Items to include in this newsletter
Farewell Dr. Lockett
Dr. Cassius Lockett served as Director of Public Health, Policy and Planning for San Mateo County Health for five years, including guiding our local public health response to the global pandemic. We were sad to lose his stellar leadership as he accepted an important leadership role serving the residents of southern Nevada. Deputy Chief of Health, Srija Srinivasan, is serving as the Acting Director of Public Health, Policy and Planning while we recruit for a new leader to join our team and continue to partner with all of you.
Overcrowding Housing
Of the 1 out of 4 renters who live in overcrowded houses, 89% are people of color. Source: Let’s Talk Housing San Mateo County
Boards and Commissions Vacancies
City of Daly City: There are vacant seats on the Planning Commission and Recreation Commission. Deadline: Open until filled. Residents and registered voters of Daly City apply today!
Opening Doors to Opportunity: Celebrating Affordable Housing Month
Housing Leadership Council organized another great month of activities to celebrate the opportunities that affordable housing brings to our communities and to strategize how we collectively overcome the challenges to build and preserve affordable housing units. Take a look at some key highlights of this month here. The testimony of residents who recently moved in to the transit-oriented affordable homes in Bay Meadows is powerful!
Avoiding Evictions This Summer
With the eviction moratorium expiring at the end of June, tenants and landlords should use existing resources to ensure tenants can remain housed. Community Legal Services in East Palo Alto is updating information regularly on their website and provides free legal support to tenants who may face eviction. Housing is key to health and during this pandemic, safe and stable homes are essential. Homes provide a space for residents to isolate and quarantine if they or their loved ones get infected with COVID-19.
Apply for the Safe Routes to School Grant by 5:00 pm on June 23, 2021!
The San Mateo County Office of Education is rolling out the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) grant applications this month for schools and districts to apply. The goal of the San Mateo County SRTS Program is to encourage students to walk or bicycle safely to school by implementing projects and activities to improve health, reduce traffic congestion, and educate students on taking an active mode of transportation to school. Details of the grant can be found
Amplifying the Impact of the Food System Alliance
SMC Health and the Office of Sustainability are excited to announce that we have awarded a contract to Sustainable Agriculture Education (SAGE) to oversee the process for developing a plan for the San Mateo County Food System Alliance (SMFSA) to implement the collective impact model (CIM). SMFSA is utilizing the CIM to identify a common problem within the local food system and support the membership and stakeholders in addressing the issue collectively.
Working Towards Equitable Mitigation Strategies In the Event of Disasters
The County and 10 local jurisdictions are committed to incorporate for the first time an equity lens in the local hazard mitigation plan, which establishes mitigation strategies to reduce the risk of harm for people and infrastructure during a disaster. There are many ways that historically marginalized communities are getting involved in the process thanks to a targeted community outreach process: from participating in the steering committee to conducting surveys and focus groups with underrepresented residents. To learn more about how
Still Time to Apply! Youth Civic Empowerment Trainings
In an effort to build a pipeline of youth who have been underrepresented in decision making bodies such as youth councils and boards and commissions, there will be two training cohorts this summer that will offer the opportunity to build youth’s skills to become inclusive decision makers. Applications are due June 1st.
Immigrant Supports Training Hosted by CCCS Partner
One Life Counseling, a partners of the Community Collaboration for Children’s Success (CCCS) North Fair Oaks/Redwood City, hosted “True Stories of the Immigrant Experience” training for the CCCS network this month to discuss the multiple ways immigrant youth are impacted throughout the immigration experience, including: 1) issues resulting from trauma at the border, 2) adaptation to new environments and dynamics, and 3) systemic barriers to getting basic needs met. We thank One Life Counseling staff for sharing their personal experiences, wisdom, and expertise in how we can
Join the Next Emergency Medical Services Corps Co-ed Fall 2021 Cohort!
Applications are now open for San Mateo County residents interested in joining the nationally-renowned Emergency Medical Services Corps Program’s Fall 2021 Co-ed Cohort beginning in July/August.
Learnings from Healthcare Anchor Network Spring 2021 Convening
HPP staff joined the Healthcare Anchor Network (HAN) Virtual Spring 2021 Convening Leads Summit earlier this month to learn more about the future direction of the network and how to bolster our department’s focus on advancing the anchor model.
New Data Dashboard: Monitoring Vaccinations in Health Equity Quartile Communities
County releases new data dashboard to monitor Vaccinations in Health Equity Quartile communities by census tracts, cities, and vaccine administrators. The idea for the dashboard was a direct response from the Vaccine Communications and Equity Working Group members for a tool that would help them better monitor and improve vaccine coverage in the communities experiencing the greatest barriers to access. https://www.smchealth.org/data-dashboard/vaccinations-health-equity-quartile
Ensuring No Child Goes Hungry
As the COVID-19 Pandemic continues, we know that children and their families continue to experience hunger at unprecedented levels. Fortunately, schools that have been providing meals to students and often family members, will continue to do so through the summer. To find the nearest summer meals distribution site you can visit Second Harvest of Silicon Valley’s map of meal sites.
Let the Kids Get the Vaccine
As of May 13th, everyone 12 years and older is eligible to get the COVID-19 vaccine. This is an important next step as we work to end the COVID-19 pandemic and returning to normal.
There are many reasons to get the vaccine: