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SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- San Bernardino County has received $8 million through five lawmaker requests that were included in the recently passed 2023-24 state budget. This funding will help refurbish two behavioral health treatment centers in Fontana and Victorville and purchase two new mobile health clinics in Needles and Havasu Lake.

“This significant funding will help the County complete several important projects that address critical needs for our residents,” said Supervisor Dawn Rowe, Chair of the San Bernardino County Board of Supervisors. “We are very grateful to our state lawmakers for supporting us. This influx of funding will help us substantially improve our public health, behavioral health, and other key County services.”

Many Californians continue to struggle with mental health challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. For serious cases, such as for psychosis or self-endangerment, the County relies on crisis residential treatment facilities to provide critical mental health services. Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-San Bernardino) and State Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) each requested $2 million to refurbish important County crisis residential treatment centers in their districts, one in Fontana and the other in Victorville, respectively. This funding will install new commercial-grade appliances that can handle heavy use, purchase more durable cabinets and furniture, install small storage units for residents, and make overall improvements to the facility. This investment will enhance the durability and longevity of these facilities, enabling the County to continue to deliver high-quality, effective mental health services.

Health services in the isolated rural communities of Needles and Havasu Lake, located along the far eastern border of California, are often limited by great distances and lack of trained staff. State Sen. Steve Padilla (D-San Diego) championed a request for $1.5 million for the County to buy and outfit two mobile health clinics to permanently operate in these two small communities. These mobile health clinics would feature examination rooms, essential medical equipment, and a small educational space to assist a wide variety of residents with their medical needs. This funding will greatly improve regular access to quality health care in the region.

With help from two other local state lawmakers the County also secured funding to bolster future emergency response efforts. State Sen. Rosilicie Ochoa Bogh (R-Redlands) championed a budget request for $1.5 million for the communities of Forest Falls and Angelus Oaks while Assemblymember Tom Lackey (R-Palmdale) obtained $1 million for equipment in Crestline. With this state funding, the County plans to purchase versatile front loaders that can clear debris during wildfires, landslides, floods, and avalanches, and remove snow. The County also plans to purchase additional “snow cats” – small, nimble tracked vehicles designed for travel over snow.  This new equipment will allow disaster response personnel to rapidly address emergencies in these key mountain areas.

“It is important not to wait until the last minute,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga, president of LaSalle Medical Associates. “As we get closer to August, more schools will be opening for a new year, and we will become even busier.”

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Schools start their fall terms soon and that means it’s time to get your children’s annual checkup and vaccinations. From Covid to measles, it takes a concerted effort to prevent outbreaks and parents who care for their children and other people’s children need to make sure their kids’ vaccinations are up to date.

Some social media posts have claimed that vaccines can cause autism spectrum disorder. This is false. Studies either done by or funded by the Centers for Disease Control have found “…no link between the measles, mumps, and rubella (MMR) vaccine and ASD [Autism Spectrum Disorder] in children.”

The CDC goes on to say, “The COVID-19 vaccines for children have the same active ingredients as the vaccines given to adults. However, children receive a smaller and more age-appropriate dose that is right for them. The smaller doses were rigorously tested and found to create the needed immune response for each age group. Making it important for your child to get the vaccine made for their age group.”

Whether your child is starting kindergarten or is a senior in high school, visiting the pediatrician for immunizations should be an important part of back-to-school preparations. Many schools start in August, so it’s not too soon to make that appointment.

“It is important not to wait until the last minute,” said Dr. Albert Arteaga., president of LaSalle Medical Associates. “As we get closer to August, more schools will be opening for a new year, and we will become even busier.”

There are four vaccinations all kindergarteners must have before entering school for the first time, said Dr. Cheryl Emoto, medical director for LaSalle Medical Associates. And, as they grow older, children need additional immunizations.

“Children entering kindergarten should receive boosters for Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus and pertussis), polio, MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) and Varicella (chicken pox),” she said.

If parents have kept up with their child’s immunizations from birth, only booster immunizations for the above diseases are needed. However, they should have also received vaccinations for these and several other diseases prior to age 2, and as kindergarteners may need several doses of immunizations if not “caught up.”

When children turn 11, they can and should receive the meningitis vaccine for the first time, Dr. Emoto said. The Centers for Disease Control also recommends children this age receive another Tdap (diphtheria, tetanus, pertussis) booster, she noted.

