A Contra Costa Times investigation finds that East Bay hospitals benefited from at least $81 million in tax breaks in 2005, while providing less than $43 million in charity care.
Maria Morfin is the acting administrator for the Sacramento County Alcohol and Drug Services Division. She has over 25 years of experience working in the substance abuse and mental health fields. She has been with Sacramento County for nine years; before that, she worked in a variety of community-based organizations, in Napa and Solano counties, and for the state Department of Health Services.
Jane C. Garcia is CEO of La Clínica de la Raza, a network of 22 health clinics serving multilingual and multicultural populations in three East Bay counties: Alameda, Contra Costa, and Solano counties. La Clínica's comprehensive services include pediatrics, family medicine, women's health care, mental health services, dental and vision care and health education. Services are offered regardless of a person's ability to pay or insurance coverage. La Clínica hires health practitioners who fluently speak Spanish, Chinese, Hindi, Arabic, and Amharic.
Hellan R. Dowden is founder and CEO of HR Dowden & Associates, a consulting group that represents clients with interests in health, education, social services, children, work force investment and training, technology and the public sect. She also co-manages Teachers for Healthy Kids, a collaboration of the California Teachers Association and the California Association of Health Plans, funded by The California Endowment to enroll kids in health care through schools. She represents county-organized health systems in Yolo, Napa, Solano, Santa Cruz and Monterey counties.
Planned Parenthood: Shasta-Diablo is a nonprofit organization spanning 13 counties in Northern California, including Butte, Contra Costa, Napa, and Solano counties. In 2004, PPSD provided direct health and counseling services through its 11 health centers to 56,956 women, men, and teens, as well as education programs to an additional 42,534 individuals. PPSD provides services to all individuals, regardless of ability to pay.