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Non-profit

Public Health Advocates (PHA)

Website:

phadvocates.org/
Location:

Davis, CA
Tax ID:

95-4723901
Tax-Exempt Status:

501(c)(3)

Budget (2022):

Revenue: $7,260,608
Expenses: $7,788,998
Assets: $3,802,540
Type:

Health Advocacy Group
Formation:

1999
Executive Director:

Harold Goldstein

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Public Health Advocates (PHA) is a left-leaning California health advocacy group that centers its work on fighting “systemic racism” and “structural racism.” 1 2 The group campaigns on issues such as childhood obesity, physical education, retail food environments, and childhood trauma. 3 The group works to dismantle “injustices and inequities” and has called racism a “public health crisis.” 4 5

Background

Public Health Advocates (PHA) is a health advocacy group that focuses on challenging “the social, political, and economic systems perpetuating racial, economic, and health disparities.” 6 The group does this primarily through advocacy, research, funded initiatives, and policy sponsorship. 7

The group affirms the concepts of “systemic racism” and “health and racial justice,” applying these concepts to its health advocacy work. 8 The group has claimed that racism is a “public health crisis,” maintaining that “structural racism” leads to lower life expectancy and life quality, citing “policies and norms that prevent historically disinvested and oppressed communities from accessing opportunities to advance and thrive.” 9

PHA has advocated for “equity” in the enforcement of anti-marijuana laws and has claimed that law enforcement has been “racialized.” 10 The group shared studies that claimed that higher marijuana arrests of African Americans showed “bias.” 11 The group has compared the “war on drugs” to lynching, Jim Crow laws, and slavery, and claimed that racism has been backed by or ignored by “most White Americans.” 12 PHA has said that white people are “cheating” and called differential numbers of traffic stops in Black communities an “inequity.” 13

In response to riots and protests after the death of George Floyd, PHA it that they were surprised by “White people caring more about broken windows than about Black lives.” 14 The group has said it would work to eliminate “police bias.” 15

History

Public Health Advocates was founded in 1999 under the name California Center for Public Health Advocacy (CCPHA). The group worked to combat childhood obesity through numerous initiatives in the 2000s. CCPHA sponsored legislation to tax soft drinks and supported bills to toughen school-lunch nutrition standards and prohibit high-sugar drink and junk food sales within schools. CCPHA also helped to allocate over $500 million for physical education programs. CCPHA supported legislation to ensure that chain restaurant menus display calories, publishing a study that drew a connection between obesity and retail food environments “disproportionately harming underserved communities,” and starting the Healthy Eating Active Living (HEAL) Cities campaign to help “underserved cities.” 16   

In the 2010s, CCPHA supported bills to restrict high-sugar drinks in childcare facilities, expand clean water access, make clean and affordable water a human right, require warning labels for high-sugar drinks, and remove soda and junk food marketing from schools. The group also expanded its HEAL Cities Campaign to include Oregon, Maryland, and Virginia; started Building Healthy Communities to promote “restorative justice”; and started Centers for Disease Control (CDC)-funded Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health (REACH) to increase healthy habits in partnership with African-American churches. In 2016, CCPHA changed its name to Public Health Advocates (PHA). During the 2010s, PHA focused on diabetes awareness and research, sponsoring budget changes to include the CDC Diabetes Prevention Program in Medi-Cal. The group also focused on childhood trauma by launching All Children Thrive. 17

Activities

Public Health Advocates manages several initiatives, often funded by other groups, to further its mission. 18

All Children Thrive (ACT-CA) is a state-funded program where PHA works at the community level to change policy and advocate on behalf of childhood trauma victims. 19

PHA’s Emergency Resilience project is funded by the Blue Shield of California Foundation to provide emergency support “by repairing inequities in emergency preparedness and response systems.” This campaign was originally created in response to COVID-19. 20

First Response Transformation creates alternative response programs to supplement 9-1-1 response systems. This program, funded by the CARESTAR Foundation, emphasizes responses to homelessness and mental health issues. 21

Neighborhood Change Champions is a program to “reduce health disparities” by training youth advocates. This program is funded by the U.S. Office of Minority Health. 22

Thriving Climate Communities is a program sponsored by the California Strategic Growth Council that focuses on communities that have been harmed “by environmental damage and economic disinvestment” to “adapt to climate change” and reduce pollution and lower energy prices. This program focuses on “climate justice.” 23  

PHA works to enact state policies and increase state funding for programs and initiatives. As of 2024, PHA is backing legislation that focuses on social media dangers and responses to “pandemics and climate emergencies.” 24  

The group has advocated on behalf of government programs, pushing back against Governor Gavin Newsom (D-CA) due to some budget cuts to areas such as “climate justice” and homelessness assistance. 25

