FA R M
L A B O R
I N F O R M AT I O N
B U L L E T I N
Voice of the Fields California
September 2017
FREE
Volume 27, Number 9
Why Do I Need Prenatal Care?
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RENATAL CARE is an important part of keeping you and your baby healthy during the term of your pregnancy. Lack of care could negatively affect the outcome of your child’s life. If you think you are pregnant, would like to become pregnant, or are already pregnant you should visit your doctor or local clinic. An obstetrician is a doctor who specializes in pregnancy, childbirth, and a woman’s reproductive system. Although other doctors can deliver babies, many women see an obstetrician, also called an OB/GYN. The OB/ GYNs is able to identify and treat early health problems, on mothers monitored on a regular basis. Prenatal care can cover different stages: pre-conception health, early care and regular prenatal care. Pre-conception health is a woman’s health before she becomes pregnant. It is important to know how health conditions and risk factors could affect you or your unborn baby if you become pregnant. Your doctor or local clinic can prepare you for the steps to take during early family planning stages. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Women’s Health suggests the five most important things you can do before becoming pregnant are: 1 Take 400 to 800 micrograms of folic acid every day for at least 3 months before getting pregnant to lower your risk of certain birth defects of the brain and spine. 2 Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. 3 If you have a medical condition, be
sure it is under control. Be sure your vaccinations are up to date. 4 Talk to your doctor about any over-the-counter and prescription medicines you are using. These include dietary or herbal supplements. Some medicines are not safe during pregnancy. At the same time, stopping medicines you need can also be harmful. 5 Avoid contact with toxic
substances or materials at work and at home that could be harmful. Stay away from chemicals and cat or rodent feces. Prenatal care is the health care you receive through the course of your pregnancy. Early prenatal care is the starting point to a healthy pregnancy and the future of your child. It is important to have a healthy lifestyle, be educated on pregnancy, and consult your healthcare provider. According to The Office of Women’s Health, babies of mothers who do not get prenatal care are three times more likely to have a low birth weight, and Continued on page 6
Are you Ready for Flu Season?
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HE INFLUENZA or Flu season can begin as early as October and end in May. You are most at risk when the virus peaks in February and December. Make sure your family is protected during Flu season. The Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends a yearly Flu vaccine for everyone 6 months in age or older. This is the first step against this serious disease, which can easily affect anyone. The flu vaccine is designed to protect against the flu strains that research indicates will cause the most illness during the flu season. The strain of the virus is constantly changing; this is why it is important to receive the vaccine yearly to protect against getting sick. The virus moves slower during the cold winter months and last longer on surfaces families touch everyday.
G et Yo u r F lu S h ot !
There are several advantages to getting the Flu vaccine. The CDC says that the Flu vaccine is on average 50 to 60 percent effective at reducing a person’s risk of developing a flu that results in a visit to a doctor’s office or urgent care center. It takes about two weeks after vaccination for the Flu vaccine antibodies to develop in the body and provide protection against influenza virus infection. The more individuals in your community who are immunized with the Flu vaccine, the less likely it is for the Flu to spread. This also helps the individuals in the community who are at risk because they cannot be vaccinated due to age or other illnesses. The Flu vaccine is very inexpensive and is free to most who have insurance. Flu vaccines are offered in many different locations in your area. Even if you do not have a regular doctor or nurse, you can get a Flu shot somewhere else: including doctor’s offices, pharmacies, health departments, urgent care clinics, schools, and sometimes at your workplace. To find a location near you, visit the CDC website at https://vaccinefinder.org or call the California Department of Public Health at (510) 620-3737. The best treatment for the Flu is to prevent it by taking simple precautions. Precautions to prevent spreading the Flu include covering your cough or sneeze; wiping down surfaces at home or work that are used regularly; making sure to wash your hands throughout the day; staying home when you are sick; and getting the Flu vaccine. Sources: https://vaccinefinder.org; https://www.cdc.gov
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Affordable Care Act
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UPDATES
OR THE LAST MONTH, the U.S. Senate has been debating about repealing the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which has provided 20 million people with healthcare. Initially, the Senate Republicans sought for a total repeal of the ACA, which would have caused 22 million people to lose insurance coverage by 2026. That bill repeal effort failed, but more repeal efforts surfaced. >> A partial repeal known as the “skinny repeal” was debated on short notice, but it too was defeated.
