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Dientes Relaunches Radcliff Outreach • Volunteer Center to Launch Civic Life Zoom Series Starting Oct. 6
COMMUNITY NEWS Dientes Relaunches Radcliff Outreach
About 30% of Santa County children age 3-9 did not go to the dentist in 2018, according to the Oral Health Access Santa Cruz County 2021 Report Card.
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That is something the nonprofit, Dientes, aims to change along with Salud Para le Gente, a nonprofit that provide health and dental care in South County.
Dental decay is one of the most common chronic childhood diseases. In fact, children with poor oral health are three times more likely to miss school because of dental pain. With schools back in session, Dientes is working to eliminate barriers to care—such as transportation—by bringing preventative services to local schools.
The outreach program offers oral health evaluations on-site, including x-rays, and procedures such as cleanings, topical fluoride application, and sealants. For many students seen through the program, this will be their first visit to the dentist.
On Sept. 10, Dientes staff saw 23 children at Radcliff Elementary, the first of 15 schools where Dientes is providing preventative care as part of their outreach program.
“There are thousands of children in our community living in poverty who don’t have access to high quality, affordable dental care,” said Dientes CEO Laura Marcus. “Our goal is to make prevention more common than treatment by ensuring all children have a regular, ongoing source of dental care and understand the importance of taking care of their teeth.”
Last spring, due to the pandemic, Dientes modified its program by providing care outdoors to 55 children at four schools. With the return of in-person instruction, the goal is to serve more students by offering indoor care and following COVID-19 safety protocols. n Abby, a 5th grader at Radcliff School, pauses for a photo after a good checkup.
Volunteer Center Launching Civic Life Zoom Series
The Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County, founded in 1967, is one of 10 organizations nationwide selected for a grant from the Points of Light Foundation for a pilot program to inspire and activate all generations of residents to act for good.
Volunteer Center’s program will feature nine Civic Life Town Hall events, on Zoom or in person, depending on safety issues. The events began October 6 on Zoom.
In 2020, Points of Light Foundation studied how to convert good intentions into positive action, finding a “Civic Circle” to key to an individual doing good in the community (ranging from volunteering and donating to social media sharing, learning about a cause, making thoughtful purchasing decisions, and voting.)
The grant will enable Volunteer Center to host nine 90-minute sessions that will enable participants to learn, connect and act on each person’s power to influence their civic life and take action to support causes they care about. Panel members who are local activists or experts in each theme area will share their knowledge and experience to inform and inspire participants to act.
“There is a growing movement of people who want to be constructive, engaged and create meaningful change in our community and our world. This transformation is happening in spite of, or perhaps inspired by the fact that our community and our world feel fractured as we struggle to face huge problems like public health, affordable housing and income inequality, as well as generational issues like climate change, racism and the rise of anti-democratic governance,” said Karen Delaney, executive director of Volunteer Center of Santa Cruz County. “We are excited for this opportunity to build a growing community of people, businesses and groups connected for good.”
The Town Hall events are taking place from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Participants will receive a guide to explore the topic beforehand, participate in facilitated breakout discussions focused on learning and action, and, following the session, each person will receive information about opportunities for engagement.
The theme of the first event on Zoom was “Voice,” highlighting ways to effectively advocate for a cause. Panel members included Don Lane, housing activist, former Santa Cruz mayor and City Council person; Nallely Martinez, arts and cultural activist for Arts Council of Santa Cruz County; and Adam Spickler, diversity activist, Cabrillo College Trustee, first openly trans elected official in Santa Cruz County.
Future dates and topics via Zoom include: • Oct. 27: Service (local, national, international panelists) • Nov. 17:Donate (donations that make a difference) • Dec. 27: Purchase power (how to make decisions to affect good)
Next year town halls may be in person or via Zoom; a decision will depend on
COVID safety guidelines. 2022 Topics are: • Feb. 9: Work (employers who give back)
“Civic Life” page 30
“Mental Health” from page 10
In addition to the record funding we included in the current state budget to address student mental health, AB 309 will provide schools with model mental health referral protocols that will enable our teachers and other school staff to connect students with the help they need.”
Since the fatal stabbing, Pajaro Valley school have increased mental health counselors on campuses. Pajaro Valley Prevention and Student Assistance, based at 411 E. Lake Ave., Watsonville, serves the Pajaro Valley school district.
Suzie Skadan, president of California School Nurses Organization., supported AB 309.
She said, “School nurses are often the initial contact person in the school setting to identify a student with a possible mental health need, then connect families to the on-campus or local service provider. Providing an easy-to-follow referral protocol system, developed by qualified school professionals, will increase and enable a greater number of school staff to assist with student mental health referral and improve connecting students and families with the tools for improved mental health and well-being.”
The Citizens Commission on Human Rights opposed AB 309, saying 39 percent of mental health issues are caused by physical disease, which the bill did not address. n
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For more information, see https://www. suicideispreventable.org/know-the-signs/
“Women in Office” from page 18
Rose Filicetti, who spent 18 years as executive director of the Santa Clara County School Boards Association then founded Nonprofit Connection Santa Cruz County in 2020, is president of the seven-member Santa Cruz County Board of Education. She’s also a leader in Close the Gap California, which aims to elect more women to state office.
“There’s never been a woman from Santa Cruz County elected to state office,” she said. “I was flabbergasted.”
