Charting a Path Forward:

Activation Plan for 2024–2026

The North Coast Health Improvement and Information Network (NCHIIN), in partnership with our Advisory Council, is proud to introduce the Activation Plan — a coordinated roadmap of activities that will guide our sector’s progress now through September 2026.

This plan is rooted in collaboration and shaped by the unique needs of our rural communities. Its goal? To strengthen the economic stability of our region, grow our workforce, and ensure long-term sustainability in health and human services across the Redwood Region.

At the heart of the Activation Plan are three key strategies designed to tackle the most pressing challenges facing our local healthcare and caregiving systems:

1. Address Limited Access to Care: Focuses on expanding training and career pathways.

2. Support and Expand Capacity: Emphasizes strengthening our local infrastructure and investing in the foundational resources.

3. Tackle System and Policy Challenges: Includes examining regulatory hurdles, reimbursement challenges, and the broader policies that shape how care is accessed and delivered in our region.

Activation Plan Tactics

Through this Activation Plan, NCHIIN and our partners are taking bold, collaborative steps to ensure a healthier, more equitable future for all communities in the Redwood Region.

Do you have a project or initiative that aligns with the

Redwood Region RISE Strategies & Tactics?

Supporting Early Care &

Education Workers

New publications spotlight the needs of early educators and child care workers and support services available.

• Higher Wages Build Stronger Systems – CA Budget & Policy Center Center

• The Economic Well-Being of Early Educators in California – UC Berkeley CSCCE

• Early Educator Compensation Case Study Series Bold Vision, Educator Power, and Focus on Compensation Laying Groundwork for Transformation in New Mexico – UC Berkeley CSCCE

• CHILD & ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH ACCESS PORTAL - A CalHOPE program powered by UCSF



Governor Newsom's

Career Equity Plan

Governor Gavin Newsom recently unveiled the Master Plan for Career Education, a bold statewide strategy to connect Californians — especially in rural areas — to high-paying, fulfilling careers, whether or not they hold a college degree.

The plan focuses on strengthening hands-on learning, removing barriers to education and workforce training, and aligning education with real-world job needs.

Key Highlights:

• 🎓 Career Passports: A new digital tool that showcases academic achievements and real-world experience.
• 🧠 Credit for Prior Learning (CPL): Allows veterans and working Californians to turn experience into college credit — expected to benefit 250,000 people, including 30,000 veterans.
• 🤝 Regional Coordination: The plan promotes stronger state and local partnerships to expand internships, reduce program duplication, and create seamless classroom-to-career pathways.

Governor Newsom emphasized that this plan powers economic mobility, faster access to quality jobs, and a more resilient workforce for all Californians.

Workforce Development &

Training Opportunities

• IHS SOAR Health Training: Human trafficking awareness

• ProviderBridge: Telehealth support for healthcare professionals

• Rural GME Development: Expanding rural residency programs

• Institute for Healthcare Improvement: How Teams Are Engaging and Retaining Direct Care Workers

Funding & Grant Opportunities

Mark your calendars for these upcoming deadlines:

• HRSA Nurse Corps Loan Repayment Program – April 17

• USDA Community Connect Grants – April 21

• HRSA Rural Maternity Program – April 22

• HRSA Nurse Corps Scholarship – April 24

• NHSC Loan Repayment & Scholarship Programs – May 1

• USDA Community Facilities Program – Rolling Deadlines

🖥️ Register for Micro-Lending for Small Businesses Webinar April 15 - 10:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. 

Latest Updates

Impacting Health & Caregiving

• Fact Sheet: HHS' Transformation to Make America Healthy Again The Department of Health & Human Services (HHS) is undergoing a transformation under an executive order aimed at improving government efficiency.

• NPR - On top of layoffs, HHS ordered to cut 35% of spending on contracts HHS has been ordered to cut 35% of contract spending, compounding recent layoffs.

• Cal Budget Center - Paperwork Over People: Why Republican “Work Requirements” Fail Families

• KFF - Putting $880 Billion in Potential Federal Medicaid Cuts in Context of State Budgets and Coverage



North Coast Health Improvement and Information Network (NCHIIN)

Contact Us:

Redwood Region RISE Sector Investment Coordinators

Email: RRRISE@nchiin.org

Phone: (707) 443-4563 ext. 111      

Website: www.nchiin.org