Items to include in this newsletter
Welcome Dr. Tamarra Jones!
We are pleased to announce the hire of our new Public Health Chief Equity Officer and Health Policy and Planning Program Manager, Dr. Tamarra Jones. Dr. Jones has a Master of Public Health in Health Promotion and Education and a Doctor of Public Health in Preventive Care from Loma Linda University, and a bachelor’s degree from University of California, Santa Cruz. Dr. Jones has nearly 25 years’ experience in Public Health, including approximately 20 years working in local Departments of Public Health in Nevada and Southern California.
Congrats to Our 2021 Get Healthy SMC Community Implementation Funding Recipients
We are excited to announce 14 projects selected to receive 2021
Get Healthy San Mateo County Community Implementation Funding to
help advance healthy, equitable communities across San Mateo
County! This year we got additional funds to support projects
that directly address COVID-19 transmission inequities.
Latinx Experience on the North Coast – Through the Eyes of ALAS
There is a rich Latinx history, culture, and community along the coast of San Mateo County that is often missing from the story of who San Mateo County is. A community-based organization, Ayudando Latinos A Sonar or ALAS is sharing the stories and history of the community on this webinar. ALAS is a Latino centered nonprofit organization born from the desire to help children and their families to feel proud of their Latinx identify and culture and amplify their voices.
Boards and Commissions Vacancies
City of South San Francisco: There are open seats on the Housing Authority Tenant Commission and the Traffic Safety Commission. Applications are due no later than 5:00 p.m. on Monday, February 28, 2022. Apply today!
Limiting the Spread of COVID-19 as the Mask Mandate is Lifted
In alignment with the state, San Mateo County has lifted most indoor mask mandates beginning on February 16th. The County encourages the use of masks in crowded indoor settings especially when there is poor ventilation, as this is still the safest choice for individuals who are medically vulnerable or have not received their booster. Unvaccinated individuals over age 2 will continue to be required to wear masks in all indoor public settings.
Empowering Youth for Healthy Food Promotion
Bay Area Nutrition and Physical Activity Collaborative (BANPAC), of which San Mateo County Health is a lead representative, recently implemented the Berkeley Healthy Beverage Project to empower Berkeley youth. This project, done in partnership with Innovative Health Solutions and City of Berkeley, was funded by the city’s soda tax. The participating high school youth gained valuable skills developing artwork to promote water. This artwork will be shared via social media and in retail stores across Berkeley.
Food is Medicine
There is compelling evidence to support ‘Food is Medicine’ interventions, whether they involve medically tailored meals and groceries, or produce prescriptions. These programs can not only impact personal well-being, health outcomes, health care utilization and costs, but also address food insecurity.
Twenty Youth Complete Youth Civic Empowerment Trainings
Last month, 20 youth completed the Civic Empowerment Leadership training led by YLI and Daly City Youth Health Center. This program drew in youth ages 15-25 from across San Mateo County to learn about systems that influence health, policy-making processes, and tools for advocacy.
Reconnect with Youth & Families Service Providers in South SF and North County
South San Francisco Public Library and Get Healthy San Mateo County invite youth and family-serving organizations in SSF and the North County region to reconnect and learn from one another at an upcoming virtual meeting. Join us for an initial Youth Services Connection meeting on March 10th, from 11 a.m. – 12 p.m. Each agency will have a chance to introduce themselves and share a snapshot of their current services, and as a group we will discuss how we can sustain and strengthen our connections.
School Wellness Policy Updates and Whole School, Whole Community, Whole Child Model
Local School Wellness Policies (LSWP) provide schools with an important framework for creating healthy school environments by promoting student wellness, supporting physical activity, and ensuring students receive nutritious meals while at school. All schools that participate in the United States Department of Agriculture’s School Meal Program are required to have Local School Wellness Policies in place and are required to update the policies regularly.
Mask Mandate Remains in Place for K-12 Schools
In alignment with the State, the Bay Area counties including San Mateo County will lift universal mask requirements for most indoor public settings beginning Wednesday, February 16. Although these changes apply to the general public, masks are still required in K-12 school settings. The state has announced that they will reassess the mask mandate in schools on 2/28 and make a decision about the future of mask requirements in schools.
Successful Implementation of CATCH Physical Education at Siena Youth Center
Congratulations Siena Youth Center for implementing the CATCH P.E. program, a Coordinated Approach To Child Health. This year Coach Jenny and Coach Elizabeth have implemented this fun and engaging physical activity program with their 5th and 8th grade students. CATCH promotes students’ enjoyment and participation in moderate to vigorous physical activity during P.E. class. We invite you to implement this program with your school programs.
San Mateo County Workforce Network Meeting
The Health Policy and Planning (HPP) team continues to participate in the San Mateo County Workforce Network facilitated by NOVAWorks and comprised of county officials, labor, and education organizations to foster stronger collaboration and effective workforce models in serving our residents of highest need. During the January 27 meeting, partners continued the discussion on how to design training programs that offer a holistic approach to addressing whole person needs.
Congrats SMC EMS Corps Winter 2021 Cohort Graduates and Looking Forward to the Next Co-ed Cohort in Spring 2022
We are excited to announce the following EMS Corps Winter 2021 graduates from San Mateo County:
- Lia Joachim, San Mateo
- Brandon Tang, Daly City
- Moises Serrano Juarez, Redwood City
- Georgina Trout, Menlo Park
Thank you for all your hard work and for giving back to your communities by pursuing a career in the health field!
Healthy and Resilient Homes
We are excited to partner with Climate Resilient Communities in North Fair Oaks to strengthen local leadership to inform policies that improve housing conditions for low-income homeowners and increase enrollment to the Resilient Homes Program which helps low-income residents reduce their energy costs and improve home health by accessing weatherization upgrades. Stay tuned for updates on this project!