California State University, Fresno Foundation: Central Valley Health Policy Institute

A grant to to build the leadership abilities of grassroots nonprofit leaders.

The Central Valley Health Policy Institute (CVHPI), a project of California State University, Fresno Foundation, seeks to improve equity in health and health care by developing the region’s capacity for strong policy analysis and health programs. One of its signature programs is the Health Policy Leadership Program that builds individual leadership skills and abilities to shape health policies and programs.

Counties Served:

Fresno
Kern
Kings
Madera
Merced
San Joaquin
Stanislaus
Tulare

Total Award: $150,000

Program Details:
CVHPI will adapt its successful Health Policy Leadership Program to meet the needs of grassroots leaders. The program will recruit 10 participants from five organizations each year (engaging two leaders from each organization), for a total of 30 leaders over three years. Participants will attend nine monthly sessions and complete an organizational development project. Participants will receive strong peer support, academic training, and one-on-one technical assistance from CVHPI staff to develop their organizational problem-solving and policy analysis skills.

Selection process:
CVHPI will recruit participants from small community-based organizations by reaching out to groups that have participated in community forums, regional networks and other collaborations among community-based health organizations. Participants will be mid-career emerging leaders from small community-based organizations with at least some engagement in one more regional social and economic determinants of population health such as obesity prevention, environmental justice, job creation and violence prevention.

Target Launch Date: Early spring 2010

Website: http://www.csufresno.edu/ccchhs/institutes_programs/CVHPI/index.shtml

Project Contact:
Dr. John Capitman
jcapitman@csufresno.edu
(559) 228-2157