Category: Health

More Elementary Schools Permitted to Reopen as Educator Vaccinations are Set to Begin

by Community Contributor • February 22, 2021 • Comments Off

Ventura County has reached a COVID-19 case rate that allows all elementary schools to resume in-person instruction as early as today if they choose to do so and have taken required safety measures. At the same time, the County of Ventura will begin vaccinating teachers starting next Monday. “These two developments are encouraging steps in the effort to safely bring more students and teachers back to the classroom,” said Dr. Cesar Morales, Deputy Superintendent for the Ventura County Office of Education.

Bilingual report — A Threat to California Citrus

by Community Contributor • February 22, 2021 • Comments Off

California is one of the nation’s leading providers of fresh citrus fruit, including oranges, mandarins and lemons. The California citrus industry is worth $3.4 billion and provides 22,000 jobs. However, our backyard citrus trees and the citrus industry as a whole are currently under threat by a devastating disease called Huanglongbing (HLB).

VCCCD Issues Statement Regarding Video of Faculty Member. Please see related stories

by Community Contributor • February 22, 2021 • Comments Off

The Ventura County Community College District is deeply troubled by the behavior seen in a video posted on social media by students on Feb. 18, showing an interaction between a student who is hard-of-hearing and an Oxnard College faculty member.

“The Ventura County Community College District is opposed to any language or behavior which is offensive or harmful to anyone based on gender, ethnicity, religion, sex orientation, age or disability,” stated Board Chair Joshua Chancer. “Comments in the video do not reflect the District’s values of integrity and honesty in action and word, respect and the constant pursuit of excellence.”

Bilingual report — Call for Partners to Connect Struggling Tenants and Small Property Owners with the California Emergency Rental Assistance Program

by Community Contributor • February 19, 2021 • Comments Off

The State of California is launching an Emergency Rental Assistance Program (ERAP) to aid income-qualified tenants most at risk of eviction due to the COVID-19 pandemic and is calling on community-based organizations to sign up as partners to reach out to those who qualify.

In Ventura County, $52.2 million has been designated to assist households affected by COVID-19, with priority on those below the area median income and recently unemployed.

Timely Vaccines Going Strong at GranVida

by Community Contributor • February 19, 2021 • Comments Off

Carpinteria’s only senior living and memory care community, GranVida, can rest easier, as almost all of their staff and residents received their final vaccinations.

Management has expressed deep gratitude to the residents for adhering to vaccination schedules, and for staff and residents’ immediate cooperation with COVID-19 protocols.

Bilingual commentary — Relationships in the Age of Covid

by Community Contributor • February 19, 2021 • Comments Off

“Ok, fine, but I go wherever I want and don’t worry about anything. In fact, I don’t believe what the scientists say about the coronavirus.”

This was more or less the response I got from a family relative who wanted me to go into Los Angeles, the global epicenter of COVID-19 at the time, to meet with her. She had arrived from out of town. We hadn’t seen each other in years. This would have been our big chance to reconnect, but I couldn’t bring myself to contravene the health guidelines that the health authorities have been pounding into our heads for the past year—guidelines, by the way, that have made perfect sense to me.

LULAC — Please Help Us Rush Assistance To The Worst Affected Areas Of Texas

by Community Contributor • February 19, 2021 • Comments Off

The situation in Texas is dire. Dozens of people have died and countless more have been hospitalized for treatment from hypothermia and other effects of freezing weather. Electric power for millions has been knocked out. This has left people trapped in their homes without power for heating or a way to cook meals. Major water supplies have gone dry as sources and pipelines have frozen. The situation has led to alerts for residents to boil all remaining drinking water. Seniors are at especially high risk, along with patients operating medical equipment at home and are now using portable generators. Many food stores and gas stations are unable to meet the demand for essential items or fuel.

Please help us rush assistance to the worst affected areas of Texas. Donate what you can and ask others to do the same.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Feb. 18 — Vaccine Update

by Community Contributor • February 18, 2021 • Comments Off

More vaccine appointments are now available for those 65 or older or in health care. Please make your appointment by visiting www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/ or by calling 805-477-7161.

Frequently Asked Question: How do I get my 2nd dose appointment?

After receiving your first dose, you will become eligible for your second dose after a waiting period of 21 days if you received Pfizer and 28 days if you received Moderna.

