Sequoia Healthcare District 2018 Annual Report

A Lifeline for Challenged Communities Dear Sequoia Healthcare District Resident, As the new CEO of Sequoia Healthcare District, I am honored to work on advancing our mission and providing opportunities for all District residents to experience optimal health—physically, emotionally, and socially—regardless of age, race, income, or immigration status.

While our District includes some of the most affluent communities in the country, we also have many residents who are unable to get the care they need because of mental health challenges or lack of access.

Sequoia Healthcare District is committed to closing the healthcare divide by targeting our investments to those at higher risk for illness and who may not have the resources to enjoy optimal health. We are proud of our success in serving the tens of thousands of District residents who rely on us and our partners.

The District is governed by Directors elected by you to ensure that your tax dollars are managed carefully. You can learn more about us by visiting our new website www.seqhd.org.

In good health, Pamela Kurtzman, CEO

SEQUOIA HEALTHCARE DISTRICT 2018 ANNUAL REPORT

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

DISTRICT STAFF

Kathleen M. Kane, President

Pamela Kurtzman, MPH, CEO

Kim Griffin, RN, Vice-president

Karen Li, MD, Director of School Health/HeartSafe Coordinator

Jerry Shefren, MD, Secretary/Treasurer

Heidi Stamper, Executive Coordinator

Arthur J. Faro, Director

Jenny Bratton, Program Coordinator

Jack Hickey, Director

Attend a Board Meeting Public meetings are held the first Wednesday of every other month at 4:30 PM.

Visit Our Website Visit our new website at www.seqhd.org and follow us on Facebook.

Making an Impact Our mission: “To improve the health of District residents by enhancing access to care and promoting wellness” says it all.

We support safety net programs that are vital to the health of the communities we serve, which include:  Primary care & Prevention  Dentistry  Elder and hospice care  Food assistance  Mental health support  Substance abuse treatment

12% of California youth reported at least one major depressive episode in the past year?

Approximately 2,000 youth in San Mateo County receive mental health services annually?

Healthy Schools Initiative

$ 3.99 million

Future Program Investments

$ 2.48 million

Caring Community Grants

$ 2.4 million

Samaritan House

$ 731,872

Ravenswood Family Health Center

$ 703,054

70 Strong

$ 700,000

Other Signature Programs

$ 449,000

San Mateo Medical Center (Fair Oaks)

$ 340,259

Pioneering Youth Programs

Did you know?

1 in 4 children experience clinical anxiety?

2017-18 Community Health Investment

As one of the few healthcare districts in California to provide comprehensive support to schools, Sequoia Healthcare District (SHD) has pioneered support services for youth mental health through our Healthy Schools Initiative (HSI). SHD funds critical staffing (Wellness Coordinators, counselors, nurses, PE coaches) and health, PE, and wellness programs in 8 local school districts. These efforts are being led by our new Director of School Health, Karen Li, MD. SHD sponsored daytime classroom and evening community screenings of Angst, a documentary on anxiety, in partnership with Sequoia Union High School District’s Wellness Advisory Council and community allies Parent Venture, Children’s Health Council/Parent Education Network, and Palo Alto Medical Foundation. Every parent who attended a screening received a Parent Green Folder, a resource guide developed by SHD to further empower parents to help their children and teens.

2017-18 Income & Expense

To see the 2018-19 budget, visit our website www.seqhd.org.

Investing in Community Health— A Success Story The Samaritan House Food Pharmacy, a Sequoia Healthcare District partnership with Second Harvest Food Bank, is a comprehensive clinic and food distribution initiative for patients with diabetes aimed at breaking the cycle that currently places low income families at 2 to 3 times higher incidence of diabetes than the general population.

The program’s holistic approach to wellness and disease management has proven highly beneficial to low-income patients with diabetes. The food pharmacies assist in disease management and prevention by providing patients and their families with key nutritional knowledge as well as access to the right foods, all free of charge. Patients are also given healthy cooking demonstrations and matched with a physician and nutritional counselor to develop customized diet plans.

Since the program’s inauguration in 2016, Food Pharmacies have distributed 11,096 bags of food ... … and have served 271 unduplicated patients with 1042 family members who have also benefitted.

Over time, clients are seeing a significant reduction in A1C levels and are showing more health improvement overall.

Strengthening Partnerships Sequoia Healthcare District serves many of its most vulnerable residents by supporting allies offering primary care and other safety net services. Our grants support the Ravenswood Family Health Center, Samaritan House (Redwood City Clinic), and San Mateo Medical Center (Fair Oaks), all of whom provide critical medical and clinical services to the uninsured and under-insured.

Working with the San Mateo County Health System and local agencies, Sequoia Healthcare District makes sure that gaps are filled in service areas. Our collaborative leadership with San Mateo County Oral Health Coalition, for example, implemented a strategic plan to improve access to dental care. SHD also supports over 60 community agencies and service providers such as Second Harvest Food Bank, Meals on Wheels, Catholic Charities, Edgewood, and Caminar.

Looking Ahead Sequoia Healthcare District takes its stewardship of taxpayer resources seriously. All programs and budgetary items are approved by the five-member Board of Directors and strictly governed by District procedures and guidelines.

In 2017, the Sequoia Healthcare District Board of Directors adopted a resolution to implement zone elections starting in November, 2018. Voters will be able to elect Board members for three open positions for four-year terms to take effect December, 2018.

These Board members reside in Zones A (purple), C (yellow) and E (blue). Voters can elect candidates who reside in zones B (pink) and D (green) for two open positions with four-year terms in 2020.

Kathleen M. Kane, term expires 2020 Kim Griffin, term expires 2020 Jerry Shefren, Zone E, up for re-election in 2018 Arthur J. Faro, Director, Zone A, up for re-election in 2018 Jack Hickey, Director, Zone C, up for re-election 2018

Our community by the numbers: 25% of Redwood City residents live in poverty.

1 in 10 people in San Mateo County are food insecure.

44% of San Mateo County residents are immigrants. 7.6% are undocumented.

525 Veterans Boulevard Redwood City, CA 94063

Local Residential Customer

(650) 421-2155 www.seqhd.org

Our Signature Programs Healthy Schools Initiative  Our investment in school health provides for nearly 28,000 students across 8 school districts.  The PE+ program, offered through our partnership with Peninsula Community Center, provides physical education to students in 12 schools in the Redwood City School District.  SHD supports mental health counseling services within area schools. We have also helped bring high school students self-care resources like the Neuroscience of Addiction (NOA), currently offered as part of the SUHSD curriculum.

Living Healthy Workshops Our Living Healthy Workshops jump-start your journey to physical and mental well-being. Six weekly, hour-long workshops provide gentle peer support and a health curriculum covering pain and stress management, nutrition, mindfulness and other fundamental themes. Check our website for new workshops in your neighborhood!

HeartSafe  All 9th grade students in the SUHSD received Hands-Only CPR training in 2017-18, while the community received free CPR workshops.  We sponsor and promote free student heart screening events, open to all District students: The next heart screening will take place at Sequoia High School on November 4th. Register at www.viaheartproject.com/screenings.  Register for our free infant and adult Hands-Only CPR classes at our website, www.seqhd.org or find us on Eventbrite.

70 Strong 70 Strong was launched two years ago to address the issue of senior social isolation. Created with Peninsula Family Services, 70 Strong offers a community navigator and free directory website to guide adults ages 60 and up and their families to free or low-cost community services. Connect with us on www.70strong.org.