Programs

Community Programs:

Safety Net Navigator

Our Individual & Family Support Services program meets clients where they are to provide much needed cultural and linguistic services for clients who need resources, and access to utility assistance, translation, food, health/mental and other critical family service needs. Our case worker works are systems navigators and help advocate for clients to ensure they receive the services they need.

Services include:

  • PG&E and Telephone Bill Assistance

  • Medi-Cal Application Assistance

  • Education and enrollment assistance for HEAP, CARE, Medical Baseline and more

  • Information and Referrals

  • Mental Health Referrals

  • Forms and Translation Assistance, including online application assistance

  • Advocacy

  • Green Business Certification

  • COVID-19 Outreach and Education

Environmental and Climate Justice

El Concilio is committed to advancing the work of racial equity. Climate change is no doubt deeply rooted in racism, when we look closely at our communities of color, it is often our low-income, BIPOC communities that suffer from asthma and upper respiratory diseases. In San Mateo County, the California Environmental Protection Agencies (CalEPA) has identified East Palo Alto, North Fair Oaks and South San Francisco as the most low-income disadvantaged communities in the County. Our long standing relationship with these communities has positioned ECSMC to advocate for better air quality, heat resiliency, and technology that is accessible and affordable for our communities. We believe that it is our responsibility to serve in advisory spaces and build coalitions to address these needs. Our work includes partnering with Climate Resilient Communities, North Fair Oaks Community Alliance, Climate Ready North Fair Oaks, Stanford University, City Systems, 350 Bay Area, San Mateo County Office of Sustainability and many more! Email ana@el-concilio.com to learn more.

Current Projects include:

  • Our Communities Our Bay-

  • Climate Ready Ambassadors- ECSMC’s Promotora training program

  • Heat Resiliency Project to reduce the impacts of heat on vulnerable communities with the San Mateo County Office of Sustainability

  • Fast Past to Clean Indoor Air Project with 350 Bay Area

  • Green Business Certificate and education on other Small Business Energy Savings programs

Coalition Building

Leaning on our strength and history as a convening agency we seek to build authentic multi-sector partnerships with other community based organizations that with common goals. We are currently convening the following collaborations and invite you to participate:

  • Public Health Community Collaborative- Meet’s monthly with a focus on identifying and addressing public health related issues for underresourced communities in San Mateo County. To learn more email Scarleth Contreras, Public Policy Coordinator scarleth@el-concilio.org

  • South San Francisco Community Collaborative for Children’s Success - Meet’s monthly to convene a Neighborhood Action Team of partners serving the South San Francisco community. The goal is to coordinate action to address the strategies presented in the CCCS Report by and for the community. To learn more email our Executive Director Ana Avendano ana@el-concilio.org

In addition to convening, we are also key partners in the following collaboratives:

Outreach and Education

We work directly with our communities to share resources and opportunities and actively listen to hear about current needs. We believe that when we connect directly with the communities that are experiencing poverty or have acute needs, we can build bridges and learn from the communities directly on solutions. The Promotor program is a proven prevention strategy that includes education that is culturally relevant. Our Promotores are trusted community partners that increase community engagement, access to resources, enrollment of services, and ultimately are human navigators.

Incubator Project

Fiscal Sponsorship and Support of local grassroots organizations