Category Archives: Health

Education drives impactful change in Solano County’s fight against fentanyl – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Robin Miller

In the fight against the opioid epidemic, especially with regard to fentanyl, education has emerged as one of the most effective weapons, Solano County officials agree.

District Attorney Krishna Abrams said her office is unwavering in its commitment to prosecuting those who deal fentanyl and cause harm. Still, she emphasized, “The second part of our office’s approach to the opioid crisis is our prevention/education/outreach campaign.”

As part of this initiative, the DA joined in launching the S3 (S cubed) campaign in high schools across the county.

Source: Education drives impactful change in Solano County’s fight against fentanyl – The Vacaville Reporter

‘Wellness rooms’ give Vallejo students space for mental health breaks – Vallejo Sun

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By Zach Haber

For Vallejo students coping with social-emotional and mental health challenges, schools are increasingly offering a reprieve: special “wellness rooms” with beanbags, relaxing music, books, games, calming aroma diffusers, and a trained caring adult.

Students are regularly using the rooms to take 15 to 20 minute breaks, according to school district data, though occasionally the visits last longer.

Source: ‘Wellness rooms’ give Vallejo students space for mental health breaks

CDE Announces Updated School Air Quality Guidance – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

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The California Department of Education (CDE) is announcing updated School Outdoor Air Quality Activity Recommendations (PDF), intended to provide California’s local educational agencies (LEAs) with resources to make informed decisions about conducting school activities and closures based on local air quality conditions when their communities are impacted by wildfire smoke.

With record-setting wildfires occurring year after year, California schools are impacted by smoke now more than ever. These necessary, clear guidelines will help advance local conversations among school districts, public health officers, air districts, and the community and provide educational leaders with the information they need to take actions that best protect student health.

State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond began his tenure during the devastating 2018 Camp Fire and has led through some of the largest, deadliest, and most destructive wildfires in California’s history. Superintendent Thurmond and the CDE continue to work tirelessly to secure resources for devastated communities and support the well-being of students and educators during worsening natural disasters intensified by climate change. In response to these conditions, Superintendent Thurmond also established the first Emergency Services Team at the CDE to ensure that schools have the emergency support that they need to respond to environmental disasters that occur year-round.

Source: CDE Announces Updated School Air Quality Guidance – Year 2024 (CA Dept of Education)

SCC bio manufacturing student travels to New York for bone marrow donation | dailyrepublic.com

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The city of Vacaville is saluting one of its own for donating bone marrow to help an 11-year-old in New York.

Through Solano Community College’s partnership with the National Marrow Donor Program Jose Solorio registered to a be a donor at an event on campus.

“My motivation for registering was because I wanted to help people, to give people a second chance at life,” he said in press materials. “I don’t think it’s fair for someone’s life to be cut short due to an inevitable disease. So if I could help prevent that from happening, I will.”

Source: SCC bio manufacturing student travels to New York for bone marrow donation | News | dailyrepublic.com

SCC student honored for assisting in medical emergency | dailyrepublic.com

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Solano Community College student Diana Solis was honored by the college for her quick action in the library.

Solis was studying in the library earlier this month when she noticed another student collapse and begin having a seizure.

Without hesitation, Solis rushed to assist. She quickly supported the student’s head, preventing it from hitting the ground while the seizure continued.

Source: SCC student honored for assisting in medical emergency | Education | dailyrepublic.com

VCUSD, Touro University conclude mobile vaccination program – Times Herald Online

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By Thomas Gase

The Vallejo City Unified School District and Touro University have concluded its partnership in the Touro Child and Adult Resource Education and Support Mobile Vaccination Program.

The program aims to help underserved communities overcome barriers to vaccination by taking clinics directly to them. The program — funded by Touro Cares MVP Vaccine Grants from Kaiser East Bay Community Foundation, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Partnership Health Plan of California, and the Solano County Department of Public Health — began its mobile clinics during the pandemic to increase vaccine access.

Source: VCUSD, Touro University conclude mobile vaccination program – Times Herald Online

Four F-S schools applauded for health programs | dailyrepublic.com

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Four Fairfield-Suisun district schools have been recognized for “supporting the health and well-being of the children and youth they serve.”

Anna Kyle Elementary School and David Weir K-8 Preparatory Academy received special recognition for physical activity; and Armijo High School and Dan O. Root Elementary School received special recognition for their gardens.

The recognition comes from the University of California Nutrition Policy Institute’s 2023 Leaders in Eating and Activity (LEAP) Awards. It recently announced 131 schools, 124 early care and education programs and 78 out-of-school time programs across California received the honor.

