Health Trust Newsletter Fall 2009

Silicon Valley HealthCorps empowers community by

improving access to fresh produce

Silicon Valley HealthCorps supports community gardens

Families in the Washington neighborhood of San Jose began planting home gardens this fall with support from the Sacred Heart Community Services La Mesa Verde project, Friends of Master Gardeners, and a Health Trust grant.

An innovative and extensive effort to significantly increase the availability of fresh, low cost fruits and vegetables to residents of Silicon Valley is launching this fall as a partnership of 10 community organizations and The Health Trust.

At the forefront of the campaign is the new Silicon Valley HealthCorps, funded by a $1.02 million AmeriCorps grant that will recruit 46 HealthCorps members to work full-time and part-time on expanding Silicon Valley’s community gardens, school garden nutrition education, and farm to school programs. Read full story.

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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.

Fluoride is safe, effective, and inexpensive.

The risk of tooth decay in children and adults is reduced with fluoridated water.

“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.

Receive updates or show your support for water fluoridation in Silicon Valley.

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November is National Family Caregivers Month

National Family Caregivers Month is observed every November as a time to thank, support, educate and empower family caregivers. It not only celebrates the contributions of caregivers, it draws attention to the challenges caregivers face and raises awareness about community programs and public policies that offer support.

Caregivers Count Conference - November 14

Caregivers can be a son or daughter, spouse, another relative, a friend or a concerned neighbor. Sometimes, individuals don’t even realize they have slipped into a caregiving role because the changes in need and dependency creep up slowly. Are you a caregiver? If you do one or more of the following, the answer is “yes.”

Read full story and advice for caregivers.

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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.

Mexican Consulate David Figueroa receives his health screening at the Open Air Health Fair.

David Figueroa, Consulado General de Mexico en San Jose, received his free health screening at the Open Air Health Fair.

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.

Read full story.

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Healthy Steps guidebook coming in early 2010

25,000 copies of the Healthy Steps physical activity guide for ages 50+ will be distributed throughout Santa Clara County.

Silicon Valley residents ages 50+ will get help with their New Year’s resolution to improve their health with The Health Trust’s publication of “Healthy Steps in Silicon Valley,” a guidebook to help people get more physically active in their daily lives.

The easy-to-read and easy-to-use guide will be available in both English and Spanish, and include information for all types of physical activity – from at-home exercises to hiking clubs and water aerobics classes.

An Advisory Group representing 26 Silicon Valley organizations that work with older adults contributed to the guide, along with suggestions from individuals in the community. It was developed by Health Research for Action, a center in the University of California, Berkeley School of Public Health.

Read full story.

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Local Congressman shares his thoughts on

national health care reform

Written especially for The Health Trust newsletter by Congressman Mike Honda

Congressman Mike Honda

In moderating two town halls in my district in September, I came to realize that truths and untruths surrounding healthcare are pervasive. Even the media interviewing me intimated a reality that needs fact-checking. What was evident at my town halls, however, is that President Obama is on point: strong support for a robust public option remains. In fact, four out of five Americans support the creation of a new federal health insurance plan that individuals could purchase if they cannot afford private plans offered them (2009 Poll by Penn, Schoen and Berland Associates).

And no wonder: The public option presented in America’s Affordable Health Choices Act, H.R. 3200, has broad public appeal. It encourages free market competition by driving down costs, incentivizing more effective and efficient service across the industry, and ensuring that the customer is provided with quality, competitive options. Negotiating truths and untruths may not be the best way to build a solid foundation to broker healthcare reform. Perhaps a better way to pursue good policy at this point is to find commonalities. There are many.

Read full story.

Recipe for a healthy, vibrant life:

Affordable fresh produce mixed

with access to nutritious food

by Frederick J. Ferrer, Health Trust CEO

I grew up with food. Yes, I realize that technically everyone can say that, but in my family, fresh well-cooked food was a big part of life. We lived on two acres filled with fruit and vegetable gardens and we bought our locally-grown beef and pork from 4H. We didn’t eat much junk food and we didn’t miss it.

The opportunities that I had as a child and teen to understand where food comes from and to know how delicious fresh, nutritious food can be don’t always exist for young people in our community today. We’ve become too distanced from the farm, both literally and figuratively, and it’s showing up in increasing rates of obesity and the chronic diseases that are tied with poor diets.

