Patient Services Advocate 2

Los Angeles election authorities ready to respond to ICE. Phone line enabled to report voter intimidation; more than one million people have already cast ballots in the county. 31 Oct 2026, 04:15 AM EDT Given any possibility of incidents and the presence of immigration agents near any polling place in Los Angeles County, civil authorities, community organizations and Election Registrar supervisors will be on alert to intervene and, if necessary, request coordinated help from police departments. "We are working with police and sheriff's departments so they respond to incidents," said Mónica Flores, the official registrar, in front of the AltaMed facilities in Huntington Park. "We will not have officers present at all voting centers because it is against the law to have uniformed officers, because that can also be seen as [voter] intimidation." Election Registrar authorities will have a direct line that community organizations can use to report the likely presence of ICE agents. The number is (888) 338-8683. They will also have individuals who will act as mediators to reduce any tension that may arise. During the presentation of the 'My Vote. My Health' initiative, launched in 2018, officials from AltaMed, the largest nonprofit community health center network in the United States, and its community partners urged eligible voters in southeast Los Angeles to vote early, highlighting the relationship between civic participation, health care and community well-being. "During the June primary elections, through AltaMed we were able to contact nearly 170,000 voters," reported Lizette Escobedo, vice president of government relations and civic engagement for the health network. Likewise, thanks to a collaboration with the Los Angeles County Registrar's Office, voting options were made available at 14 AltaMed centers in Los Angeles County, as well as at locations in Orange County. At the county level in Los Angeles, 429 official ballot drop boxes and 646 voting centers were set up; the centers open their doors on October 31. Dean Logan, who oversees the Los Angeles County Registrar-Recorder/County Clerk's Office, said he felt "very encouraged" by voter turnout in these elections so far. "As of yesterday (Thursday), we have recorded more than one million voters who have already cast their ballots in Los Angeles County," he reported. "Almost one million did so by mail, and another 54,000 voted in person at voting centers that began opening last week." Logan said this is a good sign and added: "The trend is slightly higher than what was observed four years ago during the gubernatorial elections, and we still have four days ahead of us, with many more voting centers opening this weekend." He expressed that everything indicates voters are committed and intend to participate in these elections in southeast Los Angeles, an area where they have always sought to establish collaborations, since it has traditionally been underrepresented in voter turnout. In fact, Logan cast his vote at the mobile polling place set up at the AltaMed facilities. SELA decides. Dr. Wilma Franco, executive director of the South East Los Angeles (SELA Decides) initiative, a regional nonpartisan civic participation initiative in which AltaMed, COFEM, New Start Housing, the Pat Brown Institute at Cal State LA and CalMatters collaborate, noted that its goal is to ensure communities have the information, resources and opportunities needed to participate in the decisions that affect their lives. Just a few days before November 3, her message is clear: "If you are eligible to vote, we need you to exercise that right. We are aware that we are going through difficult times in our communities. Families face fear and uncertainty, but we have also witnessed the strength of our people when they have needed support." Francisco Moreno, executive director of the Council of Mexican Federations in North America (COFEM), emphasized the need to offer reliable, multilingual information, always maintaining sensitivity to concerns related to immigration status, language, work schedules, transportation and the voting process. "Our vote is our voice. Our health is our priority and our participation is our power," he said. "Through initiatives like 'My Vote. My Health,' with SELA, we have the opportunity to reach our people directly in our neighborhoods, in our community organizations and, especially, in trusted places like AltaMed clinics." That trust led Rafael Martínez, 89, to cast his vote with assistance from Abilene Ayala. "Let's get to it - there's no time to waste!" the man said with a positive attitude. That popular Mexican expression Rafael used means to do something cheerfully, without delay and without wasting time. The raids and people's health. During a press conference, Dr. Regina Inchizu explained the connection between public policies and patients' health, noting how ICE raids and the fear associated with them affected attendance at clinics in Huntington Park. "As a doctor, I witness the devastating effects of bad policies. It is our responsibility, in the health sector, to protect our patients not only inside the clinic but also outside it; that is why it is essential that we vote and advocate for what we are witnessing," she said. "I remember the first day the ICE raids happened here in Huntington Park. It was something terrible." She mentioned that the AltaMed clinic in Huntington Park is usually full of patients, but suddenly it fell into an unsettling silence. Patients were not coming to their scheduled appointments out of fear of what was happening in the community. "We kept getting notices: 'There are ICE raids here,' 'they are happening over there'... and no one came to the clinic." Doctors began calling their patients to find out if they were okay or if they wanted to reschedule their appointments to care for patients with diabetes, high blood pressure, anxiety, depression and other ailments, she recounted. "There were patients we could not reach, and we did not know what happened to them. Others told us they felt very afraid because of the ICE raids; that is why they did not come to their appointment that day," Dr. Inchizu recalled.

The L.A. Trust to celebrate Student Health at annual Salute to Student Health gala. The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health Oct 05, 2026, 04:00 ET Event will honor AltaMed President and CEO Cástulo de la Rocha and L.A. TACO journalist Memo Torres LOS ANGELES, Oct. 5, 2026 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ - The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health (The L.A. Trust) will host its sixth annual Salute to Student Health gala on Wednesday, October 7, from 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. at the Japanese American Cultural & Community Center in Little Tokyo. The evening will bring together leaders from healthcare, education, philanthropy and the Los Angeles community to celebrate the importance of student health and recognize two local leaders whose work has helped strengthen and amplify the communities they serve. This year's honorees are: Cástulo de la Rocha, President and CEO of AltaMed Health Services, who will receive the Visionary Award. De la Rocha has led AltaMed for decades, helping grow the organization from its roots as a community clinic in East Los Angeles into one of the nation's largest federally qualified health centers. His leadership has focused on expanding access to healthcare and improving health outcomes for underserved communities. Memo Torres, Journalist at L.A. TACO, will receive the Champion Award. Through his journalism and community engagement, Torres has built deep connections across Los Angeles and helped bring greater visibility to the experiences and issues affecting local communities. His work reflects the power of storytelling to connect people, foster understanding, and amplify community voices. "Salute to Student Health is an opportunity to celebrate the people and partnerships that help young people access the care and support they need to thrive," said Dr. Sarah Rodman, Executive Director of The L.A. Trust. "We are especially pleased to recognize Cástulo and Memo, whose work reflects the importance of community, access and giving people a voice." The evening will also center the voices of Wellness Youth Advocates (WYAs), student leaders who promote health and wellness among their peers at Los Angeles public schools. Students will share personal perspectives on resilience and wellness through a special video and live program, highlighting the importance of listening to young people and creating opportunities for them to lead. The event will feature cocktails, dinner and a Latin American-inspired culinary experience, along with a silent auction. The evening reflects The L.A. Trust's broader mission to bridge health and education to achieve student wellness. EVENT DETAILS Salute to Student Health 2026 Wednesday, October 7, 2026 5:30-8:30 p.m. Japanese American Cultural & Community Center Little Tokyo, Los Angeles Media Contact Mariam Jimenez, The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health, 1 213.241.3511, [email protected], https://www.thelatrust.org/ SOURCE The Los Angeles Trust for Children's Health