Many wonderful things are happening at For Grace...

Los Angeles, CA—September 2010
Spiced with celebrities, laughter and live performance, For Grace hosted its 3rd Annual Women In Pain Conference at the California Endowment's Center for Healthy Communities. This year's theme was "Raising the Curtain on Pain" and focused on Integrative Medicine and Creative Art Therapies. Please link here to see an archive of the event! Conference press release

Sacramento, CA—September 2010
We extend a heart-felt thank you to Senator Gloria Romero, our SCR 110 author. This resolution proclaims September as Pain Awareness Month and September 17th (to coincide with our 3rd Annual WIP Conference) as Women In Pain Awareness Day in California. SCR 110 is co-authored by Senators Liu, Oropeza and Pavley along with Assemblymembers Huffman, Saldana and Yamada. GREAT support!

Sacramento, CA—August 2010
We were proud to sponsor AB 1826, a new "fail first" bill authored by Assembly Members Jared Huffman and Mike Feuer. Despite heavy opposition from the healthcare insurance lobby, we got this bill all the way to Seante Approppriations committee.

California Science Center, Los Angeles CA—September 2009
For Grace co-hosted a second innovative conference. Our theme was "Diversity: No Woman In Pain Left Behind" and it was staged at the California Science Center in September to co-incide with National Pain Awareness Month. We had upwards of 500 attendees and the event was webcast live worldwide! Please link here for details about the conference, including media coverage and a webcast archive.

September 2009
We're excited to announce that September 2009 is officially Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State. ACR 72 was authored by Assembly Member Jared Huffman and we extend a heartfelt thank you to him and his extraordinary staff! Please link here to view the legislation's fact sheet.

Los Angeles, CA—July 2009
For Grace co-hosted a media conference call to request an investigation by California Attorney General Jerry Brown into discrimination by health insurance companies regarding unethical prescription practices that negatively impact minority pain patients. See their letter to AG Brown. And catch the AP article that was syndicated in 30+ papers and network websites.

Sacramento, CA—February 2009
For Grace co-sponsored a California bill, AB 602, that if signed into law by Gov. Schwarzenegger would abolish the unethical "fail first" prescription practice by health insurance plans and companies. The bill was authored by Assembly Member Curren Price and we got it as far as the Assembly Appropriations committee!

September 2008
For the 5th consecutive year, For Grace sponsored a resolution proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State. This year we worked with Senator Carole Migden (D-3rd District) who authored the resolution, SR 33. We at For Grace extend a heartfelt thank you to the many California legislators and staffers who despite unforeseen difficulties made this proclamation happen just two days before all adjourned for the year!

July 2008
For Grace encourages women in pain to access a great advocacy resource, "In the Face of Pain", to bring to your community awareness of the pain gender divide through media, legislation and civic groups. WIP—take action and be heard today!

June 2008
This 30 second spot, titled "Unsung Heroes", features actor Jack Coleman, star of NBC's hit drama, "Heroes". In the PSA, Jack delivers our message about the pain gender divide to the world! Please link here to view (QuickTime Video)

May 2008
For Grace co-hosted the 1st Annual CME Women In Pain Conference: Gender Matters which was held at City of Hope in Duarte, CA. Please link here for details.

CA State Senator Sheila Kuehl has proclaimed May 30, 2008 "Women In Pain Awareness Day" in California. There was an announcement on the Senate floor. Read Senator Kuehl's congratulations letter

LA County Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky did the same in LA County. There was an announcement at a supervisor's meeting.

LA City Councilmember Wendy Greuel did the same in LA City. Greuel and Toussaint made a presentation at LA City Hall. This was broadcast citywide via channel LA CityView 35.

September 2007
For Grace teamed with State Assemblymember Nell Soto to officially proclaim September as Pain Awareness Month in the Golden State. HR 15 "calls upon all Californians to observe this month by participating in appropriate ceremonies and activities and by learning how to improve the quality of life for people in California suffering from pain." September, due to the efforts of Partners for Understanding Pain, has now been recognized nationwide as the month to acknowledge pain as a major health issue in the country.

July 2007
For Grace was proud to endorse the 2007 Consensus Statement for the National Pain Care Policy Act. For more information, please visit the American Pain Foundation website.

Asheville, North Carolina—April 2007
Mayor Terry Bellamy proclaimed May as RSD Awareness month in this beautiful North Carolina city. Dr. Mary Sedgwick, a woman in pain who we recently procured media for, accepted this proclamation on behalf of For Grace. The event was televised live and covered by Asheville’s leading newspaper and TV station.

September 2006
For Grace, for the third consecutive year, has authored a resolution (SR 34) with the sponsorship of State Senator Liz Figueroa proclaiming September as Pain Awareness Month in California. September, due to the efforts of Partners for Understanding Pain, has now been recognized nationwide as the month to acknowledge pain as a major health issue in the country.

