Category: Health

Jackson releases statement on mudslide recovery, rescue efforts

SANTA BARBARA COUNTY –  State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) released the following statement today on the mudslide in Santa Barbara County: “Today has been another heartbreaking and difficult day, as the search and rescue effort continues and the number of casualties has…

Gold Coast Health Plan Introduces New Palliative Care Program

MyGoldCare Provides Coping Mechanisms for Severely Ill Members CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan’s (GCHP) new palliative care program, MyGoldCare, launches January 1 for qualified enrollees. MyGoldCare helps relieve the pain and suffering of those who are seriously ill. The palliative…

Jackson, Limón to introduce legislation in response to the #THOMASFIRE

Three bills will create an opt-out emergency alert system; ensure that translated emergency information is available for immigrant communities; and help ensure that new housing is safe from wildfires  SACRAMENTO – Following a year ravaged by wildfires, including the Thomas Fire, the…

Thomas Fire Forces Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation Fundraising Event Cancellation but Can’t Affect the Fighting Spirit of Kids with Cancer

SANTA BARBARA — Due to the unhealthy air quality and overall impact of the fire, some of Teddy Bear Cancer Foundation’s significant events were cancelled in 2017, including the Annual Little Heroes Breakfast fundraiser in Ventura and the Annual Holiday…

Camarillo Hospice Grief Support in February

Grief Support for Children and Teens Camarillo Hospice, a Program of Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurses Association, will be offering a children and teens grief support group the 1st and 3rd Tuesday of every month from 5:30 to 7:00 pm starting…

February — Livingston Memorial presents free Community Education Classes and Events

VENTURA COUNTY — As Ventura County’s only non-profit Home Health and Hospice provider, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community. As part of our services, we host free monthly education classes throughout the county which include the following:…

Through April 10 — Camarillo Hospice is Offering a 10 Week Support Group for Bereaved Parents

CAMARILLO — Camarillo Hospice, a Program of Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association, is pleased to offer a 10-week, closed-ended grief support group program, Understanding Your Grief, written by author, educator and grief counselor, Alan D. Wolfelt, PhD. The program is intended to…

Feb. 7 — SBCC presents: Coaches vs. Cancer Basketball Fundraiser

Santa Barbara City College Vaqueros will once again participate in the California Community College Athletic Association’s “Coaches vs. Cancer” initiative, donating all proceeds from this year’s designated event to the American Cancer Society. Members of the community are invited to…

Feb. 9 — 2018 Santa Barbara Go Red For Women Luncheon

Local Montecito Resident Michele Mallet Featured Survivor and Passion Speaker SANTA BARBARA — The American Heart Association wants women on the Central Coast to know that our mothers, daughters, sisters and friends are at risk. Heart disease and stroke kills…

Feb. 10 — Tetanus Vaccine Clinic in Montecito

SANTA BARBARA — In collaboration with Direct Relief, the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics will hold a tetanus vaccine clinic in response to those that have been exposed to flood water and debris following the tragic mudslide in Montecito. Anyone who is…

Jan. 11 — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara presenting ‘New to Grief’

SANTA BARBARA — For those who’ve lost a loved one within the last year, acknowledging the experience of loss with information and strategies to help navigate grief. Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care in Santa Barbara will present a “New to Grief”…

Feb. 16 — Ventura County Celebrates Women’s Heart Health with Annual Go Red For Women Luncheon

VENTURA — Did you know that in the U.S., cardiovascular diseases kill approximately one woman every 80 seconds?  The good news is that 80 percent of cardiac events may be prevented with education and lifestyle changes. Together, let’s unite to…

Jan. 16 — Community Invited to Attend Marianna Mashek Art Reception at Hospice of Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — Inspired by her late mother and her artwork, Santa Barbara artist Marianna Mashek is now looking to follow in her footsteps and serve as an inspiration to others. “I draw and paint from a deep and sacred,…

Feb. 21 — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and New Realm Technology Recognize Children’s Dental Health Month with the Launch ToothHero App to Encourage Good Oral Hygiene

