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September is a time of transition, a new school year, a change in seasons, and an opportunity to reflect on the habits and choices that shape our health over time. This month’s observances, including Suicide Prevention Awareness Month, Healthy Aging Month, Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, National Recovery Month, and World Heart Day, remind us of the importance of prevention, connection, and supporting health at every stage of life.
Health begins long before we enter a doctor’s office. It is shaped by our relationships, our communities, our access to resources, and the opportunities available to us throughout our lives. Investing in prevention today can create healthier futures for generations to come.
This September also marks two years of Strong Start & Beyond, an opportunity to celebrate what can happen when prevention becomes a shared commitment. Through collaboration across sectors, Strong Start & Beyond continues to advance maternal health and empower Californians to take action before health challenges become emergencies.
As we focus on emotional well-being, One Small Thing reminds us that healthier communities are often built through simple acts—checking in, offering support, sharing a meal, or simply making time for someone. These moments of connection matter.
We are also looking ahead to Latina Physician Day on October 1, recognizing the important role representation, lived experience, and diverse perspectives play in building a health care system that reflects and serves our communities.
September reminds us that a healthier future is one we build together, through prevention, connection, representation, and action. Let's continue together in health!
Juntos en salud,
Dr. Diana Ramos
California Surgeon General
| | 2 Years of Strong Start & Beyond | | | Two years ago, on September 17, 2024, the Office of the California Surgeon General launched Strong Start & Beyond, a bold movement to help make pregnancy and the postpartum period safer, healthier, and more supported for every mother, child, and family in California. Since then, we’ve been working with partners across the state to reduce maternal mortality, educate and empower people of reproductive age, and improve health outcomes by: | |
From preconception to postpartum and throughout the lifespan, we’re bringing people together to help make a difference. Two years of progress. A growing movement. A stronger start for California families. 💪🩷
| | PreMA Student Creative Contest | | |
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We invite students to enter the statewide Preconception Medical Assessment (PreMA) Student Creative Contest.
PreMA is a free, 8-question quiz developed by the Office of the California Surgeon General that helps people understand how their current health could impact a future pregnancy.
Students are encouraged to create an original poster, graphic, or video that gets people curious enough to take PreMA for themselves and post it publicly on Instagram or Facebook.
The content is made by students, for students, sparking real conversations about preconception health. Entries open now until October 31, 2026.
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| | Clinton Global Initiative 2026 | | |
California has been named a Commitment Maker in the Clinton Global Initiative's 2026 Commitment to Action cohort.
At the center of that commitment is the Preconception Medical Assessment (PreMA), the nation's first validated, patient-initiated preconception medical risk assessment. Over 12 months, the Office of the California Surgeon General commits to scaling PreMA, the nation's first validated, patient-initiated preconception medical risk assessment, to at least 15 national community organizations, digital platforms, and healthcare systems across the United States.
How you can help bring PreMA into your community:
| Building Systems for Postpartum Mental Health | California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos also joined Dr. Chelsea Clinton and Chrissy Teigen for a conversation to explore how we can transform postpartum care – from breaking the stigma around asking for help to building systems that ensure every mom and family have the support, dignity, and care they deserve. Postpartum depression can affect any mom, yet stigma, isolation, and unequal access to care continue to leave too many suffering in silence. | | Suicide Prevention Awareness Month | | |
Whether you're facing mental health struggles, emotional distress, alcohol or drug use concerns, or just need someone to talk to, the 988 Lifeline offers crisis support 24/7.
For free, confidential support before, during, and after pregnancy, call 1-833-TLC-MAMA.
The Postpartum Support International Hotline also provides information, encouragement, and names of resources near you. Call or text “HELP” to 1-800-944-4773.
For youth, young adults, and families in California, Never a Bother has suicide prevention resources.
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| | | | ICYMI: Postpartum Psychosis | In case you missed it, maternal mental health has been quite the hot topic lately. On recent episodes of Office Hours with Dr. Diana Ramos, available on Spotify and YouTube, the California Surgeon General took the opportunity to talk about postpartum anxiety, postpartum depression, and postpartum psychosis with psychopharmacology consultant Dr. Patricia De Marco Centeno, including seeking help and recognizing warning signs, difficulty with diagnosing postpartum psychosis, resources, and more: | | |
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In the latest episode of Office Hours with Dr. Diana Ramos, the California Surgeon General talks telehealth with Kara Egan, CEO and Co-Founder of Teal Health, a women's health company that created the first FDA-authorized device for at-home cervical cancer screening.
