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June 2017 Newsletter
Filled with Pride and Good Health

Newsletter

New San Mateo County Pride Center Opens
The County’s Health System had the honor of supporting San Mateo County’s first LGBTQ+ Center with their grand opening on June 1.  The new San Mateo County Pride Center is the first such facility in California to provide clinical services for the LGBTQ+ community in a welcoming, safe and inclusive environment.  The Get Healthy San Mateo County vision outlines that success for the collaborative meant that all residents, regardless of income, race/ethnicity, age, ability, immigration status, sexual orientation, or gender have the opportunity to reach their full potential. This is an exciting step in that direction!

Items to include in this newsletter

Health by Numbers

Middle School Students on Harassment or Bullying

According to the 2015-16 California Healthy Kids Survey, 8% of female students and 10% of male students in San Mateo County middle schools were harassed or bullied because they were gay/lesbian or someone thought they were. One of the key components of healthy, equitable communities identified in the 2015-2020 Get Healthy San Mateo County Strategic Plan is the sense of community where everyone feels like they belong and are safe. Together we can build safe and socially cohesive neighborhoods.

Staff Perspective Heather Eastwood

Active Transportation for All San Mateo County Residents

Active transportation, or the use of any human powered mode of transportation such as walking or biking, is an important element in staying healthy. When people are physically inactive this can compound preventable health issues like obesity, diabetes, or heart disease, but not everyone has the same opportunities for staying active. These opportunities include infrastructure, such as sidewalks, cross walks, or bike lanes, or it can mean having a safe environment, public transportation within walking distance, or other resources nearby, such as grocery stores.

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Assessment of Fair Housing: Want to Learn More?

Earlier this year, San Mateo County began undergoing its federally mandated Assessment of Fair Housing (AFH). This process is required by all jurisdictions receiving federal HUD money to ensure they will “Affirmatively Further Fair Housing.” The County has worked with a consultant to provide community engagement and data analysis for a report showing the barriers to accessing housing in the County. There will be a public hearing on Tuesday, July 25 starting at 9am.

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Economic Health of Transgender Workers

Despite state laws prohibiting discrimination based on gender identity, gender expression, or transgender status, transgender and gender non-conforming workers still face discrimination, marginalization, and economic hardship.

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Inclusive Paid Leave Policies 

Workplace leave benefits such as paid sick days are an important tool for promoting individual health, community health and reducing the spread of illness in the workplace. California’s paid sick leave requirement provides the majority of workers with one hour of paid sick leave for every thirty hours worked, which can be used to care for family members. Narrow definitions of family can exclude many residents from benefitting from these policies.

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North Fair Oaks: Next phase of El Camino Real Rezoning

The unincorporated area of North Fair Oaks has completed the first phase of zoning along El Camino and 5th Avenue and is in the process of updating the second of three phases. This first phase included development, design, and parking standards, along with land use changes, and the draft plan can be found here. This rezoning process has included the formation of a zoning working group and multiple public workshops held in North Fair Oaks.

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Early Learning Facilities Needs Are Great

The lack of early learning facilities presents a significant barrier to expanding access to high quality educational experiences for children in San Mateo County. A report prepared for the San Mateo County Human Services Agency, First 5 San Mateo County, and the Child Care Partnership Council highlights the need to increase the number of childcare and preschool sites for San Mateo County children.

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San Mateo County’s Forgotten South Coast

The Silicon Valley Community Foundation recently released San Mateo County’s Forgotten South Coast, a report highlighting the difficulties faced by residents of Pacifica, Half Moon Bay, San Gregorio, La Honda, Pescadero, and Loma Mar. The report highlights the stark differences between the lives of residents of the south coast and those in the rest of the county. Housing, access to affordable healthy food, clean drinking water, public transportation, and a shrinking agricultural sector combine to further isolate residents there.