Parents can schedule these vaccines shortly after the child’s 11^th birthday, but they can also be part of a back-to-school immunization routine for any student, even those over 18.

“Children older than 11 who have not received these vaccines should also come in to get them,” Dr. Emoto said. “And if you have a teenager who is enrolling in college, planning to live in a dormitory, and hasn’t been vaccinated for meningitis, Covid and other communicable diseases, they should be vaccinated now.”

Girls aged 9 and older, and young women up to age 26 who have not had a sexual encounter, can receive the vaccine against the human papilloma (HPV) virus. While giving this vaccine to girls in elementary school is not without controversy, many doctors, including those at LaSalle Medical Associates, are highly in favor.

“The HPV virus is the main cause of cervical cancer,” Emoto explained. “It is important that a girl receive three doses, which are given over a six-month period, before her first sexual encounter in order for the vaccine to be fully effective.”

One vaccination not available during the back-to-school season is the flu shot. Flu shots are given in the fall when the vaccine becomes available from manufacturers. The CDC also points out, “Hundreds of millions of Americans have safely received flu vaccines over the past 50 years, and there has been extensive research supporting the safety of flu vaccines.”

“We depend on when the vaccine is shipped,” Emoto said. “We may have flu vaccines in September this year, but in past years it wasn’t until October that we received the vaccine. Once we receive it, we encourage all children six months to 18 years to receive an annual flu vaccine.”

Children younger than 8 who are being immunized against flu for the first time receive a two-part vaccine, she said. The second dose is given four to six weeks after the first.

“Healthy children 2 years of age and older have the option of receiving the vaccination as a nasal spray instead of as an injection, Emoto said. The nasal spray is just as effective.”

LaSalle serves people covered by Medi-Cal, Medicare and Covered California. LaSalle staff have been trained to help people who come into a clinic without any insurance to get signed up for whatever coverage they qualify for.

LaSalle also accepts patients covered by Blue Cross, Blue Shield, Molina, Care 1st, Health Net and Inland Empire Health Plan (IEHP). LaSalle cares and it shows.

For clinic locations and more information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407 or go online to LaSalleMedical.com.

For additional information about LaSalle Medical Associates, call (909) 890-0407 or go online to lasallemedicalassociates.com.

SAN BERNARDINO, CA—- Summertime means sunny days and extra play time outdoors. The season also presents certain Summertime means sunny days and extra play time outdoors. The season also presents certain dangers to our most vulnerable age group – infants and toddlers. First 5 San Bernardino recognizes these potential hazards and is here as a resource to help stop dangerous situations before they even begin. Hot temperatures can burn, dehydrate and even be fatal. It is our job as parents and caretakers to be equipped with the knowledge to prevent a potentially dangerous situation while also recognizing the signs of heatstroke, dehydration, and sunburn.

“While summer is a time for fun and quality time for families, it is also easy to forget that the heat can affect our little ones faster and more intensely than it does us,” said First 5 San Bernardino Executive Director Karen Scott. “Knowing the signs of overheating and dehydrating, and understanding how to prevent them, can help avoid a dangerous medical situation.”

As part of the Kids Safe Summer campaign, First 5 San Bernardino has launched an informational Sun Safety web page to help parents and caretakers better understand how to prevent a potentially dangerous situation, while also recognizing the signs of heatstroke, dehydration and sunburn.

Most importantly, never leave a child in a car unattended, as cars can heat up to deadly temperatures as quickly as 10 minutes. While most people know to never leave their child in a car, most instances of children dying from heatstroke are because someone accidentally forgot to check the back seat. A great way to make sure this doesn’t happen is to set a reminder to always check the back seat, such as leaving a stuffed animal in your front seat while the child is in the car, then moving it to the back seat when they are out.

Heatstroke and heat exhaustion are more likely to occur in babies because their bodies are not yet fully developed. As a result, babies experience overheating three to five times faster than adults. Recognize the effects of extreme heat by being an active supervisor during play time outside.

Preventing skin damage begins with the understanding that young skin must be adequately covered. Protection can be sunscreen, loose-fitting clothing and/or providing shaded areas for children. For infants under six months old, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends they are kept out of the sun entirely.

Children can become dehydrated in as little as 30 minutes of play in the hot weather. Know the signs. Actively look for dry mouth, sunken eyes, decreased urine output, irritability, lethargy, and a lack of tears when crying.

