Happy Belated National Women's Month!

We are sorry we are a little late with getting our March Newsletter out to you! We have been super busy preparing for the Birthing Justice Event happening in less than 9 days!

We want to first take this opportunity to acknowledge the Board of Supervisors meeting which also took place in March.

The Sonoma County Board of Supervisors approved a resolution proposed by the Department of Health Services declaring racism to be a public health crisis. We want to express our gratitude and respect, to the NAACP Sonoma County branch, Office of Equity, community members and all those involved who have suffered continuous harm for working and fighting against all the obstacles for so long to bring this forward. This was long overdue.

Here is a link to the meeting and the time where the presentation begins: https://youtu.be/GgKzUqsp0Q8

The presentation is dated 3/12/24 at 9 am. It starts at 4 hours 34 minutes. The public comment starts at 5 hours and 10 minutes Some comments may be upsetting.

The month of March was full of many important awareness campaigns. While we spring into April, we wanted to look back and highlight March's HIV Awareness Month and Developmental Disabilities Awarenes Month. Please peruse this newsletter for helpful information for the clients and families you serve. Continue to scroll down for a recipe (March was also Noodle Month!) and links to complete our MCAH Needs Assessment surveys.

HIV

Approximately 1.2 million people in the U.S.a have HIV.

About 13 percent of them don’t know it and need testing.

HIV continues to have a disproportionate impact on certain populations, particularly racial and ethnic minorities and gay, bisexual, and other men who have sex with men (MSM).

In 2021, an estimated 32,100 new HIV infections occurred in the U.S.* (hiv.gov)

HIV may cause some health problems that are unique to women:

Gynecological health issues
Increased risk of cervical cancer
Increased risk of heart disease
HIV medicine side effects and drug interactions
Aging-related issues
Pregnancy and birth control also require careful management with a health care provider.

The CDC recommends that everyone between the ages of 13 and 64 get tested for HIV at least once as part of routine health care, and more often if you do things that might increase your risk for getting HIV.

What is helpful to know is that women with HIV who take HIV medicine (called antiretroviral therapy or ART) exactly as prescribed and get and keep an undetectable viral load can live long and healthy lives and will not transmit HIV to their HIV-negative partners through sex. An undetectable viral load is a level of HIV in your blood so low that a standard lab test can’t detect it.

Learn more about the health and prevention benefits of viral suppression and having an undetectable viral load.

This reality cannot be denied or dismissed.

Click here for local HIV testing centers.

Click here for more information regarding all things HIV.

Please contact our Disease Control department right here in our downtown office for additional guidance and support if you have a client navigating this reality. You can reach them directly at 707-565-4567.

Please also refer them to our home visiting programs. Click here for our universal referral form.

Please click here for updated recommendations regarding lactating persons who wish to breast/chest feed and are on antiretroviral therapy (ART) with sustained undetectable viral load through pregnancy and postpartum.

March was also Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month. This year's theme was "A World of Opportunities". In honor of this month- we will highlight local organizations and events that serve those in our community who are living with special health care and developmental needs.

Navigating the different systems in place to provide services to children with special health care and developmental disabilities can be overwhelming and challenging. Below are some organizations that can provide supportand kinship for families.

Matrix Parent Network and Resource Center is a parent-founded and parent-opoerated nonprofit that provides advocacy and support to families of children with special needs. Check out their calendar of events for the month of April here. They provide support groups, classes and activities, they also list events happening at other local organizations. Have a question? Call their helpline at 1-800-578-2592!

Common Ground Society serves families with loved ones with any sort of unique need or life-changing diagnosis. They also provide community education on inclusivity. Common Ground Society offers meetups (for families, latinx families, dads, and 5 and under), classes, advocacy and community outreach and education. Check out their list of meetups and classes here!

The Miracle League North Bay provides individuals with disabilities the opportunity to play baseball in an organized, non-competative league that focusses on fun and the spirit of the game. Their focus is on buliding friendships and self-esteem. They are accepting registrations for their Spring season, they play in Petaluma. If you want to register to play- click here!

We know that infants and children reach developmental milestones at different points in time. There are screening tools that can help determine if a child might need a referral for a developmental evaluation or additional developmental support services. Families can complete the Ages and States Questionnaire screening tool themselves through the Early Learning Institute's website found here. To take the screening in English- click here. To take it in Spanish, click here.

If a child in your life has developmental delays or disabilities, they may receive services through one of the three organizations below. Check out each of their websites by clicking on the organization's name.

Ea rly Learning Institute: has a multi-disciplinary team of early childhood specialists to support children and their families.

Sonoma County SELPA: Sonoma County's Special Education Local Plan Area- provides a comprehensive range of special education programs and services for students through school districts.

North Bay Regional Center: assists people with developmental disabilities in obtaining the services and supports needed to live as others do in the community.

March was also Noodle Month!

Click here for a yummy pasta recipe!

Last but not least: Our Maternal Child Adolescent Health Needs Assessment Survey needs your voice! Please take a few minutes to help us advocate for our community! We will close this survey on April 10th, so don't wait! Share your opinion now!

If you work with famililes, children, pregnant people, adolescent and/or teens, please complete this short survey to let us know your opinions!

Take the survey in English here:https://bit.ly/mcahpp

Take the survey in Spanish here:bit.ly/MCAHCMSP

If you are a parent, caregiver, or community member who wants to share your opinion about your needs and the needs of families, please complete our survey for community members!

Take the survey in English here: bit.ly/MCAHCM

Take the survey in Spanish here: bit.ly/MCAHCMSP

Sonoma County MCAH