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2026-2030 STRATEGIC PLAN
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​ADVANCING EQUITY
IN CARE
CARESTAR Foundation’s
2026–2030 Strategic Plan
CARESTAR Foundation’s new 2026–2030 Strategic Plan outlines how the foundation and its partners will work over the next five years to reduce racial disparities in Emergency Medical Services (EMS) across California and ensure equity becomes a standard across the field. ​​
​​The strategy focuses on translating research into practice, supporting real-world solutions that improve patient outcomes, and convening partners across the EMS ecosystem to accelerate progress.
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What this plan aims to achieve:
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Reduce racial disparities in EMS care across California
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Translate research into real-world improvements in care
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Strengthen collaboration across the EMS ecosystem
Why This Work Matters: Turning Awareness into Measurable Change
The EMS field has made significant progress documenting inequities in emergency care. The next challenge is implementing solutions that improve outcomes in real-world settings.
CARESTAR is helping move the field from awareness to measurable change by supporting initiatives that translate research into practice and drive improvements in care delivery and patient outcomes.
Our Role: Philanthropy as a Catalyst for Change
CARESTAR believes philanthropy can play a catalytic role in testing solutions and scaling what works.
Over the next five years, the foundation’s strategic grantmaking priorities will be:
RESEARCH
Identify and quantify inequities.
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Fund equity analyses
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Support disaggregated EMS performance data
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Inform benchmarks and quality improvement
IMPLEMENTATION
Test and demonstrate solutions.
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Fund community-based EMS pilots
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Support alternative response models
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Improve equity-focused clinical quality efforts
POLICY
Embed what works into durable systems.
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Support policy analysis and advocacy
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Build coalitions
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Engage regulators
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Align EMS standards and reimbursement with equity goals
CARESTAR prioritizes initiatives grounded in credible data and community experience, helping ensure improvements in care delivery translate into measurable gains for patients.
Collaboration Across the EMS Ecosystem
No one organization can singlehandedly transform the EMS system. CARESTAR’s strategy emphasizes convening partners, sharing knowledge, and supporting collaborative solutions across the EMS ecosystem.
The foundation will work with:
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EMS leaders and practitioners
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Researchers and health systems
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Community organizations
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Policymakers and regulators
Together, these partnerships will expand opportunities for collaboration and accelerate progress toward more equitable emergency medical care.
By working alongside partners across California, CARESTAR aims to strengthen emergency medical systems so that equitable care is not aspirational, but standard practice.
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