The COVID pandemic deeply underscored the striking disparities and inequity of the healthcare systems in South Stockton. The Equity for COVID and Health Outcomes (ECHO) team served primarily as a COVID-19 response unit, increasing vaccine and testing sites. Going into the future, we aim to continue addressing these gaps and more so that our community may access quality care.  

We believe that healthcare is a human right that can only be achieved through genuine equity throughout all of our healthcare systems. We work to eliminate existing barriers based on language, economic status, and individual identity. We seek to inform, empower, and give agency to everyone to determine and have access to the services that they need.

Our approach begins with the recognition that healthcare must be shaped by the human experiences of the people served. This requires a foundational shift in the power dynamics of many health care systems and a great deal of trust to be developed between communities and providers. ECHO serves as a bridge to this trust, convening organizations and health services throughout South Stockton. 

This helps us expand health resources and information, improve health literacy, prevent disinformation, and shape health policies for our neighborhoods. Our educational workshops and advocacy campaigns encourage people to become the ultimate voice for a more just and equitable healthcare system.