Health & Safety Community Updates
April 2020 Updates
April 10, 2020
Celebrating Black Maternal Health Week: April 11 - 17
We will be posting all the podcast to our social media sites starting tomorrow through the end of the week next week. So, stay tuned!
Click here to listen to the first episode: https://soundcloud.com/user-699046318/pregnancy-podcast-introduction?in=user-699046318/sets/the-gift-black-pregnancy
An Update from Sacramento County Public Health on COVID-19 Testing
Sacramento County Public Health (SCPH) is not currently seeing the racial/ethnic disparities among Blacks in the number of COVID-19 cases or deaths that has been observed in other geographic areas of the Country. However, we want to make every effort to ensure equitable access to testing to the extent possible, and to keep these disparities from impacting our communities in the future. Please share the information below as you see appropriate.
SCPH, in partnership with Verily (a Google sister company) began offering drive thru COVID-19 testing at Cal Expo in mid-March. The intent of this site is to reduce demand and burden on clinics and emergency departments by offering testing to residents with mild to moderate symptoms. It’s unclear how long the site will remain open, but SCPH will continue to operate it as long as there is both the demand and the availability of supplies needed to run it.
Residents can schedule an appointment online by going to https://www.projectbaseline.com/study/covid-19/.
A few notes:
· Those interested in testing will need to create an account and answer some online screening questions to determine eligibility (about a 15 minute process).
· Participants will receive an appointment when they register online. Appointments are scheduled about 1-3 days in advance.
· Participants must have an ID with their date of birth.
· Participants must arrive in a car with functioning windows that can roll up and down (no motorcycles, no Uber/Lyft, no pedestrians, no bikes, no public transit).
· Participants remain in their vehicle throughout their visit.
· Most participants are in and out of the testing facility in less than 20 minutes.
· Participants receive results a few days after testing.
· This testing option is NOT for individuals with severe symptoms such as severe cough, shortness of breath, severe fever, or other concerning symptoms that may need more immediate care.
· Only individuals age 18 or older can be tested at this site.
Questions about the project can be directed to COVID19@saccounty.net
COVID-19 Info on Maternal and Mental Health
CIL Food Distribution Sites
Recipe for Food Boxes
Food Literacy Center
Online Classes This Week
Tune in to Facebook for live cooking classes for kids! Each week, we'll share two recipes, lessons, and activities.
- Wednesday, April 8, 11:30 am
- Guacamole and Fat Lesson
Needed Supplies List - Friday, April 10, 11:30 am
Noodle Soup and Salt Lesson
Needed Supplies List
Videos will be loaded to YouTube following the live feed.
Direct Service Programs for African American Pregnant Mothers
A Message From Sacramento Self-Help Housing
I hope this message finds you all well. The Covid-19 Virus is changing the way we do business, here is an important note for clients. Any client that is being effected by the Covid 19 virus regarding rent payment can file a Tenant Protection Program Tenant Delay of Rent Payment – Covid- 19 form. This form needs to be submitted with supporting documentation verifying loss of wages to the landlord please make sure the forms are emailed or certified mail to make sure our clients have proof. I have attached the link below where you can find the form. Please, advise clients they are still responsible for the rent and always encourage clients to pay at least a portion of the rent because they will be responsible for all backed up rent. If you have any questions or need assistance feel free to contact me. This form is only for families and individuals that live in City lines. For county lines please call Renters Helpline (916) 389-7877.
Public Charge Resources
A Message from First5 Sacramento,
Here are some resources for families regarding public charge during the COVID-19 crisis. My staff have been reaching out to all sectors to find out how families can connect to information and services. First 5 is pushing these resources out to families via our social media platforms (Facebook, Instagram, etc.) where we can reach the most people and provide general info and connections to local resources. We’ll work it into next week’s content and then keep messages going every couple weeks.
CAPC and the Birth & Beyond partners are using this link to helpful fact sheets that World Relief created. They have been super helpful in understanding the complexity of public charge but also in understanding how to change the messaging so immigrant families know their rights.
https://protectingimmigrantfamilies.org/know-your-rights/
Catholic Charities has a huge supportive network for immigrants:
https://www.scd.org/catholic-charities-and-social-concerns/diocesan-immigrant-support-network
California Rural Legal Assistance Foundation (CRLAF) and the Sacramento Family Unity, Education, and Legal (FUEL) Network for Immigrants are committed to supporting and serving immigrants during the 2019-2020 Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. They have compiled critical information and resources to help immigrant communities navigate this challenging time, including some great PDF’s on the link below:
https://www.crlaf.org/coronavirus
Public charge does not apply for emergency services. You can also contact the staff at CRLA for specific questions:
Nilsen Gomez ngomez@crlaf.org
Alfredo Rivas Gomez arivasgomez@crlaf.org
phone number: 916-234-3734
The Children’s Partnership based out of LA has overview resources explaining public charge along with social media posts. Here are some samples:
About Public Charge and who has to take the test:
https://www.keepyourbenefitsca.org/
5 Facts on Public Charge: https://www.ilrc.org/sites/default/files/resources/2019.08_public_charge_5_facts_final.pdf
Resources and toolkits from Protect Immigrant Families: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1A7pH2GJROh8L7-YDdDgbPo3G2GAM5wZe5j2g7HGl9zk/edit
La Familia is definitely talking to families about this issue and has a partnership with the Mexican Consulate for a program called “Ventanilla de Salud” which includes information about Public Charge.
The school districts have all been educating parents on this and we have been checking in about the changes. However, we would hesitate to direct anyone to call a school right now, as many of them only have personnel around for meal delivery.
California College Student Emergency Support Fund Launches in Response to COVID-19
During these challenging times, it is more important than ever to help the most vulnerable students stay in school, earn their degrees, and build a better future for themselves and our communities.
The California College Student Emergency Support Fund has launched to give one-time $500 hardship grants to students. Administered by Mission Asset Fund (MAF), the Fund is a statewide philanthropic response to address emergency needs for the state’s low-income college students, including undocumented immigrants, foster youth, and those who are housing insecure.
As colleges and universities respond to the worldwide COVID-19 pandemic, students find themselves facing a wide variety of challenges and costs. The Fund was created to cover unplanned financial expenses such as housing, technology, and more to support educational continuity, persistence, and degree completion for California’s college students through this crisis.
Am I Eligible?
To be eligible for the California College Student Emergency Support Fund, students must:
- Be currently enrolled full-time (12+ units) as an undergraduate at a California Community College, California State University, or University of California campus
- Have earned at least 24 semester units or 36 quarter units (i.e., one academic year of coursework)
- Be low-income, with a maximum Estimated Family Contribution (EFC) of $5,576 (equivalent to eligibility for Pell Grant) or eligible for a California College Promise Grant Fee Waiver (formerly known as the BOG fee waiver)
After approval, students can expect to receive the money via electronic transfer within 72 hours.
Applications and grant payments to students will be processed by MAF. MAF is a well-established non-profit organization that carried out a similar emergency fund effort in 2017 to pay for DACA (Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals) recipients’ renewal fees.
We encourage interested students to apply as quickly as possible as these funds will go fast.
It will help to have the following items at the ready: your transcript, financial aid eligibility (any financial aid statement or award letter that shows EFC or California College Promise Grant Fee Waiver), and electronic banking login information (not required).
College and Career Readiness
Health and Services Update
If you have any updates, available resources or other useful knowledge or tips to help our community out during this time, please feel free to send those to us through email: raacd@sierrahealth.org.
Email: raacd@sierrahealth.org
Website: http://blackchildlegacy.org/
Phone: (916) 993-7701
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RAACDSac/
Twitter: @RAACD_Sac