Reach the Decisionmakers

Reach the Decisionmakers Program

News & Events

Call for Applications for the 2026 Cohort

We are thrilled to announce that we will be accepting applications for the 2026 cohort beginning October 1, 2025. The application window closes on December 1, 2025. Please use the link below to apply.

APPLY HERE BY DECEMBER 1.

Informational Webinars

We will be holding two informational webinars for prospective applicants via Zoom. During these calls, we will briefly review the Reach program, followed by a Q&A session with the program managers. RSVP here to receive a calendar invite with a Zoom link.
 
Tuesday, October 14, 2025 from 4:00pm – 5:00pm PST
Wednesday, November 5, 2025 from 4:00pm – 5:00pm PST

Reach Alumni

The 2024-25 Reach cohort completed their fellowship in April 2025. Learn more about their work here.

Program Overview

Reach the Decisionmakers (Reach) is a dynamic 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. 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. 

Our 2024-25 cohort had 19 fellows spanning an impressive range of backgrounds and expertise, including physicians, nurses, academics, and community advocates and activists. Their policy projects addressed issues including Volatile Organic Compound (VOC) contamination in Richmond, pesticide contamination in groundwater, and heat stress among farmworkers.

Participant Eligibility

We encourage both individuals and teams to apply. 

  • Participants must live in Northern or Central California and be willing to travel to in-person events.

  • Individuals. Researchers, community-based leaders, public health professionals, & health care professionals. Individuals will be assigned to a team.

  • Teams. Existing coalition of 4-6 individuals. Must include a diverse mix of researchers, community-based leaders, public health professionals, & health care professionals.

2026 Program Dates

Dates are subject to change; advanced notice will be provided. All training webinars are typically held mid-month on Wednesdays from 9:00 – 11:00 am PT (unless stated otherwise):

  • October 14, 2025: Information calls for Applicants

  • November 5, 2025: Information calls for Applicants

  • December 1, 2025: Application deadline

  • December 22, 2025: Selection notice

  • February 4, 2026: Reach Kick-Off Call (introductory webinar)

  • February 20, 2026: In-person orientation & happy hour at UCSF Mission Bay

  • March 18, 2026: Webinar #1 

  • April 15, 2026: Webinar #2 

  • May 13, 2026: Webinar #3 

  • June 17, 2026: Webinar #4 

  • July 15, 2026: Webinar #5

  • August 12, 2026: Webinar #6

  • September 17, 2026: Webinar #7 

  • October - November, 2026: Practicum (teams meet in-person with CalEPA staff)*

  • December 4, 2026: Team report-backs, in-person at UCSF Mission Bay

*Meetings to be scheduled directly by teams. 

Policy projects to be developed concurrently with monthly webinars.

Program Commitment

Participants in the program should expect to commit roughly 5-10 hrs/wk (including in-person travel) over the course of the coming year. The program has the following components:

  1. Hybrid Format (Three In-Person Events and Zoom Educational Seminars)

Participants will meet in San Francisco, CA at the beginning and end of the program. These two in-person meetings are required. Participants will also travel to Sacramento for the practicum (more information in section 3 below). Participants will participate monthly 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.

  1. 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.

  1. 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 October – November 2026. 

Examples of possible team projects (but not limited to the following):
  • [Advance CalEPA’s efforts to reduce microplastics exposure]: Microplastics, or small plastic particles that are generated from the degradation of plastics in the environment, have contaminated virtually every environmental compartment, including air, water, soil, and living organisms. A recent systematic review found that exposure to microplastics is linked to reproductive and digestive health harms, including certain types of cancers. The Department of Toxic Substances Control (DTSC) recently proposed to list microplastics to their Candidate Chemicals List, which would trigger downstream regulation. Fellows would meet with DTSC to advance this proposed regulation around microplastics in the State of California.
  • [Cumulative risk assessment for pesticides]: California farmworkers often experience dangerous levels of exposure to multiple pesticides, and worker protections are poorly enforced. Fellows will meet with the California Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment (OEHHA) and farmworker rights advocacy groups to recommend a cumulative human health risk assessment for evaluating the risk to farmworkers from exposure to multiple pesticides, accounting for other non-chemical stressors that contribute to risk such as heat-related stress.
  • Suggest your own!

Cost of Participation

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 policymakers 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 and report-back event in San Francisco is not covered by this program.
  • Webinars will be held via Zoom.

 

APPLY HERE BY DECEMBER 1.