Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities (SABHC) is committed to addressing health inequities and improving opportunities for a healthy, thriving Santa Ana. SABHC understands that health is directly shaped by the circumstances in which people are born, raised, live, and work. Improving these circumstances is a collective responsibility and one that must be led by those directly affected.
While culturally rich, youthful, and hardworking, Santa Ana struggles with an array of challenges and hardships. Residents, youth, organizations, and systems collaborate in the Equity for All, Health for All, and Restorative Justice workgroups to achieve systems and policy changes that advance human rights, such as improved health, safety, youth development, education, economic development, land use, and community engagement.
QUICK FACTS
- The Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities area has an estimated population of 91,513—94 percent of which are Latino, 88 percent Spanish speaking, and with a high concentration of youth.
- Per capita average income of $16,891, which is substantially lower than the county average ($34,550).
- Approximately 43 percent of Santa Ana’s non‐elderly adults lack health insurance, compared to 22 percent of comparably aged Orange County residents.
- Santa Ana has one of the lowest levels of educational attainment among large U.S. cities, with only 50 percent of adults 25 years and older having a high school diploma or equivalent
- Approximately 24 percent of families in the SABHC area are single parent households and 26 percent live in poverty, contributing to a poverty rate of 16.5 percent that is substantially higher than the county (9.5 percent), state (12.9 percent) and nation (13.2 percent).
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LATEST NEWS
Santa Ana Youth Need More ‘Positive’ Spending, Says New Study by Health Advocates
Santa Ana officials spend more money arresting young people than developing them positively through libraries, mentorship, job skills and other initiatives, according to a new study commissioned by health advocates. "The city’s future will depend on how well we invest and treat our youth and, unfortunately, the city is investing too much on punishment,” said Abraham Medina, executive director of Resilience OC, the activist group that released the study Monday with support from the nonprofit Santa Ana Building Healthy Communities coalition.
27 March, 2017Immigrants rights activists rally against Trump orders
Trump’s orders to begin building a border wall and pulling federal money from sanctuary cities were “very divisive,” said Mirvette Judeh Maaytah, vice chairwoman of the Arab American Civic Council. The orders unified a diverse group in Santa Ana, which on Jan. 17 adopted a sanctuary ordinance that, among other things, prohibits the use of city resources for immigration enforcement and reaffirms commitment to preventing biased-based policing.
27 January, 2017Health advocates denounce Obamacare repeal at LGBT Center in Santa Ana
Community groups that serve residents who have gained health insurance through Obamacare said Tuesday they will fight Republican efforts to overturn the Affordable Care Act. In a press conference at the LGBT Center in downtown Santa Ana, representatives said the future of millions of Americans is in jeopardy if they lose coverage that keeps them healthy for work or school. Last week, Congress took the initial steps to roll back the law.
18 January, 2017
FOCUS AREAS
Equity for All: In the face of displacement, overcrowding, unemployment, homelessness, and a lack of economic power, parks, good food, and opportunities for meaningful participation, Equity for All works towards the “Right to Remain, Reclaim, and Thrive.” Key actions include: worker cooperatives, micro farms, affordable housing, anti-displacement policies, and community-led economic development.
Health for All: At the root of the Health for All workgroup is education, access, equality, and coverage for the remaining uninsured, including undocumented immigrants. Excluding undocumented Californians from the fundamental human right of health is immoral, inhumane, and it is a threat to the health of all of our communities.
Restorative Justice for All: The Restorative Justice Workgroup aims to build and create a movement that transforms minds, hearts, communities, and systems through restorative and healing cultural practices. The prioritized system changes focus on ending the school to prison to deportation pipeline. Some of the specific proposals include community conferencing, implementation of Restorative Justice in schools, healing circles in schools and in the community, community oriented policing, and a civilian oversight committee.
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