Current Projects & Grants
Current Projects
LISTOS grant with Dignity Health Hospital/ Commonspirit and LA Department of Public Health:听听
The term 鈥渓istos鈥� translates to 鈥渞eady鈥� in Spanish, illustrating a sense of preparedness and security. ISTOS is an initiative launched by California Governor Gavin Newsom鈥檚 office and funded through the Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). LISTOS engages a statewide network of community-based organizations, Tribal Governments, and Community Emergency Response Teams across the state to provide culturally competent education to prepare all Californians for wildfires, floods, earthquakes, droughts, heatwaves and other disasters. The Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing (Institute) is partnering with Di (DH) and the to train the jmcomic漫画N population in important, life-saving skills. In Fall 2025, eight University 100 (U100) classes (first year students) are participating in these workshops. U100 coordinator Debbi Mercado worked with Dr. Sawyer to organize this project听 at jmcomic漫画N, and the U100 faculty members involved: Conchita Battle, Imaya Ramos Rincon, Marina Valadez, Joyce Marie Brusasco, Karla Montenegro Gonzalez, Anjum Padyal, Lindsey Macaraig; and to our faculty affiliate Dr. Nancy Miodrag.听 The grant period is August 2024 through December 2025. Each participating student will attend three one-hour workshops: Five Step Emergency Preparedness, Stop the Bleed, and Hands Only CPR.听
Mindfulness Programs
Sangha at jmcomic漫画N in 2024-2025 was held Tuesdays 8:30-9:30am. Coming soon Sangha at jmcomic漫画N schedule for 2025-2026!
Past Projects
Community Needs Assessment
Our interns have worked on reviewing local community needs assessments and ranking the most common health needs.听
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- Access to health care
- Housing and un-housed
- Mental health
- Substance use and misuse
- Chronic diseases and related health behaviors
- Heart disease
- Diabetes
- Nutrition
- Physical activity
- Weight status
- Senior health
- Alzheimer's, dementia, potentially disabling conditions
- Food insecurity
- Violence and injuries
- Preventive practices
StrengthUnited
The Institute is currently contracted with StrengthUnited (SU) on a grant to train and support community health workers (CHWs). SU received a grant through the Los Angeles Department of Public Health to serve as the Lead Agency for one of the ten community public health teams (CPHT) going door-to-door doing community needs assessments and connecting the most vulnerable communities in Los Angeles to resources.
San Fernando Community Health Center
The Institute has also been working with the San Fernando Community Health Center (SFCHC). Child development screenings are not part of what is required from Federally Qualified Health Centers (FQHC). The SFCHC, one of our local FQHCs, contracted with the Institute to provide an intern to assess children and provide warm referrals for families in need.
Community Public Health Teams-Community Health Workers with Strength United.听
Dr. Jodi Brown is our faculty affiliate on this project. In alignment with the Institute for Community Health and Wellbeing鈥檚 (ICHWB) aim, to match community needs with faculty expertise we are currently contracted with Strength United (SU) on a grant to train and support community health workers (CHWs). SU received a grant through the Los Angeles Department of Public Health to serve as the Lead Agency for one of the ten (CPHT) going door-to-door doing community needs assessments and connecting the most vulnerable communities in Los Angeles to resources. Dr. Jodi Brown from the Social Work Department, in the College of Social and Behavioral Sciences, has been fundamental to this project as she supports CHWs to conduct home visits in Service Planning Area (SPA) 2. Community members are invited to participate in in-person household assessments with a Community Health Worker. After the assessment, the CHW offers to connect the community member with services. With the support of Dr. Brown, CHWs are learning best practices for connecting with community members who reside in surrounding, low-income and immigrant communities.听