For more information and resources on sun safety, visit First 5 San Bernardino on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter @first5sanbernardino or on the website at first5sanbernardino.org. We hope you have a Kid Safe Summer!

There’s Still Time to Enroll Your Children for the 2023–2024 School Year

SAN BERNARDINO, CA— Families who have not yet enrolled their child to attend a San Bernardino City Unified School District (SBCUSD) elementary, middle, or high school will have a convenient Saturday option to sign up before school starts. SBCUSD will host Enrollment Fairs at Jones Elementary School on Saturday, July 15 and Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m.–1:30 p.m.

“We know many families work during the week, so we’re offering Saturday enrollment to make the process easy and accessible for everyone,” said Linda Bardere, SBCUSD’s Interim Chief Communications and Community Engagement Officer. “Our schools have so much to offer families and students, including free breakfast and lunch and free after-school programs that provide students a safe place to learn and play on school days.”

SBCUSD’s Saturday, July 15 Enrollment Fair will be held at Jones Elementary School, 700 North F Street in San Bernardino. Students in transitional kindergarten (TK) through high school are eligible to enroll at the Fair. Families can also enroll their children online.

In addition to completing online enrollment, parents and guardians will need several documents to enroll their child in school:

• Child’s birth verification (i.e. birth certificate, hospital certificate, baptismal certificate, passport)
• Child’s immunization record
• Parent/guardian photo identification
• Address verification (i.e. utility bill dated within 60 days, lease/rental agreement, or affidavit from landlord)
• Court documents (if applicable)

Children who will be 5 years old by September 1, 2023, are eligible to enroll in kindergarten for the 2023–2024 school year. Transitional kindergarten (TK) is available for students who will turn 5 years old from September 2, 2023, to April 2, 2024.

SBCUSD families may visit the online School Site Locator to determine their child’s home school. For more information about determining your child’s home school or how to enroll, contact Enrollment and Placement Services at (909) 889-7576 or enrollmentcenter@sbcusd.k12.ca.us.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

On June 29, The California Legislative Renters Caucus – a group of five lawmakers who are all renters — held a press conference to announce a package of bills aimed to protect the rights of tenants in California.

The Renters’ Caucus was formed in 2022 in response to the state’s dire housing crisis. This unique caucus is committed to ensuring that the interests of California’s 17 million renters are represented in state government.

Each member of the caucus is responsible for introducing a bill for consideration. Assemblymember Matt Haney (D-San Francisco), Chair of the Caucus, hosted the press conference and introduced Senate Bill (SB) 555. The bill aims cap limit security deposits to no more than one month’s rent.

“Each of the pieces of our legislative agenda is addressing a different challenge that renters are facing,” said Haney. “

Assemblymember Isaac Bryan (D- Ladera Heights), Vice Chair of the Caucus, introduced AB 1248. This bill limits independent redistricting to fight gerrymandering.

Assemblymember Alex Lee (D-San Jose) introduced AB 309. The bill would set eligibility criteria for residents of social housing and establish a lottery system for selecting residents.

Assemblymember Tasha Boerner (D-Encinitas) introduced AB 548, which protects renters by giving more authority to inspectors to insure safe living conditions.

Sen. Aisha Wahab (D-Hayward) introduced SB 555 which creates a practical data driven masterplan that outlines a plan to produce 1.2 million affordable housing units over the next 10 years.

By Mark Hedin | Special to California Black Media Partners

As the first three-digit temperatures of 2023 arrive with the start of summer and the Fourth of July, the California Governor’s Office of Emergency Services is taking steps to ensure the safety of residents through any potential emergencies.

At a June 29 press briefing hosted by California Black Media and Ethnic Media Services, Cal OES and Listos California unveiled a package of safety guidelines prepared in expectation of climate extremes.

Alf LaMont from LaMont Digital introduced a collection of “Summer of Safety” graphics providing advice on keeping people ready for and safe during potential summer emergencies: wildfires, flooding, power outages and high temperatures. These graphics are available in English, Spanish and more than a dozen other languages, and available at listoscalifornia.org.

“In California, we don’t actually see a lot of our record all-time temperatures until late in the season,” National Weather Service meteorologist Brayden Murdock said, citing “June gloom, no-sky July and ‘Fog-ust’ for a good portion of August.”

