Quick answer: A community benefit workforce development partner helps a nonprofit hospital act on the needs its community health needs assessment (CHNA) identifies. Federal law requires tax-exempt hospitals to assess community health needs every three years and adopt a strategy to address them. Jobs and income are a core social determinant of health, and youth fentanyl prevention is a direct health need. The Ayangbah Foundation in San Bernardino offers job training and youth prevention programs that Inland Empire health systems can sponsor.
How Hospital Community Benefit Works
Federal rules: Section 501(r) and Schedule H
Nonprofit hospitals keep their tax exemption in part by meeting the IRS "community benefit standard." Under Section 501(r), they must also meet four added requirements: a community health needs assessment, financial assistance and emergency care policies, limits on charges, and billing and collection rules.
The IRS says a hospital must conduct a CHNA every three years. It must take input from at least one public health department, from members of medically underserved, low-income and minority populations, and from written comments on its prior CHNA. It must then adopt a written implementation strategy that, for each significant need, describes how the hospital will address it or explains why it will not. Hospitals report their community benefit activities to the IRS on Schedule H of Form 990.
California rules: SB 697
California adds its own requirements. Under Senate Bill 697 (1994), private nonprofit hospitals must conduct a community needs assessment every three years, develop a community benefits plan in consultation with the community, and submit the plan each year to the Department of Health Care Access and Information (HCAI). Assembly Bill 204 (2019) also requires hospitals to post their plans online.
Why a Community Benefit Workforce Development Partner Fits Health Goals
Healthy People 2030, from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, groups the social determinants of health into five domains. The first is Economic Stability, which includes employment and income. Steady work affects food security, housing, stress and access to care.
The need in the Inland Empire is clear. In the City of San Bernardino, 18.6% of residents live in poverty and only 13.1% of adults hold a bachelor's degree. In Victorville, 18.4% of residents live in poverty. In Adelanto, 7.7% of adults hold a bachelor's degree (all U.S. Census QuickFacts). Short, practical training is one of the fastest ways to move a household toward economic stability.
Why Youth Fentanyl Prevention Fits Community Benefit
Fourteen local teenagers have died of fentanyl overdoses since 2021, according to the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard as reported by Community Forward Redlands. Substance use prevention is a health need in its own right, and naloxone training puts life-saving skills in the hands of young people and families.
Our Youth Substance Use Prevention & Leadership program serves ages 12 to 26 with fentanyl awareness, naloxone training and a youth leadership council. Our Future Leaders Academy is a free Saturday workshop with lunch provided. Learn more in our fentanyl awareness guide for parents and our youth leadership program.
Health Systems Serving the Inland Empire
Several large health systems serve San Bernardino County. Many are also among the region's biggest employers, which means a healthy workforce pipeline benefits them directly.
- Loma Linda University Health: Loma Linda University and Medical Center employs over 11,838 people, per the City of Loma Linda.
- Kaiser Permanente: Fontana's top employer, with 9,677 workers, per the City of Fontana's 2023 financial report.
- Arrowhead Regional Medical Center: the county-operated hospital in Colton, with about 3,510 employees.
- San Antonio Regional Hospital: Upland's largest employer, with about 2,000 employees, per the City of Upland.
- St. Mary Regional Medical Center: one of Apple Valley's largest employers, with 1,301 employees in the town's 2020 report.
We name these systems to describe the region, not to suggest any current partnership. Community benefit obligations differ by hospital ownership, so each organization's own CHNA and plan is the best guide to its priorities.
What a Community Benefit Workforce Development Partner Can Offer
The Ayangbah Foundation (EIN 33-4528503) is a 501(c)(3) in downtown San Bernardino. It is registered in SAM.gov and is an approved work-experience worksite for the San Bernardino County Workforce Development Department, and it has hosted and mentored 10 interns so far. Every class runs in person and live online, with day, evening and Saturday options.
A health system could sponsor:
- A sponsored cohort of the 40-hour Career Readiness & Entrepreneurship Employment Training certificate ($1,200 per participant) for residents in a CHNA priority neighborhood.
- Free youth prevention workshops on fentanyl awareness and naloxone for schools and community groups.
- A youth leadership council where young people plan prevention activities with peers.
- Customer service and Excel training for entry-level and frontline staff, through our customized and incumbent worker training.
- Future pathways: CPR/First Aid and other industry certifications are planned for 2027. Health partners can join the interest list.
Our founder, Dr. Shirley Ayangbah, is an economist and professor. Fiscal information is on our transparency page. For healthcare career context, see healthcare training in San Bernardino.
FAQ
How often must nonprofit hospitals do a community health needs assessment?
Every three years, according to the IRS rules under Section 501(r)(3). California's SB 697 also requires private nonprofit hospitals to assess community needs every three years.
Can hospital community benefit dollars fund workforce development?
Hospitals decide how to address the significant needs their CHNA identifies. Because employment and income are social determinants of health, many hospitals consider workforce programs as one way to address economic stability.
What is Schedule H?
Schedule H is the IRS Form 990 schedule hospital organizations use to report information on their hospital facilities' activities, policies and community benefit.
Why is fentanyl prevention a community health need in San Bernardino?
Fourteen local teenagers have died of fentanyl overdoses since 2021, according to the California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard via Community Forward Redlands. Prevention education and naloxone training can save lives.
How can a health system partner with The Ayangbah Foundation?
A health system can sponsor a training cohort, fund free youth prevention workshops, or join our prevention coalition. Call (909) 454-7076 or use the partner form.
Ways to Partner
If you manage community benefit, population health or workforce programs for a health system, we would welcome a conversation about your CHNA priorities.
- Fund a program: sponsor a cohort or youth prevention workshops.
- Start a partnership: share your priorities with our team.
- Give online to support training and prevention.
- See our impact and how we report it.
Or call us at (909) 454-7076.
Sources: Internal Revenue Service, "Charitable hospitals: general requirements for tax-exemption under Section 501(c)(3)," "Requirements for 501(c)(3) hospitals under the Affordable Care Act – Section 501(r)," "Community health needs assessment for charitable hospital organizations – Section 501(r)(3)" and "About Schedule H (Form 990)"; California Department of Health Care Access and Information, Hospital Community Benefits Plan program; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Healthy People 2030, Social Determinants of Health; U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts (San Bernardino, Victorville, Adelanto); City of Loma Linda, City of Fontana, City of Upland and Town of Apple Valley financial reports; California Overdose Surveillance Dashboard via Community Forward Redlands.