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Community News - November



This is a season to be thankful. No matter what else is going on in our lives or with our families, we have experienced something to be grateful for.  Remember those things that made you smile, giggle or laugh outright and enjoy them again today. Take it one step further, and create similar memories for someone else this Thanksgiving Day.  As for me, I will think of all of you and be filled with gratitude. Happy Thanksgiving!


-Cheryl Johnson

(SVCHC's CEO)


COVID-19 UPDATE REMINDER

Please remember that an update to the current California health order requires anyone entering our building to wear a mask. 


  • Patients with scheduled appointments should receive a phone call no earlier than 24 hours before determining symptoms. Patients showing specific signs will be asked to remain in their cars until the time of their visit. We would greatly appreciate your cooperation as SVCHC works to ensure the health and safety of our patients and staff. 
  • You may notice that our receptionists are wearing masks. This is our effort to keep our staff safe and available to help us help you. 
  • If you need help, please call SVCHC at (707)939-6070, or for an emergency, call 911 or visit the emergency room at your nearest hospital. 
  • Please note, that behavioral health services will continue to be telephonic until further notice. If you want someone to talk to, call our main number (707)939-6070, and we will contact one of our staffers. 

COVID -19 RESOURCES


TESTING


  • CURATIVE provides Covid-19 testing at SVUSD during the week. For an appointment or other CURATIVE sites, click here. 


  • LHI provides Covid-19 testing on Saturdays at Sonoma Valley Community Health Center parking lot. For an appointment or other LHI sites, you can click here.


INFANT VACCINATION CLINIC


  • Remember that as of September 27th, 2022, We no longer offer  On-site Infant/Toddler Vaccines (6 months to 4 yrs old).


WEDNESDAY VACCINATION CLINICS 


  • Wednesday from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Pfizer and Moderna vaccine brands are offered for people five years and older.
  • 


During Thanksgiving week, our vaccination clinic will be on Tuesday, November 22nd. 



Please note: Physical vaccination cards are required for 2nd and booster doses.

For more information, please visit our website below:

SVCHC Vaccine Clinics

Bivalent Booster Shots


What you need to know


  • 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.

  • On October 12, 2022. CDC’ expanded the use of updated (bivalent) COVID-19 vaccines to children ages 5 through 11 years. This follows the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) authorization of updated COVID-19 vaccines from Pfizer-BioNTech for children ages 5 through 11 years, and from Moderna for children and adolescents ages 6 through 17 years.


Which brand to get?

  • Moderna Bivalent Booster It is authorized for use as a single booster dose in individuals six years of age and older.



When to get it?


  • Bivalent BoosterAt least two months after their primary dose or any previous monovalent booster.


SVCHC Vaccination clinic hours for boosters 


  • Wednesdays from 5:00 pm to 8:00 pm.


  • During Thanksgiving week, our vaccination clinic will be on Tuesday, November 22nd. 


Please note: physical paper vaccination cards are required for 2nd and booster doses.


Additional Dose- Moderately or severely immunocompromised people ages six months and older who completed their Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine primary series should plan to get an additional dose at least eight weeks after their second dose. People ages six months and older who completed their Moderna COVID-19 vaccine primary series should plan to get an additional dose at least 28 days after their second dose.

 

For questions, please email us at [email protected] or call us at 707-939-6070 or click this link.

Are you and your family up to date on immunizations?

SVCHC is offering the following special services for your kids during November and December


  • Well-Infant Visits (0-15 months)
  • Childhood immunization Status (0-2yrs)
  • Adolescent Immunization (Turning 13 yrs old).


For more information, please get in touch with us at 707-939-6070 or visit our website.

Public Health Order Update:


It is strongly recommended that all Sonoma County law enforcement, fire, and EMS employees receive the flu vaccine this year. If the flu vaccine is declined, a medical grade mask should be worn while interacting with the community, or while working indoors.


For this and other latest news and changes, visit the Sonoma County page by clicking the button below.

Click here for more information

On this day of National Giving - SVCHC invites you to partner with us on #GIVING TUESDAY to improve patients' lives and build healthier communities.


Sonoma Valley Community Health Center has been on the front lines, providing care to our neighbors since 1992. Low-wage jobs, minimal health benefits, and high living costs mean too many of our neighbors lack access to affordable health care. We spend 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.

 

Make a difference in the health of our community by making a gift online today!    

 

Your contributions would go to...


  • General fund to assist uninsured and underinsured patients with needed medications, labs, and x-rays.
  • Specials events
  • Continue the Covid-19 vaccination efforts -To date, SVCHC has provided over 30,000 vaccines
  • And more

Make a contribution today!

Click here for ways to donate

HEALTHY TIPS FOR THANKSGIVING!


Eating with family, friends, or loved ones is part of celebrating Thanksgiving. 

Here are some healthy tips so you can enjoy the holiday without regrets!


  • Stay hydrated. Stick to calorie-free drinks such as water, tea, and seltzer
  • Start your meal with bitter herbs
  • Fill your plate with veggies first
  • Avoid high-carb, high-fat snacks such as cheese and crackers and chips and dip
  • East slowly and check in with your body before grabbing seconds
  • Go for a walk after your meal
  • Breath, enjoy the day, and get back to your routine the next day


To learn more, click here.


SVCHC's 1st HOLIDAY CELEBRATION

(SAVE THE DATE!)

