents. AVPH has remained at the forefront of community response to health and safety needs, particularly to the population that is underserved, underprivileged, low-income uninsured residents and those living in rural outlying communities of the AV.
Antelope Valley Partners for Health (AVPH) is a non profit collaborative of community residents, leaders, and organizations with a mission to serve as a catalyst, build community capacity, enhance community health, wellness, and quality of life in the Antelope Valley. AVPH was founded six years ago as a result of the California Endowment Project through Partnerships for the Public’s Health in efforts to identify and address the health issues of Antelope Valley residents. With the leadership of Partners in Care Foundation as one of its founding members, AVPH as a collaborative has taken a leadership role in improving the health and wellness of the Antelope Valley residents. AVPH has created a platform whereby Antelope Valley residents and service providers can express their concerns, help identify problems, outline proposals, and implement changes that will result in long lasting solutions. AVPH has remained at the forefront of community response to health and safety needs, particularly to the population that is underserved, underprivileged, low-income uninsured residents and those living in rural outlying communities of the AV.
Governed by a local Board of Directors, AVPH is comprised of about 11 staff, 150 volunteer residents, a membership of 75 local partnerships and working community coalitions which include: Women’s Health Committee; Dental Coalition; Young Adult Service Coalition; Safe Schools, Safe Communities Consortium; Older and Disabled Adult/Case Management; Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition; Antelope Valley Best Babies Collaborative; Free Clinic Task Force; as well as a Policy Committee and Executive Committee.
The coalitions were formed in response to needs identified by residents during the previous 10 years. With the overwhelming support of the community residents, AVPH has been able to accomplish these goals for the Antelope Valley community:
1. Obtained a Rural Health Designation approval by California State OSHPD for the outlying Antelope Valley rural areas.
2. Carried out a Community Needs Assessment Survey of over 500 Antelope Valley residents regarding health access and quality of life.
3. Sustained linkage with Los Angeles County Health Department collaborative to address shared health issues and political advocacy for local health care resources and funding.
4. Updated the "RedBook" resource directory, now the Antelope Valley Resource Directory.
5. Established a dental project “SAVE-A-SMILE” program to provide free preventative dental services for underserved and low income children. Children have receivd dental screening and children, pregnant women and adults have received oral health education.
6. AVPH has sought and assisted in receiving funding for Transitional Youth Housing to the Antelope Valley.( Whereby housing was one of the transitional youth’s greatest need in the Antelope Valley)
7. AVPH has put together a monthly Case Management group which meets to develop and integrate plans of care for high risk seniors and disabled adults in AV.
8. AVPH held a Transportation Forum to identify the gaps and needs of the community, and out of this, a Transportation Coalition was developed. In collaboration with the Antelope Valley Transit Authority (AVTA), there has been an increase in medical shuttle services to the five health care centers located out of AV, from one day to three days a week and an increase in the times the shuttle is servicing the medical centers, Thereby increasing the bus services in the Antelope Valley where transportation is such a big issue.
9. AVPH assisted in writing a grant for developing and coordination of a faith based service program for black infant health and a Black Infant Health program was born in Little Rock to examine health needs of black infants in the community.
10. AVPH has organized Health Fairs in collaboration with other agencies and support from the Tzu Chi foundation to provide free health education, medical and dental services to low income and under privileged families in the Antelope Valley
11. AVPH hosted educational information and Screenings for Breast and Cervical Cancer to the low income and uninsured residents in the community whereby over 1759 women were reached.
12. AVPH Mental Health in Schools coalition has developed a continuum of school and community program service which was presented to, and endorsed by, school superintendents. Currently the Coalition I working with UCLA Department of Mental Health implement a successful national model to promote positive youth development among school age children.
13. AVPH has established and leading the Antelope Valley Best Babies Collaborative to help improve poor birth outcomes for high risk pregnant women living in the Antelope Valley.
14. The AVPH Nutrition and Physical Activity Coalition in collaboration with the LA County Parks and Recreation, County of Los Angeles Public Health and Keppel Union School District are working together to promote physical activity and healthy nutrition habits which aids in reducing childhood obesity in this region.
15. AVPH Safe Schools and Safe Communities Consortium has just received funding from the California Wellness Foundation to develop and implement coordinated, comprehensive community network to support youth and families in developing or strengthening life skills, pro-social behavior and healthy lifestyle choices.
16. AVPH in collaboration with Antelope Valley Hospital has addressed the issue of educating the public and health care providers of best practice in asthma treatment and management. (Antelope Valley has one of the highest Asthma rates in Los Angeles County)