SANTA BARBARA — The Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) is celebrating National Children’s Dental Health Month with the launch of the ToothHero app, a game which will help kids fight plaque! Parents can bring their children to Franklin Elementary School, located…

Feb. 24 — Bilingual report: Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. hosting Dental Health Fair in honor of National Children’s Dental Health Month

VENTURA — February is National Children’s Dental Health Month. If you have a baby or toddler, you may have questions about thumb sucking, your child’s first dental visit or how and when to clean your child’s teeth. If so, on Saturday,…

Through March 1 — Pet Loss Support Group

SANTA BARBARA — As our community continues to heal from the effects of the devastating Thomas Fire and Flood, Hospice of Santa Barbara is committed to coming alongside individuals and families who may be grieving during this difficult time. Hospice…

Through March 3 —Thomas Fire and Flood Disaster Support Group Offers Solace to Carpinteria Residents

SANTA BARBARA — As our strong, beautiful Santa Barbara community continues to recover from the effects of the Thomas Fire and Montecito Mudslide, Hospice of Santa Barbara is offering counseling services to individuals and families who may be grieving during…

Camarillo Hospice announces grief counseling in Spanish

CAMARILLO — Camarillo Hospice, a Program of Livingston Memorial Vesting Nurse Association, is now offering individual, couple, and family counseling in Spanish for those grieving the death of a loved one. For more information please contact 805-389-6870.   Ongoing Support Groups Young…

Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. to distribute toys throughout Ventura County through Dec. 21

VENTURA COUNTY — It has been a time honored tradition during the holiday season for Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. to distribute toys to its pediatric patients. The tradition continues this year as Clinicas’ Toy Giveaway will again take place at…

Local Medi-Cal Recipients and Providers Get Important Updates During Thomas Fire

CENTRAL COAST —  CenCal Health is reaching out to keep its nearly 180,000 members and over 1,500 providers and the community informed with important information and resources as the region faces unprecedented impacts from the Thomas Fire. Updates include critical information about…

Museum of Ventura County (Thomas Fire) update for Dec. 8

Major funding for these programs is made possible in part by the City of San Buenaventura and the County of Ventura. Museum Remains Closed Due to internal air quality, the galleries and the research library at the Museum of Ventura County will remain closed…

TheraMind’s Newest Team Member Ready to Remedy

SANTA BARBARA — The TheraMind Center of Santa Barbara would like to extend a warm welcome to Dr. Elena Rapoport, who recently joined their local team of physicians serving the Central Coast. Dr. Rapoport serves as Medical Director of the…

Gold Coast Health Plan Helps Fire Victims at Ventura County Shelters

Health Navigators are Assisting Members Impacted by the Thomas Fire CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is providing trained, bilingual health navigators for its members at the county’s two largest evacuation sites in response to the Thomas Fire. GCHP outreach representatives…

Gold Coast Health Plan Member Alert Regarding Thomas Fire

Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan is Making it Easy for Members to Access Prescriptions and Transportation During the Thomas Fire CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is alerting its members that during the Thomas Fire, members can get their prescriptions filled, receive…

January — Livingston Memorial presents free Community Education Classes and Events

VENTURA COUNTY — As Ventura County’s only non-profit Home Health and Hospice provider, Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association supports the total well-being of our community. As part of our services, we host free monthly education classes throughout the county which…

Jan. 17 — Slingshot Art Studio Hosts Art Reception in Support of Hospice of Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — Join Hospice of Santa Barbara on Wednesday, Jan. 17 from 5:30 to 7:30 pm for a wine and hors d’oeuvres open house reception for SlingShot’s art exhibition at the Leigh Block Gallery. SlingShot, an art gallery designed…

Jan. 17 — Hospice of Santa Barbara Art Reception

SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara will hold a Art Reception from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Wednesday, Jan. 17 at Leigh Block Gallery, 2050 Alameda Padre Serra, Suite #100, Santa Barbara. You have the opportunity to view and purchase beautiful…

Jan. 31 — Hospice Volunteer Training begins

CENTRAL COAST — Join Livingston Memorial Visiting Nurse Association’s remarkable core of volunteers–community heroes that give special gifts of time and compassion to patients and their families at the end of life. We will provide you with training that gives…

