Reach the Decision Makers 2024-25 Cohort
Miss the informational webinar? Check out the recording and slides here.
Reach the Decision Makers (Reach) is a year-long program that increases the capacity of participants to understand and use the best environmental health science to promote science-based health standards and policy in California. Reach emphasizes the importance of learning by doing. Participants develop the tools and skills to effectively engage key offices and staff members within California Agencies and contribute to immediate and lasting changes in environmental health policy. We encourage both individuals and pre-formed teams to apply.
- Participants must live in the San Francisco Bay Area, Modesto, Merced, or Fresno regions. See additional requirements here.
- Pre-formed team. This could be an existing coalition or any group of individuals who want to form a team of four to six individuals. However, teams must include a diverse mix of community-based leaders, researchers, health care professionals, and public health professionals.
- Individuals. Researchers, community-based leaders, public health professionals, and health care professionals with experience in public health, environmental health, and/or medicine are encouraged to apply and will be assigned to a multidisciplinary team.
Reach's History
EaRTH's sister program, PRHE, ran the Reach program from 2010-2017, offering this opportunity at the federal level, and the program was a great success. To date, the Reach the Decision Makers program has trained over 100 scientists, community members, public health professionals and clinicians, many of whom have pursued successful careers in medicine, academia, and public health.
We have updated the following program dates as of 05/08/24. Dates are subject to change; advanced notice will be provided. All Webinar sessions are typically held mid-month on Wednesdays from 9:00 – 11:00 am PT (unless stated otherwise):
February 21, 2024 Information calls for Applicants
March 11, 2024 Application deadline
March 27, 2024 Send selection notice emails
April 24, 2024 Reach Kick-Off Call (introductory webinar), 12pm-1pm PT
May 7-8, 2024 In-person orientation & dinner at UCSF Mission Bay
June 13, 2024 (Thurs.) Webinar #1 - An Overview of the CalEPA
July 17, 2024 Webinar #2 - Evaluating the Scientific Evidence
August 14, 2024 Webinar #3 - Industry Influence & Scientific Integrity
September 18, 2024 Webinar #4 - Team Project Idea Presentations & Feedback
October 16, 2024 Webinar #5 - Pesticides & Community Health
November 13, 2024 Webinar #6 - Framing Your Message
December 18, 2024 Webinar #7 - Framing the Policy & the Policy Maker: Preparing for your CalEPA Meeting
January 15, 2025 Webinar #8 - Mock Presentations to Agency Staff (with Reach Staff)
February - March, 2025 Practicum (teams meet in-person with CalEPA staff)*
April 28, 2025 Team report-backs, in-person at UCSF Mission Bay
*meetings to be scheduled directly by teams
Program Overview
Participants in the program should expect to commit roughly 150 hours (including in-person travel) over the course of the coming year. The program has the following components:
- Initial In-Person Training and Subsequent Zoom Educational Seminars
Participants will meet in San Francisco, CA at the beginning of the program. This in-person meeting is required. Participants will then participate via Zoom throughout the duration of the program for interactive learning sessions. The trainings will address issues related to environmental health science and public policy, including how to work with the state government, understanding the role of science in public health decision-making, team building and leadership, and how communities can use science to improve community health and well-being.
- Mentored Team-Learning Groups
Teams will work together, with support from a mentor and program staff to research and develop a policy project that addresses a pressing environmental or reproductive health issue that is under the jurisdiction of the California State Government.
- Team Policy Project
Each team will choose their own policy project as the basis of their engagement with the California State Government at an in-person Sacramento, CA meeting or other location as appropriate on a date chosen by the team within the months of September – November 2024. Example projects.
Examples of possible team projects (but not limited to the following):
This project is made possible through a NIEHS-funded P30 Environmental Health Sciences Core Center grant. Out-of-pocket costs to participants are expected to be minimal beyond the time commitment required for participation.
- Travel, housing, and meals for the in-person meeting with policy makers in Sacramento, CA will be covered by the program.
- Participants will receive a $500 stipend at the completion of all program requirements to offset costs of participation.
- Participants will be required to have time during the workday (paid time or time off) to participate in the program.
- Some incidental costs should be expected (computer time, internet, etc.)
- Travel to and from the in-person orientation in San Francisco is not covered by this program. Meals will be provided for the San Francisco orientation. Travel scholarships are available for participants located >50 miles from San Francisco Bay Area.
- Webinars will be held via Zoom.
Individuals and pre-formed teams will be chosen for the Reach program based on the following criteria:
- Previous experience in or knowledge of environmental health
- Interest in environmental health and science policy, with emphasis on vulnerable populations (e.g. pregnant people, children, etc.)
- Commitment to participant requirements (see below)
- Organizational support/agreement for participation (if employed)
- Match with program model, especially history of working well in collaborations
Additionally, participant selection will be made to ensure that each cohort meets the following criteria:
- Balanced mix of community-based leaders, researchers, health care professionals, public health experts
- Range of experience (from none to high) in public policy
- Diversity of people who serve and/or represent populations impacted by California State Government decision-making in the field of environmental health
- Diversity of experience (from students to seasoned professionals)
- Mix of emerging vs. established community organizations
- Committed to collaborating with team membrs who share similar interests, collectively developing a policy project, and actively contributing to its progress, even if it diverges from the participant's or the participant's organization’s immediate priorities.
- Comfortable engaging with others through telephone and conference calls, webinars, and email.
- Dedicated to distributing to the workload equitably with the team and devoting the necessary time to accomplish the selected project.
- Dedicated to employing language and writing techniques that facilitate clear and impactful communication with team members, policymakers, and external stakeholders.
- Prepared to navigate differences in personalities and working styles to foster successful collaboration within the team.
- Maintain an active e-mail account that can be checked daily and have access to a computer with internet and video conferencing capabilities.
- Committed to communicating with EaRTH if any barriers to participation arise.
- Uphold professional conduct standards throughout involvement in the Reach the Decisionmakers program, including during interactions with government personnel and felllow participants.
- Willing to provide feedback to EaRTH on my experiences with the Reach the Decisionmakers program through periodic evaluations during and after the program concludes.
- Prepared to engage with the network of Reach the Decision Makers participants and alumni post-program to sustain efforts in advancing science-based environmental policies.
- Committed to attending at least 80% of all virtual webinars (missing no more than 2) and the team meeting in Sacramento, CA to be eligible for the stipend at the program’s conclusion.