Dr. Ramos and Kara discuss a range of topics on where health happens, including:
- Accessing care through telehealth and technology
- Human-centered design and trust in telehealth
- Tech innovation and women's health
- Future of telehealth and tech
- & more
| | | One Small Thing Everyday Superheroes | | Through One Small Thing Everyday Superheroes, the Office of the California Surgeon General continues to recognize individuals who lead through compassion, connection, and service. It shows us that improving maternal health does not always require grand gestures. Sometimes, the greatest impact begins with one person choosing to do one small thing—and inspiring an entire community to do the same. Meet some of our latest heroes, learn about the work they're doing in their communities, and get inspired to | | Jorge De La Cruz of First 5 California has helped expand awareness of One Small Thing and create opportunities for more parents, families and communities across California to connect with the simple ways they can support one another, especially during the transition to parenthood. By integrating One Small Thing into First 5 California’s events, communications and community engagement, he has helped move the message from a campaign into the hands of people who can put it into practice. | | Victor Dominguez, CEO of the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles, learned about One Small Thing and immediately saw how the movement could help families and communities support one another. Victor has helped launch a One Small Thing program across the LA Y Centers of Community Well-Being throughout Greater Los Angeles, creating new opportunities for families and the people around them to learn how small acts of kindness and connection can make a meaningful difference. | | |
Inspired by and developed in partnership with our One Small Thing campaign, the YMCA of Metropolitan Los Angeles is introducing No Small Thing, a growing commitment to supporting new parents and families across Los Angeles.
One Small Thing reminds us that small, intentional actions can make a meaningful difference in our health and well-being. At the Y, they’re building on that idea by asking: What if families had a community committed to showing up for all of those small things?
Because supporting the well-being of a child begins with supporting the people caring for them. The Y Is Here for Parents.
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| | California Social Health Council | | First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom recently announced the launch of the first-ever California Social Health Council, bringing together leaders from across the state to advance social connection and address loneliness as a public health priority. The Council brings together leaders across sectors—including state and local government, academia, tribal, faith and community organizations — to focus on three key goals: | |
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Awareness: Elevate loneliness and social isolation as a public health priority in California.
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Connection across sectors: Create a recurring forum for academics, community-based organizations, faith and tribal leaders, mayors, and state agencies to align efforts.
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Roadmap: Develop a roadmap for California to advance the recommendations of the World Health Organization’s Commission on Social Connection and strengthen the state’s solutions for social isolation.
The launch builds on California’s commitment to creating healthier, more connected communities through the First Partner’s California Love, California Strong initiative and comes as growing research underscores the significant impact of loneliness and social isolation on individual and community well-being.
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As California's first Latina Surgeon General, Dr. Diana Ramos is honored to join Governor Gavin Newsom in recognizing Latino Heritage Month.
In California, the Latino experience has never been one story. It is millions of stories carried across generations — families who have lived here for centuries, families who planted new roots here, and families still working toward the promise of a better future.
This month, we celebrate the cultures, and traditions that make up our Latino community. We honor those who came before us, recognize those shaping our state today, and look proudly toward the generations still to come.
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| | Urgent Maternal Warning Signs | | The American College of Obstetricians & Gynecologists has developed a variety of resources to improve patient safety, including a resource on urgent maternal warning signs. If you have any of these symptoms during or after pregnancy, contact your health care provider and get help right away. If you can’t reach your provider, go to the emergency room. Always remember to say that you’re pregnant or have been pregnant within the last year when getting help. | | UC Davis 2026 Heart Failure Summit | | |
In partnership with UC Davis Health, join us from October 29-30 at the UC Davis 5th Annual Heart Failure Summit at Aggie Square in Sacramento!
The Heart Failure Summit is a multidisciplinary conference dedicated to advancing cardiovascular health and improving patient outcomes. This multi-day program brings together physicians, advanced practice providers, nurses, researchers, trainees, and other healthcare professionals to explore the unique cardiovascular risks and conditions—from prevention and early detection to advanced heart disease. This year's topics will span the continuum of women’s cardiovascular care.
