Items to include in this newsletter
Community Resources and Services to Cope with Covid-19
The County has created a webpage for community resources during Covid-19: https://cmo.smcgov.org/covid-19-resources. The Community Affairs Office is updating the resources daily and ensuring the resources are relevant and still available. They have also reviewed and marked all resources that are available to immigrant families and households without documentation with two asterisks so they are easy to find and differentiate.
County Leadership During COVID-19 to Support Our Communities
Our Board of Supervisors have been taking leadership to support our communities. They have passed a moratorium on evictions for rental units across the county. They have passed a moratorium on small business evictions in our unincorporated communities. More information on the moratoriums and housing and small business resources can be found in our Healthy Housing and Healthy Economy sections below.
Deep Gratitude to All that Serve
Its touching to see the dedication and hard work of our healthcare workers, farmworkers, grocery store workers, sanitation workers and so many other essential workers who are relentlessly working to serve and protect us. We have immeasurable appreciation for everyone in our county who is finding ways to serve in their capacity. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!
A Brief Look at the Decrease in Traffic Collisions
In the first three weeks of the state’s Shelter in Place, traffic collisions, injuries and deaths were reduced by 50% finds a recently conducted UC Davis study. While it’s important to consider the context that automobile commuting has been reduced by as much, the trend points to the need for health policies such as Vision Zero to work toward eliminating traffic deaths.
Boards & Commissions Vacancies
San Mateo County Youth Commission: This youth-led, advisory board to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors is looking for passionate young people between the ages of 13 and 20 to join a strong, energetic group of youth dedicated to making a difference in our community. Deadline to apply: May 1, 2020.
Farm Fresh Food Relief During the COVID-19 Public Health and Economic Crisis
Farm Fresh Food Relief is a project of Fresh Approach and Pie Ranch in order to activate the local San Mateo County food system as an emergency food relief effort in response to COVID-19. With a pilot run that began in Pescadero with partner organization PUENTE de la Costa Sur, the project is now moving hundreds of readymade fruit and veggie bags weekly to food insecure families in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties. The bags are designed by nutritionists and include recipe cards and wellness information in English and Spanish.
U.S. 101 Mobility Action Plan (MAP) Released!
The U.S. 101 Mobility Action Plan (MAP) is a plan to improve travel times along the U.S. 101 corridor, prioritize high-capacity travel modes, and support healthy and sustainable communities. As part of this plan, MAP Technical and Stakeholder Advisory groups have been meeting to ensure the plan addresses each of these goals in a sustainable and equitable way. The final draft of the MAP has just been released, and you can read the draft and other documents here.
Community Resource Development and Sharing
The NFO/RWC CCCS Implementation Workgroup connected and identified the need for community resource sharing as a key priority. Each CCCS partner was connecting with residents and sharing information but needed a place where all the resources could live. Partners sent in resources and we compiled a list of resources to assist residents during this crisis. The list includes resources to food access, Wi-Fi access, housing support, legal support, resources for immigrants without proper documentation, school resources, mental health support, domestic violence support and more.
Concerns for Gaps in Support for Our Immigrant Families without Documentation
CCCS partners expressed the challenges faced by our immigrant families and households without documentation. The gaps in resources with unemployment and more, created a particular concern for our immigrant communities. A subgroup was formed and recently had a speaker, Yaya Ruiz, the California Director of the National Domestic Workers Alliance join them to share national and state resources and efforts to support immigrant communities. The subgroup is continuing to meet regularly, led by Sienna Youth Center, to identify opportunities to fill gaps and share existing resources.
Becoming Connected Resilient Educators in Uncertain Times
Schools and their staff have responded to the COVID-19 public health emergency by shifting from classroom-based learning to virtual platforms almost overnight. This shift along with the stresses of dealing with the shelter-in-place orders can be stressful for everyone, teachers, students, and families included. In response to the need of San Mateo County educators and administrators, the San Mateo County School Wellness Alliance has created a weekly series of Restorative Practices workshops.
Resources for Integrated Environmental Education
While the current COVID-19 public health emergency requires us to spend more time inside, Environmental Education can still continue. SMCOE’s Environmental Literacy and Sustainability Initiative (ELSI) has put together a number of standards-aligned distance learning resources that can be used by teachers to support student learning. All of the resources can be used by single subjects, but also integrate skills and content from subject areas such as Science, English Language Arts (ELA), History-Social Studies, Math, Health, and Visual and Performing Arts.
Resources for Small Businesses
Renaissance Mid-Peninsula continues to offer online classes and workshops to small and disadvantaged business owners such as on how to build your business online now that the shelter-in-place order is in place. They are also supporting disadvantaged business that have been impacted by COVID-19.
Have You Lost Your Job? Here Are Some Resources
The State of California partnered with companies and foundations to launch a one-stop-shop, www.OnwardCA.org, to connect unemployed workers to job opportunities. If you are in need of financial assistance to cover rent, mortgage or utility bills, please contact one of the County core agencies assigned to your area.
Resources for Renters during COVID-19
We are very proud for San Mateo County to be the first county in the Bay Area to adopt a countywide residential eviction moratorium. Community Legal Services of East Palo Alto and the Legal Aid Foundation of San Mateo County created a series of fact sheets to understand the moratorium on residential evictions.
When Home is Not the Safest Place
The United Nations has been reporting an increase in the number of domestic violence across the globe due to COVID-19 that is requiring people to remain at home during lockdowns and shelter-in-place orders. Unfortunately, for many people who had experienced domestic abuse, homes are now always the safest place. Locally, CORA continues to provide support to victims of domestic abuse. You can call their crisis line at 1-800-300-1080.