The Children’s Heart Foundation Joins Forces with the American Heart Association Little Hats, Big Hearts Efforts on the Central Coast

SAN LUIS OBISPO — The American Heart Association and The Children’s Heart Foundation launches Little Hats, Big Hearts on the Central Coast. The program that dons newborns with knitted red caps raises awareness of heart disease, the number one killer of…

SBNC Receives Patient-Centered Medical Home Designation

NCQA Patient-Centered Medical Home™ standards emphasize enhanced care through patient-clinician partnership SANTA BARBARA — The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has recognized each of the medical facilities at Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics as a Level 3 Patient Centered Medical Home…

Tips for Coping with the Loss of a Loved One

SANTA BARBARA — The holidays are officially in full swing, and it’s an exciting time to be thinking about all the wonderful memories we’ll be making with our close friends and family members. But perhaps this year, you feel an…

Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree helped Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Burn their Mortgage

SANTA BARBARA — In September, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics made its final payment on the mortgage for the Eastside Neighborhood Medical and Family Dental Clinics. Lady Leslie Ridley-Tree, who along with her late husband, Lord Paul Ridley-Tree, provided major support to…

Dec. 21 — Thousand Oaks Farmer’s Market Brings ‘Good Tidings’ During the Holiday Season Holiday “Boutique” Mini Market will take Place at The Oaks Shopping Center

THOUSAND OAKS — To help ‘tide shoppers over through the holidays’, the Ventura County Certified Farmers’ Market Association (VCCFMA) is partnering with the Oaks Shopping Center to offer a four week long special event, “Holiday Boutique Mini Farmers’ Market”. The market…

Next OC LIVE event on ‘Addictive Disorders Studies Community Gathering’ to prevent underage, binge drinking in Ventura County, to be held on Nov. 15 at Oxnard College

Hello friends of Oxnard College, Please join us for our next OC LIVE event ADDICTIVE DISORDERS STUDIES COMMUNITY GATHERING to prevent underage and binge drinking in Ventura County TONIGHT Nov 15th from 6:30-8:00 in the Performing Arts building. This event will feature OC ADS Students and Faculty as…

Dole Packaged Foods, FOOD Share Inc. launch ‘Ray of Sunshine’ food drive

CAMARILLO — Dole Packaged Foods and FOOD Share Inc. launched their “Ray of Sunshine” kick-off event on Oct. 6 at Tierra Linda Elementary School in Camarillo. The event announce Dole’s extended partnership with FOOD Share Inc. and the Ray of Sunshine food drive,…

Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care partners with Easy Lift Transportation

SANTA BARBARA — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care is proud to partner with another local non-profit organization, Easy Lift Transportation. Like VNHC, Easy Lift Transportation provides a wide variety of specialized services to the southern Santa Barbara community, including transportation for…

CenCal Health Recognizes Local Health Center Partners During National Health Center Week

CENTRAL COAST — In an effort to raise awareness about the numerous services available to people in need through health centers, CenCal Health joined organizations across the nation in recognizing the many services America’s health centers have provided over the last…

Hospice of Santa Barbara Offers Tips on Talking to Children about Tragedies like the Las Vegas Mass Shooting

SANTA BARBARA — In the wake of the Las Vegas mass shooting on Sunday night, Hospice of Santa Barbara believes that the most important service they could provide locally is to provide guidance about how parents and teachers can speak to…

Nov. 16 — Emmy Award-winning filmmaker from Ventura screens her documentary on Third World women’s health care at CSUCI

CAMARILLO — An Emmy Award-winning filmmaker raised in Ventura will discuss her documentary, “Heroines of Health” after a screening on Thursday, Nov. 16 from 12 noon to 1:30 p.m. in Ojai Hall 1986 on the CSU Channel Islands (CSUCI) campus. “Heroines of Health”…

Governor Signs Limón Bill Giving Healthcare Providers Full Information in Mental Health Emergencies

SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 1119, authored by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) to ensure that emergency healthcare providers have full medical records, has been signed by the Governor. With this new law, emergency healthcare providers will have access to full medical records…

Gold Coast Health Plan Helps Fund the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s Fall Prevention Program

