Items to include in this newsletter
New Rule Expands Benefits Considered Under Public Charge
Although the Public Charge rule was implemented on Monday, February 24, 2020, we are committed to educating our immigrant communities to ensure they continue to receive the benefits they are eligible for in our County. The new rule expands the benefits considered under the public charge test that could affect immigrant residents’ applications for Legal Permanent Residency or visas to enter the U.S. We urge clients to get information on whether they will be affected before foregoing important benefits.
How Can We Support Youth Education?
33% of Community Collaborative for Children’s Success youth survey respondents reported that a family member or other caregiver has not typically (or ever) supported their education (for example, by attending school events or encouraging them to do their homework). We understand that many caregivers are incredibly busy working multiple jobs to make ends meet. Source: Daly City Neighborhood Action Plan
Restorative Justice Practices Case Study
An individual’s academic achievement is closely linked to their health outcomes. The higher level of education that a person attains, the more likely they are to live a longer, healthier life. But in order for students to succeed at school, they need to be able to attend class regularly. Read more here.
Restorative Justice Practices in San Mateo County
Check out the new video from Get Healthy SMC describing the importance of Restorative Justice Practices to support student achievement. Stay tuned for the next videos in our series.
Boards and Commissions Vacancies
City of Menlo Park: Residents of Menlo Park are
encouraged to apply for one of the several boards and commissions
vacancies available: Complete Streets Commission (3 seats),
Housing Commission (1 seat), Park & Recreation Committee (2
seats), and
Planning Commission (2 seats).
Deadline to apply: April 3, 2020.
Boards and Commissions Vacancies
City of Redwood City: Residents of Redwood City are encouraged to apply for one of the several boards and commissions vacancies available: Housing & Human Concerns Committee (3 seats), Parks, Recreation, & Community Services Commission (3 seats), and Planning Commission (2 seats).
Check Out Resource Library on Positive Strength-Based Discipline!
Want information on how to support your students and kids in a positive way? We have created a library of Charlie Appelstein’s materials In response to the San Mateo County school community’s enthusiasm to Charlie ’s parent and educator trainings that were held in October and December. Charlie’s trainings and educational materials are a great resource for adults to use a Positive, Strength’s Based Approach to addressing child and adolescent behavioral issues.
Continued Support for Restorative Justice Practices in Local Schools
San Mateo County schools continue to support a positive school climate and reforms to school discipline by implementing Restorative Justice Practices. With funding from Get Healthy San Mateo County, the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) has partnered with local school districts to train staff and districts to support the development of Restorative Justice Practices Implementation Plans.
Collaboration to Create a More Sustainable Food System
At the September Strategic Planning retreat, the San Mateo Food System Alliance (SMFSA) decided that the group must work to address climate change given the deep impacts of climate change across the food system. SMFSA established the Climate Resilience Committee to lead the work for the alliance. The Climate Resilience Committee is currently in the process of exploring how to best support sustainability within the local food and agriculture systems.
Join a Walk Audit in San Mateo County!
Health Policy and Planning (HPP) and the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) are hosting walk audits at five elementary schools throughout San Mateo County. Walk audits are an opportunity for school staff, city planners, law enforcement, public health, and parents and partners to walk the perimeter of a school to identify barriers to safe walking and biking. Being able to safely walk and bike to school supports student’s physical activity and improving the area for walking and biking makes it safer for all users.
CCCS Schools Get Pro-Social Skills
Martin Elementary in South San Francisco and Woodrow Wilson Elementary in Daly City are two sites for the evidence-based Teaching Pro-social Skills (TPSS) Program that our Human Resources Agency and Behavioral Health and Recovery Services are supporting to address prioritized needs in the CCCS Action Plans: providing mental/behavioral health supports at schools for students, providing social-emotional learning opportunities, improving school climate, and helping keep students in the classroom. Teaching Pro-Social Skills (TPSS) is a ten-week program that uses “Skillstreaming”, an
Anchor Institution presentations to San Mateo Hospital Board and Health Plan
Large institutions can make a big difference in the economic opportunity of local residents and businesses. Aligning business needs with our mission using the Anchor Institution model has been an area of exploration for County Health for the last two years. With interest from the San Mateo County Hospital Board and the San Mateo Health Plan, our Get Healthy SMC team recently presented the Anchor model and shared ways we are currently putting the concept into practice.
Burlingame Seeking to Increase Minimum Wage
Burlingame may be joining six other cities in the county that support low-wage workers through local minimum wage ordinances. Their City Council hosted a study session that primarily drew support from residents and organizations to advance minimum wage. The City Council directed their staff to contact key stakeholders like small businesses owners and come back soon with a draft ordinance. San Carlos, Half Moon Bay and East Palo Alto are currently exploring similar policies.
The Urgency of Climate and Health: Building Power to Create Equitable Change
That was the title of the Kresge Foundation’s Climate Change, Health & Equity conference that our Senior Community Health Planner, Belén Seara, attended as part of a Bay Area cohort of health equity professionals. The event brought together community organizations and health professionals to accelerate the ongoing work aiming to address the intersection of climate change, health and equity. The goal is to strengthen frontline communities resilience against climate change while improving their health outcomes.
Partnerships Leveraging Resources for Healthier Homes
Partners from the East Palo Alto Garage Conversion Initiative continue to pursue funding opportunities that will enable the implementation of the recommendations made by the Accessory Dwelling Unit and Anti-Displacement Task Force. East Palo Alto was the only jurisdiction in the county to apply for the CalHome grant opportunity that will enable local organizations and the city to fund rehabilitation of unpermitted and construction of new accessory dwelling units. We are keeping our fingers crossed they’ll get the funding and we’ll keep you posted.