Health Education Council

What Health Education Council does

Health Education Council (HEC) is a Sacramento-based nonprofit organization founded in 1991 by Debra Oto-Kent, who continues to serve as Executive Director. The organization's mission is to improve health outcomes in under-served neighborhoods by empowering residents to create the solutions they need most. HEC delivers 20+ programs organized across five pillars — Health Access, Social Connection, Economic Well-Being, Community Safety, and Wellness Education — including the SHOP youth program, Peers Helping Peers mental-health navigator training, Walk with Friends community walking groups, Financial Empowerment Center, Building Better Financial Futures multilingual financial education, Healthy Food Access produce distributions, and disaster-readiness initiatives. The organization employs 11–50 staff and serves an underserved beneficiary base spanning Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, and West Sacramento counties, with programs co-located at community centers, schools, faith institutions, and parks.

HEC does not operate a proprietary technology platform; its "platform" is a cross-sector collaboration model built on partnerships with Kaiser Permanente, Sutter Health, SMUD, the Mexican Consulate, Twin Rivers and San Juan Unified School Districts, the City of Sacramento, the City of Roseville, Sacramento County Department of Public Health, and numerous faith-based and community organizations. Programs are delivered through bilingual, bicultural staff and trained community facilitators, with curricula such as the Leah's Pantry Food Smarts content used for Afghan Moms cooking classes. Digital touchpoints are limited to a standard website, email newsletter, and active social media presence across Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, YouTube, and LinkedIn.

HEC is funded primarily through grants, sponsorships, and donations from credit unions, healthcare systems, utilities, municipal and state government sources (including Proposition 63 / Mental Health Services Act funding), and individual donors. Services to beneficiaries are provided free of charge, so pricing is not applicable to end users. Reported impact for 2024–2025 includes 70,812 people helped, 200,000 pounds of fresh food distributed in South Sacramento, 4,933 individuals connected to preventative health screenings, and 1,400+ hours of healing-centered youth mentorship. The organization was named California Nonprofit of the Year in 2023 and recognized by the National Academy of Medicine Leadership Consortium for its Walkability Project.

Name

Health Education Council

Legal name

Health Education Council

Website

https://healthedcouncil.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

1991

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Health Education Council is a Sacramento-based nonprofit that delivers free health, financial, youth, and community-wellness programs to underserved residents across Sacramento, Placer, Yolo, and West Sacramento counties through 20+ programs and a network of cross-sector partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Community Health Education Services

NAICS

Voluntary Health Organizations (813212), Civic and Social Organizations (81341), Social Advocacy Organizations (8133)

SIC

Services-Social Services (8300), Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

Community Health, Prevention & Health Education (BPAGACAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Health Promotion & Public Health Education (Community Workshops) (EDAAAFAG), Public Health & Health Equity Organizations (BPAGACAL), Health Promotion, Prevention & Wellness Education (EDALAFAF), Student Wellness & Prevention Programs (Substance Use, Sexual Health, Bullying) (EDAJAIAG), Physical Education & Health Instruction (EDAJAFAL)

Keywords

• Community health education
• Health equity programs
• Financial literacy services
• Mental health navigation
• Workforce development programs

Headquarters

HQ city

West Sacramento

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Grant Funding: Health Education Council operates primarily as a grant-funded nonprofit organization, receiving financial support from credit unions, government entities, and healthcare organizations to fund specific community programs such as the Building Better Financial Futures multilingual financial education program.
2. Donations: The organization accepts charitable donations from individuals and organizations to support community health programs and services for underserved populations.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Health Education Council is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that delivers community-based health, wellness, financial literacy, and social support programs across five integrated pillars: Health Access, Social Connection, Economic Well-Being, Community Safety, and Wellness Education. Programs are offered free of charge to underserved residents in the Greater Sacramento region (Sacramento, Placer, and Yolo Counties) through trusted community venues such as schools, churches, and community centers, often using bilingual and bicultural staff and trained community leaders.