“Usually, our strongest heat impacts wind up being more toward late August going into September,” he said. But high temperatures lead to low winds, he said, “so we don’t get that sea breeze that helps us cool down.”

“Think of it more as a marathon than an individual sprint.”

And the end of 2023’s relatively cool temperatures so far, he said, will now bring increased snow melt in the Sierra. Already, the state has closed off some river stretches.

“Summers are becoming hotter and drier, and families are going to want to cool down in the water,” said Cal OES Assistant Director of Crisis Communications and Public Affairs, Diana Crofts-Pelayo, “but it is very dangerous right now, we have already seen too many people that have lost their lives. So do what you can to stay indoors to stay cool!”

Cal OES is making mutual-aid arrangements between state and local fire agencies “on a huge push to train swift water rescue teams,” she said.

“So, if you do head out on the water, many local teams will be out there, but we don’t want them to do those rescues! It’s very dangerous for them and for you.”

Crofts-Pelayo cited five keys for people to focus on for summer safety:

• Get alerts: org.
• Make a plan: “Have that conversation with your family to ensure that your little ones, your older ones, all know what they would do during an emergency. What emergency routes they would take, where to meet if separated.
• Pack a “go bag” in case you need to leave your home very quickly: important documents, medication, food, water, for instance.
• Similarly, make a “stay box” in case you need to stay home. “It doesn’t have to be cost-prohibitive,” she said. “Think about it ahead of time and put everything together that would be necessary.”
• And finally, Crofts-Pelayo said, “help others. This is a community movement.” She suggested sharing only official resources, but doing so via familiar networking channels: phone calls, social media posts and emails.

Joining Crofts-Pelayo, Murdock and LaMont at the briefing were three Listos California community partners who shared experiences from previous encounters with extreme weather conditions.

Jacqueline Nushi, of Project Camp’s emergency preparedness center, manages pop-up camps for kids during disasters, providing support and a safe environment for families.

She said a key lesson she and other emergency managers learned was the value of empowering children with knowledge and coping skills — “a great way to build mindfulness and preparedness.

“Children are the best when it comes to learning preparedness and taking it home to their families. They’re very resilient. It’s amazing to see them make it through what they have to make it through.”

Nushi also wanted to endorse the printed materials Listos provides, via listoscalifornia.org.

She spoke about how, years ago prior to the Slater Fire in Happy Camp (Siskyou County) in 2020, she’d distributed some of their material.

“After that fire, I was at a local assistance center,” she said, when a survivor she’d counseled before the fire approached. “This information saved us!” she said. Other survivors there then chimed in with similar stories.

“The Listos materials, the disaster guides, are very easy to read, very, very to the point and cover the information in very simple language” she said. “This material is super easy, it’s not hard to read, it’s not hard to understand.”

CORE – Community Organized Relief Effort – has worked globally from Ukraine, Turkey and all around the U.S. George Hernandez Mejia, CORE Director of Emergency Operations, said that in doing wildfire preparation in Siskyou County last year, it turned out that some of the greatest needs were simply for clear information on evacuation zones or where wildfires were burning.

He also agreed with Nushi’s testimony about the importance of educating children on these matters.

“100% of our clients have experienced natural disasters,” said Peter Thao, of the Fresno Asian Business Institute and Resource Center, which provides disaster relief training and preparedness for farmers and small businesses.

“It’s not if, but when, a natural disaster will happen. “Always be prepared; have a plan.” “Take pictures,” he said, “and keep your insurance agent informed of your concerns.”

Along with efforts to prepare Californians for extreme weather conditions, the state has also allocated $200 million to help communities  build “resilience cooling centers.

This article is provided to you by California Black Media in collaboration with Ethnic Media Services.

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

Last week, Gov. Gavin Newsom and the Legislature reached an agreement on a state budget totaling $310.8 billion for the 2023-24 fiscal year. It came into effect July 1.

The agreement includes provisions for trailer bills that support clean transportation, expanded Medi-Cal coverage, expedited judicial review, advanced mitigation by Caltrans, the conversion of San Quentin into a rehabilitation center and wildlife crossings on I-15, among other initiatives.

“In the face of continued global economic uncertainty, this budget increases our fiscal discipline by growing our budget reserves to a record $38 billion, while preserving historic investments in public education, health care, climate, and public safety,” said Newsom.