The group advocated for and praised the creation of the California Racial Equity Commission which was created to make a “racial equity” framework for the state. 26

In 2022, the group released a California voter guide centered on the belief that “unjust systems and structures” are the reason people are left “behind.” This voter guide called for supporting an amendment to the state constitution to make abortion and contraceptives a “right.” In addition, the guide advocated against propositions that would increase gambling due to its addictive nature. The group also advocated for a policy that would put cannabis tax revenue towards “substance abuse prevention.” PHA supported a proposition that would place a new tax increase on incomes above $2 million to fund electrical vehicle expansion and forest fire prevention. PHA criticized a Sacramento measure that would criminalize homeless encampments above a certain size and claimed that jail cells would be preferable to the shelters the measure would fund. 27

Financials

In 2022, Public Health Advocates brought in $7,260,608 in total revenue with $7,251,172 in contributions and grants. PHA had $7,788,998 in total expenses and $3,802,540 in assets. 28

PHA supported other organizations such as Contra Cost Family Justice, Weaving Wellness and Diversity, Youth Forward, Raices Cultura, and Social Model Recovery Systems. 29

Leadership

Harold Goldstein is the executive director of Public Health Advocates. 30 In 2022, PHA paid Goldstein $230,728 in base compensation. 31

The chair of PHA’s board is Elisa Odabashian, a teacher of Health Policy Advocacy at UC Berkeley. She was previously the director of the West Coast Consumer Reports. 32

Thalia Gonzalez is the vice-chair of PHA’s board and is a law professor at the University of California Law in San Francisco. 33 She is also a senior scholar with the Georgetown Law Center on Gender Justice and Opportunity. She was previously a senior scholar and visiting researcher at the Georgetown University Law Center, a consultant for the Black Economic Council, and senior legal counsel and the director of advocacy at the Greenlining Institute. 34

Peter Barth, treasurer of PHA’s board, is the chief of staff at the Blue Shield of California Foundation. 35 He was previously the chief of staff at First 5 LA, the director of Third Sector, and the assistant secretary for Program and Fiscal Affairs at the California Health and Human Services Agency. 36

Andrea Resnick, secretary of PHA’s board, was formerly senior counsel for the Kaiser Foundation Hospitals. 37  

Other members of the board include Harold Dela Cruz, Nicole D. Vick, Moninder-Mona Jhawar, and Trina Gonzalez. Dela Cruz works at the Long Beach Department of Health and Human Services as the Filipino, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Health Equity Coordinator. Vick works for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health. 38 Jhawar is an independent consultant and the deputy director at the Aspen Institute. Jhawar previously was a board member for the National Network of Abortion Funds and a program coordinator for ACCESS Women’s Health Justice. 39 Gonzalez is a Vice President at the California Hospital Association. 40

