Mendocino County, a rural community abutting the California coastline, is home to an economically diverse, white, Latino and Native American population. Its Accountable Community for Health (ACH), Healthy Mendocino, aims to prioritize resident health needs, improve quality of life and promote equity by encouraging informed dialogue and resident action—shifting cultural norms, enhancing social cohesion and breaking down silos.  

 Healthy Mendocino was launched in 2013 as a coalition of 20 partner-funders with a history of prior collaboration. Members came from health care, tribal governments, schools, behavioral health CBOs and underrepresented grassroots groups. All had skin in the game with shared contributions to a Wellness Fund and accountability agreements.

 “We know there are people in our communities who need food, health care or connection to other services,” says Tiffany Gibson, director of Healthy Mendocino for the ACH’s backbone organization, North Coast Opportunities, Inc. (NCO). “With Healthy Mendocino, we are collectively able to offer resources that feel normalized—and welcoming—so that community members can get the assistance they need wherever they are.”

 One of the ACH’s first successful projects was the launch of the Healthy Mendocino Data Portal, a center for local health data, community resources, training, advocacy and best practices. This data has informed successful advocacy for an Accessory Dwelling Unit Ordinance permitting “tiny homes” and provides a foundation for the work of the ACH and its partner organizations.

Since launching, Healthy Mendocino has built on this by conducting a comprehensive Community Health Needs Assessment, involving surveys from over 1,300 residents, 90 key informant interviews, 23 listening sessions and bountiful data that has inspired action teams focusing on family wellness, childhood trauma, housing, mental health and poverty.

To address these issues, CalAIM was adopted as its signature state initiative. Partners will work to ensure local CBOs have the resources they need to become community-informed CalAIM providers that improve quality of life and health outcomes for Medi-Cal enrollees.

While participating in CACHI’s 2023-25 cohort, Healthy Mendocino hopes to strengthen its coalition and center community voice in all its activities. “A top priority for our ACH is to ensure that community voices are at the core of all our work.” says Gibson. “We’re going out into neighborhoods, hosting listening sessions, gathering data and making sure everyone is involved in making Mendocino County a healthier community.”

Learn more at healthymendocino.org.