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Fluoridated water is best way to reduce tooth decay Work continues on the partnership efforts of Santa Clara County Public Health Department and The Health Trust to fluoridate community water supplies. Fluoridation is safe, beneficial in helping to prevent tooth decay in children and adults, and cost effective. San Jose is the largest city in America whose water is not fluoridated.
“Silicon Valley, known for innovation and achievement, is still living in the 1940s when it comes to implementing a safe, beneficial and cost effective oral health strategy,” said Dr. Marty Fenstersheib, Santa Clara County Health Officer. “It is my job to inform this community about these choices and support efforts that will benefit the public’s health. Given the concerning trends we see in oral health and the advantages of fluoridation, I know our community should not wait any longer.” The Health Trust and the County are also working closely with water engineers at the Santa Clara Valley Water District and San Jose’s main water retailer, San Jose Water Company, to identify technical and operational changes needed for fluoridation so that fluoridation can be completed quickly once funding is secured. Read more about water fluoridation in Silicon Valley. Receive updates or show your support for water fluoridation in Silicon Valley. _____________________________________________________________
Open Air Health Fair goes where the people go – shopping at the flea market
Health educators know that the best way to get in contact with people who may not be receiving regular health care is to connect with them where they live and congregate. The popularity of The Health Trust’s annual Open Air Health Fair at the San Jose Berryessa Flea Market is a great example of the effectiveness in going where the people go. More than 10,000 come to the Flea Market to shop each weekend. On October 10-11 the shoppers found an extra bargain – free flu shots, free health screenings, health-related games and activities for kids, and a wealth of information about community resources for themselves and their families.
Staffed by hundreds of volunteers, the Open Air Health Fair offered activities for all age groups, youngsters through seniors. Many of the volunteers spoke Spanish or Vietnamese as well as English, and all had a friendly, high energy style that welcomed the diverse crowd to two pavilions filled with displays, games, and contact with health care professionals.
It was the 8th health fair held at the flea market by The Health Trust. Altogether, close to 3,000 individuals have received free health screenings, and approximately one third of those have been found to have high cholesterol, high blood glucose, high blood pressure and/or high BMI indicating they are at risk of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, and stroke. The Health Trust and its community partners refer participants to resources that will help them get more testing and treatment for these potentially serious health problems. Videos of past Open Air Health Fairs can be viewed on www.youtube.com/healthtrust. _____________________________________________________________
Speakers Bureau showcases diversity in health care professionals The teen years are when young people try to define themselves and their futures by looking at others: their peers, their parents, their teachers, their community, and celebrities. That’s why having positive role models is so important in helping teenagers learn about possibilities and options – to strive for a future that they may not have considered. Last year, The Health Trust launched a Health Professions Speakers Bureau to introduce diverse high school students to opportunities for careers in health care. Already, requests for presentations during this school year have surpassed last year’s total. Students who attended last year’s presentations increased their interest in a health career and their knowledge of the job responsibilities and benefits of various health professions. “I’ve had numerous students say they are interested in health professions of some type as a result of my class and, in large part, the things they learned from The Health Trust speakers,” said Heather Rottenborn, Science Department Chair at Ann Sobrato High School in Morgan Hill. “I am confident the speakers provided an effective outreach and touched many of my students to act.” Increasing the diversity of people working in the health care professions accomplishes more than opening up a career path to minorities. Numerous national studies have shown that racial and ethnic minority patients are more likely to have better health outcomes when they receive care from individuals with strong cultural competence. Racial and ethnic minority health professionals are also more likely to serve in diverse, low income communities where access to health care is limited. To request a presentation or volunteer with the Health Professions Speakers Bureau, contact Thuy-Tien Le at ThuyL@healthtrust.org or (408) 879-4103. _____________________________________________________________
Minority AIDS Initiative helps those living with HIV/AIDS
A report by the Kaiser Family Foundation released earlier this year showed that African Americans and Latinos in the U.S. are far more worried about contracting HIV than whites -- and for good reason. These two groups are disproportionately infected with HIV or AIDS. That is also true in Santa Clara County where, for example, African Americans make up only three percent of the population but have incidence and prevalence rates higher than any other racial/ethnic group.
The Health Trust AIDS Services is leading a Minority AIDS Initiative in Santa Clara County to reach out to racial and ethnic minorities and connect individuals living with HIV/AIDS with quality care and needed services. The progam is designed for those who have fallen out of medical care for longer than a year and those who have tested positive for HIV, but never received care. “Many individuals do not seek care because they are afraid,” said Robert Smart, Health Trust AIDS Services Program Associate. “Others don’t seek care or stop seeking care because the health care system can be so complicated and frustrating, especially if you don’t understand it or you have language barriers.” In Santa Clara County, African Americans make up 3 percent of the population, but 11 percent of all cumulative AIDS cases. The majority of newly diagnosed in Santa Clara County are Latino, and Latinos represent 41 percent of The Health Trust AIDS Services clients. The Minority AIDS Initiative is funded by a grant from the Santa Clara County HIV/AIDS Prevention and Control Program. If you would like more information about the Minority AIDS Initiative for yourself, your family, friends or clients, call Robert Smart at (408) 971-0852 or RobertS@healthtrust.org. _____________________________________________________________
Navigating Silicon Valley’s complex health care system can be difficult Silicon Valley is fortunate to have in high quality health care services available for individuals of all income levels and health conditions receive treatment. Finding your way through this “maze” of opportunities, however, can be confusing, intimidating, and frightening.
The Health Trust’s Health Care Navigation Program is designed to help people, particularly those who are uninsured or on Medi-Cal, have an easier time finding care, including prevention services and a “medical home,” a centralized source of health related services to ensure comprehensive care and continuity of care. Specifically, The Health Trust helps Navigation Program clients with:
Supported by a grant from the California Wellness Foundation, The Health Trust made close to 400 referrals in the past year and expects to help about 5,000 clients with health care navigation in the next three years. The program is based inside the office of Santa Clara County Social Services. “This is such an important program in making sure that all of our residents have access to care,” said Santa Clara County Supervisor George Shirakawa. “The County can enroll residents in Medi-Cal, but it is too easy for people to get lost in the complex health care system and not know what they need or where to go for care. The Health Trust Health Care Navigation Program is helping us be more effective in serving the community.” “The health care navigation service is such an important program,” added Norma Jacques-Herrera of Santa Clara County Social Services Agency. “Social Services enrolls eligible members into services such as Health Insurance, Food Stamps and Cash Assistance Programs, but some clients can feel like they are lost in the system and don’t know what they need or where to go for their care. The Health Trust helps educate on how to use their new services and links them to many more services that we offer. This partnership helps clients to access preventative care to address their health needs in a unique and comprehensive way.” _____________________________________________________________
Faith congregations learn about health disparities in Silicon Valley Faith congregations in Cupertino, Los Gatos, Saratoga and West San Jose had the opportunity to learn more about health disparities in Silicon Valley through a seven-part program sponsored by The Health Trust from April through October.
The Social Disparities and Health Series was hosted by parishes in the Diocese of San Jose’s Deanery 5 in partnership with Catholic Charities “Step Up Silicon Valley” campaign. Other faith congregations in each community were also invited to attend each of the monthly programs that featured segments from the PBS award-winning documentary “Unnatural Causes: Is Inequality Making Us Sick?” Discussion after each screening centered on how Silicon Valley can better address health disparities. Read more about the series in articles from The Valley Catholic posted on The Health Trust website, www.healthtrust.org/socialjustice. Healthy Communities Initiative
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