Category: Health

United Way of Ventura County — 3-Day Countdown on United To End Homelessness Virtual Symposium on April 9

by Community Contributor • April 7, 2021 • Comments Off

Our United to End Homelessness Virtual Symposium on Friday, April 9, from 9-11 a.m., is fast approaching. Don’t miss the chance to register for this important discussion featuring keynote speaker Pulitzer Prize Author Dr. Matthew Desmond (“Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City”). Follow Desmond’s Q&A session, Henry Dubroff, editor of the Pacific Coast Business Times, will moderate a local panel of experts on addressing homelessness in our county.

Only a few premium tickets remain (which include a signed copy of Evicted) — now’s the time to register for this event!

Bilingual report — County of Ventura to enter State’s Orange Tier 12:01 a.m. April 7

by Community Contributor • April 6, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura will move to the State’s Orange Tier effective Wednesday, April 7 at 12:01 am. The California Department of Public Health announced today that the County has met the State’s metrics to move forward.

Eliminating bias and encouraging collaboration between tenants, private landlords and Housing Authority staff is key to success for Santa Barbara’s Housing Choice Voucher Program

by Community Contributor • April 6, 2021 • Comments Off

As the massive national vaccination effort gains momentum for winning the war against COVID-19, the economic damage from the pandemic persists and will be felt by Americans well into the future. According to Out of Reach 2020, a report by the National Low Income Housing Coalition, in the first half of 2020 alone, “the economic situation for low-wage workers has precipitously worsened: in June the Department of Labor reported that over 34 million people were receiving or had applied for unemployment insurance. More than half of all low-income households experienced job or income loss because of the pandemic. Many low-wage workers could not afford their housing before the crisis, and they will need even more help now.” What has become clear during the public health crisis is that housing IS healthcare; staying at home is key to protecting public health. The report goes on to emphasize that, “Not everyone, unfortunately, is stably housed in a safe and adequate environment, and government action to help secure that environment is both morally vital and prudent.”

Ventura County Animal Services update

by Community Contributor • April 6, 2021 • Comments Off

Welcome to our first VCAS newsletter! We will be sending this out quarterly to help you stay informed about all the great work we are doing at Ventura County Animal Services.

Although this has been very difficult year for us all, we remain 100% committed to all live-saving activities! To help illustrate these efforts, please take a moment and view our 2020 Annual Report. It contains a lot of great information about who we are and what we do each and every day to care for the thousands of homeless animals who enter in our care each year.

We hope you enjoy reading all about VCAS!

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 5, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 46 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 12,276 new tests performed. There have been no additional deaths. Current doubling time is 1229.1 days. The current R-effective (average number of people each infected person will pass the virus onto and represents the rate at which COVID-19 is spreading) is .76 which means that spread of COVID-19 is likely decreasing; R-effective for CA is .81 right now.

Click here for information about COVID-19 testing.

Santa Barbara First District Supervisor Das Williams — South County Vaccination Appointments Available & More

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

Santa Barbara: April 6 and April 8

WHERE: Hilton Santa Barbara Beachfront Resort

633 E Cabrillo Blvd, Santa Barbara, CA 93103. Enter via the driveway on Calle Puerto Vallarta

WHEN: Tuesday April 6, 9:30AM – 6:30PM; Thursday April 8, 9:30 – 6:30

Second doses will be provided at the same location first doses are received. A clinic will be available in the same location three weeks from your first dose appointment.

Bilingual report — Community urged to prevent COVID-19 spread during Spring Break by keeping it local and following public health guidelines

by Community Contributor • April 5, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura Public Health Department is urging the community to continue adhering to safety guidelines aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, during the Easter weekend and Spring Break.

“While our metrics are improving and we are close to entering the Orange Tier, we are issuing this plea to remind everyone to not let our guard down, especially during Spring break and Easter. We need to continue to bring our numbers further down as we approach a significant milestone in the pandemic: almost 80,000 Ventura County residents have tested positive for COVID. The 15 new deaths reported so far this week are a reminder that COVID is still having a significant impact in our community. Our thoughts and prayers are with these 15 families and the almost 1,000 families that have lost a loved one during the pandemic,” said Public Health Director Rigoberto Vargas.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 2, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 2, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Ventura Public Health Department is urging the community to continue adhering to safety guidelines aimed to reduce the spread of COVID-19, during the Easter weekend and Spring Break.

Guest commentary — Stardust

by Community Contributor • April 2, 2021 • Comments Off

There once was born a magical and loving child, a golden boy! He was stardust that had travelled many light-years through the deepest, darkest and furthest expanses of the universe. In fact this stardust had travel for more than 15 light years or about 90 trillion miles to reach one desperately longing young woman, who wanted nothing more in her life than to be a mother. An army of doctors had told her that it would never, ever, happen, she was sterile. Impossible to become pregnant they told her, yet she never stopped praying to an unknown God that she had rejected all of her life. Why was she praying now? It was as though the closer the golden star dust travelled across the universe toward the woman the more she felt mysteriously compelled to pray.

And then one day behold the miraculous stardust had taken embryonic form, and the woman was pregnant. …

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for April 1, 2021

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

There are 48 new COVID-19 cases. There have been 4,849 new tests performed.

