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…
Category: Health
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…
CenCal Health Welcomes Nicole Bennett as Community Outreach Coordinator
SANTA BARBARA / SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTIES — CenCal Health is pleased to announce Nicole Bennett as its new Community Outreach Coordinator, covering both Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo Counties. Bennett will be based in the San Luis Obispo CenCal…
RISE Launches Public Awareness Campaign
New resources help make the connection between health and relationships SAN LUIS OBISPO COUNTY — RISE is proud to announce the launch of its latest public awareness campaign focused on the relationship between health and experiences of sexual assault/abuse and intimate partner…
Gold Coast Health Plan to Invest $1.5 Million in Ventura County Programs
Medi-Cal Plan to Fund 16 Programs that Focus on Access to Health Care, Food and Housing CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is awarding $1.5 million in grants to organizations throughout Ventura County for programs that focus on access to…
Jackson Bill To Create “California Trust Women” License Plate Passes Assembly Transportation Committee
SACRAMENTO – As the White House and Republican Congress continue to threaten federal funding for family planning services in their latest healthcare proposal, a bill by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to create a specialized pro-choice license plate with proceeds…
State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson’s Bill to Ensure Healthy After School Program for Kids Advances
SB 55 seeks to build on an existing program created by Jackson legislation to prevent childhood obesity SACRAMENTO – A bill by State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) to extend a program that encourages healthy eating and exercise in California’s after school programs…
Bilingual report: Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. to host ‘Festival del Sol’ free health fair for seniors on July 22
VENTURA COUNTY — Clinicas del Camino Real Inc. will host “Festival del Sol,” a FREE Health Fair for Seniors on Saturday, July 22th from 10 a.m. until 3 p.m. at their El Rio Health Center, located at 221 Ventura Blvd. Suite…
Gold Coast Health Plan Partners with Camarillo Health Care District
CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) and the Camarillo Health Care District (CHCD) on June 14 announced the signing of a one-year contract to launch a pilot program geared at strengthening the commitment of both organizations to provide quality health care.…
Through June 18 — Clinicas to hold Week-long Celebration of National Men’s Health Week 2017
VENTURA COUNTY — National Men’s Health Week (NMHW) is part of a national campaign which begins June 12th and ends on Father’s day, June 18th, 2017, with the goal of raising awareness of preventable health problems and encouraging early detection and treatment of disease…
Limón Bill Gives Healthcare Providers Full Information in Emergencies
SACRAMENTO — Assembly Bill 1119, authored by Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) ensures that emergency healthcare providers have full medical records so that they can make well-informed healthcare decisions when treating patients with mental illnesses. The measure passed unanimously out of the…
Santa Barbara City College’s vocational nursing program named #5 best LVN program in California by PracticalNursing.org
Practicalnursing.org evaluated California’s 129 state-approved LVN schools, which includes community colleges, technical centers, private career training schools and vocational schools. The website’s team analyzed overall pass rates of the NCLEX-PN, the exam used by state boards that tests proficiency and knowledge…
Assemblymember Limón committed to protecting healthcare
By Assemblymember Monique Limón (D-Santa Barbara) Recent actions taken at the federal level around health care would have serious consequences for California. The new law could strip health care coverage from as many as 24 million Americans—4.6 million of which are…
American Heart Association Hosts and Evening of “Pinot and Purses” to Raise Funds to Fight Cardiovascular Disease and Stroke
SANTA BARBARA – Pinot and purses – two of a girl’s best friends were combined for a fun, filled philanthropic evening benefitting the American Heart Association’s fight to end heart disease in woman. “Pinot and Purses” took place on April 4,…
Sunrise Rotary Supports Bright Smiles for the Sixth Consecutive Year at Eastside Family Dental Clinic
SANTA BARBARA — The skies cleared on Friday, February 24th for the Free Dental Day at Eastside Family Dental Clinic. The event has been sponsored by Rotary Club of Santa Barbara Sunrise since 2012 and has provided hundreds with dental procedures…
FOOD Share Selected to Serve Special Population of Seniors in Ventura County
VENTURA COUNTY — FOOD Share of Ventura County is one of just four California food banks recently selected in a competitive bid process to administer a USDA-funded Commodity Supplemental Food Program (CSFP) for seniors 60 years of age and older.…
Hundreds Visit Community Health Fair at Franklin Neighborhood Center
SANTA BARBARA – Hundreds of community members and families came through a free Community Health Fair sponsored by The Health Access and Care Coordination Project on Saturday, Feb. 25 to take part in a variety of services, from screenings to…
Ventura County Board of Supervisors Presents Laguna Farms With Health Champion Award
Local Farming Company Recognized for Workplace Wellness OXNARD — Laguna Farms, berry grower in Ventura County and affiliate of Reiter Affiliated Companies, will receive the ‘Health Champion’ award on March 7, 2017 at the Board of Supervisors meeting for their commitment…
Ventura County Go Red For Women Luncheon Raises Awareness About Women and Cardiovascular Disease
“Life is Why” Sponsor Dignity Health Central Coast Helps Raise $236,000 to Fight Heart Disease & Stroke WESTLAKE VILLAGE — The American Heart Association (AHA) hosted its annual Ventura County Go Red For Women Luncheon on Friday, February 24, 2017, at the…
Santa Barbara Go Red For Women Luncheon Raises Awareness About Women and Cardiovascular Disease
SANTA BARBARA — The American Heart Association (AHA) hosted its annual Santa Barbara Go Red For Women Luncheon on Friday, February 24, 2017 at the Fess Parker’s Doubletree Resort with the goal of raising awareness about the risk of cardiovascular…
Heal Your Heart: Can a Gift Help Prevent Heart Disease?
