Items to include in this newsletter
Join Our Team! Limited-Term Community Health Planner Positions
There are currently two limited term community health planner vacancies. These positions will help us advance health equity in the COVID-19 pandemic response and public health practice in two areas:
Much Work Remains Ahead of Us
We are almost two years into a pandemic that has made crystal clear that the living conditions of our residents impact their health outcomes. Poverty, type of employment and overcrowding are drivers of COVID-19 infections and hospitalization rates, with lower-income residents of color experiencing the highest social, health and economic burdens of this pandemic.
CCCS Data Informs Law Enforcement Conversations
Members of the NFO/RWC CCCS subcommittee on law enforcement and community relations presented at the December 16th meeting of the Redwood City Police Advisory Committee (PAC). The PAC was formed earlier this year through a City Council resolution “to support partnership and transparency between the community and the Police Department”.
Staying Healthy This Holiday Season
The holiday season is here and the California Department of Public Health has suggestions for how to enjoy this festive time. These simple steps can help protect you, your student, and loved ones as you enjoy much anticipated and deserved family gatherings. Get vaccinated, get a booster if elegible, refrain from travel when sick (guardians should monitor children), wear a mask when mixing with those outside of your household and when using public transportation, and avoid large gatherings.
San Mateo County Health Partners with San Mateo County Office of Education to Support Local School Food Service Programs
Schools in San Mateo County are stepping up to meet the nutritional needs of their students with implementation of universal school meals. While school meals are currently available to all students at no-cost through a waiver from the United States Department of Agriculture as a strategy to address food insecurity as a result of the pandemic, the waiver will expire at the end of the school year. Fortunately, California law will allow for universal meals to continue after this school year.
EMS Corps Academy 2021 Fall Cohort Highlights
We are pleased to share some exciting updates from this year’s fall cohort, as students gear up for their graduation in January-February 2022!
Community Takes the Lead to Promote Safe Walking and Biking to School!
As a follow up to the virtual walk audits conducted in Laurel Elementary in San Mateo and Spruce Elementary in South San Francisco a summary of short-term and long-term measures to support safe walking and biking to these schools, as voiced by the community members, was shared with them via a survey. This provided them an opportunity to rank the solutions and take the lead on the initiatives that meant most to them.
Key Findings From the North Fair Oaks Healthy Food Access Survey
The North Fair Oaks Healthy Foods survey findings will be shared electronically with interested partners as we seek collaboration with them to address some of the specific needs voiced by the community members around the Siena Youth Center and support their ideas for involvement. The responses highlight the need for affordable healthy food choices and nutrition education, besides members’ interest in learning about healthy foods and cooking and sharing healthy recipes.