The Community Health Alliance of Humboldt-Del Norte, Inc. (CHA) is a broadly based local organization serving the people of northwest California. CHA’s mission is to build a healthy community through collaborations with all stakeholders and to promote public health initiatives. In April of 2000, CHA became incorporated as a California nonprofit, public benefit organization, and gained 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status in July of that year.

The Community Health Alliance has had a remarkable history demonstrating shared values and a commitment to the health and welfare of the Humboldt and Del Norte community. In July of 1993, the Humboldt County Board of Supervisors formed an Access to Care Committee to look at local healthcare issues including the delivery of services and the affects of managed care. In 1994, provider members of this group evolved into what was to be called the “June 30th Group” and later the “Core Group.” These providers were very much interested in exploring the creation of a community-based health plan. Separately, in 1995, a group of large self-insured businesses in the area formed the “Employer Coalition” to begin negotiating with healthcare providers. In spite of a tremendous effort on the part of these individuals, no workable plan could be developed because no agreement could be reached on risk sharing.

These activities set a receptive stage for an initiative funded by the James Irvine Foundation through the California Institute of Rural Health Management (CIRHM). Humboldt and Del Norte Counties were chosen as one site for this initiative—Developing Rural Integrated Systems (DRIS). This initiative was designed to support a community-based dialogue and planning process that would ultimately result in the creation of an integrated rural health system. The ultimate goal of the DRIS initiative was through a combination of guided technical assistance, facilitation and incentive-based resources to create an effective administrative service organization and provider network capable of contracting with health plans.

In 1997, six Community Health Committees were formed by bringing together local businesses, providers, senior citizens, school officials, government representatives, public health officials and consumer groups. One to three members from each Committee were selected to form a Regional Health Council. In January of 2000, the Regional Health Council decided to incorporate, and in April of 2000 the Council renamed itself the Community Health Alliance of Humboldt-Del Norte, Inc. (CHA) CHA agreed to a governance structure that would include a voting membership representing all healthcare stakeholders in the community, and a board of directors to oversee business affairs. In July of 2000, CHA received an Irvine Foundation milestone grant award for establishing the governance structure for the project. CHA was subsequently awarded an additional Irvine grant of $200,000 to support its operating budget through 2002.

CHA has recently been awarded a grant from the Health Resources and Services Administration Community Access Program in the amount of $1,000,000 for public health initiatives. This project will partner with the Area 1 Agency on Aging to develop an information and referral system for Del Norte County, several local providers to design and implement an employee assistance program, and the North Coast Clinics Network to assist community clinics with the enrollment and retention of eligible children in the State of California Healthy Families Program.