References

  1. “Our Values.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-values/.
  2. “Racism Is a Public Health Crisis. Here’s What That Means.” Public Health Advocates, November 16, 2023. https://phadvocates.org/racism-is-a-public-health-crisis-heres-what-that-means/.
  3. “Sustained Leadership over Two Decades.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/timeline/
  4. “An Open Statement from Public Health Advocates: Community Priorities to Address Racial and Health Inequities.” Public Health Advocates, June 9, 2020. https://phadvocates.org/an-open-statement-from-public-health-advocates/.
  5. “Racism Is a Public Health Crisis. Here’s What That Means.” Public Health Advocates, November 16, 2023. https://phadvocates.org/racism-is-a-public-health-crisis-heres-what-that-means/.
  6. “Our Values.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-values/.
  7. “Sustained Leadership over Two Decades.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/timeline/
  8. “Our Values.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-values/.
  9. “Racism Is a Public Health Crisis. Here’s What That Means.” Public Health Advocates, November 16, 2023. https://phadvocates.org/racism-is-a-public-health-crisis-heres-what-that-means/.
  10. “When the Smoke Clears.” Public Health Advocates, June 11, 2020. https://phadvocates.org/when-the-smoke-clears/.
  11. “When the Smoke Clears.” Public Health Advocates, June 11, 2020. https://phadvocates.org/when-the-smoke-clears/.
  12.  “An Open Statement from Public Health Advocates: Community Priorities to Address Racial and Health Inequities.” Public Health Advocates, June 9, 2020. https://phadvocates.org/an-open-statement-from-public-health-advocates/.
  13. “An Open Statement from Public Health Advocates: Community Priorities to Address Racial and Health Inequities.” Public Health Advocates, June 9, 2020. https://phadvocates.org/an-open-statement-from-public-health-advocates/.
  14. “An Open Statement from Public Health Advocates: Community Priorities to Address Racial and Health Inequities.” Public Health Advocates, June 9, 2020. https://phadvocates.org/an-open-statement-from-public-health-advocates/.
  15.  “An Open Statement from Public Health Advocates: Community Priorities to Address Racial and Health Inequities.” Public Health Advocates, June 9, 2020. https://phadvocates.org/an-open-statement-from-public-health-advocates/.
  16. “Sustained Leadership over Two Decades.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/timeline/
  17. “Sustained Leadership over Two Decades.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/timeline/.
  18. “Our Work.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-work/#all-children-thrive-act-california.
  19. “Our Work.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-work/#all-children-thrive-act-california.
  20. “Our Work.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-work/#all-children-thrive-act-california.
  21. “Our Work.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-work/#all-children-thrive-act-california.
  22. “Our Work.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-work/#all-children-thrive-act-california.
  23. Our Work.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-work/#all-children-thrive-act-california.
  24. “Our Work.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 9, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-work/#all-children-thrive-act-california.
  25. “Where California Stands on Racial Equity.” Public Health Advocates, June 10, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/where-california-stands-on-racial-equity/.
  26. “Where California Stands on Racial Equity.” Public Health Advocates, June 10, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/where-california-stands-on-racial-equity/.
  27. “2022 California Voter Guide.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 14, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/2022voterguide/.
  28. “Public Health Advocates, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954723901/202323109349302592/full.
  29. “Public Health Advocates, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954723901/202323109349302592/full.
  30. “Our Story.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/our-story/.
  31. “Public Health Advocates, Full Filing – Nonprofit Explorer.” ProPublica. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/954723901/202323109349302592/full.
  32. “Board of Directors.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/board-of-directors/.
  33. “Board of Directors.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/board-of-directors/.
  34. Thalia González – Center on Gender Justice & Opportunity … Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/thalia-gonzález-72a99313.
  35. “Board of Directors.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/board-of-directors/.
  36. Peter Barth – Blue Shield of California foundation. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/peter-barth-3b54225.
  37. “Board of Directors.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/board-of-directors/.
  38. “Board of Directors.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/board-of-directors/.
  39. Moninder-Mona K. Jhawar. Accessed August 20, 2024. https://www.linkedin.com/in/monajhawar/
  40.  “Board of Directors.” Public Health Advocates. Accessed August 8, 2024. https://phadvocates.org/board-of-directors/.
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Nonprofit Information

  • Accounting Period: December - November
  • Tax Exemption Received: May 1, 2000

    • Available Filings

    Period Form Type Total revenue Total functional expenses Total assets (EOY) Total liabilities (EOY) Unrelated business income? Total contributions Program service revenue Investment income Comp. of current officers, directors, etc. Form 990
    2022 Dec Form 990 $7,260,608 $7,788,998 $3,802,540 $907,203 N $7,251,172 $5,944 $3,492 $391,829
    2021 Dec Form 990 $5,686,275 $5,844,497 $4,014,458 $590,731 N $5,667,055 $17,200 $2,020 $446,562
    2020 Dec Form 990 $6,078,618 $3,929,803 $3,973,705 $311,663 N $6,059,207 $7,856 $4,337 $406,378
    2019 Dec Form 990 $3,356,699 $3,840,236 $1,829,369 $316,142 N $3,127,993 $218,934 $9,294 $330,757 PDF
    2018 Dec Form 990 $2,106,954 $2,166,492 $2,274,159 $277,395 N $2,076,202 $3,658 $4,314 $316,135 PDF
    2017 Dec Form 990 $2,389,358 $2,278,661 $2,276,789 $220,487 N $2,291,082 $57,385 $693 $279,240 PDF
    2016 Dec Form 990 $2,191,934 $2,502,267 $2,087,905 $152,466 N $2,078,186 $0 $784 $262,924 PDF
    2015 Dec Form 990 $4,550,292 $4,017,384 $2,457,872 $212,100 N $4,532,256 $0 $585 $200,579 PDF
    2014 Dec Form 990 $3,452,208 $3,697,178 $1,669,402 $456,538 N $3,452,375 $0 $850 $258,021 PDF
    2013 Dec Form 990 $2,638,184 $2,508,237 $1,628,280 $170,446 N $2,621,894 $500 $1,530 $325,530 PDF
    2012 Dec Form 990 $2,668,848 $2,495,565 $1,469,219 $141,332 N $2,657,543 $5,659 $2,155 $345,603 PDF
    2011 Dec Form 990 $1,732,911 $2,518,562 $1,385,942 $231,338 N $1,723,753 $3,500 $5,658 $124,652 PDF

    Additional Filings (PDFs)

    Public Health Advocates (PHA)

    P.O. Box 2309
    Davis, CA 95617