September is National PACE Month | |
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September is National PACE Month! There are currently 171 PACE organizations throughout the United States, 28 in California, and three in Orange County. CalOptima Health is proud to be the first PACE program to open in Orange County and will be celebrating our 11-year anniversary next month. CalOptima Health PACE is currently serving more than 500 participants, and in a recent survey, participants rated CalOptima Health PACE among the best in California for comprehensive care.
A new marketing campaign was launched in May 2024 to help distinguish CalOptima Health’s PACE program as the premier PACE program in Orange County. The campaign tagline is “Senior Care to Keep You Active and Living at Home” and emphasizes that CalOptima Health offers complete medical care that goes above and beyond. It amplifies the program and CalOptima Health’s brand through increased awareness and engagement efforts, including print, outdoor, digital display, social media, connected TV, programmatic video (YouTube) and search engine marketing advertising.
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Leader Inducted into National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. | |
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On August 25, Marie Jeannis, RN, MSN, CCM, Executive Director of Equity and Community Health, was inducted into the National Coalition of 100 Black Women, Inc. She will serve in the health education program and will be a part of the OC Chapter.
“I am deeply honored and humbled to be inducted as a member of the Orange County Chapter of the National Coalition of 100 Black Women,” she said. “I am dedicated to supporting the organization’s mission of advocating for and empowering Black women and girls in our community. Its motto, ‘We Lift as We Climb,’ was coined by Mary Church Terrell and underscores that my journey is not solely about my personal achievements but about creating a legacy and bringing others along with me. I look forward to collaborating with my fellow members to drive positive change and uplift our communities.”
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CalOptima Health Awards $5 Million Provider Workforce Development Initiative Grant To Chapman University | |
CalOptima Health recently organized an event at the Chapman University Rinker Health Sciences Campus in Irvine to recognize the $5 million Provider Workforce Development Initiative grant for scholarships for students working to become licensed physician assistants (PAs). Speakers included Chapman University President Daniele Stroopa, Board of Supervisors Chairman Donald P. Wager, Supervisor Vicente Sarmiento and CalOptima Health Chief Operating Officer Yunkyung Kim. After the remarks, Chapman leaders conducted a tour of the teaching labs and other campus resources. The scholarships will help diversify the student composition of the PA program, offering qualified low-income Orange County students access to the education necessary to become licensed PAs. Following graduation, scholarship recipients will be required to work at least five years in a medically underserved community in Orange County, which will help address staffing shortages. The students will also boost available PA clinical training sites in underserved areas by requiring graduates to become clinical educators in Chapman’s PA program. | | |
CalOptima Health Welcomes Two New Board of Directors Members | |
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Green is a Registered Nurse and member of the Orange County Water District Board of Directors. In addition to being a member of the Orange County Board of Directors, she currently serves as President, a role she has held since 2015. Her leadership extends to the Association of California Water Agencies (ACWA), where she was recently elected President for the 2024–25 term. Green is deeply engaged in community service holding positions on the boards of Huntington Valley Boys and Girls Club and Huntington Beach Hospital, among others. She was appointed a CalOptima Health director in August 2024.
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Brian Helleland is Chief Executive of St. Joseph Hospital and Providence Orange County and High Desert. In addition to his current roles, Helleland has served as the Interim Chief Operating Officer for Providence South Division over 17 California hospitals and Chief of Clinical Programs and Operations, Interim Chief Executive St. Joseph Medical Center in Burbank and the Chief Executive at St. Jude Medical Center in Fullerton. Helleland has a deep understanding of clinical operations, nursing and ancillary services and brings a wealth of experience in building clinical programs and integrated delivery networks. He was appointed a CalOptima Health director in August 2024. | | |
New Chief Human Resources Officer Joins CalOptima Health | |
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Steve Eckberg, SPHR, MBA, is CalOptima Health’s new Chief Human Resources Officer. Most of his career has been in various HR leadership roles in health care with an emphasis on not-for-profit, mission-driven organizations. Steve spent more than 17 years with the St. Joseph/Providence Health System as Vice President of Human Resources and most recently with Sonrava Health as Vice President of Human Resources. He is passionate about the value of people and helping to align individual gifts and talents to job roles for a highly engaged and inspired workforce. He holds an MBA from Rockford University and a bachelor’s degree in physics and business administration from Augustana College.
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Free Naloxone Available for Medical Providers and Community-Based Organizations | |
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Let’s combat the opioid epidemic together! CalOptima Health is offering FREE doses of naloxone for medical providers and community-based organizations. Come pick up naloxone for your patients and clients! With holidays coming up, let's be prepared.
This Naloxone Distribution Event is part of our Drive to Revive campaign. Sign a simple
distribution agreement and receive an unlimited number of cases that contain single-use,
prescription-strength nasal spray doses of Kloxxado, naloxone’s brand name.
Date: Friday, October 11
Time: 9 a.m.-Noon
Location: CalOptima Health, 505 City Parkway West, Orange 92868
Click here to RSVP for the event by Friday, October 4. For questions about the event, email Holly.Mendez@caloptima.org.