Medi-Cal Plan Awards $50,000 to Local Health Care Agency   CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan has awarded $50,000 to the Ventura County Area Agency on Aging’s Fall Prevention Program through its Community Health Investments initiative. The award supports supervisor John C.…

Through Oct. 21 — Hospice of Santa Barbara Offers Men a Welcoming Place to Gain the Strength and Courage to Express Grief

SANTA BARBARA — Coping with the death of a spouse, family member or close friend is difficult but even more challenging is processing through your grief while feeling like you have to deal with it in the stereotypical way men…

Heroes in our Community Celebrated at Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara Luncheon at the Four Seasons Biltmore, Coral Casino

SANTA BARBARA — Hospice of Santa Barbara is proud and privileged to celebrate the 2017 Heroes of Hospice of Santa Barbara “Jewels by the Sea” at the Four Seasons Biltmore, Coral Casino. This year, the organization will honor the Flower…

‘Round Up’ Your Purchases through Sept. 10 to Support Hospice of Santa Barbara

SANTA BARBARA — Whether your latest renovation project involves giving your living space new flooring, plumbing facilities or just a simple paint job, your home improvement purchases can help benefit significant programs in your community. Through Sept. 10, shoppers can…

Bilingual report — Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. celebrates National Health Center Week 2017 (Through Aug. 19) throughout Ventura County

VENTURA COUNTY — August 13-19th, Clinicas del Camino Real, Inc. will host events throughout all 13 of its health centers, in honor of National Health Center Week (NHCW)! These events will be part of a national campaign, with the goal of…

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Celebrate National Health Center Week with a Children’s Oral Health Fair at Goleta Neighborhood Dental Clinic on Aug.19

National Campaign Celebrates the Key to Healthier Communities  SATURDAY — On Saturday, August 19th, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) will hold a Children’s Oral Health Fair, where dentists will provide free visual exams and fluoride varnish applications. The fair will…

Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Celebrates National Health Center Week with Free Health Screenings and Vaccinations

National Campaign Celebrates the Key to Healthier Communities  SANTA BARBARA — On Monday, August 14th Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics (SBNC) will hold a “Pop Up” Clinic where William Sansum Diabetes Center will provide free blood pressure and hemoglobin A1c screenings.…

Gold Coast Health Plan Appoints New Chief Medical Officer

Veteran Health Care Professional Selected for Medi-Cal Plan’s CMO Role CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) today announced that Dr. Nancy Wharfield has assumed the role of chief medical officer (CMO) effective immediately. Wharfield had previously served as the Plan’s associate…

Governor Signs Jackson Bill To Help Veterans and Protect Public Safety

SACRAMENTO – Governor Jerry Brown has just signed a bill by State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) that clarifies that military veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder and other mental health disorders associated with their service in the military are eligible for pretrial diversion…

Pre-Registration Opens for NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County’s Family-to-Family Education Program

SANTA BARBARA — As vacations wind down and back-to-school approaches, the new season around the corner marks a time of change and new beginnings. While Santa Barbara County residents are accustomed to seeing the leaves fall a little later in…

Sept. 14 — Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics and Sanctuary Centers of Santa Barbara to hold ribbon cutting for The Integrated Care Clinic

SANTA BARBARA —  Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics  and Sanctuary Centers, of Santa Barbara invite you to tour, the Integrated Care Clinic, the first and only collaborative clinic in Santa Barbara to co-locate medical, dental and mental health services. This project is…

Sept. 16 — 2017 San Luis Obispo Heart & Stroke Walk

Walk encourages healthy habits while raising funds to fight heart disease and stroke SAN LUIS OBISPO — Nearly 600 people from San Luis Obispo and nearby cities are expected to participate in the 2017 San Luis Obispo Heart & Stroke Walk on…

Sept. 23 — The 2017 Santa Barbara Heart & Stroke Walk

Walk encourages healthy habits while raising funds to fight heart disease and stroke SANTA BARBARA — More than 500 people from Santa Barbara and nearby cities are expected to participate in the 2017 Santa Barbara Heart & Stroke Walk on Saturday, September…