New East Contra Costa health care education program starting
EAST CONTRA COSTA
A new countywide coalition is tackling one of health care’s biggest challenges: helping people understand how and when to use it.
The newly launched Healthcare Literacy Council of Contra Costa County is leading a public education campaign to help people make better use of their health coverage, avoid unnecessary emergency room visits and get the care they need—more affordably and effectively.
The pilot will start in the fall in Antioch, Bethel Island, Brentwood, Byron, Discovery Bay, Knightsen and Oakley. Formed by County Supervisor Diane Burgis in collaboration with Kaiser Permanente, Contra Costa Health and the Contra Costa County Fire Protection District, the council will bring together community stakeholders to educate residents — particularly those on Medicare and Medi-Cal — about navigating the country’s complex health care system with confidence.
“It’s no secret that today’s health care system is complex and often overwhelming,” said Burgis. “Too many of our residents are confused, anxious and frustrated by medical policies they don’t understand.
We’ve come together as a council to address this challenge and offer residents the support and information they need to navigate this complexity and make wise decisions that protect both their health and their pocketbooks.”
The council’s education program will equip residents of the easternmost part of Contra Costa County with the information they need to become more confident, informed health care consumers. In addition to a community-wide outreach and advertising campaign, the council will train college students to deliver health care literacy classes to older residents, high school students and other community groups this fall.
The outreach and education campaign will reach far East Contra Costa residents with a special focus on Medicare and Medi-Cal enrollees, who often face the greatest barriers to navigating the health care system. The council envisions far-reaching impacts — reduced patient anxiety, a healthier workforce, improved school attendance and empowered residents who can share what they’ve learned with their families and friends.
The council is meeting regularly to finalize messaging, outreach plans and promotional efforts. In addition to developing a comprehensive, bilingual website to guide people on where and how best to get care, the campaign will also start public outreach and training courses this fall. With scalable goals and clear evaluation metrics, the campaign is poised to expand to the remainder of the county in the coming years.
For more information on the Healthcare Literacy Council and its programs, visit rightcarerightway.org online.
— Brown·Miller Communications
WALNUT CREEK
Tee Off for Education golf tourney for kids in need Aug. 25
Walnut Creek-based globat nonprofit group Yours Humanly will hold their sixth annual Tee Off for Education Golf Tournament on Aug. 25.
Starting at 9 a.m. on the Rossmoor Golf Course at 1010 Stanley Dollar Drive in Walnut Creek, a raffle and awards presentation dinner at the Stanley Dollar Event Center will follow the tournament. Yours Humanly transforms the lives of children in need around the world by providing access to quality education and equitable resources.
The golf tournament is one of the group’s two signature annual fundraisers, and proceeds from the event will support Yours Humanly’s programs in the United States, as well as Cambodia, India, Nepal, and the Philippines, that lift children out of poverty and other challenging situations through the power of education.
Check-in for this popular fundraiser will begin at 9 a.m., at which time the putting green and practice range will be open for registered golfers. The putting contest will start at 10 a.m., followed by the scramble format tournament beginning at 11 a.m.
An awards dinner starting at 4:30 p.m. will follow. To register, visit teeoffforeducation.com online. To learn more about Yours Humanly, visit yourshumanly.org.
— Yours Humanly
CONCORD
Library hosting National Night Out event Aug. 5
National Night Out is an annual community-building campaign that promotes police-community partnerships and neighborhood camaraderie to make our neighborhoods safer, more caring places to live. National Night Out takes place each year on the first Tuesday in August, and events are held in neighborhoods throughout U.S. cities.
This year, the Concord Library at 2900 Salvio St. will host a National Night Out event from 5 to 7 p.m. Aug. 5. Come and enjoy live music, games, crafts and activities for all ages. To learn more, please visit the Concord Library’s event page online at bit.ly/conlibnno2025.
— city of Concord
To submit an item for the East and Central Contra Costa County weeklies’ “In brief” section, which is now published in print on each month’s first Friday, please email it, at least one week before print publication, to [email protected]. Each item should be 90 to 180 words and include a short headline along with the name of the group or individual to credit for it.
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