WE ARE GOING LIVE!

Help us reach our goal!

Together we can make a difference in the health and education of students in our community.

Support SVCHC and the BTS Health Fair by making a monetary donation by clicking the button below.

Invite your family and friends to contribute!

You can also be part of the BTS Fair as a volunteer. Please pass along this information!

Because of volunteers like you, this event is possible. 

This year, we need a higher number of volunteers to help us on the day of the event, and on the days prior, for packet assembling. Please spread the word to those who might be interested.   

Multiple shifts are available for the day of the event. You are welcome to sign-up for more than one shift as long as the hours do not overlap. 

Please sign-up using the links below, or call us at (707)939-6070 ext. 198 if you need help registering.  

Use the link below to sign-up for the day of the event: 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4DA4AC2DA0F49-back4 

And use the link below to sign up to volunteer for assembling before the event: (backpacks and school supplies packet assembling included here) 

https://www.signupgenius.com/go/8050F4DA4AC2DA0F49-assembling1 

Thank you once again for making a difference in the lives of students in Sonoma Valley. 

Thank you to our major Sponsor of the Back to School Health Fair 2022

Your contribution made a difference in the Health and Education of Students in the Sonoma Valley. That is priceless!

Highlighting SVCH's Primary Care Providers.

Do you already have one? If not, you are missing out!

A primary care provider (or PCP) is a healthcare professional who helps you manage your health. He or she is the first person you talk to when you have any medical problem that is not an emergency. PCPs are usually doctors, sometimes called primary care physicians. However, some nurses and physician assistants also provide primary care.

They will have a long-term relationship with you, helping you stay healthy or get better when you’re sick. Your PCP will be your partner, sharing the responsibility for your physical and mental health and well-being.

They may also be called general practitioners because they cover all types of everyday health concerns. They can answer questions about infections, chronic conditions, or medicines. With regular visits, such as annual health checkups, your PCP will get to know much about you:

• Your current health.
• Your medical history.
• Your family’s medical history.
• Your treatment preferences and daily challenges.
• Your personality and lifestyle.

They will also know when you need more advanced care, like a hospital procedure or a specialist.

Different specialists are trained to see certain types of patients:

• Family practitioners (also known as family doctors) see patients of all ages, sometimes everyone in a family.
• Pediatricians care for children and teenagers.
• Internists, or internal medicine doctors, see only adults.
• Geriatricians care for older people.
• Obstetricians and gynecologists focus on women’s health and pregnancy.
• Nurse practitioners and physician assistants also provide primary care. But they must serve as part of a team that includes a primary care physician, and the physician has overall responsibility for the patient.

Source

If you don't have a PCP or would like to establish a relationship with one, call us at (707) 939-6070. We will be happy to assist you!

SVCHC's PCP:

Carol Ahern MD  

Jennifer Hasa MD

Kiana Guerrero MD

Michelle Reynolds MD 

Jerome Smith MD 

William Klas MD

Micheal Maggioncalda DO

Saret Azizians NP 

Janet Byrd NP 

July is International Sarcoma Awareness Month!

Sarcomas are cancers that arise from the cells that hold the body together. These could be cells related to muscles, nerves, bones, fat, tendons, cartilage, or other forms of “connective tissues.” There are hundreds of different kinds of sarcomas, which come from different kinds of cells.

Sarcoma is a rare cancer in adults (1% of all adult cancers), but rather prevalent in children (about 20% of all childhood cancers). Sarcomas can arise anywhere. Thus, within each site of the more “common” cancers there is the occasional surprise sarcoma diagnosis (e.g., breast sarcoma, stomach sarcoma, lung sarcoma, ovarian sarcoma, etc.). The most frequent location are the limbs since this is where the majority of the body’s connective tissue resides. They are commonly hidden deep in the body, so sarcoma is often diagnosed when it has already become too large to expect a hope of being cured. Although a lot of the lumps and bumps we get are benign, people should have them looked at by a doctor at an early stage in case it is sarcoma.

