Role A Community Liaison PHN Plays in Improving Access to Health Care

It is recognized that adults without health insurance are less likely to receive routine check ups and appropriate preventative care. It is also recognized that when people are informed and educated about health care issues, they are more empowered to take action toward appropriate health care choices. Healthy People 2010 identifies access to quality health care services as one of the top ten leading indicators in our nation. Los Angeles County (LAC) Department of Public Health takes an active role to ensure the health and well being of all residents in Los Angeles County. One way to do this is to increase collaborative efforts through a Community Liaising Program (CLP), designed by the Metropolitan (SPA 4) and San Gabriel Valley (SPA 3) Service Planning Area Health Office with emphasis on the following Essential Public Health Services: inform, educate and empower people about health care issues; mobilize community partnerships; and link health and community resources. This presentation will demonstrate the steps taken by the SPA 4 CLP to: 1. Mobilize community partnerships to improve health care access. 2. Link health and community services. 3. Collaborate with internal and external partners to inform, educate, and empower Angelinos about health care access in a culturally appropriate manner. 4. Lessons learned.