Food should be a focal point of life in Silicon Valley. Not only is it the foundation for good health and well-being, food is a central ingredient in the traditions and celebrations of our diverse cultures. Go to any ethnic festival and what do you see? Food, food and more food. Coming together for a meal is a ritual that connects people to one another -- as family, as friends, as a community. It is how we celebrate special occasions and how we remain close to our cultural heritage.

So, the question becomes, how can we encourage Silicon Valley to go back to its agricultural roots and incorporate what was best about those times – connection to the land, physical activity, and plenty of fresh nutritious food – into the 21st century lifestyle of a major metropolitan region?

Fred led Health Trust staff in a volunteer workday at Full Circle Farm in Sunnyvale.

We believe the new Silicon Valley HealthCorps and the partnership of The Health Trust with 10 community organizations is going to have a huge impact in improving access to fresh fruits and vegetables and increasing the likelihood of healthy eating.

I emphasize the words “access” and “likelihood” because it is my belief that people know that fruits and vegetables are good for them, and that they would like to be able to serve them to their families more often. What stands in their way is cost and convenience. How far is someone willing to travel (perhaps on a bus or bike) to get to a store, farmers market or produce stand to purchase produce? How much can someone spend from a paycheck already stretched by the high cost of housing, gas, health care and the other necessities of life? Fast food is on every corner. Fast food is cheap and filling. What is the likelihood of choosing fast food over fresh fruits and vegetables given this situation?

Last month KPIX reporter Sue Kwon took on the challenge of eating on $4 a day, the budget of a food stamp recipient. She struggled to find any fruits and vegetables she could afford -- a couple of apples, a handful of carrots, some frozen broccoli, a baked potato.

Clearly, access to fresh, inexpensive produce is not just a health issue. It is an economic and social justice issue. Think of the difference it would make to those who live below the poverty line in Silicon Valley if they could stretch their food budget by going to a backyard garden to pick tomatoes, figs and green beans, or purchasing inexpensive salad greens, berries and squash grown in a community or school garden in her neighborhood.

The Silicon Valley HealthCorps holds great promise in improving our region’s health. It combines the energy and talents of volunteers with the expertise and program experience of 10 community partners, all supported by The Health Trust. We’re going to create new attitudes, new opportunities, new behaviors in regards to fruits and vegetables. And in the end, thousands of Silicon Valley residents will be able to experience what I did growing up – fresh, delicious, nutritious food as a part of their everyday life.
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Additional nonprofits can now benefit from

accounting expertise of FASS

Financial and Administrative Support Services

The FASS team at The Health Trust is now helping 30 nonprofit organizations in the Bay Area with accounting and financial management services.

“Watch the pennies, and the dollars will take care of themselves” is the often-heard prudent advice of financial experts. Nonprofit organizations especially know the value of keeping a close eye on every expenditure and source of income. Limited resources and fluctuations in the economy make solid financial information critically important.

But being able to recruit and budget for in-house staff to provide the top notch financial expertise they need can be a challenge. Nonprofit agencies are in the business of providing services that fulfill their core missions. The day-to-day anxieties of accounting take up time and resources best used in serving the community.

From this need came the start five years ago of The Health Trust Financial and Administrative Support Services (FASS) that now provides 30 nonprofit agencies in the Bay Area with a full array of “back office” support services. The FASS team of 17 experienced professionals, including two Certified Public Accountants, help nonprofit organizations with the full scope of accounting services such as government contract compliance, budget management, nonprofit financial reporting, and accounting for endowment and donor advised funds. Service to each client is customized to meet its needs.

With underwriting from a generous grant from the David and Lucile Packard Foundation, The Health Trust will be able to serve additional nonprofit clients in 2010 with cost effective, high quality accounting and financial management services.

For information on how FASS can help your nonprofit organization, contact Ira Holtzman, Chief Financial Officer of The Health Trust, at irah@healthtrust.org.

See a full list of FASS Services and Clients (PDF)

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Community celebrates one year of dental care for children

The one year anniversary of The Health Trust Children’s Dental Center in July celebrated expanded dental care for children of Santa Clara Valley at the state-of-the-art facility in Tropicana Shopping Center in East San Jose. Many of the 9,500 patient visits in the first 12 months of operation were with children who had never been to a dentist.

A Resolution from Assemblymember Joe Coto on behalf of the California State Legislature recognized the achievements of the first year of operation of the Children’s Dental Center. Attending the anniversary celebration were, from left, Wim and Maria Roelandts, donors, Scott Jacks, D.D.S. and founder of Children’s Dental Group, Frederick J. Ferrer, Health Trust CEO, and John Fehmer, Children’s Dental Group CEO.

