Building Blocks for Health Equity
ABOUT US
We bring together people with the ideas, connections, and skills to create conditions where all children have a fair chance at a healthy and fulfilling life, no matter where they live, how much money their families have, or their race – by addressing the root causes of health and health inequities. Building Blocks for Health Equity is a unit within the Family Health Services Division, Maternal, Paternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Unit of the Alameda County Public Health Department.
A NEW APPROACH
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Building Blocks for Health Equity challenges community groups, city and county government and elected leaders to embrace a broader understanding of the causes of poor health and to work together to ensure that every child has an opportunity to thrive.
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Our approach is rooted in the latest science of early childhood development, which recognizes that positive experiences and environments in the youngest ages are of critical importance in lifelong success and that investing in our youngest residents can have the greatest returns and benefit to society as whole.
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We combine broad, research-based vision with on-the-ground knowledge of community needs to improve health conditions in the neighborhoods that need it most.
CURRENT PROJECTS
Building Blocks Collaborative provides forums and offers space for new projects and collaborations to take root and great ideas to take flight. Our strength is our collaborative. Our partners are from diverse arenas – including local economic development agencies, food access project, city and county government, community clinics, housing, & parks and recreation – all committed to improving health conditions in our most challenged neighborhoods.
Best Babies Zone is a 7x12 block radius in the Castlemont neighborhood in East Oakland where we are lifting up promising community solutions and fostering new county collaborations – all with the goal of ensuring a healthy future for the neighborhood’s children starting from birth.
Health Equity and Resource Advocates is developing client-focused solutions with our Maternal, Paternal, Child, and Adolescent home visiting programs to address social factors, such as finances, housing, and other social determinants of health. These impact the health of pregnant women, fathers, and families with young children who are receiving Maternal, Paternal, Child, and Adolescent Health Services.
What We Do
Work in resident-driven priorities and realities to achieve the BBZ Initiative's Mission (to give every baby born in a Best Babies Zone the best chance in life) and Vision (every baby is born healthy, into a community that enables them to thrive and reach their full potential) in the Castlemont neighborhood.
1. Activate Castlemont residents and community partners by identifying neighborhod leaders and partners and bringing these two groupd together.
2. Listen to neighborhood priorities by creating a shared vision by prioritizing needs and opportunities.
3. Foster cross-sector community actions.
Who We Serve
We serve residents of East Oakland with a focus on residents from the Castlemont neighborhood.
How We Impact
- provide leadership development opportunites
- host community events
- connect families to health services
- foster entrepreneurship
What We Do
A 7-week program that helps:
- Define your product / concept.
- Learn how to evaluate business finances.
- Develop a written business plan.
- Explore low cost marketing & legal resources available.
- Network with other individuals who are starting or growing locally owned businesses.
Graduates will also receive one-on-one coaching, and if appropriate, access to capital (loans to start
or grow your business).
Who We Serve
Qualifications:
- Commitment to attending all workshops available through the Mandela Entrepreneurs workshop series.
- Have a strong interest in starting or growing a business.
- Be enrolled in a Alameda County Public Health Home-Visiting Program.
- Come to the workshops ready and eager to learn.
- Be respectful, and open to new ideas.
- Know how to read and write.
How We Impact
Mandela MarketPlace is a non-profit organization that works in partnership with local residents, family farmers, and community-based businesses to improve health, create wealth, and build assets through cooperative food enterprises in low-income communities.
Best Babies Zone's mission is to give every baby born in a Best Babies Zone the best chance in life. Best Babies Zone communities promote good health from one generation to the next. Positive life experiences and increased opportunities where we live, work, learn and play, such as early childhood education, affordable housing and a vibrant local economy will help everyone thrive and be healthy.
What We Do
The Financial Tools & $olutions Project (FT$) is one of the Building Blocks for Health Equity’s (BB4HE) projects within the Alameda County Public Health Department’s Maternal, Paternal, Child, and Adolescent Health unit. FT$ is building on the work started through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s-funded Prosperity Project that sought to directly influence policy and systems change across Alameda County to increase assets, protect wealth, and advance health equity.
Who We Serve
The Financial Tools and $olutions Project implements a financial education workshop series and asset building grants program with all of FHS home visiting clients.
How We Impact
Alameda County FHS home visiting clients who complete the FT$ workshop series have an opportunity to access grants to link their financial goals with their personal aspirations and realities. As part of the asset building grants program, home visiting clients have access to flexible grant funds for emergencies, savings expansion, career/workforce development, entrepreneurship, or family enrichment.
Clear Impact Suite is an easy-to-use, web-based software platform that helps your staff collaborate with external stakeholders and community partners by utilizing the combination of data collection, performance reporting, and program planning.