There have been 3 additional deaths: 72 year old male, 74 year old male, 92 year old female

Current doubling time is 1303.2 days.

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

RISE Invites all of SLO County to Pledge to Believe Survivors

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

April is Sexual Assault Awareness Month (SAAM), and RISE is inviting SLO County residents to show support for those who have experienced sexual assault or sexual abuse by taking a pledge to believe the survivors in their lives.

By making a donation of $25 or more, those who take the pledge will have multiple opportunities to win prizes like wine tastings, golf outings, dining experiences, and more! Beginning April 19th, through the end of the month, RISE will be going LIVE on Facebook every weekday at 2 pm, to demystify myths about Sexual Assault and to announce raffle winners. This is an easy and fun way to let survivors know that “SLO County Believes” and to support ongoing, donation-based services for local survivors.

“It is important to recognize how difficult it is for a survivor to disclose what they have experienced,” says Jane Pomeroy, Executive Director of RISE, “and if they receive a negative response from the first person they turn to, they are unlikely to tell anyone else, to seek services from organizations like RISE, or to report the incident to law enforcement.”

UCSB — The Current — April 3 in IV

by Community Contributor • April 1, 2021 • Comments Off

Aiming for another safe and quiet weekend, a host of at-home activities — and restrictions — are in place for April 2-4.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 31, 2021

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

The State of California announced Tuesday that the County of Ventura has met requirements for the State’s Orange Tier for the first week of the two-week required time frame. If the County meets the Orange Tier requirements at the next review on April 6 the County will be able to move to Orange on April 7 at 12:01 am. As with the shift to the Red Tier, the County will continue to align with the State’s framework for Orange Tier activities.

“This brings hope that we are headed in a better direction. We appreciate how our community has helped to make this happen,” said County Executive Officer Michael Powers. “The Orange Tier allows for many of our businesses to expand operations and even allows for outdoor live events. This is exciting for our community members and our recovery efforts.”

Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan Condemns Hate Crimes Against the Asian American and Pacific Islander Communities

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

Gold Coast Health Plan’s governing board, the Ventura County Medi-Cal Managed Care Commission, along with its chief executive officer and chief diversity officer, issued a resolution condemning violence against the Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) communities and other people of color.

“The Commission is proud of the contribution from minority groups across the country and condemns any and all discriminatory actions taken against them,” the resolution reads.

Community Environmental Council Welcomes New Members and Officers to the Board of Directors

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

The Community Environmental Council (CEC) is pleased to announce a high caliber cohort of new members and officers to its Board of Directors. In a pivotal year of program expansion coupled with federal momentum, these dynamic community leaders bring a wealth of experience that will propel CEC’s bold climate action plans. As ambassadors of the organization, they will advocate, network, and promote on behalf of CEC.

Food Action Network — Tell SB County to support localized food system enterprises, economic opportunities for farmers, and agricultural land viability

by Community Contributor • March 31, 2021 • Comments Off

The County of Santa Barbara is developing an ordinance amendment to allow activities and practices that will be incidental and complementary to traditional agriculture uses on land zoned AG-II. The goal is to expand economic opportunities for farmers and improve the County’s overall agricultural land viability. This is a fantastic opportunity to promote policy support for decentralized and localized food system enterprises, processing hubs, composting, etc.

County of Ventura poised to move to State’s Orange Tier Next Week

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

The State of California announced today that the County of Ventura has met requirements for the State’s Orange Tier for the first week of the two-week required time frame. If the County meets the Orange Tier requirements at the next review on April 6 the County will be able to move to Orange on April 7 at 12:01 am. As with the shift to the Red Tier, the County will continue to align with the State’s framework for Orange Tier activities.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 30, 2021

by Community Contributor • March 30, 2021 • Comments Off

County of Ventura poised to move to State’s Orange Tier Next Week
Declining Cases and Hospitalizations are a Hopeful Sign;
Progress on Vaccinations Continues Despite Supply Challenges

Bilingual report — Oxnard City Council to Consider Resolution Condemning Racism, Xenophobia, Violence, and Hate Crimes Against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders

by Community Contributor • March 29, 2021 • Comments Off

On Tuesday, March 30, 2021, the Oxnard City Council will consider a resolution condemning racism, xenophobia, violence, and hate crimes against Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders (AAPI).

“We are mourning for the victims of these senseless crimes that we have seen increasingly throughout the pandemic, and we stand in solidarity with the Asian American community during these difficult times,” said Mayor John C. Zaragoza.

“It is vital that we take a stand against any act of hatred or violence towards the AAPI community. In Oxnard, we remain committed to celebrating diversity, equity, and inclusion. Our diversity is our strength, and we must commit to breaking down any barriers that separate us from each other.”

Bilingual report — CA COVID-19 Rent Relief Available to Income-Eligible Households

by Community Contributor • March 29, 2021 • Comments Off

The State of California recently launched the CA COVID-19 Rent Relief program to aid income-qualified tenants who are most at risk of eviction due to the COVID-19 pandemic by providing financial assistance for unpaid rent and utilities.

Bilingual report — County of Ventura COVID-19 Update for March 26, 2021

by Community Contributor • March 26, 2021 • Comments Off