History
HARC, Inc. (Health Assessment and Research for Communities) was established in 2006 with financial backing from the California Wellness Foundation to address the insufficient county-level data portraying health needs in the distinct Coachella Valley community within Riverside County, Inland Southern California.
By 2007, HARC initiated the first of its triennial Coachella Valley Community Health Surveys via random-digit-dial telephone surveys, significantly illuminating the region’s health and quality of life facets including healthcare access, health behaviors, major diseases, and mental health. These recurring surveys have proved indispensable for various stakeholders—nonprofits, hospitals, educational institutions, government agencies, and media organizations—in securing funds, prioritizing health needs, developing health programs, and policy-making, with notable financial gains recorded in each survey cycle.
Expanding its impact, HARC began offering tailored research and evaluation services in 2009, sharing its proficiencies in social determinants of health with other organizations. Through community-specific assessments, program evaluations and consultancy, HARC has effectively aided diverse fields in program funding and policy refinement, while its extensive engagement in local health community initiatives and scholarly collaborations continue to underline its instrumental role in enhancing the region’s health landscape.
6 Completed triennial surveys
2022 Survey
COVID-19 hit our community hard, and this 2022 data illustrates how drastically some factors have changed in the wake of the pandemic.
2019 Survey
For the first time in the history of HARC’s community survey, the percentage of adults who’ve been tested for HIV is more than half (51%).
2016 Survey
Local organizations brought in over $1.5 million in the first year since the results were released (January 31, 2017 to February 2018). Many organizations continue to use this data, as it’s the most recent data, and thus, this number will continue to grow.
2013 Survey
Local organizations brought in over $5.7 million in the 2 years after the data was released in February 2014.
2010 Survey
Local organizations brought in over $7.1 million in the three years after the data was released in January 2011.
2007 Survey
HARC designed and implemented the region’s first comprehensive community-wide survey designed to provide timely and useful data as well as a baseline for measuring change in subsequent surveys.
Staff
Jenna LeComte-Hinely, PhD
Dr. LeComte-Hinely oversees and conducts a wide range of research and evaluation services, including program evaluation, needs assessments, and representative community health assessments. Prior to becoming CEO of HARC, Dr. LeComte-Hinely held the role of Director of Research and Evaluation for two years.
Jenna LeComte-Hinely, PhD
Dr. LeComte-Hinely oversees and conducts a wide range of research and evaluation services, including program evaluation, needs assessments, and representative community health assessments. Prior to becoming CEO of HARC, Dr. LeComte-Hinely held the role of Director of Research and Evaluation for two years.
Dr. LeComte-Hinely obtained her doctorate from Portland State University in the field of Applied Psychology. Her expertise is in the area of Occupational Health Psychology, which aims to keep workers healthy, happy, and productive. Dr. LeComte-Hinely has been conducting research for more than 18 years, studying a wide range of topics including health, well-being, work-life balance, supportive supervision in the workplace, green business, professional network development, gender discrimination, leadership, and informal science education.
Prior to joining HARC, Dr. LeComte-Hinely worked in the research and evaluation field at the Center for Work-Family Stress, Safety, and Health; the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry (OMSI); and the University of Redlands.
In 2019, Dr. LeComte-Hinely was named one of the top 50 “influencers” in the Coachella Valley by Palm Springs Life and was included in Desert Charities News’ “Women in Philanthropy” issue honoring the industry leaders and influencers. In 2018, Dr. LeComte-Hinely was named one of Palm Springs Life’s “40 Under Forty”, as well as one of Desert Charities News’ “Women Who Inspire Us”. Jenna also serves on the Board of Trustees of Borrego Health, one of the largest federally qualified health centers in the United States, and is an affiliated member of the Center for Health Disparities at UC Riverside. She is also an Assistant Adjunct Professor in UC Riverside’s School of Medicine with the Division of Clinical Sciences in Social Medicine, Population, and Public Health.
Having grown up in rural Oregon, Dr. LeComte-Hinely is passionate about bringing resources to underserved communities. As someone living with a mental health disorder, she’s also an advocate for destigmatizing mental illness, especially in the workplace. In her free time, Dr. LeComte-Hinely enjoys spending time with her husband, Braden, who is an Army veteran, and her dogs and cat, who are the cutest pets in the universe.
Casey Leier, PhD
Dr. Cassaundra Leier is a researcher with over 17 years of expertise in research design and analysis. She holds a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino, and a doctorate in Organizational Communication from Arizona State University.
Casey Leier, PhD
Dr. Cassaundra Leier is a researcher with over 17 years of expertise in research design and analysis. She holds a master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from California State University, San Bernardino, and a doctorate in Organizational Communication from Arizona State University. Dr. Leier’s research and interests include individual well-being and cultivating workplace practices that foster positivity. She also enjoys researching community safety, substance abuse and treatment, and reentry after incarceration.
Before joining HARC, Dr. Leier served as a faculty member at Arizona State University, where she taught courses in leadership, conflict and negotiation, and advanced research methods. She has also taught communication courses at College of the Desert. In addition, she worked as a Research Specialist for the County of Riverside’s Department of Public Social Services and served as a Human Resource Consultant for Southern California Edison. Dr. Leier frequently appears as a guest on CSUSB’s Coyote Radio program “Life in the Balance.”
Dr. Leier emphasizes the importance of connection, both with ourselves and with those closest to us, as some of the most important aspects of health and living a good life.
Daniel Polk, PhD
Daniel Polk is a researcher who focuses on social equity and environmental health. He earned a bachelor’s in history from UC Riverside and a doctorate in cultural anthropology from Princeton University. He has carried out work in the United States and Latin America, with experience in archival, statistical, and ethnographic research.