SANTA BARBARA — What goes into maintaining a healthy heart? Is it just the physical heart muscle and circulation that matters, or is there an active emotional component? Can the simple act of conveying your best wishes and intentions make…
CenCal Health Thanks Primary Care Providers Across the Region
SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health hosted appreciation dinners across the region in December to thank the providers who work with the agency to provide medical care for low-income residents of Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo counties. More than 260…
State Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson introduces bill to create ‘California Trusts Women’ pro-choice license plate
SACRAMENTO – With reproductive rights and funding being threatened by the Trump Administration and the Republican-controlled Congress, Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson (D-Santa Barbara) has introduced a bill to create a specialized reproductive freedom license plate, with proceeds benefiting reproductive health care services…
Volunteers to be Honored at Wish Night 2017 Gala
CENTRAL COAST — Two volunteers will be honored by Make-A-Wish® Tri-Counties at the 8th Annual Wish Night gala on March 3 at the Hyatt Regency in Westlake Village. Meredith Garofalo/KEYT News Channel 3 has been named community partner of the…
San Luis Obispo Wear Red Day Luncheon Raises Awareness About Women and Cardiovascular Disease
SAN LUIS OBISPO — The American Heart Association (AHA) hosted its annual Wear Red Luncheon in San Luis Obispo on Friday, February 3, 2017 at the San Luis Obispo Country Club with the goal of raising awareness about the risk…
Guest commentary: SMILE! It’s National Children’s Dental Health Month
Dear Friends, February is National Children’s Dental Health Month and United Way is proud to advocate for increased services on behalf of 100,000 children in Ventura County who qualify for Dent-Cal and do not have access to a dental…
Mental Wellness Center Welcomes Two New Board Members
SANTA BARBARA — The Mental Wellness Center is proud to announce the appointments of Ned Emerson and Vickie Gonzales to its Board of Directors. Ned Emerson brings over four decades of business and sales experience to the Mental Wellness Center’s…
8 Ways to Make Resolutions Stick in 2017: Santa Barbara Family YMCA offers tips to make lasting change
SANTA BARBARA — Making resolutions is a tradition for millions of Americans. However, while choosing a resolution is easy, sticking to it can be impossible. A 2014 YMCA survey found that less than a quarter of respondents kept their resolutions.…
CenCal Health Pilot Project to Help Eligible Seniors Receive At-Home Assistance
CENTRAL COAST — To ensure that vulnerable seniors and people with disabilities continue to receive at-home medical services, CenCal Health is launching a pilot project with DASH (Doctors Assisting Seniors at Home) to serve its members. DASH is a program…
CenCal Health Rated in Top 10% of Nation’s Medicaid Plans
CENTRAL COAST — This year, CenCal Health rated in the top 10 percent of Medicaid plans nationally for nine areas of care in the most recent state quality measurement ratings. This marks CenCal Health’s best overall performance over the 15 years…
Gold Coast Health Plan Signs Contract with New Pharmacy Benefit Manager
Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan to Begin Partnership with OptumRx in 2017 CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) has finalized its contract with OptumRx to manage the prescription drug benefits for the Plan’s more than 207,000 members. Starting next year, the Minnesota-based…
CenCal Health and Community Action Commission Partner to Tackle Rising Senior Hunger Rates and Reduce Effects of Malnutrition and Isolation
SANTA BARBARA — CenCal Health executives and staff recently spent time with local seniors at the Goleta Valley Community Center, one of 11 sites across the county where the Community Action Commission of Santa Barbara County (CAC) provides a nutritious meal…
Montecito Family YMCA: 7 Healthy Habits for Your Family to Help Solve Childhood Obesity
California now ranked No. 1 in percentage of children considered overweight or obese; Childhood obesity has more than tripled during the past 30 years MONTECITO – September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and while the dangers of childhood obesity are…
Mental Wellness Center Extends Family Advocate Hours for Community Members
SANTA BARBARA — The Mental Wellness Center is pleased to announce it has extended the hours of its Family Advocate, offering everyone in the community access to information, support and resources related to mental health for a family member or…
CenCal Health Launches Campaign to Educate Provider Community on Behavioral Health Services in SB, SLO Counties
