Funds will be leveraged to support local women disproportionately affected by the pandemic.

SOLANO COUNTY, Ca, November 7, 2023 – CHMRC proudly announces the award of a $25,000 grant by the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls (CCSWG). The grant is part of a state funded $5 million dollar investment in women’s ongoing pandemic economic recovery statewide. The CCSWG’s Blueprint for Women’s Pandemic Economic Recovery, released in 2022, showed that women went into the pandemic worse off due to existing systemic inequities in the workforce. CHMRC has already initiated a series of listening sessions in the county facilitated by trusted community leaders, with the objective of gathering qualitative information on women’s health, the impact of COVID-19 on women of color, and social determinants of health.

“The grant’s impact extends beyond monetary value, serving as the cornerstone for empowering BIPOC women, fostering a culture of support, and building pathways toward resilient communities in Solano County,” emphasized Ellen Young, Chief Executive Officer at CHMRC.

The recent listening sessions included the participation of 15 women aged 20 to 60. Insights revealed significant shifts in their roles at home during the pandemic, as many took on increased responsibilities in homemaking, balancing work, and extended hours in the public health and healthcare sectors, all while coping with elevated family time. These sessions shed light on the additional burdens and stress faced by these women and their subsequent impacts on health.

In response to the findings from survey and listening session activities, CHMRC has committed to collaborating with local organizations to link community members with vital programs, services, and resources that promote health equity and enhance the quality of life. For example, amidst economic impacts due to the pandemic, the organization plans to offer babysitting classes and childcare courses at its Solano Community Health Hub, located in Fairfield, Ca. These courses, rich in essential childcare knowledge, will equip attendees with skills in basic infant and childcare, first aid, child behavior, emergency protocols, leadership, and professional growth.

Moreover, a recent survey conducted by the American Red Cross revealed that 8 in 10 surveyed parents are willing to pay more for babysitters with Red Cross certifications, thereby highlighting the value of such training. Additionally, CHMRC intends to extend its support by offering car seat safety inspections to participants undertaking the American Red Cross babysitting and childcare course.

This grant marks a pivotal step in CHMRC’s mission to empower BIPOC women, foster health equity, and fortify the community’s resilience in Solano County. Organizations nationwide that are interested in hosting a listening session or partnering with CHMRC are invited to reach out at hello@californiahealthmrc.org.

For more information, contact:

Sara Anguiano
Anguianos@californiahealthmrc.org

About CHMRC

Based in California and established in 2014 CHMRC is a nonprofit organization that advances community-based health equity through partnerships and technology innovation across the country and offers medical/disaster response support when needed. The organization is revolutionizing and shifting how communities collaborate through strategic partnerships, innovative technologies with a foundation of compliance privacy and trust, to advance community resilience for generations to come. For more information, visit californiahealthmrc.org or connect with CHMRC on Facebook, LinkedIn and X.

About the California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls

The California Commission on the Status of Women and Girls works in a culturally inclusive manner to promote equality and justice for all women and girls by advocating on their behalf with the Governor, the Legislature and other public policymakers, and by educating the public in the areas of economic equity including educational equity, access to health care including reproductive choice, violence against women and other key issue areas identified by the Commission as significantly affecting women and girls.