If unable to attend, there’s a mail order option:
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Email naloxone@caloptima.org with the name and email address of your organization’s authorized representative. We will then send a Naloxone Distribution Agreement via DocuSign to that person.
- Once you have the agreement, identify the number of cases you want.
- Sign and return the agreement.
- Receive the naloxone. CalOptima Health will deliver the naloxone during the business hours identified on the DocuSign.
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Join Lanterns of Hope Event in Recognition of World Suicide Prevention Day
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The Office of Wellness and Suicide Prevention invites all community members to join us on World Suicide Prevention Day for Lanterns of Hope, a no-cost event celebrating life, connection, and support through community resource tables, food and music, lantern decorating, and lighting ceremony. Together, we can Light Up Hope in Orange County.
Date: Tuesday, September 10, 2024
Time: 5-8:30 p.m.
Address: Familia Corazones Verdes Park and Community Center, 602 E. 4th St., Santa Ana, CA 92701
RSVP here. Find additional information on the English, Spanish and Vietnamese flyer.
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HCA Hosts 2nd Annual Recovery Happens Picnic and Family Fun Day | |
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The Orange County Health Care Agency will host its 2nd Annual Recovery Picnic for people in recovery and who supports them.
Click here to RSVP for this event. Find additional information on their flyer.
Date: Saturday, September 14, 2024
Time: 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
Address: Centennial Park, 3000 W. Edinger Ave., Santa Ana, CA 92704
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Supervisor Doug Chaffee to Host 2nd Annual Prostate Cancer Awareness Community Bike Ride | |
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September is Prostate Cancer Awareness Month. Supervisor Doug Chaffee is raising awareness and supporting those affected by this disease by hosting a fun, family friendly community bike ride through Craig Regional Park and a resource fair with government organizations and nonprofits.
Date: Saturday, September 21, 2024
Registration Begins: 7 a.m.
Event Begins: 8 a.m.
Address: Craig Regional Park, 3300 N State College Blvd, Fullerton, CA 92835
Register in advance here to sign the online waiver form. Find additional information on the English, Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese and Korean flyer .
If you have any questions about the event, please call (714) 834-3440 or email D4.Bikeevent@ocgov.com.
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Support Academic Readiness By Encouraging Well-Child Visits | |
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As the school year goes into full swing, parents, caregivers, and students become very busy with the routine of the new academic year. This is the perfect opportunity to encourage parents and guardians of school aged children in our communities to schedule an annual well-child visit with their primary care provider. These visits will ensure that children are healthy, growing well and up to date with their vaccines. Schools are ideal settings for the spread of germs and preventable diseases. Completing childhood vaccines is an important part of school readiness and ensures that children stay healthy and thrive.
Here are some important vaccines that are required for the academic year:
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Other recommended vaccines include:
- Influenza (flu) vaccine
- Human papillomavirus (HPV) vaccine
- Meningococcal conjugate vaccine
- Serogroup B meningococcal vaccine
- Updated Covid-19 vaccine
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Suicide Prevention Awareness Month | |
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September is Suicide Prevention Awareness month. The World Health Organization states that more than 700,000 people a year die by suicide around the world. Let’s all come and change the narrative on suicide with the call to action “Start the conversation.” This aims on the importance of reducing stigma and encouraging conversations to prevent suicide. Help bring awareness and provide support to those who may be considering suicide or to those who have been touched by suicide. If you or someone you know is thinking about suicide, help is available. Speak with someone today! Call or Text 988 to reach the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (free).
CalOptima Health members have access to Behavioral Health services. Information is available by calling our CalOptima Health Behavioral Health line at toll-free at 855-877-3885 or by calling TeleMed2U toll-free at 1-844-585-9210.
Light a candle on Sept 10 at 8 p.m. in honor of World Suicide Prevention Day. Remember, all of us can do our part in suicide prevention.
Please click here for more information. 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - Call. Text. Chat. (988lifeline.org) and https://www.nami.org/get-involved/awareness-events/suicide-prevention-month/.
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Coming Soon! Orange County Nonprofit Capacity Assessment | |
Calling all OC nonprofit leaders! Charitable Ventures needs your participation in an upcoming regional assessment of the capacity needs of nonprofit organizations. Charitable Ventures, with support from UC Irvine’s School of Social Ecology and the Bridgespan Group, is launching the 2024 OC Nonprofit Needs Assessment to gain valuable insights into the strengths, existing organizational capacity and needs of regional nonprofits in Orange County. By sharing your experiences, you’ll contribute to building a shared understanding of the current state of our social sector and help identify actionable strategies to support its growth and impact. We know your time is valuable and appreciate your consideration in lending your expertise to this important effort.
This survey is underwritten by the Samueli Foundation in partnership with OCCF. We look forward to sharing findings with survey participants, the funding community, and other regional stakeholders who are committed to making Orange County’s social sector a model for high performance, service, and problem-solving.
