ZSFG Health Advocates Program

What do we do?

The Health Advocates are student and community volunteers who conduct standardized social and legal needs screening with families seen in our clinics.
Where can you find us?

Program staff are available Mondays through Fridays in the ZSFG Children’s Health Clinic and Women’s Health Center on Thursday afternoons in the Family Health Center.
Since launching the program in 2013 at ZSFG, the Health Advocates program has trained over 130 volunteers and served over 3500 families who otherwise might never have been had assistance with social needs during their visits to the hospital.

What is the ZSFG Health Advocates Program? 

The ZSFG Health Advocates Program trains student and community volunteers to conduct standardized social and legal needs screenings with families.

Our dedicated volunteers use resource algorithms and online tools to link families with existing benefits programs (such as CalFresh) or external community organizations (like food pantries and workforce development centers). Your involvement can make a significant impact, especially when dealing with more complex issues such as family mental health concerns or complicated legal challenges.

Join us in connecting families with clinical social workers and/or lawyers, providing additional professional advice and support. Become a Health Advocate and make a positive difference in the lives of those in our community!