COMMUNITY NEWS
Promoting a Healthier Watsonville
Annual Breastfeeding Health Fair and Walk
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he 13th Annual Breastfeeding Health Fair and Walk takes place Friday, Aug. 23 from 3–6 p.m. in the Watsonville Plaza. It is open to the general public and representatives of the media. This event includes fun activities for the whole family, a live DJ, community resource booths, healthy snacks, free t-shirts, raffles and more. The rallysytle walk down Main Street begins at 5pm This event supports the City of Watsonville’s resolution that proclaims August as Breastfeeding Awareness Month. Breastfeeding Awareness is celebrated throughout California and the nation during the month of August,
Friday, August 23 • 3 – 6 p.m. • Watsonville Plaza
as part of an effort to highlight the need for support of breastfeeding families in our community. Breastfeeding is one of the best preventative health measures and provides short and long term health benefits for both mothers and babies. Despite the fact that most mothers in Santa Cruz County want to breastfeed, many moms don’t meet their breastfeeding goals because of the barriers they face in the community, such as negative experiences in healthcare, their workplaces, and even with their own families. This is especially true in communities with high levels of poverty and health disparities, such as Watsonville.
Compared to other parts of Santa Cruz County, Watsonville has higher levels of obesity, asthma, diabetes, hypertension and heart disease — the very conditions that breastfeeding can help prevent. Hosted by the Community Bridges Women, Infants & Children (WIC) Nutrition Program. WIC builds support for breastfeeding in our community, and establishes breastfeeding as normal and preferred. The Walk begins in Watsonville Plaza at the corner of Main Street and East Beach Street. n ••• To learn more, please visit www.community bridges.org.
Hospice of Santa Cruz County Announces Strategic Partnership
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ogether with Mission Hospice & Home Care in San Mateo and The Elizabeth Hospice in San Diego, Hospice of Santa Cruz County is announcing the formation of the California Hospice Network — a strategic partnership committed to sustaining local, nonprofit, community-based hospice care throughout California. These organizations, respected healthcare leaders in their respective communities, are working together to further enhance their delivery of exemplary patient care and end-of-life services. Hospice of Santa Cruz County will continue to operate as a distinct and independent nonprofit, mission-driven hospice and palliative care organization while working with the California Hospice Network member partners to share best practices, maximize operational economies and efficiencies and ensure long term viability within a changing healthcare environment. “There are significant changes happening with Medicare and the hospice payment structure that threaten nonprofit hospices nationwide,” said Michael Milward, CEO of Hospice of Santa Cruz County. “By joining with other nonprofit hospice providers in our state, we believe we are better positioned to adapt to the changing healthcare landscape and continue to provide the quality care that our local community deserves.”
Local leadership and Board of Directors will remain unchanged. “Each member’s local leadership will continue to make day-to-day organizational decisions and each member’s existing Board of Directors will continue to make local governance decisions,” said Robert Kaswen, Hospice of Santa Cruz County Board President. The goal of the California Hospice Network is to provide strategic and operational support to local, community-based nonprofit hospice providers and to develop an affiliate geographic footprint that serves a significant percentage of the California population. Jan Jones, RN, BSN, will be CEO of the California Hospice Network. Jones is a recognized leader in the hospice and palliative care movement with more than three decades of experience in the healthcare industry and a strong background in managing community-based hospice programs and services. She currently serves as CEO of The Elizabeth Hospice in San Diego. Along with the California Hospice Network Board of Directors, Jones will be recruiting additional nonprofit hospice partners to strengthen the network’s reach and scale. Hospice of Santa Cruz County
remains committed to providing exemplary end-of-life care and grief support to our community. Hospice of Santa Cruz County will continue to rely on local philanthropy which will remain local and support community programs such as music therapy, children’s grief camp, community education & outreach, palliative care and innovation initiatives designed to improve patient access and experience. Hospice of Santa Cruz County envisions a community where all people live
and die with dignity. Since 1978, the organization has honored the choices of individuals and families by providing exemplary end-of-life care and grief support. As the county’s leading nonprofit provider of hospice care, the hospice program is enriched by community grief support, a children’s bereavement camp, transitional care and palliative care services, pet companion and music therapy programs, hospice care for veterans, and end-of-life education and outreach. Approximately 3,500 Santa Cruz County residents are served annually. n ••• For more info, visit www.hospicesantacruz. org.
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www.tpgonlinedaily.com Aptos Times / August 15th 2019 / 15