“Kids actually enjoy coming here because the office is fun and friendly,” said Dr. Scott Jacks, D.D.S. and founder of Children’s Dental Group that partners with The Health Trust to operate the Children’s Dental Center. “The entire family feels welcome. We work hard to make going to the dentist a positive experience.”

Children of all ages and family incomes are welcome at the Center, but the emphasis is on serving children from low income families who may have had difficulty in accessing dental care. It is estimated that more than half of the children from low income families in Silicon Valley enter kindergarten with untreated tooth decay. Preventive care and early treatment is important for good oral health.

The celebration was attended by community leaders and elected officials including San Jose Councilmember Madison Nguyen and representatives from the office of State Assemblymember Joe Coto and Santa Clara County Supervisor George Shirakawa. John Roth, Executive Director of the California Dental Association Foundation, was also present to congratulate The Health Trust and Children’s Dental Group on their success.

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On the run with The Health Trust

The Health Trust has been a beneficiary of three events this fall:

Run for a Healthy World - The inaugural Run for a Healthy World on Labor Day to support Meals On Wheels brought out more than 275 runners and walkers including Santa Clara County Supervisor Ken Yeager, left, and Health Trust CEO Frederick J. Ferrer. The event was hosted by World Runners and assisted by 40 volunteers from The Health Trust.

Silicon Valley Walk for AIDS - Hundreds joined The Health Trust team to walk 5.2 miles through downtown San Jose in October to support The Health Trust AIDS Services and the goal of raising $20,000 for the critical services needed by individuals living with HIV/AIDS in Silicon Valley.
Dean Karnazes Silicon Valley Marathon - More than 1,000 runners participated in the 12th annual marathon, half marathon or 5K races in late October that helped to raise money for The Health Trust.

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New Director of Fund Development

Vandana Pant

Vandana Pant has joined The Health Trust as Director of Fund Development. She has 15 years of experience with development, communications and direct services in the nonprofit and public-benefit sector in Silicon Valley, Chicago, Washington D.C. and India. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology from Delhi University and a Master’s Degree in Communications from the Mass Communications Research Center in New Delhi.

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Roots of Change Summitt

Paul Hepfer, Vice President of Programs at The Health Trust, joined Ann Wright, U.S. Department of Agriculture Under Secretary, and other representatives of organizations concerned about sustainable food, at the Roots of Change Summit in July on “Developing Sustainable Foodsheds to Enhance Food Access and Nutrition.”

The invitation-only event brought together 130 leaders from throughout the nation to discuss how to provide more fresh, healthier food to people of all income levels, including farmers markets innovations and farm to school initiatives.

A report issued previously by Roots of Change concluded that multiple environmental, social, and economic problems in California could be addressed simultaneously by a comprehensive transition to a sustainable food system.

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Health Trust helps San Jose be a Heart Safe City

More than 300 seventh grade students at Morrill Middle School in San Jose received training from the City of San Jose Fire Department on how to perform CPR and use an AED (automated external defibrillator). They, in turn, trained 400+ other adults and students in these life-saving techniques.

A grant from The Health Trust to the Heart Safe City program helped to launch the program.

The 2008-09 Annual Report of The Health Trust is now available online. To receive a printed copy, contact Nicole Kohleriter, Director of Policy and Communication, at NicoleK@healthtrust.org or call 408-879-4112.

Health Trust CEO Frederick J. Ferrer received The Most Influential Latino Award from MACSA, Mexican American Community Services Agency, Inc., and he was interviewed on KGO TV for Hispanic Heritage Month. The Health Trust was honored for “exemplary community leadership” by Silicon Valley FACES, a nonprofit organization devoted to building communities based on respect for diversity and justice for all.

Mark Thursday, April 29, 2010 on your calendars now to participate in Dining Out for Life, a one-day event where you can enjoy your favorite restaurant and help to raise money for The Health Trust AIDS Services. Watch for a list of participating restaurants and more details on The Health Trust homepage.

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Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation donates a check to Health Trust Meals On Wheels

The Saratoga Rotary Charitable Foundation presented a check for $2,364 to The Health Trust Meals On Wheels program to fund the purchase of a heated food cabinet. More than 75,000 hot, nutritious meals are prepared at the O’Connor Hospital kitchen each year for delivery to homebound seniors and disabled adults. Accepting the donation from Rotarian Phil Young is Renee Kellythorne, Director of Meals On Wheels.