Negotiations had been delayed because the of the Governor’s demands, including an infrastructure proposal that lawmakers opposed. A compromise was reached by limiting the types of projects eligible for expedited approval permits and excluding a proposed water conveyance tunnel under the Sacramento-San Joaquin River Delta.

“We started our budget process this time around with tough economic challenges, but one overarching goal: to protect California’s progress,” said Senate President pro Tempore Toni G. Atkins (D-San Diego).

By Joe W. Bowers Jr. and Edward Henderson | California Black Media

This past weekend, on July 1, Assembly Bill (AB) 1655, which declares Juneteenth an official California state holiday took effect.

AB 1655, introduced by Assemblymember Reggie Jones-Sawyer (D-Los Angeles), a member of the California Legislative Black Caucus, was signed into law by Gov. Newsom last September.

On June 19 of next year, California state employees can elect to take the day off work to commemorate the holiday celebrating the emancipation of formerly enslaved Black Americans.

Uniting the Community in Support of Human Rights and the LGBTQIA2S+ Community

FONTANA, CA— On Saturday, July 1, 2023, a Pride decorated vehicle caravan led by Fontana Residents was started in both the north and south of Fontana, California. The two caravans moved throughout the city raising awareness and merged into a Fontana’s first Pride Rally in the center of the city at Fontana City Hall. The purpose of the event was to unite the entirety of the city behind Human Rights and bring together people from different walks of life to celebrate and support the LGBTQIA2S+ community.

The event provided an opportunity for residents and visitors to share their stories, their struggles, and paint a future where “love conquers all and belonging is unconditional.” Participants pledged to go beyond support: the attendees vowed be accomplices to the LGBTQIA2S+ community in the fight to maintain their civil rights. The spontaneous chant by the crowd, “Pride is Every Day!” was a reminder in a time where civil rights are being threatened, and intolerance is rearing its ugly head, standing by or giving passive support is no longer enough, and Pride should not be a single month of visibility —but a shared mission, every day.

The event was a joint effort by several community organizations, including the Fontana Dems Club, Ontario Democratic Club, the San Bernardino County Young Democrats (SBCYD), GROW Fontana, the Fontana Good Neighbor Coalition, and the Progressive Alliance of the Inland Empire, as well as Assembly Majority Leader Eloise Gomez Reyes’ (AD-50), whose district includes Fontana and surrounding cities.

Assemblymember Eloise Gomez Reyes spoke at the event and later tweeted, “Today, I joined up with the @fontanadems to celebrate our LGBTQ+ family at the Inaugural Pride Care-A-Van and Rally! I want to thank the individuals who shared their story and I want you to know we are here standing with you -as accomplices!”

Organizers of the event were thrilled with the turnout and the positive response from the community. They believe that the success of the event will encourage more people to support the LGBTQIA2S+ community, not just during Pride Month, but throughout the year.

“It was an amazing experience to see so many people come together to support the LGBTQIA2S+ community and to feel the love and support from so many as we drove through the city,” said Bobbi Jo Chavarria, President of the Fontana Dems and one of the event’s organizers. “We hope that this event has helped to raise awareness and show people that Fontana is filled with a community of support and solidarity with our LGBTQIA2S+ brothers and sisters, cousins and friends.”

Organizers felt hosting the caravan and pride rally in Fontana was crucial and has proven that a community can come together to support and celebrate diversity. It is a reminder that everyone can play their part in creating a more inclusive society regardless of their gender identity or sexual orientation, and organizers are already planning next year’s event!

The High Desert Open Arts Exhibition is an annual exhibition organized and curated in partnership with Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino County that features traditional and contemporary art celebrating the landscapes, wildlife, people, cultures, and history of the High Desert—a region that stretches as far west as Lancaster, as far northwest as Palmdale, and north to the Barstow desert. The juried exhibit will run from from July 8 to Oct. 8 and features work by twenty-four local High Desert artists.

A reception open to the general public is scheduled for July 8 from 2 to 4 p.m. Light refreshments will be provided by the Arts Connection, the Arts Council of San Bernardino.  Regular museum admission applies.

The Victor Valley Museum is located at 11873 Apple Valley Road in Apple Valley. General admission is $10 (adult), $8 (military/senior), $7 (student), and $5 (children ages 6 to 12). Children 5 & under and Museum members are free. Parking is free and the museum is accessible to persons with disabilities. For more information, visit the San Bernardino County Museum website.