February – June 2006
Utilizing the profile that came with her political run, Cynthia spoke before dozens of Democratic gatherings in the Los Angeles area and Sacramento. She educated audiences about RSD/CRPS and the gender bias against women in pain, as well as supporting a universal health care plan for all Californians.

September 2005
For Grace championed September as Pain Awareness Month in California for 2004 and is doing the same for 2005. Other pain non-profits are doing this in their states. September is now recognized nationwide as the time to acknowledge pain as a major health issue in the country.

Los Angeles, CA—May 2005
For Grace founder & spokesperson, Cynthia Toussaint, spoke at the LA County Board of Supervisors’ meeting to compliment Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky’s proclamation. This televised event brought much needed RSD awareness and education to14 million residents.

Bringing a better day to those with RSD in the Golden State, For Grace sponsored legislation that would mandate an education program for the general public and healthcare professionals. AB 1648, authored by Assemblymember Fran Pavley, was introduced on February 22. For Grace medical director, Dr. Edward Carden, and founder, Cynthia Toussaint, testified in Sacramento before the Assembly Health committee in April to help push AB 1648 further along to passage. The bill is currently on “suspense” in the Assembly Appropriations committee due to the state’s budget crisis.

From the genesis of For Grace founder Cynthia Toussaint’s California WIP hearing and awareness month resolution, a coalition of pain advocacy leaders has formed to model this effort across the nation.

From the genesis of founder Cynthia Toussaint’s Women In Pain petition, For Grace generated a Senate legislative hearing sponsored by the Legislative Women’s Caucus and the Health & Human Services Committee that was held in Sacramento. The event examined the gender bias and systemic under treatment women in pain experience in the healthcare community.

To celebrate RSD awareness month in California, For Grace rolls out its newest project, “Share Your Story,” which features compelling stories from across the country and beyond.

For Grace authored a bill proclaiming February as Women In Pain Awareness month in California. SCR 42 was sponsored by Senator Nell Soto and was passed unanimously by the California legislature. This resolution spotlights the gender bias women in pain experience by the medical community in the US. For Grace duplicated this action in the City of Los Angeles with the sponsorship of Councilperson Wendy Greuel.

For Grace has proclaimed September Pain Awareness month in the Golden State as part of a 50-state campaign sponsored by the American Chronic Pain Association’s (ACPA) Partners for Understanding Pain coalition. The resolution (SCR 86), sponsored by State Senator and For Grace board member Liz Figueroa, details the need for greater education about pain in this country.

Through the efforts of For Grace, May 2003 was proclaimed RSD Awareness Month in California and Los Angeles. California State Senator Liz Figueroa made a televised announcement (via the California Channel) from the Senate floor in Sacramento May 15th. LA City Councilwoman Wendy Greuel made a televised presentation (City View LA 35) in the council chamber May 16th. Media actions to complement RSD Awareness month included feature articles in Newsweek, the Contra Costa Times, the Orange County Register, Los Angeles Daily News, the Fremont Argus as well as a health news report on KABC7 Eyewitness News.

For Grace was excited to launch our RSD National Awareness Campaign (NAC) to bring much needed RSD attention to communities across the country. The talents and passions of those with RSD, along with their families and friends, provide the catalyst for this sweeping initiative. NAC will ultimately promote early diagnosis and treatment, bring hope and community to those suffering in silence and trail blaze a new, better RSD world.

For Grace has provided the impetus for the first-ever RSD review protocols at the DMHC, the regulatory agency which oversees HMOs in California. Senior staff, health care support and call-center associates have received comprehensive education about RSD and the importance of time-sensitive medical intervention. RSD is now designated as a “trigger” condition that prompts immediate escalation of complaints to an urgent-care nurse. Also, new database procedures are in place to track RSD-related calls and complaint resolutions.

To develop an important tool for our RSD clients, For Grace has forwarded a letter of introduction along with RSD education materials to over 100 pain clinics/centers throughout the state. This is phase one of our project to compile a comprehensive database of RSD treatment providers in California and to educate these providers about our work.

Cynthia authored a petition addressing the current medical gender bias that women experience with pain management in this country. She continues to circulate this important statement among pain communities and women’s groups and is receiving signatures of support daily from around the world. Sign it here!

For Grace authored a bill proclaiming May 2002 RSD Awareness month in California. SCR 83 was sponsored by State Senator Liz Figueroa and passed unanimously by the state legislature.

In Los Angeles, Cynthia spearheaded the first California Senate hearing dedicated to the issues of RSD. She gave key testimony at the all-day forum which also included testimony by a wide-range of pain specialists and state officials.