There is a correlation between the Spring season and a break. Are you taking a break in your daily life to enjoy the things that make you happy and alive? Are you taking a break to appreciate the miracles that surround you and your community? Are you taking some time to pamper yourself and ponder about the things you are grateful for? If not, there is always time to begin! Breathe, take a break.

COVID-19 UPDATE

The COVID-19 emergency at the federal level will end on 5/11/2023.  In California, COVID-19 vaccines, PCR and home antigen testing, and treatment will continue to be provided and covered as they are today. They will be covered at no cost until November 12, 2023.

As of April 3, 2023, patients are no longer required to wear masks to enter into healthcare facilities. Currently, Sonoma County Department of Public Health has remained silent on the state guidance. As such, SVCHC will follow the state guidance and lift its blanket mask-wearing policy for patients.

SVCHC will continue to ask patients to wear masks if they have a cough, cold, fever, or flu-like symptoms. We may also ask patients to wear a mask during certain exams or procedures where there is close patient-to-provider (or other staff) contact. The patient may remove the mask upon completion of the exam or procedure. At their own discretion, providers may ask patients to wear a mask while seeing the patient.

Please wear a mask around others if you have respiratory symptoms; cough, runny nose, and/or sore throat.

If you’ve had significant exposure to someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, wear a mask for 10 days.



We will also require patients to wear a mask when the COVID-19 community levels increase to “High.” Click here for more information.

What you need to know about the Bivalent booster shots

• Bivalent: The authorized bivalent COVID-19 vaccines, or updated boosters, include an mRNA component of the original strain to provide an immune response that is broadly protective against COVID-19 and an mRNA component in common between the omicron variant BA.4 and BA.5 lineages to provide better protection against COVID-19 caused by the omicron variant.

SVCHC's LAST Covid-19 vaccination clinic was on April 20th!

April 16th-22nd is National Volunteer Week!

SVCHC would like to recognize its volunteers for their invaluable support. Their help make an incredible impact on the community!

Volunteer support totaling over 2600 hours

SVCHC On-site clinic-almost 1200 hours

Pop-up Clinics-70 hours

Pediatric Clinics- 400 hours

Back to School Health Fair- 180 hours

Food distribution- 700 hours and over 1100 food bags.

Other Special Events- 60 hours.

Thank you for your selfless commitment to making a difference in the lives of others and for your continuous support in 2023.

You can also make a difference by being a volunteer at SVCHC.

“Service to others leads to greatness."

(Jim Rohn) 



Interested in volunteering? Send us an email!

Meet the SVCHC Eligibility Team

Aziana Gomez, Mariella Moran, and Maricarmen Reyes

(Names from left to right)

Under the umbrella and collaboration with Aliados Health, formerly Redwood Community Health Coalition, SVCHC has a team of Certified Enrollment Counselors. 

They assist clients with enrollment in Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and Covered California.

This team assists the community in getting health coverage and enrolling them in other programs that support patients and their families.

The eligibility team can assist you in renewing your Medi-Cal and answer all your questions. They can help you find resources for a better health pathway.



For questions, please contact our eligibility team at (707)939-6070 or by email: eligibility@svchc.org

PHE Medi-Cal Continuous Coverage Requirement ended on March 31st.

COVERED CALIFORNIA

SPECIAL ENROLLMENT PERIOD

Covered CA Open Enrollment ended on January 31st. However, individuals can qualify for Covered CA Special Enrollment period under specific circumstances within 60 days of the event. Circumstances include:

• Lost Health Insurance
• Turned 26 Years Old
• Moved to or Within California
• Married or Entered a Domestic Partnership
• A Child is Born, Adopted, or Received into Foster Care
• Change of Household Size
• Domestic Abuse or Spousal Abandonment
• Affected by Wildfires
• Returned from Active Military Service
• Released from Jail or Prison
• Gained Citizenship or Lawful Presence
• Current Enrollees Who Experience a Life Event

For more information, you can visit the Covered California Website. You may also check the list of Qualifying Life Events.

If you have any questions, don't hesitate to get in touch with SVCHC's eligibility department at (707) 939-6070.

Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD often have problems with social communication and interaction and restricted or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.

Social communication and interaction skills can be challenging for them too.