>> Following the failure of the “skinny repeal”, the U.S. Senate leadership claimed it was time to move on from healthcare repeal issue for the moment. Both Democrats and Republicans are now starting to call on a bipartisan effort to resolve the issue.
>> Uncertainty caused by the debate has forced some insurance
companies to raise their premiums, affecting some who recently were able to access affordable healthcare. California Attorney General Xavier Becerra, among other states attorneys general, claims he is ready to defend the people should the federal government target the subsidies.
For now, the ACA continues to be the law of the land. Sources: http://www.latimes.com; http://www.pbs.org/newshour
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What Is Mental Health?
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ENTAL HEALTH includes our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. Mental health influences our thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It also helps determine our response to stress, the choices we make, and how we relate to others. Mental health is very important, whether you are a child, teen, or adult. Many factors contribute to mental health problems including: biological factors such as genes or brain chemistry, life experiences such as trauma or abuse, or family history of mental health problems. Thinking, mood, and actions could all be affected by mental health
problems. Mental health problems are common but help is available. People with mental health problems can get better and many recover completely. Experiencing one or more of the following feelings or behaviors can be an early warning sign of a problem:
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Eating or sleeping too much or too little
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Pulling away from people and usual activities
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Having low or no energy
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Feeling numb or like nothing matters
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Having unexplained aches and pains
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Feeling helpless or hopeless
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Smoking, drinking, or using drugs more than usual
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Feeling unusually confused, forgetful, on edge, angry, upset, worried, or scared
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Yelling or fighting with family and friends
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Experiencing severe mood swings that cause problems in relationships
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Having persistent thoughts and memories you can’t get out of your head
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Hearing voices or believing things that are not true
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Thinking of harming yourself or others
Inability to perform daily tasks like taking care of your kids or getting to work or school It can be challenging to move forward and address mental health problems. It can be helpful to rely on family and others for support, but at some point, you must make positive changes to your mental health on your own. You can do this by connecting with a support group, professional counseling, and developing coping skills. Other suggestions are to stay positive, getting physically n
Continued on page 6
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Community Resources for Health
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HE FEDERAL HEALTH RESOURCES and Services Administration (HRSA) works with six national organizations that provide training and technical assistance to migrant health centers. These organizations specialize in health issues specific to migrant farmworkers, and form the Farmworker Health Network (FHN.) These six organizations provide training and assistance to migrant health centers, and resources in education, consultation, service programs, referrals and more. They are able to connect you with health centers in your area. The six organizations are: n National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC); Phone: (301) 347-0400; www.nachc.org n Migrant Clinicians Network (MCN); Phone (512) 327-2017; www.migrantclinician.org n Migrant Health Promotion; Phone: (956) 968-3600; www.mhpsalud. org n Health Outreach Partners; Phone:
(510) 268-0091; www.outreachpartners.org n Farmworker Justice; Phone: (202) 293-5420; www.farmworkerjustice. org n National Center for Farmworker Health (NCFH); Phone: (512) 312-5451 www.ncfh.org If you are insured with Medi-Cal, you can also make use of the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) which provides Californians with access to affordable and high-quality health care, including medical, dental, mental health, substance use treatment services and long-term care. If you do not have health insurance,
you can contact Covered California at 1-800-300-1506, TTY:1-888-889-4500 or visit their website at www.coveredca. com. Covered California can help you determine whether you qualify for Medi-Cal or federal subsidies, and can provide you with options and costs. DHCS funds health care services for about 13.5 million Medi-Cal members. About one-third of Californians receive health care services financed or organized by DHCS, most of which are low-income families, children, pregnant women, seniors, and persons with disabilities. Programs the DHCS offers include: n California Children’s Services n Child Health and Disability Prevention program n The Genetically Handicapped Persons Program n The Newborn Hearing Screening Program n The Family Planning, Access, Care, Continued on next page
Agricultural Jobs available to U.S. workers under H-2A contract You may apply for these jobs by phone or in person at your nearest Employment Development Department (EDD) field office CalJOBS Number
Job Title
Pay Rate
Contract Dates
Positions
City of Job
Employer’s County
America’s Job Centers of California (AJCC)
15530682
Farmworker Lime and Grapes
$12.57
10/20/17 3/17/18
55
Various
Riverside, San Diego, Imperial
Indio AJCC (760) 863-2500
15521121
Farmworker Berries
$12.57
9/25/1711/17/17
86
Macdoel
Siskiyou
EDD Redding (530) 225-2185
15519854
Farmworker Oranges and Tangerines
$12.57
10/15/175/25/18
120
Various
Fresno, Tulare, Kern
Delano AJCC (661) 721-5823
15512084
Farmworker Mixed vegetales Farmworker Letuce
$12.57
9/29/17 -6/28/18 10/16/1711/11/17
48
Nipomo, San Luis Obispo Huron
San Luis Obispo
San Luis Obispo AJCC (805) 903-1400 Hanford AJCC (559) 585-3523”
15511792
$12.57
100
Fresno
The H-2A temporary agricultural program allows agricultural employers who anticipate a shortage of domestic workers to bring nonimmigrant foreign workers to the U.S. to perform agricultural labor or services of a temporary or seasonal nature. The H-2A employers must demonstrate that qualified U.S. workers are not available for the job and the employment of temporary foreign workers will not adversely affect the wages and working conditions of U.S. workers similarly employed. Preference in hiring will be given to qualified U.S. workers before employers are allowed to bring in foreign workers under the program.