Source: Four F-S schools applauded for health programs | News | dailyrepublic.com

Fairfield PD expanding cannabis education, enforcement efforts – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Lynzie Lowe

After receiving Cannabis Education and Enforcement Grant Program funding, the Traffic Unit of the Fairfield Police Department is now ramping up its efforts to educate the public about the dangers of driving under the influence of cannabis while working to keep impaired drivers off the road.

“The Cannabis Tax Fund Grant Program marks an important step toward reducing impaired driving crashes, increasing public awareness surrounding the dangers of impaired driving, and making California’s roadways a safer place to travel,” read a statement released by California Highway Patrol (CHP) officials.

Source: Fairfield PD expanding cannabis education, enforcement efforts – The Vacaville Reporter

Teacher Shortage & Opioid Crisis Bills Become Law – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond celebrated the signing this week of several pieces of legislation he sponsored and supported, including measures that would help alleviate the teacher shortage, invest in bilingual teachers, and combat the youth opioid crisis.

“I’m pleased that these laws will secure a brighter future for our kids through increasing the teacher pipeline for bilingual teachers, making it easy for retired teachers to come back to classrooms, and providing a financial incentive for new prospective teachers,” said Superintendent Thurmond. “I’m also glad that California is taking another step forward to educate, prevent, and protect students from the opioid crisis, which has been a growing threat in recent years.”

Source: Teacher Shortage & Opioid Crisis Bills Become Law – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

SPI Pledges to Help Counter the Fentanyl Crisis – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond provided testimony at a joint hearing of the California Assembly Select Committees on Fentanyl, Opioid Addiction, and Overdose Prevention; Public Safety; and Health to share updates on efforts he and the California Department of Education (CDE) have undertaken to address the ongoing opioid crisis that claimed the lives of over 6,800 Californians in 2021 alone

“There are plenty of resources to help. We all have the ability to help save a life,” Thurmond said. “So we encourage students who need help to call 9-8-8 and obviously any one of our thousand school districts can contact the CDE directly for help on how to access Narcan, drug prevention, education, and substance abuse treatment programs. I want to assure these committees and the people of California that my team at the CDE and I are doing what we can to fight the fentanyl epidemic. We are focused not only on prevention and education but effective treatments, especially naloxone (Narcan)—a lifesaving drug when administered after an opioid overdose.”

Source: SPI Pledges to Help Counter the Fentanyl Crisis – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Free NARCAN forum on Thursday – Daily Republic

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By Susan Hiland

Local school districts, along with several health institutes, will host a free forum on NARCAN, a drug to treat opioid overdoses.

This forum is for educators, parents and community members focusing on Naloxone (NARCAN) and strategies for opioid and fentanyl awareness and prevention.

The event will be from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Benicia Unified School District, 50 East K St. in Benicia.

Source: Free NARCAN forum on Thursday

Efforts to Support Student Access to Healthy Meals – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

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State Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond today joined U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) Secretary Tom Vilsack, California First Partner Jennifer Siebel Newsom, West Contra Costa Unified School District (WCCUSD) leadership, and state and federal stakeholders on a visit to Betty Reid Soskin Middle School to hear more about the district’s innovative farm-to-school program.

Soskin Middle School serves 450 students—60 percent of whom are considered to be socioeconomically disadvantaged—and is the frontline of the vital work of feeding students healthy school meals through the California Universal Meals Program. The school is named after Betty Reid Soskin, a pioneering Bay Area civil rights activist and the nation’s oldest National Park Ranger, who was designated as an Ambassador to California Education by Thurmond in September 2021.

“As we celebrate National Nutrition Month and National School Breakfast Week, I take great pride in promoting the fact that California became the first state in the United States to implement a statewide universal meals program for all school-age children within the public education system. As a result, millions of children access two free healthy meals during each school day. And not only that, but we have also supported other states in following suit,” Superintendent Thurmond said. “The Universal Meals Program removes the stigma associated with free and reduced-price school meals and is a critical component in the framework for the Transforming California Schools Initiative designed to create one cohesive educational system with integrated, interdependent strategies.”

Source: Efforts to Support Student Access to Healthy Meals – Year 2023 (CA Dept of Education)

Dan O. Root II Health and Wellness Academy hosts successful Math Festival – Daily Republic

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The Dan O. Root II Health and Wellness Academy hosted a Math Festival on Feb. 16, providing students with a hands-on approach to learning math and giving parents and families the opportunity to see what their children are learning in the classroom.

During the school day, students participated in a variety of math-focused activities at different stations. Each station was designed to promote problem-solving skills and was tailored to the level of the students. The activities included games, puzzles, and other interactive experiences that made learning math fun and engaging.

