A new name, a larger team, and expanded programming.
Here’s a look at how we broadened impact and helped create healthy communities in 2022.
Carmen R. Nevarez, MD, MPH
Director, PHI Center for Health Leadership & Impact
I am pleased to share news about the evolution of our work and an updated name that reflects a broader impact on the public’s health. Our name has changed from the Center for Health Leadership & Practice to PHI Center for Health Leadership & Impact (CHLI).
Our name has changed, but our commitment to partners and program participants remains the same. Over the past 30 years, our work has shifted from practice-based leadership training to a deeper focus on equity, justice, and building healthy communities. Our name change also reflects our deep ties to the Public Health Institute and its long history of accelerating public health impact.
In 2022 we expanded our portfolio with the Leadership Pathways for the Public’s Health, focused on transforming the public health workforce through training, capacity building, and direct placement of workers. Thanks to our expanded partnership with AmeriCorps, more communities are being reached and lives are being saved by our Overdose Prevention Network. And this year our adaptive leadership training program, Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health, continued a nationally recognized legacy of impact.
I look forward to broadening impact in 2023 and invite you to discover more about our programs and efforts to transform the public health workforce.
Carmen R. Nevarez, MD, MPH
Program Director, PHI Center for Health Leadership & Impact
Director, Dialogue4Health
Sr. Vice President Emeritus, External Relations and Preventive Medicine, Public Health Institute
2022 by the numbers
5 new staff members
Our team continues to grow, and new staff are providing increased capacity for existing overdose prevention programming and support for a new workforce program.
81 webinars produced
Our programmatic workshops and large-scale virtual events highlight innovative practices, leaders, and resources across a wide range of public health issues.
150+ AmeriCorps members placed in communities
Through our partnership with AmeriCorps, we’re able to support existing leadership development programs and multi-sector teams in rural California.
40% increased investment
From new public health workforce programs to existing leadership development programs and scaling initiatives in overdose prevention, we continue to receive investments supporting our work to advance equity in communities across the country.
Scaling impact at the local, state, regional, and national level
In 2022, we supported multi-sector teams to address a wide range of public health issues, including overdose prevention, building lead-free communities, behavioral health, and more. Participants in our programs and networks gain leadership skills, develop their ability to leverage local resources and partnerships, and discover best practices for sustainable community impact.
Discover more issue areas ⭢
Learn more about the Leadership Academy ⭢
Learn more about our Overdose Prevention Network ⭢
ADVANCING LEADERSHIP
Developing agile public health leadership skills and cross-sector collaboration
The Leadership Academy for the Public’s Health (LAPH) provides training to four-person multi-sector teams from across the country to advance their leadership skills and achieve health equity in their community. Our teams collaborate on an applied health leadership project, focusing their growth and skills to support existing work in their communities.
“The key leadership skill that I developed is to recognize the needs of our community and partner with others to implement strategies for better outcomes.”
-CALAPH participant
Leadership development wins by the numbers
In 2022, impact data was collected through interviews and surveys of both individual participants and teams in NLAPH Cohort 11, showing significant participant satisfaction and progress toward team-defined goals.
829 leaders
In 2022, 35 individuals participated in NLAPH Cohort 11 and participated in our year-long adaptive leadership training program.
176 teams
The eight teams in Cohort 11 were comprised of 3-6 members. Each team worked on an applied project in their community as part of program participation.
47 states & territories
Teams in Cohort 11 addressed a wide range of issues in their local communities with diverse geographic and economic conditions across the US.
19 out of 20 individual competencies showed statistically significant improvement
96% of participants reported that LAPH contributed to strengthening their individual leadership skills
100% of participants have applied new skills or knowledge acquired through LAPH to their individual work
NLAPH TEAM HIGHLIGHT
Eliminating lead’s impact in Louisville
The Louisville Lead-Free Community Team joined NLAPH with a focus on implementing lead-free strategies, starting with one high-need neighborhood, Smoketown, and learning from and spreading successful strategies to other zip codes where there was need.
After their involvement in NLAPH, the team developed local policy recommendations that were implemented in Louisville.
OVERDOSE PREVENTION
Accelerating local impact and building networks to save lives
The Overdose Prevention Network runs both nationally and in California. The California Overdose Prevention Network (COPN) is the largest overdose prevention network in the country with active coalitions serving 85% of California’s 39 million people. Through our COPN Accelerator, local coalitions participate in a 12-month cohort program to share ideas, discover prevention strategies, and stop overdose deaths.
Our National Overdose Prevention Network (NOPN) is a national learning community that supports local, regional, and statewide overdose prevention efforts that draw communities together to save lives.