Sarcoma is sometimes curable by surgery (about 20% of the time), or by surgery with chemotherapy and/or radiation (another 50-55%), but about half the time they are totally resistant to all of these approaches—thus the extreme need for new therapeutic approaches. At any one time, more than 50,000 patients and their families are struggling with sarcoma. More than 16,000 new cases are diagnosed each year and nearly 7,000 people die each year from sarcoma in the United States.

Source

How connecting with nature benefits our mental health.

Nature is important for many and vital in keeping us emotionally, psychologically, and physically healthy.

People with good nature connectedness tend to be happier

and more likely to report feeling their lives are worthwhile. Nature can generate many positive emotions, such as calmness, joy, and creativity, and facilitate concentration.

Nature connectedness is also associated with lower levels of poor mental health, particularly lower depression and anxiety.

Green and serene. We benefit from “high quality” nature spaces

“High-quality” natural spaces are better for us and our well-being.

Quality can mean higher biodiversity (a wide variety of plants and wildlife). Specific characteristics of nature are essential in rural or urban spaces. These include the amount of “green” in trees, plants, and grass, the variety of plants and wildlife, and “serene” landscapes that feel calm and quiet.

Cleanliness, such as the absence of litter, in natural spaces also determines how much our mental health benefits from spending time outside. Cleaner nature areas are linked to lower rates of depression.

Source

Give yourself the gift of better health with a walk in the park.

Celebrate this National Park and Recreation Month by taking advantage of the County Park RX program, which serves several Bay Area counties. Learn more about Parks Prescription programs and activities in your area here.

MEDI-CAL AND COVERED CA COVERAGE

To learn more, click the following links:

Medi-Cal

Covered California

1. Medi-Cal beneficiaries whose renewals/redetermination are due in June and who have not submitted their paperwork by mid-June will be receiving a termination notice by the end of this month.

2.  Medi-Cal beneficiaries that are over income (and *status that qualifies for Covered CA) will be transferred to Covered CA. A plan must be chosen and paid for a plan before July 31^st ,  otherwise, Covered CA will be lost and will have a coverage gap. 

PLEASE NOTE: Nonetheless, due to the Special Enrollment period ( 60 days ), they will have until August 29th to choose a plan; otherwise, they will not be able to get Covered CA until Open Enrollment 2024 (Nov 2023 - Jan 2024), which starts coverage until January 1st, 2024. 

2023 (& 2024) keep on knocking!

 “Why is National Voter Registration Day talking about 2024 so much already?” Well, brace yourself for a little wake-up call: 2023 is the LAST National Voter Registration Day before ALL of the 2024 presidential and state primary elections. So don't hesitate and click here for more information!

Caltrans Traffic Advisory - (Reminder) One-way traffic control in place on State Route 12 near Kenwood, Sonoma County, due to bridge work beginning

July 10, 2023 

Are you Heat Ready? Heat is deadlier than any other weather hazard. Be prepared for extreme heat events and find resources to help you stay safe.

Follow the instructions from the State of California below:

For more information, check their website here.

Unfortunately, there are no cooling centers open at this time in Sonoma County. When centers are activated, they will be listed here.

Remember to check our social media platforms. You will find videos, resources, and information about current topics.

Subscribe today! 

Thank you for investing in the health and education of our students in the Sonoma Valley.

Sonoma Valley Community Health Center has been on the front lines, providing care to our community since 1992. Low-wage jobs, minimal health benefits, and high living cost mean too many of our neighbors lack access to affordable health care. SVCHC spends approximately $1 million each year on providing care to our patients who are under or uninsured. Thanks to generous, community-minded people like you, we can ensure that all of our neighbors have access to quality care.

We appreciate your support!

• PHE Medi-Cal Continuous Coverage Requirement ended on March 31st. For questions regarding renewing Medi-Cal or questions about Covered California, please get in touch with SVCHC Eligibility Team at (707)939-6070 or by email: eligibility@svchc.org

• Appointments for SVCHC W.I.C Office must be made via phone prior to visits. Please call 707-565-6590.

• REFB Food Distribution is at SVCHC every 1st and 3rd Friday of each month. Distribution hours are from 8:45 am-9:45 am or until supply lasts. 

//Let's stay connected//