Daniel Polk, PhD
Daniel Polk is a researcher who focuses on social equity and environmental health. He earned a bachelor’s in history from UC Riverside and a doctorate in cultural anthropology from Princeton University. He has carried out work in the United States and Latin America, with experience in archival, statistical, and ethnographic research.
Prior to joining HARC, Dr. Polk served as a Postdoctoral Scholar at the Bill Lane Center for the American West at Stanford University, where studied the social impacts of water policy in California and Mexico.
Dr. Polk was born and raised in Inland Southern California and is a first-generation college graduate. His family origins are both U.S. and Colombian, as he was raised in a biracial, working-class household. Outside of work, Dr. Polk is a member of the Rawson Road Improvement Committee, Riverside Latino Network, and LULAC of the Desert (League of United Latin American Citizens).
Nichole Long, PhD candidate
Nichole Long (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in Positive Organizational Psychology at Claremont Graduate University (CGU), with a rich academic and professional background in organizational behavior, industrial-organizational psychology, and positive psychology. Nichole’s expertise lies in designing, implementing, and evaluating social interventions that promote positive human development, foster organizational effectiveness, and improve community health outcomes.
Nichole Long, PhD candidate
Nichole Long (she/her) is a Ph.D. candidate in Positive Organizational Psychology at Claremont Graduate University (CGU), with a rich academic and professional background in organizational behavior, industrial-organizational psychology, and positive psychology. Nichole’s expertise lies in designing, implementing, and evaluating social interventions that promote positive human development, foster organizational effectiveness, and improve community health outcomes.
Nichole’s research is deeply influenced by her experience in the United States Air Force (USAF), where she was a first responder during the COVID-19 pandemic. As a veteran, her work focuses on understanding the unique challenges faced by active duty military members and veterans, including issues such as sexual harassment, assault, gender-based discrimination, and the effects of military culture on well-being. She is passionate about advocating for meaningful participation and fostering inclusive environments, particularly for underrepresented groups in male-dominated organizations.
In addition to her military-related research, Nichole is dedicated to exploring broader issues of gender dynamics, diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), and social equity in both organizational and community contexts. She collaborates with various organizations to improve service delivery for marginalized communities. Her proficiency in statistical methods such as regression analysis, structural equation modeling, and multivariate analysis, along with her qualitative research skills in grounded theory, allow her to assess the effectiveness of interventions and uncover deeper insights into complex social phenomena.
As a veteran with a diverse academic and professional background, Nichole is committed to making research and services culturally competent and approachable for a wide range of communities. She strives to create inclusive environments where individuals from all walks of life feel welcomed, understood, and empowered to share their experiences.
Outside of work, Nichole enjoys hiking, painting, textile design, and spending time with her husband when he is not deployed, as he is an active duty service member. She believes that creativity and well-being are essential aspects of life, and she incorporates these values into both her personal and professional endeavors.
Theresa Sama
Theresa Sama is the Administrative Manager at HARC, Inc. Theresa manages the overall general daily office operations, as well as scheduling meetings to contract and insurance compliance, computer support, payroll and accounts payable/receivable. Also, Theresa provides creative and professional design work for many of HARC’s reports and special projects. In addition, Theresa has completed the Nonprofit Management Certification Program from the University California Riverside.
Theresa Sama
Theresa Sama is the Administrative Manager at HARC, Inc. Theresa manages the overall general daily office operations, as well as scheduling meetings to contract and insurance compliance, computer support, payroll and accounts payable/receivable. Also, Theresa provides creative and professional design work for many of HARC’s reports and special projects. In addition, Theresa has completed the Nonprofit Management Certification Program from the University California Riverside.
Prior to HARC, Theresa worked at UCLA from 1995 – 2007, where she formatted grant applications, manuscripts for journal submission, reports, brochures, and designed PowerPoint presentations. She also worked closely with the computer support team and managed several websites, while serving administrative needs for the Department of Molecular & Medical Pharmacology at the David Geffen School of Medicine.
Amairani Ramos
Amairani Ramos is the Communications Manager at HARC, Inc., where she manages the organization’s social media accounts—Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube—leads event marketing efforts and writes external communications. As a bilingual communicator, she enjoys creating content that resonates with diverse audiences and fosters community engagement.
Amairani Ramos
Amairani Ramos is the Communications Manager at HARC, Inc., where she manages the organization’s social media accounts—Instagram, Facebook, X, and YouTube—leads event marketing efforts and writes external communications. As a bilingual communicator, she enjoys creating content that resonates with diverse audiences and fosters community engagement.
Amairani immigrated to the United States at a young age and is a proud first-generation Latina college graduate. She holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Cal Poly Pomona and a professional certificate in marketing from UC Riverside. Her professional journey includes notable roles such as serving as a data labeling analyst at Meta, where she honed her skills in data workflows and teaching a marketing course to first-generation college graduates as a COOP Captain. Additionally, she completed an externship with Kepler Academy, gaining experience in search engine marketing and client relations.
Amairani is excited to return to HARC, Inc., where she previously worked as a Research Assistant. As a local to the Coachella Valley, she has a deep understanding of the community’s unique needs. In her free time, Amairani stays active through gym workouts and hiking. She values quality time with her three siblings as the oldest sister in her family and enjoys moments with her pets: a cat named Oso and three dogs—Mimi, Bruno, and Coco.
Board of Directors
Community Member
Community Engagement Manager,
Innercare
Supervising Attorney,
Disability Rights California
Community Health Consultant,
Public Affairs & Brand Communications Department
Kaiser Permanente Riverside
Life Coach
Government Relations and Communications Manager,
City of Desert Hot Springs
Economic Development Manager,
City of Beaumont
Director of Institutional Giving,
DAP Health