You do not need to receive your second dose on the exact date you become eligible. You have a window of 6 weeks from getting your first dose to receive your second dose. Please do not schedule your second dose earlier than recommended. Refer to your vaccination card, which will list the date you received your first dose.

Bilingual report — More Than $13 Million in Rental and Utility Assistance Funds Made Available by the County of Santa Barbara through United Way of Santa Barbara County

by Community Contributor • February 18, 2021 • Comments Off

United Way of Santa Barbara County (UWSBC) has more than $13 million in rental and utility assistance funds generously allocated by the Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors for eligible County of Santa Barbara residents, that have experienced a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This Emergency Rent Assistance Program is intended to prevent homelessness by providing rent assistance to residents who can demonstrate the need for rental support.

United Way of Ventura County — ‘Giving our children the smiles they deserve’ and more news

by Community Contributor • February 18, 2021 • Comments Off

February is National Children’s Dental Health month. Tooth decay is the most common chronic disease and unmet need of children in California. More than 50% of California’s kindergartners have a history of dental decay. Nearly 25% of California’s children, ages 0-11, have never been to a dentist. When children don’t get the care they need, there are costs to taxpayers and families – the cost of emergency room visits for preventable dental problems and missed school days resulting in a loss of attendance-based school district funding.

Through the Building Healthy Smiles Initiative, United Way and its partners work to reduce dental disease in Ventura County through education, care coordination, and advocacy. Our goal is to eliminate untreated tooth decay for children in Ventura County. Pre-pandemic, over 2,500 children received oral health assessments in 2019 alone.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Feb. 17 — Vaccine Update

by Community Contributor • February 17, 2021 • Comments Off

Frequently Asked Question: How do I get my 2nd dose appointment?

After receiving your first dose, you will become eligible for your second dose after a waiting period of 21 days if you received Pfizer and 28 days if you received Moderna.

There are three ways to secure a 2nd dose appointment:

Improving COVID-19 Case Rates Could Soon Allow More Elementary Schools to Reopen

by Community Contributor • February 17, 2021 • Comments Off

Declining COVID-19 case rates could soon remove a roadblock that has been preventing some Ventura County elementary schools from reopening for in-person instruction. Several local school districts already reopened their elementary schools when Ventura County was in the red tier on the state’s coronavirus watch list or by receiving waivers while the County is in the more restrictive purple tier.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update

by Community Contributor • February 16, 2021 • Comments Off

Vaccine Update – now open to 65 and older. Appointments open weekly.

Vaccines are in limited supply throughout the State of California. Appointments are full at this time. The current phase in Ventura County is Phase 1A: Healthcare workers, long-term care residents and now 65 and older.

Appointments are limited because of the limited supply of vaccines. It will take time to secure an appointment if you are in the current phase. The County of Ventura wants you to have a vaccine and is advocating for more vaccines.

Once more appointments open a message will be sent. At that time, community members who are eligible to be vaccinated may:

1) Register online www.venturacountyrecovers.org/vaccine-information/portal/.
2) Those with limited computer/internet access may call the phone registration line at 805-477-7161. The phone line is open Monday through Friday 8:00-5:00.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Limited Vaccines Available for 65+ Starting Tuesday & More Mask Guidance

by Community Contributor • February 15, 2021 • Comments Off

Residents of Santa Barbara County who are age 65 and older will be eligible to receive their first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine beginning Tuesday, February 16, 2021. This expanded eligibility means that local health care providers, pharmacies, hospitals, and Public Health vaccination sites can open appointments to those 65+ once vaccines become available to them. Vaccine supplies are still very limited and health care providers are simultaneously ensuring those that received a first dose will also be able to receive a second dose.

LEON surprises seniors with gifts, Valentine’s Day message

by Community Contributor • February 15, 2021 • Comments Off

Yesterday, the Latino Elder Outreach Network (LEON) surprised 400 isolated seniors in Goleta, Santa Barbara, Carpinteria, Isla Visa, Santa Maria, and Lompoc with goodie bags and Valentine’s Day cards to share a message of support during the pandemic. LEON is exploring the expansion of its network to North County and used the opportunity to introduce itself to seniors and organizations in Lompoc and Santa Maria.