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Community Resources Continued from previous page
and Treatment (PACT) program n Program of All-Inclusive Care for the Elderly (PACE) n Every Woman Counts n Coordinated Care Management DHCS also provides programs for underserved Californians, including farm workers and American Indian communities. There is a list of county offices on the DHCS website www.dhcs.ca.gov) that you can use to contact your local county health and social services office, which will be able to connect you to more resources in your area. Sources: www.dhcs.ca.gov; www.farmworkerjustice.org/content/ migrant-health-centers
Voice of the Fields
California Circulation: 45,000 copies
www.LaCooperativa.org Published monthly by: La Cooperativa Campesina de California 1107 9th Street, Suite 420, Sacramento, CA 95814 Phone 916.388.2220 Fax 916.388.2425 This product was funded by the U.S. Department of Labor’s Employment and Training Administration. The opinions expressed in this product are exclusive of the authors and does not necessarily reflect the official position of the U.S. Department of Labor. This product is copyrighted by the institution that created it. Internal use by an organization and/or personal use by an individual for non-commercial purposes is permissible. All other uses require the prior authorization of the copyright owner.
Prenatal Care
Mental Health
Continued from page 1
Continued from page 3
five times more likely to die, than those born to mothers who get care. During prenatal visits, your obstetrician or family doctor monitors you and the baby, and takes in consideration any previous medical conditions or genetic disorders that may affect the mother or the baby. They also conduct medical screening tests and offer advice on healthy eating, exercise, and what to expect during labor and delivery. Prenatal care involves education and counseling on different stages in your pregnancy. The state of California encourages you to participate in prenatal visits to ensure healthy future generations. Every state in the United States has a program to help pregnant women receive medical care, information, advice, and other services important for a healthy pregnancy. To find out about the program in California: n Call 1-800-311-BABY (1-800-3112229). This toll-free telephone number will connect you to the Health Department in your area code. n For information in Spanish, call 1-800-504-7081. n Call California Health and Human Services Agency (916) 654-3454
active, getting enough sleep, and helping others. This step is really important because positive mental health can help your realize your full potential, cope with the stress of life, work productively, and make meaningful connections and contribute to your community. Your health insurance may provide you with mental health coverage. Be sure to ask your insurer if your plan has mental health benefits. Additionally, Medicare covers a wide range of mental health services. If you would like to find a local treatment center you can call the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) Treatment Referral Helpline at 1-877-SAMHSA7 (1-877-726-4727) Through SAMHSA you can get general information on mental health and locate treatment services in your area. Speak to a live person, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST (5 a.m. to 5 p.m. PST.) Here is a list of resources you can use if you require immediate attention. National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) or Live Online Chat. If you or someone you know is suicidal or in emotional distress, contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Site. Trained crisis workers are available to talk 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Your confidential and toll-free call goes to the nearest crisis center in the Lifeline national network. If the situation is potentially life threatening, get immediate emergency assistance by calling 911.
Sources: www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/ prenatal-care
Content produced by ALZA Strategies, a full-service strategy firm that offers quality media relations, crisis communications, public affairs services, and expertise into the growing Latino market.
Source: www.mentalhealth.gov
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