Sierra Health's Partnerships brings you bimonthly news, opportunities, tools and resources.


	IN THIS ISSUE:
	Health Leadership Class V selected Sierra Health fellow leads new Health Professions High School Governor appoints Health Leadership fellow to OSHPD post Grants awarded to help implement capacity building plans Sierra Health Conference Center available to nonprofits Resources: UCSF's Center for the Health Professions examines challenges faced by the health care workforce; 2005 KIDS COUNT Data Book and Online Database available

Health Leadership Class V selected

Sierra Health has accepted 31 applicants for its fifth Health Leadership class, which begins Oct. 4. The seven-month program starts with a four-day retreat at Grizzly Creek Ranch, Sierra Health Foundation's camp in Plumas County for children with special needs.

Class participants represent 11 counties in Northern California and various programs—youth-focused, housing, seniors/aging, environmental, alcohol and drug treatment/recovery. While the majority of the class work as executive directors or program directors/coordinators, others include deputy directors, county health directors/officers and chief operating officers.

The Health Leadership Program is designed to reward and develop experienced nonprofit leaders, and to expand their growth and impact within the communities they serve. For more information on the program or for a Class V roster, visit Sierra Health's Web site.

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Sierra Health fellow leads new Health Professions High School

On Aug. 22, students arrived for a one-week orientation at the new Health Professions High School in Sacramento, which blends solid academics with applied learning in local health systems. Matt Perry, a fellow of the Foundation's Health Leadership Program (Class III), is the principal of the school.

HPHS is part of Sacramento City Unified School District's developing network of small, focused high schools. The high school is the result of a three-year collaborative design process. Perry, who participated in the Health Leadership Program during the school's development, says he received invaluable feedback and support. "The Health Leadership Program was like a template for doing community work," says Perry. "It was exactly what I needed."

Students will receive a rigorous, standards-based education, with additional classes in health and biomedical science, collegiate courses and internships. Students also will participate in Health Occupation Students of America (HOSA) leadership training, and will mentor younger students at Jedediah Smith Elementary School.

During orientation, students visited Mercy General Hospital, Shriners Hospital, BloodSource, UC Davis Medical Center's Center for Nursing Education and the College of Health and Human Services at CSUS. The school's freshman class of 175 students will study at an interim site in front of the permanent site at 451 McClatchy Way, adjacent to Jedediah Smith Elementary School. The new facility will be completed next year.

For enrollment information within the SCUSD, call 916.643.9180 or download an application. Interested families outside the SCUSD may apply through the Inter-District Attendance Agreement process, by first applying at their home school district office. For more information, visit the HPHS Web site.

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Governor appoints Health Leadership fellow to OSHPD post

Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger has appointed Robert David to the position of chief deputy director of the Office of Statewide Health Planning and Development. OSHPD employs more than 400 and oversees four major health program divisions. David, who began work Aug. 8, says he hopes to "make OSHPD a more customer driven, responsive organization, and an employer-of-choice for those who have made a career out of state service."

David is a fellow of the Foundation's Health Leadership Program (Class II). "The experience has provided me with a context for leadership; I draw upon the seminar topics and class discussions on an almost daily basis," says David.

David served as regional vice president for the Hospital Council of Northern and Central California from 1999-2005. Previously, he was assistant secretary for program and fiscal affairs for the California Health and Welfare Agency, and senior negotiator for the Medical Assistance Commission. He was also a member of the San Joaquin County Health Commission, the Emergency Medical Services Commission and the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board.

As part of the California Health and Human Services Agency, OSHPD promotes equitable health care accessibility for California.

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Grants awarded to help implement capacity building plans

Eight nonprofit groups have received follow-up capacity building grants from Sierra Health. The foundation awarded the grants to previous organizational assessment grantees. These organizations have made good progress on their capacity building action plans—one of the outcomes of the assessment. These grants allow them to continue implementing their plans.

Follow-up grant recipients are:

Information about the organizational assessment process can be found in the Spring 2005 GrantWise, a Sierra Health e-newsletter that provides tips to attract and use funds wisely.

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Sierra Health Conference Center available to nonprofits

Meeting space at Sierra Health Foundation's Conference Center in Sacramento is available free of charge to nonprofit and public agencies whose mission is health or health related. Qualified organizations must hold tax-exempt status under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code or be a governmental agency.

Sierra Health's Conference Program reflects the foundation's commitment to improving the health of Northern Californians. Sierra Health's "in-kind" grant Conference and Convening Program provides space for planning and training retreats, conferences, seminars and workshops—ideal for nonpartisan debate, policymaking and collaboration.

The Conference Center is located in the Sierra Health Foundation building on the Sacramento River; it is easily accessible to downtown, Sacramento International Airport and major freeways. For current guidelines, including eligibility criteria, application process and general information, visit Sierra Health's Web site.

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	RESOURCES
	The Center for the Health Professions, University of California, San Francisco, examines challenges faced by the health care workforce—supply and distribution; skills and training; cultural competency and diversity; and leadership, partnership and vision. 2005 KIDS COUNT Data Book and Online Database is available from KIDS COUNT, a project of the Annie E. Casey Foundation, a national and state-by-state effort to track the status of children in the United States.