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Local public-health groups warn REACH funding freeze is disrupting services to Stockton’s Black and underserved communities
Summary
Representatives of Public Health Advocates and REACH told supervisors that a federal executive order restricting DEI funding briefly paused REACH grants and led to layoffs and service interruptions in Stockton; they urged the board to amplify community impacts and help identify local support.
Multiple employees and partners from Public Health Advocates and the REACH (Racial and Ethnic Approaches to Community Health) program addressed the Board of Supervisors on Feb. 11, warning that federal executive actions affecting Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) funding had temporarily frozen REACH grant disbursements and resulted in layoffs and program interruptions.
Speakers described REACH activities in Stockton, including nutrition programs, partnerships with local farmers, doula and lactation support, and youth programming aimed at obesity prevention and leadership training. They said federal pause notices issued in late January caused layoffs of local grant staff and created uncertainty for community partners that run food distributions, teen fitness and maternal health work.
Public Health Advocates staff asked supervisors to use their positionality to inform members of Congress about local impacts, to consider local bridge funding where feasible, and to support investments that preserve community health equity programs. Board members and staff noted the county could not directly reverse federal action but can help by documenting local consequences and connecting REACH partners to county and philanthropic resources.
