Items to include in this newsletter
Nature and Nurture, Springing Up Strategies for a New Team!
The Health Policy and Planning (HPP) team convened on March
15-16, 2022, for a staff retreat. The goals of the retreat were
to reassess priority areas, goals and objectives, incorporate
lessons from the pandemic, and build a cohesive and stronger
team.
Conversation with Community Elders about the Nairobi Movement
San Mateo County has a vibrant history in East Palo Alto as a prominent hub for Black culture and activism in the Bay Area and nationally. It’s a history that many in the county are unaware of and yet holds local and national significance.
Increasing Diabetes Rates
Diabetes rates have been increasing countywide over the past 20 years. Twelve percent of adults surveyed have diabetes, and almost a quarter (24%) of county residents under 200% of the Federal Poverty Level report being diagnosed with diabetes. Source: 2019 San Mateo County Community Health Needs Assessment
Meet the New Health Equity Community Health Planner, Nupoor Kulkarni!
Dear Get Healthy SMC partners,
Boards and Commissions Vacancies
City of San Bruno: Applications are being accepted for one vacancy for a short-term seat on the Traffic Safety and Parking Committee. Applications are being accepted for one vacancy for a short-term seat on the Bicycle, Pedestrian Advisory Committee. Open until filled. Apply today!
San Mateo County Passes Anchor Institutions Resolution
Congratulations to the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors for adopting a resolution that commits the County to adopt an anchor institutions framework. This will set forth an action plan to guide the implementation of strategies for inclusive staffing, procurement, and investment to strengthen economic opportunity and shared prosperity for all residents. Anchor institutions is a promising economic development tool for leveraging the hiring opportunities and purchasing power of large-scale employers rooted in local communities, such as local g
Congrats to the Next Cohort of EMS Corps Participants!
We are happy to share the following names of students selected from San Mateo County who will participate in our next round of EMS Corps, beginning April and running through August of this year:
First Meeting of the New North Fair Oaks/Redwood City Neighborhood Action Team
Redwood City Together is leading a new Neighborhood Action Team to drive implementation of the North Fair Oaks (NFO) /Redwood City (RWC) CCCS Neighborhood Action Plan. If you are interested in being part of the NFO/RWC Neighborhood Action Team, there is still time to join. Please contact Mai Le at mle@smcgov.org for more information.
South San Francisco (SSF)/North County Youth Services Connection Meeting
On March 10th, Get Healthy SMC and South San Francisco Public Library co-hosted an SSF/North County Youth Services Connection Meeting for youth and family-serving organizations. The purpose of the virtual meeting was to reestablish connections among agencies, given the many shifts in staffing and programming that many experienced during the pandemic. Seventeen agencies were represented at the meeting, and many folks expressed excitement to hear from both new and familiar partners. We discussed how best to sustain and strengthen our ties to better serve youth and families.
Request for Consultant Trainers to Integrate Equity in SMC Health
San Mateo County Health recently received funding from CA’s Health Equitable Recovery Initiative (CERI) to increase equity infrastructure and capacity within local health jurisdictions to address COVID – 19 disparities among populations at higher risk and that have been historically underserved. This funding will enable our local health department to achieve the following program aims:
Walk Audits in 4 Schools in East Palo Alto and Menlo Park
Ravenswood City School District includes 4 schools – Los Robles-Ronald McNair Academy, Belle Haven Elementary, Costaño School of the Arts, and Cesar Chavez Ravenswood Middle School. The district caters to around 90% of students who are eligible for Free and Reduced Price Meals. They have been considered a high- priority for advancing school travel safety as they are in under-resourced neighborhoods of East Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
Changing Guidance, Strengthened Partnerships
San Mateo County Health (SMCH) and the San Mateo County Office of Education (SMCOE) continue to work together to help schools and families understand and implement changing COVID-19 guidance. Through regular updates to the Pandemic Recovery Framework, which has guided school operations since early in the pandemic, as well webinars and myriad resources, SMCH and SMCOE have supported school leaders and parents throughout the pandemic.
National School Breakfast Week
The Ravenswood School District had record breaking participation in their breakfast program during National School Breakfast Week! Over 140 students each day ate breakfast during the week of March 7-11, 2022, a 20% increase over the daily average. They enjoyed hot oatmeal with several delicious toppings such as berries, milk, and granola. The theme of the week was “Take off with School Breakfast”, and it celebrated the importance of how having a nutritious school breakfast at the start of the day fuels students for success and boosts healthy habits.
Exploring Non-Traditional Pathways to Homeownership
We are excited to partner with Nuestra Casa of East Palo Alto to explore non-traditional pathways to homeownership for low-income residents of East Palo Alto and Bell Haven. This project will include a culturally-competent financial literacy program in both English and Spanish for mortgaged-ready residents and support to connect them to affordable homes. Stay tuned for updates on this project!