A new Central California Public Health Consortium has been formed by public health directors, health officers, academicians and hospital administrators in Fresno, Kern, Kings, Madera, Merced, Stanislaus, San Joaquin, and Tulare counties.

 “The consortium provides a forum to explore and exchange ideas and information and to develop strategies for addressing pressing public health issues faced by the counties and the region,” said Dr. Marlene Bengiamin of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute at Fresno State. The institute is housed within the university’s College of Health and Human Services.

It was formed as part of an initiative of the Central California Public Health Partnership that was awarded a two-year $125,000 grant from The California Endowment, which aims to improve the effectiveness of health departments in the San Joaquin Valley.

The partnership is a collaboration of Fresno State and public health departments working to develop and implement regional strategies to enhance their capacities, which may ultimately lead to national accreditation by the Public Health Accreditation Board.

The consortium’s mission is to provide leadership for a regional health agenda that addresses the social factors that determine the health outcomes of San Joaquin Valley residents. The consortium will be engaged in strategic planning, training, action-oriented policy development and research to improve the quality and responsiveness of public health programs in the region.

For more information, contact Bengiamin at 559.228.2167 or marleneb@csufresno.edu.