AB 3149 Proposes Promotora Advisory and Oversight Workgroup in the Health and Human Services Agency
(SACRAMENTO, CA) — On Tuesday, May 7, Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia (D-Coachella), Assemblymember Eloise Gómez Reyes (D-Colton), Assemblymember Phil Ting (D-San Francisco), and Visión y Compromiso joined over 150 Promotoras and community-based organizations from diverse regions across the state for a rally outside of the California State Capitol. They gathered in support of AB 3149, legislation establishing a Promotora Advisory and Oversight Workgroup, and to recognize the vital role of Promotoras as California embarks on historic efforts to improve health equity.
“Communities across California rely on Promotoras to connect hard-to-reach populations to vital services and resources. During the COVID-19 pandemic, they were on the front lines, delivering information on testing and vaccination access for farmworkers and other impacted communities. To truly ensure health equity, we must amplify the voices of our Promotoras and fully integrate them into our healthcare infrastructure. We know them, we trust them, and California has a lot to benefit by utilizing their effective outreach methods and leadership by creating this advisory and oversight workgroup,” said Assemblymember Eduardo Garcia, author of AB 3149 who was especially excited to welcome Promotoras from the Coachella Valley and Imperial County areas of his district the California State Capitol.
Promotoras, a predominantly women-led Latina workforce, are puentes de la comunidad, community bridges, and essential workers who know how to connect low-income and traditionally underserved communities to information, resources, public health, social services, education, housing, and legal systems. During the pandemic, for example, Promotoras were “essential workers” providing education, outreach, and coordination of COVID services to those who otherwise could not be reached. They are trusted community resource ambassadors who have become increasingly vital in shaping healthcare delivery for communities of color in the United States.
With the creation of the Promotoras Advisory and Oversight Workgroup in the Health and Human Services Agency, Promotoras would provide valuable input on training and outreach and health services delivery as the voices of the communities most in need of these services.
