Home to over a million people, Fresno County is located in the fertile San Joaquin Valley, which produces a wide range of crops that feed 25 percent of all Americans. The county’s highly diverse ethnic and cultural residents live in small farm towns, suburban communities, as well as the metropolitan city of Fresno.

In 2014, a small group of community health leaders formed the Fresno Community Health Improvement Partnership (FCHIP) to achieve meaningful, lasting improvements in health outcomes through the alignment and measurement of health-related initiatives.

More than 400 individuals from CBOs, healthcare, education, business and government make up this Accountable Community for Health (ACH), representing over 150 entities that partner with and sponsor FCHIP. Through alignment, leveraging of resources and collaboration, FCHIP has launched several key initiatives that address a diverse range of interrelated health conditions and challenges faced by Fresno County residents.

“As soon as we became a collaborative, we realized trauma was at the center of everything. We now are working to imbed trauma-informed practices into all our work,” explains FCHIP Program Director Sue Kincaid. Accordingly, FCHIP has identified Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACES) as their state initiative and is expanding trauma and resilience training, assessments, coaching and evaluation to further develop partner organizations’ capacity.

The FCHIP ACH, however, is also broadening its approach to trauma care by ensuring that resident power building and community partner engagement are core elements of its work. FCHIP’s HOPE Pathways Hub, for instance, is transforming care coordination by linking 25 community health workers with community residents and giving those residents a voice in deciding where they need resources and linkages FCHIP is also actively recruiting new members to their leadership and executive teams that represent the county’s diverse voices.

Another example of centering the voice of the community is seen in FCHIP’s Youth Leadership Council, a youth-led, youth-driven cohort of high schoolers and university students from underserved communities who are emerging health warriors and leaders. This council is piloting its train-the-trainer model that builds resilience through trauma-informed, community-based service and leadership. It was soon recognized by the President’s Unity Agenda and Mental Health Strategy as one of 14 national finalists among 500 entries.

“It is my belief, as well as that of FCHIP, that today’s youth are our everyday eyes and ears when it comes to distinguishing health disparities that prove harmful for our communities,” explained Youth Leadership Council Chair, Christian Santos. “With their innovative ideas and rising drive to generate positive social change, now is the time for action, now is the time for Youth Health Ambassadors.”

With ACH support, FCHIP plans to further their initiatives and work toward greater sustainability. “The ACH structure gives us the ability to bring in so many engaged partners. For example, we can bridge hospitals and community residents, including youth,” says Sue.

Learn more at FCHIP.org.