SVCHC continues celebrating its community, and on December 8th, we will gather to end the year together.  

We believe in the richness of diversity and want to celebrate all faiths, customs, and traditions, and we cordially invite you and the community to join us to celebrate our community together.


Location: SVCHC 19270 Hwy. 12 Sonoma, CA.

Time: 6:00 pm to 7:30 pm

Date: December 8th


For more information, email us at: [email protected].

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR FIT TEST WINNERS!

Creating awareness about Colon Cancer

Luis Alcantar

(1st Place)

$150.00

Jeffrey Mcknight

(1st Place)

$150.00

Blanca Calderon

(2nd Place)

$75.00

Jose Luis Flores Ordaz

(2nd Place)

$75.00

Nepomuceno (Thomas) Gomez (3rd Place)

 $50.00

Leon Towon

 (3rd Place)

 $50.00

NOVEMBER IS DIABETES AWARENESS MONTH

Could you have diabetes but not know it? Take the American Diabetes Association Diabetes Risk Test below to see if you are at risk for type 2 diabetes. 

Take the test

You can also download the printable version by clicking here. 


If you have diabetes or prediabetes, here are some tips that our dietitian Joyce Giammattei gladly shared with us, and you can follow:


  • Lose weight and keep it off. Losing 5 to 7 percent of your weight can significantly reduce your risk of getting diabetes and improve blood sugar for those who have diabetes
  • Be more active. Try to get at least 30 minutes of physical activity five or more days of the week
  • Make healthy food choices. You can do this by eating smaller portions, and choose foods with less fat and more fiber. Drink water instead of sweetened beverages.

 

To find more information visit the American Diabetes Association by clicking this site. 

MAINTAINING MENTAL HEALTH DURING THE HOLIDAY SEASON


The holidays can be a joy-filled season, but they can also be stressful and especially challenging for those impacted by mental illness.

A NAMI study showed that 64% of people with mental illness report holidays make their conditions worse. “For many people, the holiday season is not always the most beautiful time of the year,


For more information, visit the NAMI Website.


Don't let the holidays become something you dread. Instead, take steps to prevent the stress and depression that can descend during the holidays. Learn to recognize your holiday triggers, such as financial pressures or personal demands, so you can combat them before they lead to a meltdown. With a bit of planning and some positive thinking, you can find peace and joy during the holidays.


Follow these tips to prevent holiday stress and depression:


  1. Acknowledge your feelings
  2. Reach out
  3. Be realistic
  4. Set aside differences
  5. Stick to a budget
  6. Plan ahead
  7. Learn to say no
  8. Don't abandon healthy habits
  9. Take a breather
  10. Seek professional help if you need it.
  11. Call the PEPTOC hotline! (More information below).


To dive into these tips, navigate this website.

"If you’re sad, get a cookie"

Local School launched a hotline to spread joy and make us feel better!

Last month, a group of California elementary school students launched a free hotline featuring on-demand inspiration and advice for anxious souls. With joy in short supply these days, the tiny school’s project has since gone viral, receiving thousands of calls hourly.

Dial 707-873-7862, and you’ll hear a cheerful voice listing your options: “If you’re feeling mad, frustrated, or nervous, press one. If you need words of encouragement and life advice, press two. If you need a pep talk from kindergarteners, press three. If you need to hear, kids laughing with delight, press four.”


To learn and support this beautiful project, visit PEPTOC by clicking here.



ANNUAL FREE THANKSGIVING DINNER!

For years, the Sonoma Community Center, Sonoma’s Rotary, Vintage House, and many others have teamed up to serve over 500 free Thanksgiving dinners to local residents. Led by an all-volunteer crew, the free dinner has become a much-loved tradition in the Sonoma Valley, bringing together a broad cross-section of the community.


For more information, visit this website.

For a printable version of the flyer, click here.

Do you need help caring for your pets?

Pets Lifeline is excited to help low-income residents with veterinarian and pet care costs for up to $200 per household with a household maximum income of $2400/month.


They ask veterinarians to send them an invoice directly, as they cannot reimburse pet owners. 


If you come across a pet owner who could benefit from this program, please share this information. If the owner does not have access to a printer, the owner can also connect directly with Theresa Rhodes at [email protected] or 707-996-4577 ext. 110 

SVCHC Careers

Stay updated through our social media platforms, where you will find videos, resources, and information about current topics. Subscribe today! 

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Support your community while you shop for the holidays


Do you shop on Amazon? If yes, it is easy to support SVCHC with each purchase. A few minutes to set up is all it takes. If you type in the word 'smile.' before Amazon.com, you will be brought to the same Amazon site, but on the fundraising side.


Do you have family and friends that wouldn't mind taking a minute and

choosing SVCHC? It cost the purchaser nothing to benefit SVCHC.


Use this link to support SVCHC

COVERED CALIFORNIA RENEWALS 

The SVCHC enrollment team will be happy to help you if you have any questions.


Location: SVCHC 19270 Sonoma Hwy. Sonoma, Ca. 95476

Time: Fridays from 10:00 am to 12:00 pm


Our clinic will be closed on Friday, November 25th, to observe the Thanksgiving Holiday.

ADDITIONAL RESOURCES

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


· 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. 


· Visit the Sonoma County Website for more info about Covid-19 vaccine clinics and testing.

To find more community resources available click the button below

Community Resources
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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 * [email protected]