Aspiranet will hold an informational meeting for prospective foster parents who would like to learn more about the program from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Aug. 8 at 1838 Eastman Ave., Suite 100, Ventura. Aspiranet, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) charity, supports foster children, siblings, families and the community with 35 core programs offering specialized services throughout 45 locations within California. Some of Aspiranet’s programs include treatment, foster care, transitional housing, residential care, mental health counseling, family services, inclusion services for children with developmental challenges and therapeutic behavioral services and school-based behavioral and educational supports. To RSVP for the foster care informational program, call Sarah Casey at 805-289-0120.
Hank Lacayo
Hank Lacayo, currently serving his fifth term as the state president of the Congress of California Seniors, will talk about “Senior Advocacy in Ventura County” at the next Longevity Class at 5:30 p.m. Wednesday, Aug. 14 at 702 County Square Drive, Ventura in the Cabrillo Economic Development Corp. large conference room. The Congress of California Seniors is a state wide non-profit organization dedicated to advocating for the interests of seniors and their families. Lacayo will talk about the importance of senior advocacy, how he first got involved in this community program, and how it pertains to the listener. The class is free. Contact Eva Urias at 805-487-2468, Ron Cameron at 805-389-1967, Tom Stoddart at 805-701-9336 or Mohammed Hasan 805-639-0307 for more information.
A family health fair, sponsored by Assemblymember Das Williams, will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 24 at the Santa Clara Valley Boys & Girls Club, 1400 E. Harvard Blvd., Santa Paula. The event includes free health screenings for glucose, mammograms, blood pressure and vision. The event will also include information booths, free giveaways, Zumba classes and a Kids’ Zone. Sponsored by Amigos805, FOOD Share — Ventura County’s Food Bank, CalFresh, the Boys & Girls Club of Santa Clara Valley, Clinicas del Camino Real, Ventura County Health Care Agency, First 5 Ventura County, the United Way of Ventura County and Rene Sanchez. Call 805-641-3700 for more information.
Ventura County Public Health’s HIV/AIDS program will launch a new POZ Community Healing Group for people infected or affected by HIV/AIDS, the agency reported in a media release. Beginning Wednesday, Sept. 11, the no-fee, drop-in support group will meet from 5:30 to 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday of each month in Conference Room 14A at the Ventura Public Health Clinic, 3147 Loma Vista Road, Ventura. The stigma surrounding HIV/AIDS makes life more difficult for people living with the disease and their families, the agency reported. The healing group has been created to provide education, peer support, life strategies and positive acceptance for those impacted by HIV/AIDS. VCPH will also offer free HIV rapid-testing from 4 to 7 p.m. on the second and fourth Wednesday at Ventura Public Health Clinic. To schedule a free, confidential or anonymous HIV test at any Ventura County Public Health clinic, call 805-981-5221 or 805-652-5780 or, to schedule an evening test, call 805-652-5780. For more information about VCPH’s HIV/AIDS program, visit: http://www.vchca.org/public-health/hiv-aids-center or contact Craig Webb, VCPH HIV/AIDS Program Manager at 805-652-3310. For more information about the POZ HIV group, contact group facilitator Giselle Teller-Holt at 805-208-2074 or gkteller@yahoo.com.
The Ventura County Public Health Department has received reports of one confirmed case and one suspected case of measles in the East County. The affected individuals are visiting the county from Europe, the agency reported. Symptoms of measles include fever, runny nose, cough, red eyes and a rash all over the body. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), for every 1,000 children who get measles, one or two will die and many more will require hospitalization. Dr. Paul Russell, acting Ventura County Public Health Officer, said that the confirmed case highlights the importance of all people receiving required immunizations. “Measles is a completely preventable disease and although it has been virtually eliminated in the United States, it still kills 200,000 people worldwide each year,” Russell said. “Measles is so contagious that any child who is exposed to it and is not immune will probably get the disease.” VCPH advises anyone experiencing symptoms of measles to contact their doctor before going to their doctor’s office or clinic. Because measles is highly contagious, people with symptoms should be separated from other patients and not sit in crowded waiting rooms. Healthcare providers should remind patients who are traveling outside North America about the risk of measles and offer a vaccine if appropriate. Healthcare providers should also consider that patients may have contracted measles if they have fever, rash and have a history of recent travel outside North America. The CDC recommends that children get 2 doses of MMR (Measles, mumps, and rubella vaccine): the first dose at 12–15 months of age and the second dose at 4-6 years of age. VCPH’s clinics offer measles immunizations along with other required child, teen and adult vaccinations. For more information or to make an appointment, call 805-981-5221 or 1-800-285-5012.