For those not ready to run for public office, one option is to apply for an appointed nonpartisan advisory commission within a city or the county, depending on your residence.
Jillian Ritter, an analyst for First District Supervisor Ryan Coonerty and appointed to the county Women’s Commission, spoke of the benefits of serving in that capacity. She is co-chair.
The next meeting meeting is on Zoom is 6 p.m. Oct. 21. n •••
Barbara Lewis, president of the county League of Women Voters, said the organization’s website — https://www.lwv.org/ local-leagues/lwv-santa-cruz-county — offers resources.
“No CalFire Probe” from page 15
While the County contracts with CalFire for local fire protection and Emergency Medical Services in local unincorporated areas, CalFire is a State agency independent of County oversight. The fire was classified as a State Responsibility Area fire and CalFire responded to the incident through this larger State role.
County Fire resources were deployed in response to the incident and the County can request a local review of County resources deployed.
CalFire has published a report titled, 2020 Fire Siege, documenting the Statewide response to the 2020 fire season, which is available online.
• No provision exists in the current contract between the county and Cal Fire to develop after-action reports during the non-fire season.
AGREE: CalFire, as County Fire has participated in County after action reviews and participates in monthly coordination meetings with law enforcement, CAO, and the OR3.
Additionally, CalFire is active in leading evacuation planning efforts.
CalFire is an engaged partner, and remains so, despite the significant pressure of recent significant fire seasons.
After action reviews and transparency are best practices for all responding agencies. The County can explore incorporation of after-action reviews into future agreements with CalFire.
• The Board of Supervisors’ responses to the Findings and Recommendations of the 2020 Ready? Aim? Fire! report show a lack of engagement with the material and a lack of understanding of their role as advocates for the county.
DISAGREE: The Board responded to the report with accurate information and strongly advocates for its residents.
The Board, through County staff, has created the OR3, is seeking new grant funding opportunities, and is working with the Resource Conservation District and Fire Safe Council on strategic planning, grant development, and capacity building.
Additionally, OR3 and Planning Department staff went before the State Board of Forestry to advocate that no State regulatory changes impede the ability of CZU survivors to rebuild.
• The adequacy of resources for firefighting in the future is questioned due to uncertainty of mutual aid assistance, deployment and management of volunteer companies, and availability of funding.
AGREE: The mutual aid response from local partners was exemplary. At the time of this incident, many other incidents were active concurrently, creating competition for mutual aid resources.
Statewide mutual aid has experienced challenges due to the magnitude, scope, and duration of the mutual aid requests being received.
Volunteer staffing is strained locally, statewide, and at the national level as a result of the high standards necessary to certify volunteer firefighters.
Changing weather patterns have created a need for more adaptive approaches.
The State, in response to this changing environment, has allocated $25 million for prepositioning fire resources in anticipation of incidents
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Recommendations
• In the next 30 days the Board of Supervisors should conduct an investigation to challenge Cal Fire on their preparation for future fire events, Cal Fire’s response to the CZU Complex Fire, and give satisfactory answers to all residents’ questions and concernsas documented in this report.
WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED: The County Fire Chiefs Association met to discuss lessons learned and continue to meet and work together. Substantive concerns at the State level are outside the local span of control to address.
County Fire and its State CalFire partners provided a professional response under considerable strain from the magnitude of this incident.
The County will continue to partner with CalFire and community-based organizations to prepare for future fire incidents within Santa Cruz County.
• In the next six months the Board of Supervisors should adopt a formal policy for handling and logging resident complaints and requests for information.
WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED: Each Board of Supervisors district has their own process for logging resident complaints and requests for information.
Additionally, each County department has a process for receiving and responding to resident concerns.
Residents may also request information through the Public Records Act process, voice concerns via Board of Supervisors meetings, and use of the Whistleblower Hotline.
• Within the next six months, the Board of
Supervisors should require that Cal Fire produce timely after-action reports for all major incidents.
REQUIRES FURTHER ANALYSIS: CalFire, as County Fire, has participated in County after action reviews and participates in monthly coordination meetings with law enforcement, CAO, and the OR3.
The County Fire Chiefs Association met to discuss lessons e outside the local span of control to address. County Fire and its State CalFire partners provided a professional response under considerable strain from the magnitude of this incident.
• In the next 90 days the Board of Supervisors should direct staff to produce a lessons-learned document for the public summarizing their investigation of Cal
Fire and an action plan detailing how preparation for future fire events and response will be improved.
WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED: CalFire is a State agency independent of County oversight, however, the County will continue to work with CalFire as it relates to their County Fire protection of CSA 48 (Editor’s note: CSA 48 is County Fire) and will consider elements of strategic planning in determining future preparedness efforts.
• The Board of Supervisors should revisit its responses to the Grand Jury’s 2020
Ready? Aim? Fire! Report, and rewrite their responses by December 31, 2021 in a document posted on their website to demonstrate hands-on engagement and better preparation for the next fire season.
WILL NOT BE IMPLEMENTED: The Board responded to the report with accurate information and strongly advocates for its residents.
The Board, through County staff, has created the OR3, is seeking new grant funding opportunities, and is working with the Resource Conservation District and Fire Safe Council on strategic planning, grant development, and capacity building. n •••
Editor’s note: The county’s recovery office headed by longtime county staffer Dave Reid has a website https://www.co.santa-cruz.ca.us/ OR3.aspx with resources.
