In Case You Missed It: California Advocacy and COVID-19 Update

I hope you, your family, and friends are doing well. The American Heart Association is deeply concerned about the public health crisis facing our country. Our top priority regarding coronavirus (COVID-19) is the health and well-being of individuals and their families today and in the future, in every community, everywhere.

This post is longer that normal just to provide a full picture of what’s going on at the State Legislature as well as resources that the AHA has available to you.

We are working at the federal, state and community levels in support of public policies that help to ensure families have access to health care and financial security so they can protect and promote their own health in the face of COVID-19.

The State Legislature has been suspended since March to support “Safer at Home” orders and unfortunately, this means that our legislative campaigns have largely been put on pause. Even though the Legislature is not meeting in person, we are still working hard behind the scenes to support state efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19 which includes working closely with Governor Newsom’s office to ensure that Californians have the correct information and resources to get through this time. 

Governor Newsom announced a statewide hotline -- 833-544-2374 -- in coordination with the non-profit local 2-1-1 systems, so Californians have a one-stop shop to answer their questions and get assistance during this crisis. Additionally, California Volunteers has launched their Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign, which calls on neighbors to be the first line of support for California’s most vulnerable residents who have been advised to stay at home during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Neighbor-to-Neighbor campaign is focused on older adults and promotes ways to safely check on your neighbors, family and friends.

We realize these are challenging times, especially for those with heart disease and stroke and we are thinking about you and your family. If you’re having a hard time with the “Safer at Home” emergency order and if you are looking to connect with other survivors or like-minded individuals, come visit us virtually at the AHA Support Network! By visiting the Support Network you can share your story and get guidance from other patients and caregivers as well as our clinical experts. While the situation is rapidly evolving, we want to let you know that we also have science-based resources available on www.heart.org (linked here) or you can call us at 800-AHA-USA-1 (800-242-8721).