Items to include in this newsletter
Join Our Team! Seeking a Community Health Planner
We are recruiting a community health planner to join our Health Policy and Planning team. Applications are continuous and the recruitment will close on May 12, 2021. We are looking for a team member that has experience advancing health equity through policy and system changes in areas such as urban and community planning and collaborative programming for youth success. This position requires a motivated individual with strong critical thinking, project management, facilitation, oral and written communication, and data analysis skills.
Congratulations to Our Staff!
Justin Watkins, one of Health Policy and Planning’s Community Health Planner’s has accepted the Work Out of Class Senior Community Health Planner role. In this role, Justin will be taking over supervision of the County’s CalFresh Healthy Living Program staff and continuing to lead the Healthy Food Access and Healthy Schools efforts. Angie Cavazos, who has previously supervised the CalFresh Healthy Living Program has transitioned back to Family Health to support the County’s COVID-19 vaccination efforts for the next year, along with our colleague, Liz Sanchez.
Maternal and Infant Health
In commemoration of Black Maternal Health week this month, it remains critical that we continue to focus on eliminating disparities in maternal and infant health outcomes for African-American women in San Mateo County. In 2019 Black women represented 3 percent of Health Plan of San Mateo clients with the least amount of births but comprised the highest rate of C-section births at 35.3 percent as compared to all other races/ethnicities. (Health Plan of San Mateo 2019 data)
Boards & Commissions Vacancies
City of Daly City: There is a vacant seat on the Planning Commission and two seats on the Recreation Commission. Deadline: Open until filled. Residents and registered voters of Daly City apply today!
New Tool! Building a Pipeline of Youth Leaders and Decision Makers
Civic empowerment is key to youth health. The Health Policy and Planning Program is supporting The Daly City Youth Health Center and Youth Leadership Institute to build a local pipeline of underrepresented youth in boards and commissions.
Updated Fact Sheet: Immigrant Eligibility for COVID-19 Related Benefits
Protecting Immigrant Families and Keep Your Benefits updated an overview of immigrant eligibility criteria for COVID-19 related benefits including health care, cash and food assistance. Please note that accessing these benefits is not considered a public charge test and immigrant families should seek the resources they are eligible for during this difficult time.
Join the Next Emergency Medical Services Corps Co-ed Fall 2021 Cohort!
Applications are now open for San Mateo County residents interested in joining the nationally-renowned Emergency Medical Services Corps Program’s Fall 2021 Co-ed Cohort beginning in July/August.
South San Francisco Will Launch a Youth Summer Internship Program
South San Francisco is launching a summer internship program for recent high school graduates to build their work experience in local government while earning a living wage ($18/hour). Funded through federal COVID-19 relief funds, this six-week pilot program is targeted to youth without prior work experience and who could benefit from guidance, training, and career-building opportunities.
Local Tenants Experiencing Evictions During the Pandemic
Around 1,500 families have been evicted from Westlake Apartments during the pandemic, a large apartment complex located in Daly City. In response, a group of tenants have been organizing with the support of Faith In Action Bay Area to ask the City to guarantee the rental protections that were enacted by the Federal and State governments during the pandemic to ensure people have a stable home.
Equity-Driven Organizations Advising Housing Policies
The Health Policy and Planning Program is excited to be part of Let’s Talk Housing San Mateo County Equity Advisory Group to ensure that the next decade of housing policies reflect the needs and also the assets of historically marginalized communities. The pandemic shed light on the severe housing crisis that many of our residents experience and how their poor housing conditions impacted their health outcomes.
Health Ambassadors Enhance Equity in Vaccination Efforts
Health Ambassadors Enhance Equity in Vaccination Efforts
New Case Study on Local Schools Efforts to Keep Feeding Families During the Pandemic
The Community Alliance with Family Farmers (CAFF) in partnership with the University of California Cooperative Extension in San Mateo County and Get Healthy SMC recently released a case study, PERSEVERING THROUGH COVID-19: Schools Support Food Access in San Mateo County, that highlights the great work that local San Mateo County school districts have done to maintain and in some cases expand their school meal programs.
Environmental Ed Award Goes to HEAL Project!
The past year has been challenging for everyone, especially for educators and students. Despite all of the challenges, it is wonderful to see our partner organizations receiving the recognition they deserve for their hard work. The HEAL Project was recently awarded a 2020 J. Russell Kent Award and 2021 Sustainable San Mateo County Award for their farm programs.
Embedding Equity in the Multijurisdictional Local Hazard Mitigation Plan (MLHMP)
The MLHMP helps local jurisdictions to plan to protect the health and well-being of their residents and maximize the protection of properties during disasters such as earthquakes or extreme heat events. The Health Policy and Planning Program is part of the MLHMP steering committee to help embed equity through a process that has not centered equity in the past. Please take this survey to identify how local residents are impacted by disasters. The survey is available in 6 languages.
Health Benefits of Spending Time in Nature (Park Rx)
With warmer days approaching, it is a good opportunity to improve your health and well-being by spending time outdoors. Spending time in nature has proven to:
· Reduce blood pressure and
headaches
· Lower stress
· Reduce mental fatigue,
anger and frustration