Learn more about the National Overdose Prevention Network ⭢
Learn more about the California Overdose Prevention Network ⭢
Learn more about the COPN Accelerator program ⭢
“Before COPN we operated in a more isolated way...COPN has broadened our prospective and given us a sense of unity with other coalitions tackling our nation's overdose epidemic.”
-COPN local coalition team member
“We have been able to develop a partnership that will allow us to work with providers to learn about what is going on with MAT access and prescription of buprenorphine in our counties. We hope to develop resources and educational materials for our medical providers.”
-COPN Accelerator 3.0 team member
Overdose prevention coalition wins by the numbers
Impact data from the recently completed COPN Accelerator 3.0 program showed significant participant satisfaction and progress toward team-defined goals.
87% of respondents expanded their professional network
Of those who indicated they had participated in two or more accelerator programs, 100% saw growth in their professional network.
89% of participants would recommend the program to their colleagues
100% of coalitions are advancing key overdose prevention strategies
Using opioid safety & surveillance data at local level
Implementing or expanding Naloxone distribution site(s) or systems
Increasing public awareness of opioid safety
Promoting harm reduction services
Collaborating with law enforcement
COPN Accelerator Program Highlights
Implementing School Naloxone Policy in Shasta, CA
SafeRx Lake County worked with Lake County Office of Education to recently implement a local school naloxone policy. This policy allows for the superintendent or designee, or any trained district staff member, to administer naloxone during an opioid overdose. It also includes language to ensure the superintendent or designee trains and distributes naloxone kits to district staff, and replaces any used or expired kids. This is an excellent showcase on how COPN coalitions are implementing policy change at the local level. To learn more and view the policy click here. To learn more and view the policy click here.
SLO Naloxone Now Awareness Campaign
To make naloxone more accessible in their county, San Luis Obispo (SLO) Opioid Safety Coalition collaborated with the Cal Poly Digital Transformation Hub (DxHub) and a team of university students to develop Naloxone Now. Using Naloxone Now online or through the phone app, SLO community members can find the nearest location to get naloxone or have it delivered at no cost. Recently the coalition has increased their awareness campaigning around the Naloxone Now app to be more visible to community members throughout their county through digital campaigning and billboard placement in county (see above).
SCALING OVERDOSE PREVENTION IMPACT
Advancing equitable, data-informed approaches to fentanyl and other drug abuse prevention
The National Overdose Prevention Leadership Summit (NOPLS) is an annual virtual event that highlights real solutions to the overdose crisis that bridge justice, health care, and public health sectors. Our 2022 theme, Saving Lives by Changing Systems Hearts, and Minds, helped focus attention on issues such as:
Addressing the rise of fentanyl
Integrating health equity across prevention, justice, and treatment
Using data to act more effectively
Adopting innovation within and across systems
Learning from youth and people with lived experience
Developing person-centered approaches that save lives
SPONSORED BY
Our 2022 virtual leadership summit wins by the numbers
45+ speakers
Our lineup broadly represented the field, including experts from private and public sectors.
400+ attendees
Attendees included overdose prevention coalitions, governmental public health professionals, and people with lived experience.
39 states represented
Our national audience represented every geographic region of the US, including Alaska and Hawaii.
Meet some of our 2022 speakers
Public Sector
Nora Volkow, MD
Director, National Institute on Drug Abuse, National Institutes of Health
Christopher Jones, PharmD, DrPH, MPH
CAPT, US Public Health Service Acting Director, National Center for Injury Prevention and Control
Gregory Dorchak, PhD, JD
Civil Rights Division Attorney, US Department of Justice
Prevention
Charles Hawthorne, MPH
Equity and Harm Reduction Project Manager, California Bridge
Ori Tzvieli, MD
Health Officer and Public Health Director, Contra Costa County, Contra Costa Health Services
Nabarun Dasgupta, PhD, MPH
Senior Scientist, Injury Prevention Research Center Innovation Fellow, Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
People in the Field
Graciela Razo
Drop-In and Syringe Exchange Program Manager, Vocal New York
Philip Rutherford
Chief Operating Officer, Faces & Voices of Recovery
Sam Quinones
Journalist, Author, Photographer
PUBLIC HEALTH WORKFORCE
Expanding how we provide training, capacity building, and direct placement of professionals
Leadership Pathways for the Public’s Health, managed by PHI Center for Health Leadership & Impact (CHLI), supports a more equitable public health workforce. Since 2018, the AmeriCorps VISTA Hub has sponsored service year opportunities supporting overdose prevention and COVID-19 impacts.
In 2022 we launched the California Academic Health Department to build connections between California public health schools/programs and governmental public health. We also collaborated with the California Alliance of Academics & Communities for Public Health Equity (California Alliance) to build connections between public health educators, programs, and communities most impacted by health inequities.