RISE and Lemos Feed & Pet Supply to Host a Pet Photo Contest on Feb. 21

by Community Contributor • February 15, 2021 • Comments Off

RISE and Lemos Feed & Pet Supply are partnering together to host a Pet of the Year photo contest. They are inviting community members to sign up for the contest by February 21st. Participation is FREE; all you need is a pet and an interest in supporting an important cause. Each participant will receive a unique voting page with a profile of your furry (or not-so-furry) friend. Participants will share their voting page with friends and family, who will vote with a donation to support RISE and ongoing services for local survivors of sexual assault/abuse and intimate partner violence and their loved ones.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update — Vaccine Update – now open to 65 and older

by Community Contributor • February 12, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 453 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 6,537 new tests performed for a total of 1,051,626 total tests performed. There are 226 people who are currently hospitalized and 52 in the ICU.

There have been 18 additional deaths: 75 year old male, 72 year old male, 87 year old male, 56 year old male, 81 year old male, 74 year old male, 56 year old female, 82 year old male, 79 year old male, 51 year old male, 64 year old male, 89 year old male, 48 year old male, 53 year old male, 80 year old male, 89 year old female, 62 year old male, and a 85 year old male

We extend our deepest sympathy to the families of those who have passed away.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura launches COVID-19 Vaccine pilot program

by Community Contributor • February 12, 2021 • Comments Off

A COVID-19 vaccine pilot program was launched on Feb. 11 for farmworkers at Kimball Ranches-El Hogar and Rancho Simpatica.

The County’s Farmworker Resource Program team was on site to provide language support in Mixteco, Purepecha, Zapotec and Spanish. Educational materials, masks and hand sanitizer were also provided.

We appreciate the hard work of our Farmworker Resource Program and Public Health Teams in supporting our agricultural community during this time and throughout the year!

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Feb. 11

by Community Contributor • February 11, 2021 • Comments Off

26 pop up testing sites are offered during the month of February in addition to the regular testing sites. View the pop up site schedule by clicking here: https://vcportal.ventura.org/covid19/docs/PopupSites_20210203.pdf

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — Active Cases Continue to Decrease, Vaccine Distribution, & Rental Assistance

by Community Contributor • February 10, 2021 • Comments Off

At (Feb. 9)’s Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.

Over the last two weeks, the number of active COVID-19 cases have been cut in half and we are seeing decreases in every area of Santa Barbara County. Our adjusted case rate is 36.4 and our positivity rate is 10.2. This is a significant improvement over the numbers we heard just a week ago.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update — Vaccine Update – now open to 65 and older

by Community Contributor • February 10, 2021 • Comments Off

Once more appointments open a message will be sent. At that time, community members who are eligible to be vaccinated may:

Hospice of Santa Barbara Board of Directors Welcomes John P. Duffy

by Community Contributor • February 10, 2021 • Comments Off

Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) has announced the addition of John P. Duffy to its Board of Directors. Duffy is a financial advisor, planner, and Certified Divorce Financial Analyst® professional. Last year, he started Zen Wealth Consultant Services LLC (Zen WCS). Zen WCS’s mission is to pursue three simple goals: elucidate, educate, evaluate. Their goal is to speak plainly so as to elucidate what is important in the big picture and exactly how it can impact your financial picture.

County of Ventura COVID-19 Update — Vaccine Update – now open to 65 and older

by Community Contributor • February 9, 2021 • Comments Off

Vaccines are in limited supply throughout the State of California. The current phase in Ventura County is Phase 1A: Healthcare workers, long-term care residents and now 65 and older (effective 2/9/21 65 and older are in the current vaccine phase).

Procter & Gamble Provides a Record $200,000 to United Way’s Community Impact Efforts

by Community Contributor • February 8, 2021 • Comments Off

Procter & Gamble local employees raised a record $162,000 from employee giving in addition to over $38,000 in special events, sponsorship and COVID-19 Rapid Response. In addition to giving, P&G employees volunteered their time by packing more than 1,560 Stuff the Bus backpacks and provided Welcome Home Holiday Baskets for families recently housed through United Way’s Landlord Engagement Program.

“The P&G Oxnard Plant is proud to partner with United Way to serve the most vulnerable in our community with this philanthropic support,” said Marvelle Berry, Plant Manger of Procter & Gamble Oxnard. “Our team really rose to the occasion with their engagement, innovation, and genorosity of gifts. P&G has a longstanding commitment in creating positive change locally in Ventura County and I am pleased with our collective impact.”