Product overview

Health Education Council is a community-based nonprofit organization offering a portfolio of health and wellness programs organized across five pillars: Health Access, Social Connection, Economic Well-Being, Community Safety, and Wellness Education. The organization's programs include youth development (SHOP, Ladies First, Peers Helping Peers), financial empowerment (VAF, Financial Empowerment Center, Workforce Development), social connection (Walk with Friends, Mente Sana Vida Sana, Together 4 Wellness), and wellness education (Nutrition Physical Activity, Don't Buy The Lie). The organization serves underserved neighborhoods in the Greater Sacramento area including Sacramento County, Placer County, and Yolo County.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• SHOP (Safety, Health, Opportunity, & Practice): A six-week youth program teaching effective communication skills, health and nutrition, and anger management.
• SHOP: Ladies First
• LISTOS - Disaster Readiness
• Ventanilla de Asesoria Financiera Y Proteccion al Patrimono (VAF)
• Financial Empowerment Center
• Ventanilla de Salud (VDS)
• Peers Helping Peers (PHP)
• Facilitadores Comunitarios
• Walk with Friends
• Mente Sana, Vida Sana
• Together 4 Wellness
• Building Better Financial Futures

Products and services

• SHOP (Safety, Health, Opportunity & Practice) Community-based health navigation and engagement program that connects underserved residents with primary care, preventive services, and health resources in their neighborhoods.
• SHOP: Ladies First Women-focused adaptation of SHOP providing health education, navigation, and social-support programming tailored to Latina and other underserved women in the Sacramento region.
• LISTOS Disaster Preparedness Program Community-led disaster-readiness education teaching neighborhood-level preparedness, response, and recovery skills, delivered through the LISTOS California framework in multiple languages.
• Ventanilla de Asesoría Financiera y Protección al Patrimonio (VAF) Spanish-language financial counseling service that helps community members protect assets, navigate financial systems, and avoid fraud.
• Financial Empowerment Center One-on-one financial coaching and education program offering budgeting, credit-building, debt management, and banking access support.
• Workforce Development Program Job-readiness and career-pathway program supporting underserved adults with training, employer connections, and employment placement services.
• Building Better Financial Futures Financial-literacy initiative that expands free education, coaching, and resource navigation to help community members build savings, credit, and long-term financial stability.
• Peers Helping Peers (PHP) Peer-support model in which trained community members provide one-on-one and group support to others facing mental-health, recovery, or life challenges.
• Walk with Friends Group-walking and social-connection program designed to reduce isolation and increase physical activity among older adults and other community members.
• Mente Sana, Vida Sana Spanish-language mental-health education and stigma-reduction program that provides culturally responsive support and resources to Latino community members.
• Together 4 Wellness Mental-health navigation and wellness program connecting participants to clinical, peer, and community-based support resources.
• Facilitadores Comunitarios Trained community facilitator network that delivers health and wellness education across neighborhoods in their primary languages.
• Mental Health Resources Program Navigation, education, and referral services linking community members to mental-health providers, peer support, and crisis resources.
• Nutrition Physical Activity Branch Program Nutrition education and physical-activity programming that promotes healthy eating and active living among community members of all ages.
• Walkability Project Community assessment and advocacy initiative that evaluates neighborhood walkability and advances improvements to pedestrian safety and active transportation.
• Don't Buy The Lie Substance-use prevention and education program targeting youth and families with messaging and skill-building to counter risky behaviors.
• Housing Programs Housing navigation, education, and stabilization services supporting residents facing housing insecurity.
• Healthy Food Access Food-access initiative that connects residents with affordable, nutritious food through partnerships, vouchers, and nutrition education.
• Ventanilla de Salud (VDS) Spanish-language health-information window providing free health education, screenings, and referrals through partner sites.
• Invest Health Roseville Backbone/convener role coordinating a multi-sector coalition focused on equitable health outcomes in Roseville.
• Wellness Hub Centralized resource hub coordinating partner-driven wellness programming and referrals across the Sacramento region.
• West Sacramento Accountable Community for Health (ACH) Backbone convening role for a collective-impact accountable community for health initiative in West Sacramento.
• Placer County Accountable Community for Health (ACH) Backbone convening role for a collective-impact accountable community for health initiative in Placer County.
• SOMOS Leadership Conference Latina women's leadership conference offering professional development, mentorship, and networking to advance Latina representation in civic and community leadership.

Quantifiable outcome

• 70,812 people helped in 2024-2025
• +3 more outcomes

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles5 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

18 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Mexican ConsulatecoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 12 June 2023Co-hosts the annual SOMOS Women's Leadership Conference (formerly Women's Leadership Conference) with the Mexican Consulate, now in its 11th year. The conference brings together over 100 Latina leaders from Northern California for workshops on mental health, substance use, and gender violence.
• Midtown ChurchcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEC and Midtown Church launched a partnership to co-locate HEC services on the church's Sacramento campus. HEC employee coordinates community health education, financial education, and mental well-being services from the Midtown Hub. Community Health and Resource Fair hosted with partners including Lions Club International, Sacramento County Department of Public Health, and Raley's.
• City of RosevillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the Walkability Project in Roseville's downtown core neighborhoods. City staff played a pivotal role in ensuring residents could safely walk and connect in their neighborhoods.
• Roseville ElectricminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Walkability Project contributing to making Roseville's downtown core more walkable for residents.
• Roseville Parks, Recreation and LibrariesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the Walkability Project helping create safe walking routes and community gathering points in Roseville.
• United Way Capital RegioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in free tax preparation assistance program. Program Manager Diana Vo coordinates community tax clinics for residents making less than $60,000 (individuals) or $66,000 (families).
• Franchise Tax BoardcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerVolunteers from Franchise Tax Board guide community members through tax preparation process and help determine eligibility for tax credits. Also supports ITIN renewals.
• Asian Resources, Inc.minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvides on-site translation services for tax preparation events alongside United Way.
• North State Building FoundationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in hosting Construction Boot Camp at The Grove for transitional youth aged 18-24. HEC staff deliver financial literacy and nutrition education components.
• Sierra CollegeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborator with HEC and North State Building Foundation on Construction Boot Camp program for transitional youth.
• First Step Communities / The GrovecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerThe Grove in North Sacramento provides housing and training for transitional youth aged 18-24. HEC collaborated to deliver wellness programming including financial literacy and healthy meal preparation.
• First United Methodist Church RosevillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost site for monthly community gatherings celebrating one year of support for families. Church and faith-based organizations collaborate on fresh produce distributions and community services.
• Twin Rivers Unified School District (TRUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHEC works with TRUSD to explore ways to incorporate halal food items into school menus, creating equitable nutritional access for Muslim students. Parent groups and focus groups conducted to address dietary restrictions.
• San Juan Unified School District (SJUSD)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerParent groups established to support Afghan families in SJUSD. HEC advocates for school meal options that meet religious dietary guidelines.
• Lions Club InternationalminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided vision screenings, glasses, and on-the-spot glucose testing at Community Health and Resource Fair.
• Sacramento County Department of Public HealthcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner at Community Health and Resource Fair providing public health resources and information.
• Raley'sminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerParticipated in Community Health and Resource Fair providing wellness resources.
• One Touch Training CPRminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerProvided live demonstrations of proper CPR and other life-saving techniques at Community Health and Resource Fair.

Scale indicators15 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Asian Health Services: Oakland-based community health nonprofit delivering multilingual health care and education to Asian and other underserved communities; strong parallel to HEC's bilingual/multicultural service delivery.
• La Clínica de La Raza: Northern California community health network providing culturally and linguistically appropriate health services and education to underserved populations; comparable in mission, target demographic, and community-based delivery model.
• California Pan-Ethnic Health Network: Statewide health equity coalition serving communities of color through advocacy and community-based initiatives — closely aligned with HEC's health equity pillar and multicultural community approach.
• Latino Coalition for a Healthy California: California statewide nonprofit advancing Latino health through policy advocacy, community education, and culturally competent programming; directly comparable on target demographic and mission to HEC's Spanish-language and Latina leadership work.
• Community Health Councils: Los Angeles-based nonprofit focused on health equity and improving health outcomes in underserved communities through advocacy, education, and community engagement — the closest direct comparable to HEC in a different California region.

Broad incumbents

• HealthRIGHT 360: California-wide nonprofit integrating health care, mental health, and social services for vulnerable populations; larger and broader in scope but similar community-health and SDOH orientation to HEC.
• Public Health Institute: Large, established California-based public health organization working on community health, health equity, and SDOH — operates at a much broader scale but shares HEC's public health and community engagement orientation.

Regional players

• Sacramento Steps Forward: Sacramento-region nonprofit addressing homelessness and housing instability with cross-sector coalition models; comparable as a Sacramento-based community-serving nonprofit convener.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/healthedcouncil
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/HealthEdCouncil
• Facebookfacebook.com/hecfan
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/health-education-council
• Instagraminstagram.com/healthedcouncil

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles10 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors2 records

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Health Education Council