The survey will open early September! For any questions or further information, please contact jack.toan@charitableventuresoc.org.
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As summer continues, many of us enjoy cold, sweet treats like ice cream and
popsicles. However, these sugary options can harm our teeth, potentially leading to
decay. While Medi-Cal Dental covers treatments for dental issues, prevention is key.
Remind families to opt for healthier alternatives like frozen fruit, which not only
satisfies cravings for something cold but also provides essential nutrients without
added sugars and dyes. Here are some more dental tips for maintaining good habits
as we enjoy the summer months.
Schedule Regular Dental Check-ups: Medi-Cal covers preventive dental
visits. Schedule regular check-ups to maintain good oral health.
Stay Hydrated with Water: Drink plenty of water to rinse away food particles
and maintain moisture in your mouth.
Choose Nutritious Snacks: Enjoy other options such as for fruits, vegetables, and nuts as snacks to promote dental health and overall wellbeing.
Remember, maintaining one's oral health is important year-round, and Medi-Cal has
members covered. Help families find a dentist and explore the benefits and services
available to them using the resources provided below.
Medi-Cal Has Dental Covered flyer: English/Spanish
Senior Member flyer: English | Spanish | Chinese
Older Adult Expansion flyer: English | Spanish
To assist members in finding a Medi-Cal dentist in their area, visit SmileCalifornia.org/Find-A-Dentist.
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Explore the Teething Time Flyer in English and Spanish | |
Smile California invites you to explore "It’s Teething Time for Your Baby" flyer, available in both English and Spanish. This flyer features a baby teeth growth chart and valuable insights into common teething symptoms, providing essential information to support families in
tracking their child’s dental milestones from the very beginning.
We also have an engaging social media post that includes children's teeth arranged by month of expected eruption. Use this post to promote awareness about the importance of early dental care and healthy habits:
Download the Baby Teeth Growth Chart Post: English | Spanish
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Medi-Cal and OneCare Information
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OneCare Invites the Community to Information Seminars | |
Individuals who are covered by both Medi-Cal and Medicare could qualify for CalOptima Health OneCare (HMO D-SNP), a Medicare Medi-Cal Plan. Learn more about this special plan at our upcoming in-person presentations:
Latino Health Access | 450 W. 4th Street, Santa Ana
- Wednesday, September 11, 10 a.m.–Noon
- Wednesday, September 18, 10 a.m.–Noon
Abrazar Inc. Community Services and Education Center | 14900 Park Lane., Westminster
- Thursday, September 12, 9-11 a.m.
- Thursday, September 19, 9-11 a.m.
CalOptima Health | 505 City Parkway West, Orange
- Friday, September 6, 10 a.m.–Noon
Anaheim Central Library | 500 W. Broadway, Anaheim
- Tuesday, September 24, 11:30 a.m.–1 p.m. and 2–3:30 p.m.
Presentations are only offered in English, and light snacks will be served. To learn more, view event flyers in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
For questions and to RSVP, call CalOptima Health OneCare at 1-800-466-0524.
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Say Goodbye to Copays With CalOptima Health OneCare | |
Did you know that CalOptima Health OneCare members can get their brand-name and generic medicines for $0 copays all year long? Our OneCare (HMO D-SNP) program is designed for people who are covered by both Medicare and Medi-Cal. With OneCare, members can fill their prescription medicines at their pharmacy as they normally do with $0 copays, meaning OneCare members:
- Have more in their pocket to spend on other needs
- Can improve or maintain their health by taking all their medicines
- Can get the best treatment without worrying about the costs
In addition, OneCare members can arrange transportation to the pharmacy by contacting OneCare Customer Service toll-free at 1-877-412-2734 (TTY 711) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
View and share OneCare flyers in multiple languages.
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Full-Scope Medi-Cal Extended to Adults Ages 26 Through 49 | |
On January 1, a new law in California went into effect to allow adults ages 26 through 49 to qualify for full Medi-Cal regardless of immigration status. Other Medi-Cal eligibility rules, including income limits, still apply. This latest expansion of Medi-Cal means that all Californians now have access to coverage; prior expansions extended coverage to undocumented children, young adults and people over 50. Full Medi-Cal covers doctor visits, prescription medicines, vaccines, mental health care, vision care, dental care, emergency services, referrals to specialists and more. According to DHCS, when an individual applies for these state-funded benefits, their information is only used to determine if they qualify. State laws protect the privacy of their personal data.
To check eligibility for full-scope Medi-Cal, call the County of Orange Social Services Agency (SSA) at 1-800-281-9799. Share flyers about the Adult Medi-Cal Expansion and an informational video in Spanish from SSA.
| Share Medi-Cal Renewal Messages | | |
Share messages from DHCS to help eligible individuals understand how to get and keep Medi-Cal coverage for themselves and their families. Visit DHCS’ Keep Your Community Covered Resource Hub for a range of outreach materials in multiple languages to share with members. | |
CalOptima Health, A Public Agency www.caloptima.org
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