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Call for Abstracts for the Joint Cardiovascular Precision Medicine & CVRI Retreat | | We invite you to submit a poster abstract for the 2026 Joint Cardiovascular Precision Medicine & CVRI Retreat on October 30. The deadline to submit an abstract is October 5. We look forward to receiving your abstracts and celebrating the outstanding cardiovascular research being conducted across our community. | | 2027 Distinguished Service Award | | |
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Congratulations to California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos on receiving the 2027 ACOG Distinguished Service Award!
From serving as California’s Surgeon General to advancing maternal health, preventive care, and health equity on a national scale, Dr. Ramos has dedicated her career to improving the health of women, families, and underserved communities.
Her leadership across ACOG, the Women’s Preventive Services Initiative, and California’s public health system continues to shape more equitable, evidence-based care across the country.
| | | Events, Webinars & Other Opportunities | | |
California government is big. It has hundreds of agencies, departments, programs, and websites. When something happens in your life, you often have to figure out where to go for help. This can be overwhelming. We're making it easier. Tell us what you're going through — whether that's finding a state job, recovering from a disaster, or having a child — and we'll help you find the right programs, services, and next steps.
What AskCA can do
- Provide trusted, helpful resources
- Explain complex topics in plain language
- Answer in English and Spanish
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September 29, 2026 | Virtual
Save the date, and join the March of Dimes on Tuesday, September 29, at 10:00 a.m. PT for a special virtual webinar, Small Actions: Make a Big Difference for Moms and Babies, featuring California Surgeon General Dr. Diana Ramos and other inspiring panelists. Together, we’ll explore how simple actions can improve maternal and infant health, strengthen communities, and create healthier futures for families. More details will be available soon—we hope you’ll save the date!
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Effective Grant Writing Strategies Workshop
September 29-30, 2026 | Virtual
The Department of Health Care Access and Information's State Office of Rural Health is pleased to present the Empowering Rural Health Through Effective Grant Strategies Workshop. This two-day virtual event will help people improve their grant writing skills. Connect with grant experts to discover new funding opportunities and how to make data visualizations work for you!
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Calls for Abstracts for Joint Cardiovascular Precision Medicine & CVRI Retreat on October 30
October 5, 2026
We invite you to submit a poster abstract for the 2026 Joint Cardiovascular Precision Medicine & CVRI Retreat. The deadline to submit an abstract is October 5th. We look forward to receiving your abstracts and celebrating the outstanding cardiovascular research being conducted across our community.
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Protecting Maternal Health Coverage: Medicaid, Policy, and Access
October 14, 2026 at 11 AM PT | Webinar
Explore postpartum Medicaid extensions, presumptive eligibility, Medicaid expansion, and strategies to strengthen continuity of coverage throughout pregnancy and the postpartum period.
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October 19-20, 2026 | Los Angeles, CA
This year’s conference centers on the clinical dimensions of perinatal mental health, exploring the diverse range of effective evidence-based practices, as well as community-facing interventions. Early Bird Rate ends August 15, 2026. Register now.
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October 21, 2026 | Webinar
Discover how doulas, community health workers, home visiting, telehealth, mobile care, and remote patient monitoring are helping families access care where they live, work, and raise their children.
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November 4, 2026 | Webinar
Examine opportunities to strengthen the midwifery workforce through policy, reimbursement, workforce development, and health system integration to expand access to person-centered care.
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November 18, 2026 | Webinar
Explore community-centered solutions, policy opportunities, workforce strategies, and innovative approaches to help communities maintain access to safe, high-quality obstetric care.
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December 14-15, 2026 | Riverside, CA
This year’s California Hospital Association Behavioral Health Care Symposium will tackle the most pressing challenges facing behavioral health care professionals and offer insights into complying with California’s shifting policies. Explore the issues keeping behavioral health care professionals up at night and learn innovative ways to connect patients to community-based care. Registration now open.
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The new federal Public Charge Rule took effect September 18, 2026, changing how the federal government considers the use of certain public benefits when making public charge determinations. The rule does not apply to everyone, and its impact will depend on an individual’s circumstances. Californians should use trusted resources to understand whether and how the rule may apply to them and be cautious of misinformation and scams. Resources to help Californians understand the federal government’s new Public Charge Rule, including information about what the rule means and how it may affect individuals and families, are now available. California is continuing to create and update resources as additional information becomes available.
| | Have a suggestion or an interest in collaborating or being featured in an upcoming newsletter or other communication channel? Contact us for consideration at osginfo@osg.ca.gov. | | | | |
