Bill Text: CA ACR75 | 2009-2010 | Regular Session | Chaptered
Bill Title: Promotores and community health workers.
Spectrum: Slight Partisan Bill (Democrat 49-24)
Status: (Passed) 2009-09-29 - Chaptered by Secretary of State - Res. Chapter 125, Statutes of 2009. [ACR75 Detail]
Download: California-2009-ACR75-Chaptered.html
BILL NUMBER: ACR 75 CHAPTERED
BILL TEXT
RESOLUTION CHAPTER 125
FILED WITH SECRETARY OF STATE SEPTEMBER 29, 2009
ADOPTED IN SENATE SEPTEMBER 10, 2009
ADOPTED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 27, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY AUGUST 27, 2009
AMENDED IN ASSEMBLY JULY 7, 2009
INTRODUCED BY Assembly Members V. Manuel Perez and Ammiano
(Principal coauthor: Senator Padilla)
(Coauthors: Assembly Members Arambula, Block, Caballero, Conway,
Coto, De La Torre, Swanson, Adams, Anderson, Bass, Beall, Bill
Berryhill, Tom Berryhill, Blakeslee, Blumenfield, Brownley, Buchanan,
Charles Calderon, Carter, Chesbro, Cook, Davis, De Leon, DeVore,
Duvall, Emmerson, Eng, Feuer, Fletcher, Fong, Fuentes, Fuller,
Furutani, Gaines, Galgiani, Garrick, Gilmore, Hagman, Hall, Hayashi,
Hernandez, Hill, Huber, Huffman, Jones, Krekorian, Lieu, Logue,
Bonnie Lowenthal, Ma, Mendoza, Monning, Nava, Nestande, Niello,
Nielsen, John A. Perez, Portantino, Ruskin, Salas, Silva, Skinner,
Solorio, Audra Strickland, Torlakson, Torres, Torrico, Tran,
Villines, and Yamada)
MAY 19, 2009
Relative to promotores and community health workers.
LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL'S DIGEST
ACR 75, V. Manuel Perez. Promotores and community health workers.
This measure would recognize the pioneering work of promotores and
community health workers in delivering vital and cost-effective
health care services in communities throughout California and declare
October 2009 as California Promotores Month.
WHEREAS, The delivery of health care is often constrained by
issues of access and outreach to individuals and their families; and
WHEREAS, Barriers to accessing quality health care and mental
health care services include financial barriers, being uninsured or
underinsured, geography or residing in medically underserved
communities, fragmentation of health care services, poor outreach and
education to vulnerable communities, language barriers, and a lack
of diversity and cultural competency in the health care workforce;
and
WHEREAS, According to the California Health Care Foundation's 2008
publication titled "Snapshot: California's Uninsured," approximately
6,600,000 Californians are uninsured. Low-income families earning
less than $25,000 per year, younger people under 34 years of age, and
people of color are most likely to be uninsured; and
WHEREAS, For hundreds of years, promotores and community health
workers have been fighting the effects of catastrophic epidemics,
inequalities, and injustices; and
WHEREAS, Promotores, also known as community health workers, peer
leaders, or health advocates, serve as cultural brokers who provide a
unique understanding of the cultures they serve. They serve as a
bridge between the community and the public health care delivery
system and provide education and prevention information and resources
in a manner that is culturally and linguistically appropriate to the
community's individuals and families. As the authentic voice of
their community, promotores also connect governments and policymakers
to people living within that community; and
WHEREAS, Promotores are volunteer, stipend, paid, and independent
contractors who may be associated with city and county health and
human services and mental health agencies, nonprofit community-based
organizations, health clinics, hospitals, and community centers. By
training and integrating active community members to promote health
and wellness, promotores have demonstrated a significant level of
cost-effectiveness in delivering health care education and services,
particularly in maternal and child health and chronic diseases,
including, but not limited to, asthma, diabetes, cardiovascular
disease, and HIV/AIDS; and
WHEREAS, According to the federal Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention, integrating promotores and community health workers into
health programs has been associated with improvements in access to
health care, prenatal care, pregnancy and birth outcomes, client
health status, health- and screening-related behaviors, and reduced
health care costs; and
WHEREAS, Recently, in the present time of mounting economic,
political, and social challenges, promotores, both paid and
volunteer, provide aid and support to those most in need at clinics,
churches, workplaces, schools, parks, hospitals, farm fields, and
mostly at home in the neighborhoods where they live and raise their
own families; and
WHEREAS, In California, Vision y Compromiso has brought together
thousands of individuals and hundreds of organizations united as one
voice behind a vision of a dignified and healthy life for all, Hacia
Una Vida Digna y Sana, and while growing in leadership and
experience, and despite their heartfelt service and documented
successes, promotores and community health workers receive little
recognition for their work and often face serious challenges
accessing educational and employment training opportunities; now,
therefore, be it
Resolved by the Assembly of the State of California, the Senate
thereof concurring, That the Legislature of the State of California
formally endorses the pioneering work of promotores and duly
recognizes the leadership provided by Vision y Compromiso, for
fostering this initiative to build greater community leadership and
capacity; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature also duly recognizes the leadership
provided by regional coordinators, staff, board members, and
advisors of organizations, for their dedication to and collaboration
with promotores and community health workers across California; and
be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature supports the continuing effort by
promotores to increase their presence and support for the well-being
of California communities; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature encourages policies and programs
that will enhance the status of promotores in the delivery of health
care, encourage health delivery systems to integrate promotores where
appropriate, and provide incentives and funding for staff, where
appropriate, to encourage their program development and integration,
given the changing demographics and health care needs of California
in the 21st century; and be it further
Resolved, That the Legislature declares October 2009 as California
Promotores Month in order to raise awareness of the important
contributions of promotores and community health workers; and be it
further
Resolved, That the Chief Clerk of the Assembly transmit copies of
this resolution to the author for appropriate distribution.