Examples can include:

• Avoids or does not keep eye contact
• Does not respond to name by 9 months of age
• Does not show facial expressions like happy, sad, angry, and surprised by 9 months of age
• Does not play simple interactive games like pat-a-cake by 12 months of age
• Uses few or no gestures by 12 months of age (for example, does not wave goodbye)
• Does not share interests with others by 15 months of age (for example, shows you an object that they like)
• Does not point to show you something interesting by 18 months of age
• Does not notice when others are hurt or upset by 24 months of age
• Does not notice other children and join them in play by 36 months of age
• Does not pretend to be something else, like a teacher or superhero, during play by 48 months of age
• Does not sing, dance, or act for you by 60 months of age

For more information, visit the CDC Website.

We can trace a line from sexual violence to systems of oppression, and we can’t end sexual violence without also ending racism. This year's campaign calls on all individuals, communities, organizations, and institutions to change ourselves and the systems surrounding us to build racial equity and respect.

Systems of oppression such as racism, sexism, classism, heterosexism, ageism, ableism, and others contribute to higher rates of sexual harassment, assault, and abuse. As such, we recognize that it will take ending all forms of oppression to end sexual violence worldwide.

We can help create change if we take the time to hear, understand, and recognize one another. 

Drawing connections between ourselves, history, and the world around us is necessary for changing the future.

Forms of sexual violence include:

• Rape or sexual assault
• Sexual harassment
• Sexual abuse
• Unwanted sexual contact/touching
• Sexual exploitation and trafficking,
• Exposing one’s genitals or a naked body to others without consent,
• Nonconsensual image sharing
• Words and actions of a sexual nature against a person’s will and without their consent
• Sexual violence represents a range of behaviors

Statistics show:

• More than 1 and 4 non-Hispanic Black women (29%) in the United States were raped in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• More than 4 in 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women (84.3%) have experienced violence in their lifetime (Rosay, 2016).
• 1 in 3 Hispanic women (34.8%) reported unwanted sexual contact in their lifetime (Basile et al., 2022).
• 32.9% of adults with intellectual disabilities have experienced sexual violence (Tomsa et al., 2021).
•  47% of all transgender people have been sexually assaulted at some point in their lives (James et al., 2016).

This April, during Sexual Assault Awareness Month, learn how to draw connections between various forms of oppression and the underlying causes of sexual assault. Explore how certain groups of people are at higher risk for sexual violence and how they are also the most impacted by inequitable systems and oppression in our society.

Source

APRIL 16TH - ADVANCE HEALTH CARE DIRECTIVE PLANNING DAY

Everyone should fill out an Advanced Healthcare Directive. It is a simple form you can fill out that tells your doctor and loved ones exactly what to do at the end of your life, or if you cannot speak for yourself. 

On April 11th, we celebrated National Pet Day!

Ways Pets Help with Mental Health

• Less stress
• Better sense of purpose
• More social connection
• Help increase productivity wherever you work
• Pets help manage anxiety
• Pets can help you be more active
• Pets provide a sense of togetherness and fulfillment
• Playing with a pet elevates levels of serotonin
• They provide companionship
• They make you feel safe
• Pets help decrease blood pressure in stressful situations

Resources available to you!

• For local resources, visit the County services on this site
• To find support for you and your little ones, click here.
• The young LGBTQ community can visit this link.
• To learn about our resources, visit our website here.

 "Not too many people could walk a mile in your shoes. Only you know your struggles, challenges, and obstacles, so be proud of how far you have come." 

(Edmond Mbiaka)

We have the following positions open. Help us find great candidates for the SVCHC team!

Our Back to School Health Fair is coming soon!

You can make a difference in the education of a child in our community while shopping at

WALMART ONLINE

Two ways to support SVCHC and the BTS Health Fair

1) Donate change by rounding up your purchase at checkout on Walmart.com

2) Donate products from SVCHC’s registry & have the items shipped to us. Items for the Back to School Health Fair are included in the list!

Together, we can make a difference in the health and education of the children in our community!

Stay up to date through our social media platforms, where you will find videos, resources, and information about current topics.

Subscribe today! 

Thank you for investing in health for Sonoma Valley children, families, and seniors.

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!

• 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. 

• If you suffered monetary losses due to the December 2022 & January 2023 Storms, contact Petaluma People Service to learn more about the Winter Storm Assistance Program.

To find more community resources available click the button below.

Follow us

Sonoma Valley Community Health Center | Sonoma, CA

Mission: To provide accessible quality health care to those who need it, especially the underserved.

Vision: To be recognized as a leader in providing Patient and Community-centered care in collaboration with other organizations.

707-939-6070 * www.svchc.org * community@svchc.org