The foundation for changing the effectiveness of the healthcare system is residents taking responsibility and control over their health and wellness. This starts with residents understanding their alternatives for health care access and coverage, adopting wellness and prevention practices for managing health conditions such as obesity, diabetes, etc., and taking advantage of health care coverage and insurance and establishing a health home. Residents must also transform this awareness into action by becoming advocates for creating more equitable and just health care in Richmond. Residents must have greater involvement and leadership in determining their health care and the programs and institutions needed by the community.

Health is vital to everyone, but access to an affordable and quality health care has not been the same for everyone. Richmond has always had to fight overcome health disparities, from high rates of asthma to lack of emergency rooms.The Access to Quality Healthcare Action Team is a group of partner organizations, health providers, and resident leaders advocating for the expansion of health services and reduction of barriers to access care across systems for all residents of Contra Costa County regardless of immigration status, race, identify, or income.While there have been many advancement to medicine and health services, there are still many layers of instability and accessibility that keep many Richmond Residents from thriving.