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Health Equity Committee
Join our Health Equity Committee by contacting us here.
ABOUT
Our Health Equity Team works to address health disparities, increase access, and advance economic mobility within the Filipina/x/o community through health education, outreach, and resource navigation. We provide essential services such as blood pressure checks, diabetes screenings, and distribute NARCAN and fentanyl test strips at community events.
We also train Community Health Workers (CHWs) to help individuals navigate local health resources, ensuring that community members have access to vital information and support to improve their overall well-being.
By collaborating with healthcare providers, small businesses, and cultural organizations, we tailor our programs to meet the unique needs of the community, focusing on prevention, intervention and health equity.
BACKGROUND
The Health Equity Committee was an initiative inspired by Michelle Nelmida and Jennifer Cayanan, both former participants of our organization’s Awareness in Action (Filipino Studies & Civic Engagement Course) as well as members of our Fly Pinays Leadership Summit (our annual Women’s Leadership Summit) in 2020. Both Michelle’s and Jenn’s prior background in Health Sciences and Public Health as undergraduate students at their respective colleges fueled their passion to create a space within LEAD Filipino where community members can access resources and service referrals to address health issues impacting them.
The Health Equity Committee participated in health-related focus groups hosted by Santa Clara County (SCC) to promote cultural awareness of our community’s needs. Our passion and commitment to show up for the Filipina/x/o American community was acknowledged by one of Stanford Cancer Institute’s oncologists, Dr. Cabebe, who was looking for an organization to partner with for a knowledge and needs assessment centered around cancer in the FilAm community.
In 2020, we began several initiatives, including:
- Our partnership with the Stanford Cancer Institute to outreach and assess the perspectives of FilAms around cancer
- Participating in COVID-19 efforts with Santa Clara County
- Participating in working meetings with other Asian American Native Hawaiian Pacific Islander groups while learning about real-time changes and communications with the Santa Clara County Public Health Department (SCCPHD)
We later developed our relationship with Asian American Community Involvement (AACI) as members of their Asian Pacific Islander Community Health Worker (API CHW) Cohort. Since then, we have conducted health education workshops focusing on holistic health, providing health resources as a key component of our outreach strategy, and made strides to bridge gaps in culturally responsive care for Filipina/x/os and FilAms in Santa Clara County.
INITIATIVES
In 2020, LEAD Filipino and the Stanford Cancer Institute (SCI) launched a Santa Clara County-focused action study to explore the Filipina/x/o American community’s knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors toward cancer prevention and awareness.
Utilizing our grassroots organizing strategies, we were able to gather qualitative data about FilAm lifestyles, not just our presence in the healthcare workforce. As a touchstone for disaggregated data for FilAms, we aim to continue research to inform healthcare providers and policy makers what culturally responsive care looks like.
Read more about the study here: FilAm Cancer Study
We conduct free blood pressure checks as a resource at our various outreach events. We are trained to assess and read the monitor and provide best practices for our community to take a monitor home and use it to help manage their health. We provide free blood pressure monitors to our community through our partnership with AACI and the California Department of Public Health.
In partnership with the California Department of Health Services, we distribute free NARCAN and Fentanyl testing strips. After completing training with AACI’s API Community Health Worker Cohort, we now provide these necessary resources at our outreach events. Since the start of this initiative in 2024, we’ve given out over 150+ units of NARCAN and 300+ Fentanyl testing strips.
Interested?
Join Our Health Equity Committee
HOLISTIC HEALTH WORKSHOPS
Our Holistic Health Workshops, a series of 1-2 hour sessions, focus on helping individuals plan for wellness and improve various aspects of their health. By collaborating with healthcare providers and cultural organizations, we tailor our programs to meet the unique needs of our community while addressing health disparities faced by Filipina/x/o Americans.
We’ve partnered with organizations at San José State University, Santa Clara University, Evergreen College, and West Valley College to host workshops.
We have previously partnered with health organizations such as the Santa Clara Department of Public Health, the University of California San Francisco Memory and Aging Center, and YWCA Golden Gate Silicon Valley.
Workshops can be held in either an in-person or virtual format. Let’s collaborate to determine your organization’s best needs by getting in touch with us.
Past Topics include:
HEALTH ADVOCACY PROGRAM
After 4 years of conducting outreach, data collection, and implementing public health initiatives for the Filipina/x/o and FilAm community, we’ve synthesized our work and lessons into a curriculum for new and seasoned health advocates alike!
Through our 8-week Health Advocacy Program, we aim to educate passionate individuals who recognize health disparities in the Filipina/x/o community, want to learn about the current public health landscape, and are interested in making a change around healthcare and healthcare access.
Program attendees will learn the following:
Topics in our curriculum include:
Program graduates will also receive a Mental Health First Aid certification from Mental Health First Aid – San Diego.
Learn more about our Health Advocacy Program here.
HEALTH EQUITY TEAM
Marnelli Canosa
Health Equity & Outreach Coordinator
Maleina Aguinaldo
Health Equity Community Organizer
Jenn Cayanan, RN
Health Equity Team Advisor
Makayla Diaz
Health Equity Intern