Items to include in this newsletter
Don’t Wait: Get a Free Flu Vaccine!
Protect yourself and your loved ones by getting a free flu vaccine. Check out the list of free flu vaccine clinics: https://www.smchealth.org/flu. No appointment, ID, or health insurance needed.
Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI) Applications are Open: Apply Today!
Hosted by Urban Habitat, the Boards and Commissions Leadership Institute (BCLI) is a unique, free training program that supports residents (including youth) from low-income communities of color who are committed to advancing social justice, to serve on a public board or commission in their community.
The Truth About Walking in San Mateo County
Although 99.7% of San Mateo County residents report having access to exercise opportunities, only 42.3% of SMC adults say they walk regularly.
My Final Post with Deep Gratitude
Greetings, GHSMC partners! I write my final post with deep gratitude and optimism during one of the more challenging years in recent memory. As I wrap up my transition this month working for the County of San Mateo, I am encouraged by all the great health equity work that I was fortunate to be a part of during my three years with the Health Policy and Planning team. We were able to advance policy efforts such as Daly City being the first city in the county to adopt a Vision Zero Action Plan to eliminate traffic deaths, which disproportionately affect our most vulnerable communities.
Boards & Commissions Vacancies
City of San Bruno: There is one seat on the Traffic Safety & Parking Commission and one vacancy on the Planning Commission. Residents interested should consider applying. Deadline: N/A
October is Pedestrian Awareness Month!
You can participate by going for a walk and also by providing feedback on the Office of Sustainability’s Unincorporated Bike & Pedestrian Plan. This plan is a blueprint for new biking and walking projects in unincorporated areas of the County. The plan is entering the final phase of outreach, which means they need your input on which projects you would like to see in San Mateo County! You can access the plan here and provide comments through November 9th.
Increasing Food Insecurity due to COVID-19
The COVID-19 pandemic has had far reaching impacts on many aspects of our life. Our economy has been extremely hard hit, with unemployment rising due to business closures. As unemployment has risen, so has food insecurity. While food insecurity can be difficult to measure in real-time, one indicator is fairly certain, the number of people accessing emergency food resources. Second Harvest of Silicon Valley has seen a steady increase in demand for food in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties since the beginning of the pandemic in March.
Big Turn Out for International Walk Anywhere Week
In order to promote physical activity with families and children, the Nutrition Education and Obesity Prevention (NEOP) program collaborated with the Women Infants and Children (WIC) program in participating in the Safe Route to School’s International Walk Anywhere Week. We had an overwhelming response with 384 families participating in this great event.
Sign up now – Extreme Heat and Concurrent Hazards: Lessons Learned from an Unprecedented Summer
The Climate Ready SMC Extreme Heat Task Force invites city staff, community, groups and policy makers to a virtual discussion about the unprecedented summer of 2020 when we experienced concurrent multiple disasters.
City of East Palo Alto Commends the Second Unit and Anti-Displacement Task Force
On October 20, 2020, the Council commended the Task Force for all of the work and the final report that was created in a collaborative manner to advance second units in East Palo Alto while protecting existing tenants from displacement.
Highlighting the Anchor Institutions Model
As local jurisdictions and community residents continue to be impacted by the pandemic and ongoing economic crisis, the anchor institutions model provides a critical strategy for leveraging large local mission-driven employers such as universities, government organizations, and hospitals, to generate equitable economic development in our highest need communities. Check out our newest webpage on the Get Healthy SMC site for an overview of the anchor institutions model, why this matters for health outcomes, and examples of h
Promoting Health and Equity through an Inclusive Recovery
San Mateo County released its Recovery Initiative Implementation Plan on September 18th, consisting of over 100 recommendations identified by local leaders in government, community-based organizations (CBOs), the private sector, and local residents, in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Centering an equity-focused framework of inclusive recovery strategies, the plan highlights nine priority areas, including economic development objectives that focus on strengthening local
Increasing Representation of People of Color in Local Decision-making
A key priority action identified by the Community Collaboration for Children’s Success (CCCS) Racial Equity Subcommittee, is to build a stronger pipeline for people of color with a racial equity lens to gain access into leadership roles in the County. In support of this goal, CCCS partners are exploring opportunities to provide resources and programming in 2021 that will build the skills and capacity of youth and local residents to engage in local policymaking and decision-making processes and increase the political participation and representation of low-income communities and commun
CCCS NFO/RWC Law Enforcement and Community Relations Subcommittee
Stemming from a desire to improve relations and trust between youth and law enforcement and to address systemic inequities in racial profiling and incarceration impacting youth of color, Community Collaboration for Children’s Success (CCCS) North Fair Oaks (NFO) and Redwood City (RWC) partners have formed a Law Enforcement and Community Relations Subcommittee. Spearheaded by Redwood City 2020, the Redwood City Police Activities League (PAL), the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Activities League (SAL), Community Alliance to Revitalize Our Neighborhood (CARON) and Fresh Lifelines for Youth,
Restorative Practices Now More Important than Ever
With the majority of schools in San Mateo County continuing with online learning due to COVID-19, students have fewer opportunities to interact with their friends and classmates. This isolation can be difficult for children and their families and the toll on mental health continues to grow. While schools are implementing remote learning, they can look to Restorative Practices as a tool to increase students’ connectedness.
Update on School Related State Legislation
The California Legislature recently agreed to continue to support schools as they struggle to manage the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic. In an effort to ensure continuity in budgeting for school districts, the legislature agreed to fund districts based on the enrollment of the 2019-20 school year for the 2020-2021 year.