IMPERIAL VALLEY HOMELESSNESS: At the April 12 Imperial County Board of Supervisors meeting, the Imperial Valley Continuum of Care Council Administrative Entity provided details of how they are addressing homelessness and overall accomplishments so far. Updates include a redesign of an operating Coordinated Entry System, the entity’s pandemic response (a region-wide survey to understand needs), update on current continuum of care programs, and projects such as the new Homeless Day Center that will provide services to over 700 individuals per year, Lotus Living Community (transitional housing) for Imperial Valley College students, and youth programs for those experiencing homelessness that have served 156 youth.
MEDI-CAL EXPANSION: Beginning May 1, California will provide full-scope Medi-Cal benefits to individuals age 50 or older, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, who meet all other Medi-Cal full-scope eligibility criteria. This coverage expansion will impact approximately 33,000 adults in San Diego County age 50 or older who are potentially eligible for full-scope benefits. Under this coverage expansion, eligible individuals will be able to access the full range of benefits available to Medi-Cal beneficiaries, including preventative health, behavioral health, substance use disorder services, long-term care, and dental services. Most of the individuals transitioning from restricted-scope to full-scope Medi-Cal and most of those determined eligible under this expansion will be enrolled and receive their care through a Medi-Cal managed care plan. The Health Care Alliance has developed this flyer with more details, and additional information is available from the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency and the Department of Health Care Services.
PUBLIC HEALTH CHAMPIONS: HASD&IC has been acknowledged as a Public Health Champion during the pandemic for its partnership with the County of San Diego and the Testing Task Force. Specific mention goes to the tri-chairs Omid Bakhtar (Sharp), Ron McLawhon (UCSD), and Brent Austin (county lab director) with representation from every hospital and health system to address testing rollouts and monitoring. Additional information can be found on the county’s web page; the task force is recognized in this video (it starts around the 14-minute mark).
PRESCRIPTION DRUGS: The San Diego County Sheriff’s Department is hosting a Prescription Drug Take Back Day on April 30 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at various locations throughout the county. Drop-off sites will take expired, unused, and unwanted medications, but no sharps.
TRAINING OPPORTUNITY: The Meth Strike Force is presenting a webinar called Supporting our Children: Understanding the Impact of Substances on our Children and Youth. The free training is from 9 to 10:30 a.m. (PT) on May 11 and will cover:
- Impact of Drugs on our Children and Youth
- Drug Endangered Children Program
- Engaging Children, Youth & Families – Community Resources