CENTRAL COAST – CenCal Health, in partnership with the Central Coast Medical Association, The Holman Group, Santa Barbara County Behavioral Wellness and San Luis Obispo County Behavioral Health Department recently hosted three seminars in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, and San…
Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics Awarded $11,000 to Support their Continued Leadership in Community Health Care
Foundation recognizes health center as vital member of California’s safety net SANTA BARBARA — Blue Shield of California Foundation has just awarded a grant of $11,000 in unrestricted funds to the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics in recognition of their critical role in…
Santa Barbara Heart & Stroke Walk/Run Raises More Than $210,000 to Fight Heart Disease and Stroke
CENTRAL COAST — More than 1 in 3 Americans have some form of cardiovascular disease. Santa Barbara resident and owner of Tri-County Produce, John Dixon is all too familiar with this devastating disease. He was born with heart disease and had…
Ventura County Heart & Stroke Walk/Run Raised Nearly $150,000 to Fight Heart Disease and Stroke
CENTRAL COAST — Cardiovascular diseases are the number one killer of both men and women in the U.S. – killing about 2,200 Americans each day – one every 40 seconds. To combat these statistics, the American Heart Association (AHA) hosted…
Braille Institute Offers More Than 70 Fall Classes to Help People with Low Vision Pursue Passions and Stay Active in Our Communities
Free, innovative classes build confidence and skills to help people return to activities they love SANTA BARBARA —Free fall classes at Braille Institute Santa Barbara offer life-enhancing and life-changing experiences to anyone in the tri-county area facing the challenges of vision loss. The fall…
Resolving the ‘Hispanic Paradox’ — Study co-authored by a UCSB researcher reveals Latinos age slower, neutralizing higher health risks of obesity and diabetes
By Jim Logan / UC Santa Barbara A new paper co-authored by a UC Santa Barbara researcher reveals that Latinos age at a slower rate than other ethnic groups. The findings, published in the current issue of Genome Biology, may one day…
NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County to Offer Family-to-Family Education Program for Families of Adults Living with Mental Illness
SANTA BARBARA — NAMI Southern Santa Barbara County, a program of the Mental Wellness Center, will offer its Family-to-Family Education Program for family members of adults living with mental health conditions. The free, 12-session course is designed to help all…
Gold Coast Health Plan Turns 5
Ventura County’s Medi-Cal Plan to Celebrate 5-Year Anniversary CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is celebrating its five-year anniversary on Friday, July 29 with a fun event that will recognize the contributions of the Plan’s employees. GCHP went live on July…
Foodbank Needs Your Help to End Summer Hunger
Foodbank of Santa Barbara County Seeks Donations by June 30 to Reach $100K Matching Grant SANTA BARBARA — Foodbank of Santa Barbara County is approaching the end of its End Summer Hunger campaign, a month-long campaign to raise $100K to help feed…
Just Being Healthy in Today’s Mobile World
Just Being Healthy (JBH) will participate in the 5th annual Global Wellness Day, an international day to celebrate wellness and healthy living, by working to improve a person’s total body wellness caused by the stressors of life, and in many…
Certificate in Healthcare Interpreting available through CSU Channel Islands beginning fall 2016
CAMARILLO — CSU Channel Islands (CI) will offer classes required for a Certificate of Healthcare Interpreting beginning in fall of 2016. The Healthcare Interpreter Certificate prepares students to become English-Spanish interpreters in medical settings, a field that is exploding with opportunity. According to…
Mental Wellness Center Welcomes Andrea Carnaghe as New Board Chair
SANTA BARBARA— The Mental Wellness Center is proud to announce Andrea Carnaghe as the organization’s new board chair. The Mental Wellness Center is a private, non-profit organization providing recovery, education, and support services for individuals affected by mental illness including…
Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care Welcomes Michelle Dahlkemper and Lailain McGrath
SANTA BARBARA — Visiting Nurse & Hospice Care (VNHC) is pleased to announce the addition of Michelle Dahlkemper as Chief Operating Officer. Dahlkemper brings sixteen years of experience as a registered nurse with extensive experience in post-acute healthcare including palliative…
Gold Coast Health Plan Awards Nearly $60,000 to Support Community Health Care Programs in Ventura County
Medi-Cal Plan Issues Funds Under New Community Investment Initiative CAMARILLO — Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP) is sponsoring two programs under its newly created Alternative Resources for Community Health (ARCH) initiative. The goal of ARCH is to invest in the health and…