A new report from the California Research Bureau (CRB), “Voices from the Street: A Survey of Homeless Youth by their Peers,” shares information from interviews with young people, ages 13 to 25, about their experiences on the streets. The report, partially funded by TCWF, provides candid accounts from homeless youth across California regarding their emotional and mental heath, and includes their recommended changes in public policies. Affordable housing and easier access to public services, such as medical care and effective case management, were among the recommended changes. read more
Leadership for Equity and Diversity Recognized
Women and Philanthropy has named Peggy Saika, chairperson of the board for TCWF, as the 2008 Leadership for Equity and Diversity (LEAD) Award winner. The LEAD award honors visionaries in the philanthropic community who have demonstrated commitment to social change by promoting equity and diversity for women and girls. Women and Philanthropy is a project of the Council on Foundations, whose mission is to provide tools and leadership to philanthropic organizations to advance the common good. read more
California Voters Concerned About Health Care System
A new Field Poll reports growing concern among California voters about the workings of the state's health care system. Nearly three in four (73%) say they are troubled by the state's failure to enact health reform legislation. The poll, funded by a grant from The California Wellness Foundation, updates a previous Field Health Policy Survey completed in December 2006. Complete survey results are available on the Field Poll’s Website. read more
Lessons From State Family Planning Expansions
State-initiated Medicaid family planning expansion programs, established in 26 states as of March 2008, have learned from and improved upon earlier expansions to programs that serve pregnant women and children to enhance program outreach, enrollment and service delivery. A new report from Alan Guttmacher Institute outlines lessons learned from these programs and suggests that family planning expansions have identified innovations that should serve future program design, both in the field of family planning specifically and for Medicaid and health care reform more broadly. read more
The Price Tag of Violence
Fatal and non-fatal injuries due to interpersonal and self-directed violence result in large direct expenditures for the health care, law enforcement, criminal justice and welfare systems. Meeting these direct costs diverts huge quantities of money from more constructive societal spending. Larger still are the indirect costs of violence-related injuries that arise from lost productivity and an inability to continue with the activities of daily life. This problem is analyzed in the World Health Organization’s “Manual for Estimating the Costs of Injuries Due to Interpersonal and Self-Directed Violence,” published in partnership with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. read more
TCWF Honored for Outstanding Communications
TCWF has received two silver awards from the Council on Foundations’ 2008 Wilmer Shields Rich Awards Program for Excellence in Communications, one for its work on the 2006 Annual Report and one for its public information campaign to increase California’s health care workforce and its diversity. The awards program recognizes communications by foundations and corporate giving programs that highlight the importance of foundation accountability and provide models of excellence in advancing their grantmaking goals. read more
"Pro-Gun" States Lead the Nation in Per Capita Firearm Death Rate
Research by the Violence Policy Center (VPC) reveals that states in the South and West with weak gun laws and high rates of gun ownership lead the nation in overall firearm death rates, according to the VPC's new analysis of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention data. By contrast, states with strong gun laws and low rates of gun ownership had far lower rates of firearm-related death. The Violence Policy Center, a TCWF grantee, is a national nonprofit educational foundation that conducts research on violence in America and works to develop violence-reduction policies and proposals. The Center examines the role of firearms in America, conducts research on firearms violence, and explores new ways to decrease firearm-related death and injury. read more
Conference Seeks to Reframe Poverty Discussion
Meet Each Need with Dignity (MEND) is hosting a conference on poverty on June 18 at its center in Pacoima, California. Partially funded by TCWF, this year’s conference theme, “Reframing Poverty,” will be discussed in workshops addressing how the media and funders think about poverty, accessing healthcare for the underserved, and other topics. MEND is a volunteer-driven organization providing services that meet the basic needs of individuals while promoting self-reliance. read more
