CIN Community,

This month’s newsletter uplifts a shared vision across organizations: building a more equitable health system by centering the needs and voices of communities. Whether through prioritizing patients’ behavioral health preferences, elevating Medicaid members' experiences, or examining Latino/x health data in California, it is abundantly clear that real change happens when community insight drives policy and practice.

Our upcoming webinar will demonstrate how collaborative care models (CoCMs) are patient-centered by design. We will feature a Los Angeles-based organization that supports CoCMs in order to address patients’ unique mental health needs and preferences during the perinatal period. 

Across all of this work, one truth remains: equity isn't possible without listening. And it’s through conversations, stories, and shared data that we begin to build a system that works for everyone.

Onward,

The California Improvement Network Team

"My belief is that those closest to the pain are closest to the solution". — Linda Sarsour 

UPCOMING WEBINAR: Collaborative Care Model for Perinatal Mental Health

October 15, 2025

12-1pm PT

Mood disorders such as depression and anxiety are among the most common medical conditions affecting perinatal patients. Despite this prevalence, they often go undetected and untreated—particularly in medically underserved communities—leading to serious consequences for both parent and child.

This upcoming CIN webinar will introduce participants to the Collaborative Care Model (CoCM), an evidence-based approach to integrating behavioral health into primary care, with a focus on addressing perinatal depression. Participants will learn key components of the model and hear real-world insights from a Los Angeles-based initiative supporting CoCM for perinatal patients in FQHC settings.

This webinar is designed for clinical leaders, administrators, providers, and staff involved in perinatal care—primary care, obstetrics, pediatrics—as well as mental health care. Participants will learn about integrative behavioral health care models and actionable strategies to support perinatal mental health.

Leading Change and Fostering Resilience

UPCOMING WEBINAR: CalAIM Renewal Explained

September 18, 2025

10:30-11:30am PT

California is gearing up for its Medicaid 1115 waiver renewal process, a critical review that occurs every five years and requires approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to implement CalAIM in California. On Thursday, September 18th, Amplifying Impact Initiative will host a webinar to explore what this renewal means for healthcare providers, community health workers, and the communities they serve. During this 60-minute session, attendees will gain valuable insights into the future of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal (CalAIM), with a focus on key elements of the waiver renewal.

This webinar is particularly relevant for healthcare providers, policy makers, community health workers, and anyone involved in managing or advocating for Medi-Cal and health system reform.

Improving Care to Achieve Equity

UPCOMING WEBINAR: Latino Health in California: Data Insights and Solutions for a Healthier Future

September 24, 2025

12-1pm PT

Join the California Health Care Foundation on Wednesday, September 24, for a timely webinar to explore the state of Latino/x health in California. This virtual event will examine health outcomes and trends, emerging threats, and policy solutions that support a healthier future for Latino/x communities.

The webinar will feature research from the California Latino Health Almanac: Measuring Access, Outcomes, and Opportunities, a comprehensive resource that presents critical data and trends, and developed in partnership with the Latinx Center of Excellence, the Phillip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, and Healthforce Center at UCSF. 

This webinar is ideal for healthcare providers, policymakers, public health professionals, and those interested in addressing health disparities in Latino/x communities in California.

How Medicaid Members Can Shape Its Future

Millions of adults and children rely on Medicaid every day, yet this vital program has been increasingly under-resourced for decades. Communities will also soon feel the impact of the impending H.R. 1 Medicaid cuts. For the state and local organizations left to fill these gaps, the path forward must center the voices of the people most affected.

Health Leads and the State Health Access Data Assistance Center have partnered to hear directly from Medicaid members about the improvements they want to see in this crucial service. The organizations created a report that offers recommendations on how to overcome equity barriers and improve care delivery, and a replicable approach to designing not just for but with communities.

Participants will learn how Medicaid members’ input can drive improvements in the program, focusing on overcoming equity barriers and enhancing care delivery. This session is relevant for healthcare providers, policymakers, community organizers, and anyone involved in Medicaid reform or health equity initiatives.

Partnering to Support Whole-Person Care

VIDEO: A Nonprofit Collaboration Bridges the Gap for Unaffordable Copays

Primary care providers are often the first line of defense against preventable health issues, but many face systemic barriers that limit their ability to fully support patients. At Tweedy Medical Group in Los Angeles, cost was a major challenge. Through the EQuIP-LA initiative—aimed at reducing disparities for Medi-Cal enrollees of color—this small, independent practice launched a nonprofit to remove medication cost barriers and partnered with a local pharmacy to improve access, outcomes, and patient engagement.

Watch a video by California Quality Collaborative to learn more about Tweedy Medical Group's story.