Menu of Technical Assistance

The Climate Change Local Assistance Unit provides the following kinds of technical assistance to California Tribes, tribal-serving organizations, and In​​digenous communities:

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​We can ass​i​​st with:

• ​​​Embedding health and climate considerations into planning projects
  

• Accessing relevant state and federal data
  

• Identifying funding sources to carry out a wide range of efforts that can promote health and address climate change impacts
  

• Implementing related plans, programs, and projects

• E​​valuating related plans, programs, and projects
  

​​Examples of pl​​anning projects we can assist with might include:

• Input and data collection to identify values, threats, vulnerabilities, and adaptive strengths

• Analyzing, communicating, and sharing vulnerability assessment findings

• Creating climate and health plans, such as climate adaptation and mitigation plans

• Integrating health and climate content into Tribal or Local Hazard Mitigation Plans (HMPs), housing and land use planning, or Community Health Improvement Plans (CHIPs)

• Analyzing local, state, and federal climate and health related policies, regulations, and plans

• Cultivating food sovereignty via Land Back strategies, agroecology, or wildlife management

• Planning for resilience and recovery actions such as building housing, community health centers, and critical infrastructure that has been or could be impacted by climate-related events
  

• Planning for renewable energy infrastructure or a local microgrid to improve energy sovereignty, energy security, and affordability

• Identifying and networking with internal and external partners like local health jurisdictions​, health providers, tribal departments, and community members
  

​We acknowledge tribal sovereignty over trib​​​al lands, private knowledge, and data. We will support Tribes in protecting and uplifting such rights and sovereignty, including rights to data, knowledge, materials and publications developed with our assistance​. ​

​CDPH staff who​ provide support to Tribes at California Native American Day, 2023.​​​​

​Recent ​​​Highlights

• The new CDPH Interim Guide to Health Equity Centered Local Heat Planning assists local jurisdictions with incorporating health equity into new or existing heat action and planning efforts. The guide contains long-term planning and policy actions as well as emergency preparedness and response actions recommended for before, during, and after a heat season and a specific extreme heat event. This resource can help facilitate partnerships between local health departments, offices of emergency services, and other local agencies. Released September 29, 2023.​

• The CDPH Guidance for Local Health Jurisdictions and Community Service Providers for Extreme Heat provides local health jurisdictions (LHJs) and other community-based service providers recommendations and resources to protect communities from heat-related health impacts, with particular focus on supporting population groups most at risk. Updated August 4, 2023.
  

• The CDPH Tribal Climate and Health Planning Webinar can be reviewed in this recording of the September 2022 Climate Action Team Public Health Work Group meeting (youtube.com).​