Finally, we partnered with the University of Arizona Western Region Public Health Training Center to support public health departments through building capacity of staff, accreditation (PHAB) needs assessment, and continuing education.
Learn more about Leadership Pathways ⭢
Learn more about the AmeriCorps VISTA Hub ⭢
Learn more about the California Academic Health Department ⭢
Learn more about the California Alliance ⭢
“The most valuable piece has been the VISTA member. A dedicated staff person to carry out the goals of the coalition and to keep everyone on task has been immeasurably helpful.”
-COPN coalition member
AmeriCorps VISTA Hub wins by the numbers
150 members total
Since 2018 we have placed 92 members in California—58 were added in 2022.
33 members employed
Our program has helped local public health organizations meet staffing needs and build capacity while offering valuable career placement opportunities.
37 members pursue graduate school
At the end of the service year, some members have gone to graduate school for advanced degrees in publich health.
AMERICORPS VISTA HUB SPOTLIGHT
Charting a course from AmeriCorps service to a career in public health
Freshly completing a public health internship and graduating from CSU Stanislaus with a BA in Kinesiology & Health Promotion concentration, Veronica found herself wanting to further explore the field of public health. Seeing an opportunity to work in her community, she became the first AmeriCorps VISTA member for the San Benito County Opioid Task Force (SBCOTF) shortly after its formation in 2018.
Veronica’s supervisor supported her through professional development opportunities like public speaking, program management, and grant writing. Veronica helped secure over $300,000 in grant funds and small private donations to the coalition and supporting her position as a health educator within the San Benito County Public Health Department when her service ended. In 2019, she enrolled in the University of San Francisco’s MPH program.
After working as the health educator and co-lead of the SBCOTF and team lead of the Central Coast Regional Team (Monterey, San Benito, Santa Cruz Counties) for the COPN Accelerator 3.0 Program, Veronica stepped into a new role in 2022 as a program coordinator for PHI Center for Health Leadership & Impact supporting the work of the Overdose Prevention Network.
Veronica credits her AmeriCorps service for her passion for public health, substance use focused work, and to her career trajectory of work from a small county to supporting coalitions throughout California.
Veronica Johnson, MPH, CHES
Program Coordinator
PHI Center for Health Leadership & Impact
WORKFORCE PROGRAM LAUNCH
Building connections between California public health schools and governmental public health
In 2022 we launched a new program, The California Academic Health Department, to strengthen the public health workforce. Through internships, residencies, and faculty/staff exchanges between academia and governmental public health, we are building capacity in the field and creating much needed job opportunities.
Active county focus
Central Valley
Fresno
Kern
Kings
Madera
Mariposa
Merced
San Joaquin
Stanislaus
Tuolumne
Tulare
Inland Empire
Imperial
Riverside
San Bernardino
Central Valley and Inland Empire counties
California Academic Health Department wins by the numbers
272 recent graduates requested applications for a year-long residency
35 local health departments across California expressed interest in becoming host sites
32 schools & programs of public health in our network
EQUITABLE WORKFORCE
Partnering with communities and schools and programs of public health to create a more equitable workforce
In 2022, the California Alliance of Academics & Communities for Public Health Equity (The Alliance) launched as a new California wide policy, training, and research collaboration at the Public Health Institute. By amplifying the voice of schools and programs of academic public health in partnership with communities disproportionately impacted by health disparities, this initiative helps grow a diverse equity-oriented workforce and catalyzes policy change.
California Alliance wins by the numbers
25 Schools and Programs of Public Health actively engaged
80+ Alliance meetings facilitated
25+ connections with community organizations
Meet our growing, committed team
This year, we added 5 new staff members and 3 AmeriCorps members to provide increased capacity for existing overdose prevention programming and support for our Leadership Pathways program. We’re also celebrating our staff’s commitment to public health and their longevity as employees of PHI and our Center.
Learn more about our team ⭢
Learn about our partnership with AmeriCorps ⭢
Celebrating staff retention
Carmen R. Nevarez, Program Director
25 years at PHI (10 years at CHLI)
Tonya Hammond, Operations Manager
14 years at PHI (8 years with CHLI)
Karya Lustig, Deputy Director
12 years with CHLI
Amy Max, Program Manager
10 years at PHI (5 years with CHLI)
Nilo Ventura, Program Administrator/Lead Financial Analyst
9 years at PHI (3 years with CHLI)
Financials
$5,000,000+ annual budget
Many of these awards are multi-year funding awards. Our funding includes federal, state, and private philanthropic sources.
40% budget growth
That’s an increase of more than $2,000,000 from our 2021 budget.
