News Archives - California Health and Human Services

California Launches Three-Year Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness

New plan establishes five key goals for the state and strengthens accountability SACRAMENTO, CA – The California Interagency Council on Homelessness (Cal ICH) today unveiled its 2025-2027 Statewide Action Plan to Prevent and End Homelessness, a bold and data-driven roadmap to address one of the state’s most urgent crises. This three-year plan sets goals for …

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Statement from California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly on the Announced Closure of Madera Community Hospital

Featured, News, Press Releases

Statement from California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly on the Announced Closure of Madera Community Hospital “This is a difficult time for the Madera community. We are grateful to the hospitals and health care providers in the region who are stepping up so that the individuals and communities impacted by the announced …

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Valencia Branch Laboratory Receives Initial Licensing Report, Vows Improvement for Californians

Featured, News, Press Releases

For Immediate Release February 22, 2021 Contact: Kate.Folmar@chhs.ca.gov Rodger.Butler@chhs.ca.gov Sacramento – The Laboratory Field Services Division of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), which regulates laboratories in the state, found significant deficiencies in the Valencia Branch Laboratory during an initial routine inspection that occurred in early December, when the laboratory first opened. PerkinElmer is …

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California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly makes appointments to Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee

Featured, News

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE DATE: August 15, 2019CONTACT: Scott Murray | (916) 654-3304 SACRAMENTO – California Health and Human Services (CHHS) Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly today announced the establishment of a Master Plan for Aging Stakeholder Advisory Committee. In January, as part of his first State of the State Address, Governor Gavin Newsom called for a …

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Statement from California Health and Human Services Secretary Dr. Mark Ghaly on Federal Public Charge Inadmissibility Rule

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“The California Health and Human Services Agency, along with its Departments and Offices, opposes any changes to the federal public charge policy that would restrict access to vital social programs or that would require families across California to make an impossible choice between taking public assistance to meet their basic needs and their ability to …

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DMHC Reaches Agreement with Anthem Blue Cross to Protect Consumers

DMHC, Featured, News, Press Releases / Anthem, Blue Cross, DMHC, Enforcement, Health Care, Press Release

Plan Invests $8.4 Million in Consumer Grievances & Appeals Process, Pays $2.8 Million Fine The California Department of Managed Health Care (DMHC) has reached an agreement with Blue Cross of California (Anthem Blue Cross) to correct the plan’s repeated failures to properly identify and handle enrollee grievances and appeals. “Anthem Blue Cross has agreed to …

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CalFresh Food Benefits Available to Older Adults and People with Disabilities Receiving Supplemental Security Income Beginning June 1

Featured, News, Press Releases / CalFresh, DSS

SACRAMENTO – As we celebrate May as CalFresh Awareness Month, the California Department of Social Services (CDSS) is announcing the expansion of the CalFresh program to include recipients of Supplemental Security Income (SSI) benefits. “This is an example of the commitment and collaboration among public and private organizations to help ensure that the most vulnerable …

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CDPH Urges Californians Traveling Internationally to be Fully Vaccinated against Measles

Featured, News, Press Releases / CDPH, Measles, Vaccination

SACRAMENTO – The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) today urged Californians to make sure they are protected against measles. Vaccination is especially critical for those who plan to travel internationally. In 2019 to date, there have been 38 cases of measles in California. This is an increase of 15 cases from last week, and …

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California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris Launches Statewide Listening Tour

Featured, News, OSG, Press Releases / OSG, Surgeon General

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: April 2, 2019 MEDIA CONTACT: Media@OSG.ca.gov Sacramento, Calif. — California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris launched today a statewide listening tour at Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative (FRCC) in Sacramento to raise awareness about the link between Adverse Childhood Experiences, toxic stress and serious health conditions. “As California’s first Surgeon General, one …

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Lessons Learned: Building a Data-Driven, User-Centered Government By Secretary Michael Wilkening

Featured, News / Data, IT, IT procurement, Open Data

As I reflect on our experience at the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS), I see our work over the course of the past few years as a proof of concept for how government must adapt in order to meet the needs of the individuals it serves. I think it is important for us …

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Remarks by Secretary Michael Wilkening at Office of National Coordinator 2018 Annual Meeting

Featured, News / Data, IR procurement, IT, Open Data

Washington, D.C. (Delivered November 30, 2018) – About 14 million people get services from the various departments that we have. We have a $160 billion dollar budget and about 30,000 staff. California is a state that runs most of its social services programs through the counties. The 30,000 does not include the county staff, who …

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Improving Program and Service Delivery Through the Health & Human Services Program Dashboard

Featured, News, Resources / blog, CHHS Program Dashboard, Data, Open Data

By: Michael Wilkening and Patrick Delaney In recent years, the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) has fostered a culture of data driven innovation among its 12 departments. By removing barriers to data sharing, encouraging interdepartmental collaboration, and using existing data sources to produce business intelligence, we can improve program outreach, service delivery, and …

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Cleaning Up Wildfire Ash Safely: CDPH Recommends Ways to Avoid Potential Health Hazards

Featured, News, Press Releases / CDPH, Fire, smoke, wildfire

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today advised residents of recent burn areas to use caution in cleaning up ash from wildfires. The ash from trees burned in forest fires is relatively nontoxic and similar to ash that might be found in your fireplace. …

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Secretary Michael Wilkening Remarks at Code for America’s Convening on The Future of Digital Government in California: Lessons Learned and The Path Forward

Featured, News, Uncategorized / Data, IT, IT procurement

San Francisco, CA. (Delivered November 15, 2018) – When I began my tenure at the California Health and Human Services Agency (CHHS) 10 years ago, we had two Undersecretaries and I made certain that IT was not in my portfolio. I found IT procurement to be soul crushing—it is outdated, frustrating and confusing. I also …

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CDPH Recommends Stay Indoors and Reduce Outdoor Activity To Avoid Wildfire Smoke Inhalation

Featured, News, Press Releases, Resources / CDPH, resources, smoke, wildfire

SACRAMENTO – California Department of Public Health (CDPH) Director and State Public Health Officer Dr. Karen Smith today advised residents where wildfires have been burning, along with people in the smoke’s path, to stay indoors and reduce outdoor activity. “Smoke from wildfires can cause eye and lung irritation. Breathing smoke can also make asthma symptoms …

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