California Rural Legal Assistance, Inc.

The Health Consumer Center of Imperial Valley (HCCIV), a project of California Rural Legal Assistance, aims to increase access to health care services for low-income families, individuals, vulnerable seniors, and people with disabilities by helping them navigate an increasingly complicated health care system. Operating from CRLA's El Centro office since 2004, HCCIV has dedicated itself to (a) improving the health of Imperial County residents by expanding access to health and mental health services, (b) advancing the knowledge, attitudes, skills and experience of health providers and health systems to effectively serve its diverse communities, and (c) collaborating with local community based organizations, non-profits, and government agencies to improve the social and physical environments that shape health behaviors and outcomes.

To achieve these objectives, the HCCIV provides direct consumer assistance and conducts outreach in the community to provide public benefit health insurance education and information. The HCCIV is part of the Health Consumer Alliance (HCA), which is a collaboration of nine local health consumer centers that cover thirteen counties and is home to over three-fifths of California's low-income residents. The local HCA offices are supported by two statewide support centers, the National Health Law Program and Western Center on Law and Poverty. The HCCIV is generously funded by The California Endowment. Recently, The California Endowment awarded $11.3 million to be shared by the nine centers and the two statewide support centers.

For more information please contact Beatriz Garcia, Program Manager, at begarcia@crla.org