Source: Dan O. Root II Health and Wellness Academy hosts successful Math Festival

FSUSD to host final meetings of Fentanyl Awareness Town Hall series – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

Numbers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggest the tsunami of overdose deaths — driven largely by the spread of illicit fentanyl — may have peaked in March 2022.

Researchers found an astonishing 110,236 people, many under the age of 40, died in a single 12-month period, a record, the CDC reported.

While last year was certainly deadly, there are signs the worst of it may be over, some officials believe.

Source: FSUSD to host final meetings of Fentanyl Awareness Town Hall series – The Vacaville Reporter

Fairfield-Suisun district schedules fentanyl awareness town hall meetings – Daily Republic

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The Fairfield-Suisun School District will host a series of three fentanyl awareness town hall meetings to educate parents and community members on the dangers of fentanyl.

The meetings will be held from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at locations throughout the district. The first meeting will take place Jan. 18 at Solano Community College, 4000 Suisun Valley Road in rural Fairfield. The second meeting will be held Jan. 25 at The Salvation Army Kroc Center at 586 E. Wigeon Way in Suisun City. The third meeting will take place Jan. 31, at the Public Safety Academy campus at 230 Atlantic Ave. in Fairfield.

Source: Fairfield-Suisun district schedules fentanyl awareness town hall meetings

County health leaders issue fentanyl warning – The Vacaville Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

The stories have made headlines for several years: A young person bought a pill they thought was Oxycodone, Norco, or similar opioids.

But it wasn’t. It was a counterfeit pill containing fentanyl and that person who had so much more living to do ended up cold, perhaps naked and lying on the coroner’s examination table, leaving behind a grieving family and friends.

“Teens take street pills thinking they’re Oxycodone, Adderall or Xanax,” Robin Cox, bureau chief of Solano County’s Health Promotion & Community Wellness (VibeSolano). “They don’t realize they are counterfeit pills until it’s too late — their first encounter with the counterfeit pill can often be fatal.”

Source: County health leaders issue fentanyl warning – The Vacaville Reporter

Health Guidance for Schools During Extreme Heat – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

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The California Department of Education is partnering with the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) to provide you with additional critical announcements to support California school communities during this period of intense heat.

Please find important information from the CDPH about the risks of heat events as well as ways to monitor conditions and take precautions to protect your school communities on the CDPH Interim Health Guidance for Schools on Sports and Strenuous Outdoor Activities During Extreme Heat web page at https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/EPO/Pages/ExtremeHeatPages/extreme-heat-guidance-for-schools.aspx.

Source: Health Guidance for Schools During Extreme Heat – Letters (CA Dept of Education)

FSUSD to host free COVID vaccine clinics for students 12 and older – The Reporter

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By Richard Bammer

With Solano Public Health and Solano Emergency Medical Services, Fairfield-Suisun Unified School District will host a free COVID-19 vaccine clinic for students age 12 and older in the coming days and weeks.

Those Interested should meet at Grange Middle School, at 1975 Blossom Ave., in Fairfield.

Students age 12 and older will receive only the Pfizer vaccine and must be accompanied by a parent or guardian to their appointment, Angie Avlonitis, executive director of the district’s administrative services, noted in a prepared statement.

Source: FSUSD to host free COVID vaccine clinics for students 12 and older – The Reporter

Dixon USD selects Care Solace for enhanced mental healthcare services – The Reporter

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Dixon Unified School District is pleased to announce that it has selected Care Solace, an organization determined to streamline mental health care to support behavioral and mental health referrals for our nearly 3,000 students, families and staff members.

Care Solace equips school districts with a web based tools making it easier for students, families and staff to connect with resources and providers in their communities.

“School is more than a place to learn, it’s a place where students come to feel safe and supported. Even with the resources and support provided by our district mental health staff, we see that there’s an unmet need,” Superintendent of Dixon Unified School District Brian Dolan said in a press statement.

Source: Dixon USD selects Care Solace for enhanced mental healthcare services – The Reporter

Medical science students assist with mass vaccination clinic at Vacaville High School – The Reporter

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By Nick Sestanovich

Vacaville High School’s medical science program has been around for more than a decade, providing students opportunities to witness the work of medical professionals firsthand to bring their lessons to life.

On Wednesday, they had a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Solano Public Health hosted a mass vaccination clinic on their campus, and students volunteered to assist with check-ins, direct them to the vaccination area, fill out cards for next appointments and observe patients for 15 minutes following their shots, which were administered by medical professionals.

The clinic came two weeks after Solano County expanded COVID-19 vaccine eligibility to all residents 16 and older. Benjamin Gammon, the county’s Emergency Medical Services coordinator, said previously, the only people as young as 16 who could get vaccinated were those with chronic conditions.

Source: Coronavirus: Medical science students assist with mass vaccination clinic at Vacaville High School – The Reporter