Our Story
The Value & Power of Relationships
In 2013, five denominationally diverse African-American pastors in Alameda County recognized increasing problems with serious health concerns among their congregants and poor integration of spiritual concerns into health care for those with serious illness. In response, with input from congregants, health systems, community groups and national organizations, the Alameda County Care Alliance Advanced Illness Care Program™(ACCA-AICP) was developed.
The ACCA-AICP is a faith-based, person-centered, lay care navigation intervention serving individuals with advanced illness and their caregivers in Alameda County, Contra Costa County, San Francisco, San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties, and Los Angeles County. It is free of charge and respects the needs and wishes of the participant, whatever their culture and faith.
The intervention is holistic in its approach to identifying the needs of enrolled participants. A Care Navigator walks alongside of the participant providing trusted referrals, resources and specially designed tools to empower them to achieve their identified goals within our Five Cornerstones: spiritual, health (physical and emotional), social, advance care planning, and caregiving.
Today, with over 40 churches in our network, the ACCA program is helping to bridge the gap between health delivery systems, community organizations, faith-based communities and communities of color in managing advanced illness.
“This Kairos moment provides the opportunity, point in time and motive to bring the faith, clinical and research fields together to implement and evaluate the Advanced Illness Care Program™.”
- Rev. Dr. J. Alfred Smith, Jr.
ACCA History
“Alameda County Care Alliance Launch”
“Inaugural Caregiver Recognition Celebration”
“AICP Expansion in Alameda & CC County”
“Alameda County Care Alliance Collaborative 501c3 Established”
“ACCA Aligned with Public Health Institute”
“Inaugural “I Choose to Prepare” Event”
“Developed ACCA Advance Care Planning Workbook”
“Expansion to San Francisco”
“Implemented Electronic Case Management System”
“Pilot with Kaiser Permanente”
“Expansion to Los Angeles”
“Expansion to San Mateo/
Santa Clara Counties”
Cynthia’s Story
Everyone has a story.
Rev. Cynthia Carter Perrilliat shares her story that was the inspiration for the work of the ACCA.
