CPCA ORIGIN STORY
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Founded in 1994, the California Primary Care Association (CPCA) is the statewide voice of community clinics and health centers. As we celebrate our many accomplishments over the past two decades, it is also important that we reflect on how we got to where we are. Since the beginning of the health center movement in California, there had never been a single group or organization that represented the interests of the state’s community clinics and health centers. Those involved in creating CPCA recall great division among the community health centers, regional clinic organizations, and individuals which had prevented them from coming together with a common voice. Early founders described needing to put their differences aside and “leave their guns at the door” in order to create one statewide association. |
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ORIGINAL MISSION
THE MISSION OF THE ASSOCIATION, AS ESTABLISHED IN 1995: To promote, advocate and facilitate equal access to quality health care for individuals and families in local and surrounding California communities through organized primary care clinics and clinics networks which strive to empower individuals and families served; seek to maintain cost effective, affordable services; recognize cultural diversity and, where appropriate, implement services to meet the linguistic and cultural needs of the population; and organize collectively to strengthen alliances, articulate and address community needs, and maximize networking opportunities. |
According to Richard “Dick” Bohrer, the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) national program director, he was encouraged by the BPHC Director, Dr. Gaston, to work toward unifying the different organizations that represented the interests of health centers in California. The Bureau “saw it as the Wild West,” according to CPCA founders. The Bureau told health center leaders that if they didn’t “get their act together,” they were going to lose out on federal PCA funding. The idea of losing a critical source of funding motivated those leaders to come together and work collaboratively, along with Tom Uridel in the Region IX office, toward the development of a state PCA.
During this same time period the health care landscape was changing and the Federal Government shut down for the first time in history freezing the funds coming to health centers. Community Health Centers were involved in the battle to strike down Proposition 187 and Governor Wilson's attempt to eliminate prenatal care for undocumented immigrant women. It was at that point that those involved in forming the PCA realized that they “had bigger enemies than each other” and that they needed to work together. According to one of the founders, “we could be the 800-pound gorilla in the room if we could just get our act together.”
Sophie Wong, Executive Director of North East Medical Services (NEMS), emerged as an early leader among the group and began to convene meetings in an effort get everyone on the same page. NEMS received $30,000 in funding from the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care and additional funding from James Irvine Foundation, a portion of which was contributed to fund initial costs and consultation services related to CPCA. In June of 1994, CPCA was officially established as a statewide membership organization, and bylaws and articles of incorporation were adopted.
It was decided by CPCA leadership that membership would be open to ALL community-based, community-oriented providers, as well as individuals and organizations committed to the principles of community-oriented care. The broadest possible representation was meant to insure that CPCA positions would receive serious consideration in state and federal decisions regarding policy implementation and allocation of resources.
In early 1995, CPCA membership included 57 clinic corporations, including 34 FQHCs, representing an even larger number of clinic sites. An additional four CPCA members were regional clinic associations. In April 1995, CPCA executive committee members met to establish a more permanent structure, including the election of a Board of Directors and Board officers, hiring staff, and finding office space in Sacramento.
Later that year, Marianne Bennett became CPCA’s first Chief Executive Officer, hiring some of the organization’s first staff, including the first CFO and first Policy Director. In November of 1997, Carmela Castellano-Garcia, Esq. was hired as the organizations’ CEO, and has held that position for the past 22 years.
According to Richard “Dick” Bohrer, the Bureau of Primary Health Care (BPHC) national program director, he was encouraged by the BPHC Director, Dr. Gaston, to work toward unifying the different organizations that represented the interests of health centers in California. The Bureau “saw it as the Wild West,” according to CPCA founders. The Bureau told health center leaders that if they didn’t “get their act together,” they were going to lose out on federal PCA funding. The idea of losing a critical source of funding motivated those leaders to come together and work collaboratively, along with Tom Uridel in the Region IX office, toward the development of a state PCA.
During this same time period the health care landscape was changing and the Federal Government shut down for the first time in history freezing the funds coming to health centers. Community Health Centers were involved in the battle to strike down Proposition 187 and Governor Wilson's attempt to eliminate prenatal care for undocumented immigrant women. It was at that point that those involved in forming the PCA realized that they “had bigger enemies than each other” and that they needed to work together. According to one of the founders, “we could be the 800-pound gorilla in the room if we could just get our act together.”
Sophie Wong, Executive Director of North East Medical Services (NEMS), emerged as an early leader among the group and began to convene meetings in an effort get everyone on the same page. NEMS received $30,000 in funding from the federal Bureau of Primary Health Care and additional funding from James Irvine Foundation, a portion of which was contributed to fund initial costs and consultation services related to CPCA. In June of 1994, CPCA was officially established as a statewide membership organization, and bylaws and articles of incorporation were adopted.
It was decided by CPCA leadership that membership would be open to ALL community-based, community-oriented providers, as well as individuals and organizations committed to the principles of community-oriented care. The broadest possible representation was meant to insure that CPCA positions would receive serious consideration in state and federal decisions regarding policy implementation and allocation of resources.
In early 1995, CPCA membership included 57 clinic corporations, including 34 FQHCs, representing an even larger number of clinic sites. An additional four CPCA members were regional clinic associations. In April 1995, CPCA executive committee members met to establish a more permanent structure, including the election of a Board of Directors and Board officers, hiring staff, and finding office space in Sacramento.
Later that year, Marianne Bennett became CPCA’s first Chief Executive Officer, hiring some of the organization’s first staff, including the first CFO and first Policy Director. In November of 1997, Carmela Castellano-Garcia, Esq. was hired as the organizations’ CEO, and has held that position for the past 22 years.
Thank you to Richard Bohrer, Joel Garcia, Harry Foster, and Reymundo Espinoza for participating in interviews and providing content for CPCA’s origin story.