Sierra Vista

By Bonnie Childers, MPA

Sierra Vista Child & Family Services would like to recognize Tiffany Rivera and Karina Franco, two shining stars within our agency that embody women empowerment in mental health services. Sierra Vista has grown into one of the largest nonprofit agencies in the region, serving more than 17,000 children and families each year and providing services since 1972. We provide a continuum of services to support and strengthen our community. Sierra Vista would like to highlight two strong women with a servant’s heart, Tiffany and Karina, and acknowledge their commitment to caring.

Tiffany Rivera, MA, Director of Outpatient Services, has been serving with Sierra Vista for 31 years to help restore the lives of others. Tiffany began her journey in 1990 as a childcare worker on the group homes’ graveyard shift to attend college during the day. From 1990 to 2000, Tiffany worked on the front line of our Residential Treatment Group Homes, where she counseled countless numbers of children struggling in foster care or in-home placements. Today as Director of Outpatient Services, she leads the way by providing the clinical direction of our outpatient programs. She oversees ADHD clinic, Children’s Outpatient Program, Early Intervention Program, Home Based Services Program, Public School-Based Services Program, Turlock Outpatient clinic, LIFE Path, and First Step. Tiffany believes only a life lived in the service of others is worth living.

Karina Franco, MS, Director of Family Resource Center Division, has been serving with Sierra Vista for 16 years. Born and raised in Central Valley, Karina is a child of two immigrant farmworkers. Growing up, she witnessed first-hand the struggles her parents and neighborhoods experienced without formal education and language barriers. Since 2005, through her dedication and grit to Sierra Vista, Karina helped grow the Family Resource Center from one site to five Family Resource Centers and a satellite site. Karina is proud to serve the people of the community; her services shape her passion and purpose to help those in need. Her commitment and love for the children and families and her life experiences as the child of two immigrant farmworkers allow her to serve with purpose.

Judy Kindle, our recently retired CEO, shared with us, “Having worked with Sierra Vista Child & Family Services for over 35 years, I have enjoyed watching Tiffany and Karina grow in their professions. I have experienced their commitment and dedication to helping those in our community who are the most vulnerable. They have improved the lives of so many children and families. Through their leadership, they have encouraged and empowered other Sierra Vista employees to be their best.”

We applaud the public service of Tiffany and Karina; thank you for being champions in our community.

CFRA 2021 IMPACTS ON FEHA/ADA, WORK COMP, PREGNANCY AND MEDICAL

LEAVES: RED FLAGS FOR SMALL AND LARGE EMPLOYERS

In this workshop, you will:

Understand the implications of the new CFRA Amendments

Pregnancy, Workers' Comp, and ADA/FEHA accommodations. Learn practical, clear, simple strategies for responding to employees who may be committing fraud or abusing leave. Gain enlightenment on the one major step you do not want to miss as a large or small employer in CA covered by the NEW CFRA Amendments to avoid litigation.

on both small and large employers, as it relates to other medical leaves.

To register please contact flopez@modchamber.org or go to www.modchamber.org.

st. Luke’s Family Practice serves all ages

By Ericka C. Carranza-Perez PA-C, Office Manager

St. Luke’s Family Practice is a non-profit, full scope family practice (all ages) serving both the completely uninsured and those able to pay in the Direct Primary Care (DPC) model. Our benefactors (paying patients) have access to us 24/7 and are able to reach us by phone, text or email. We offer same day access to accommodate patient’s schedules. We offer 30-60 minute appointments so we have adequate time to address patient concerns, as well as after hours and weekend care in the office to avoid ER visits when possible. We can extend care while hospitalized if needed, do home visits and nursing home visits. Drs. Heck and Kiesel are broadly trained family practitioners, each with their special interests and talents, with each providing excellent, holistic care to our patients. For our “recipients” with no insurance or ability to pay, we offer the same full scope care, free of charge in the outpatient setting. Benefactor members help to support the mission of caring for those with no access to health care.

Our services include but are not limited to physicals, chronic disease management, office procedures (skin biopsies, wound care, women’s health biopsies, sutures, casting and EKG’s), pediatric care, well child physicals, sports physicals, and women’s health physicals. We enjoy spending time educating about health and wellness and developing lasting relationships with our patients. The ease of access and ability of our group to spend quality time with patients are some of the most attractive aspects of St. Luke’s. As physicians, we relish the ability to get to know our patients on a more intimate level and play an active role in their continued health. We have been extraordinarily blessed to be able to address the needs of our patients during this COVID-19 pandemic. Our unique practice allowed us to quickly mobilize to be able to continue to serve our patients without ever closing the office.

We have been able to offer testing and continue seeing patients in person, via telephone, Skype, Facetime, at home or in skilled facilities since the first lockdown last Spring. Soon we will be offering rapid COVID-19 testing right in our office. Our doctors are up to date on the latest treatments and have been able to serve those patients that required admission to the hospital. We will also be distributing vaccine as it becomes available. Our goal is to serve our patients here at St. Luke’s as thoroughly as possible with the highest quality of care and personal service.

“To find health should be the object of the doctor. Anyone can find disease.”

Exercise plays a significant role in disease prevention. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, physical activity helps to reduce individuals’ risk of chronic conditions, including type 2 diabetes, heart disease, various types of cancer, and dementia.

As vital as exercise is to a healthy lifestyle, many people simply are not getting enough of it. A recent report from the National Center for Health Statistics found that only about 23 percent of American adults between the ages of 18 and 64 are meeting the benchmarks for physical activity guidelines set forth by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. And that problem is not unique to the United States.

A study from Statistics Canada found that only about 17 percent of adults in Canada were meeting the minimum guidelines for weekly physical activity established by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology.

Such figures illustrate the emphasis that many adults must place on getting more physical activity. But returning to physical activity after a long layoff or becoming physically active for the first time are not as simple as lacing up a pair of running shoes and hitting the road. In fact, the American College of Sports Medicine notes the importance of preparticipation health screening for adults about to engage in physical activity after a period of inactivity. What is a pre-participation health screening?

A pre-participation health screening is an examination conducted by a physician that looks for particular issues that may interfere with one’s ability to exercise. Doctors will likely ask patients about their medical histories and their family histories as well, as each of these factors can be used to determine whether a person is ready for physical activity or any restrictions need to be put in place to protect them.

What happens after a pre-participation health screening?

Once a physician conducts a health screening, he or she will conclude if an individual can exercise and how much he or she can exercise. Adults who are cleared to exercise but have never been physically active or have gone years without exercising will likely be advised to take it slowly at first. Doctors may provide specific exercise recommendations or refer patients to a sports medicine professional who can help them devise an appropriate workout regimen. Doctors also may recommend follow-up appointments to track patients’ progress. Such appointments can be invaluable, as they can help people whose overall health has improved after limited exercise ramp up the intensity of their workouts, which can help them continue on the course to a healthier life. However, it’s important that people consult their physicians before increasing the intensity of their workouts. A second screening might even be worthwhile, helping people and their physicians alter workout regimens that reflect their improved overall health.

The American College of Sports Medicine notes the importance of pre-participation health screening for adults about to engage in physical activity after a period of inactivity.