Bilingual report — County of Ventura — Places of Worship Can Now Offer Indoor Services at 25% Capacity

by Community Contributor • February 8, 2021 • Comments Off

The State of California has announced that places of worship can now offer services indoors following the industry guidance with modifications. Indoor activities must be limited to the State’s interim capacity of 25%.

View the guidance for places of worship at the following link: https://files.covid19.ca.gov/pdf/guidance-places-of-worship–en.pdf. The State has noted that the guidance is in the process of being updated. Once updated a new link will be shared.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Feb. 5

by Community Contributor • February 5, 2021 • Comments Off

With COVID-19 vaccine distribution underway, we’re closer than ever to putting the pandemic behind us. But we aren’t in the clear yet. Let’s keep looking out for each other to help stop the spread until we reach the end zone.

Bilingual report — 2020: Year of Resilience and Growth for CenCal Health

by Community Contributor • February 4, 2021 • Comments Off

CenCal Health, the largest health plan on the Central Coast, produces a community report every year, but the 2020 digital report looks and reads like no other. COVID-19 brought unimagined challenges to the health plan’s members, providers, employees, and the community at-large. The just-published yearly overview presents updated facts and figures on membership and patient care, as well as highlighting innovative health programs and initiatives that responded to the public health emergency. Through video and still photography, the report also paints a picture of quickly emptied offices that gave rise to make-shift desks and video meetings at the homes of CenCal Health employees. Though the workplace changed, the work continued for the Medi-Cal health plan that contributes approximately $50 million a month to the local economy. CenCal Health had no wholesale layoffs, and very few furloughs were necessary among its 263 employees.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Feb. 4 — Vaccine Progress

by Community Contributor • February 4, 2021 • Comments Off

The COVID-19 vaccine dashboard was launched last Friday to keep the community informed on the progress of administering COVID-19 vaccines. The dashboard is updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The data shows that in very simple terms “when we get it, we give it”. We want you to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. When we receive the vaccines, we open appointments and administer them.

After Industry Disinformation Campaign, Ventura County Forced to Send Oil and Gas Regulations to Ballot in 2022

by Community Contributor • February 4, 2021 • Comments Off

After seemingly running an extensive disinformation campaign and spending close to a million dollars on contracted canvassers, the oil and gas industry succeeded in collecting enough signatures to pause Ventura County’s newly-won oil and gas regulations, and send them to the ballot instead, according to a media release by Climate First: Replacing Oil & Gas (CFROG).

Hospice of Santa Barbara Board of Directors Welcomes Joyce Dudley

by Community Contributor • February 4, 2021 • Comments Off

Hospice of Santa Barbara (HSB) has announced the addition of Joyce Dudley to its Board of Directors. Dudley has a BA in psychology, and two Master’s Degrees in Education; one with an emphasis on Early Childhood Education and the other with an emphasis on Educational Administration.

Economic Development Collaborative (EDC) — No-Cost Mental Health Resources for Business Owners

by Community Contributor • February 3, 2021 • Comments Off

The EDC has assisted thousands of business owners the past few years through multiple disruptions and disasters. We know the pain and frustration that many of you have faced. We are in this with you.

If you or a loved one are experiencing anxiety, depression or just fear of the unknown, we encourage you to reach out to the following organizations to help assist during this time.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for Feb. 2

by Community Contributor • February 2, 2021 • Comments Off

The COVID-19 vaccine dashboard was launched on Friday to keep the community informed on the progress of administering COVID-19 vaccines. The dashboard is updated Monday, Wednesday and Friday. The data shows that in very simple terms “when we get it, we give it”. We want you to receive the vaccine as soon as possible. When we receive the vaccines, we open appointments and administer them.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — The Latest on Vaccines and Rental Assistance

by Community Contributor • February 2, 2021 • Comments Off

At (the Feb. 2) Board of Supervisors hearing, we received an update from the Santa Barbara County Public Health Department.

Santa Barbara County is expected to receive 6,580 vaccine doses today. On average, we have been allocated 6,000 vaccine doses each week from the state. 6,000 doses is only enough to vaccinate 1.3% of our population, which we have found to be a similar percentage as other counties, but we have a far larger percentage of our population that is 75 and above.

Until allocations are increased due to increased vaccine dose availability, appointments remain limited. While there are a reported 11,000 people on the wait list at Cottage and 8,000 at Sansum, the following pharmacies are offering COVID-19 Vaccine Appointments for community members 75+ years of age: