Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa County Seeks Partners for Reentry Services

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County Issues Requests for Proposals Tied to Public Safety Realignment

Matching the formerly incarcerated with jobs, housing and other support services is seen as key in keeping them from going back to a life of crime. With that goal, Contra Costa County’s Board of Supervisors is soliciting proposals from qualified agencies to provide a range of services to bolster the transition for those released to County supervision following California’s Public Safety Realignment.

The Board is making available a total of $3,530,000 for services in specific program areas. Four Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were released Tuesday, March 1, to deliver services in the following amounts: $2,000,000 for Employment Support and Placement Services, $1,180,000 for Short and Long-Term Housing Access, $200,000 for Peer Mentoring and Family Reunification Services, and $150,000 for Civil Legal Services.

Supervisor Candace Andersen, Chair of the Board and of the County’s Public Safety Committee, notes Contra Costa has been a leader among counties in its approach to implementing Realignment.

“Partnering with experienced, innovative, effective agencies will ensure we’re tackling recidivism with the right tools,” Andersen added.

Private, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, and public agencies that offer programs serving the needs of the target population, with demonstrated effectiveness in providing evidence-based and research-informed services aimed at reducing repeat offenses, are invited to submit proposals.

A mandatory Bidders Conference for interested responders is scheduled at the following locations and times: March 7, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Pittsburg City Council Chambers; March 8 from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Zoning Administrator’s Room at 30 Muir Road in Martinez; or March 9 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Richmond City Council Chambers. Potential bidders need only attend one conference.

Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2016. Additional information and RFP copies are available at website: www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/2366/Services-Programs or by calling (925) 335-1097.

Local Officials, Community Leaders to Deliver Meals to Homebound Contra Costa Seniors, March 21-25

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WHAT: Dozens of community leaders will show their support for Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services (MOWSOS) by helping deliver meals to senior clients in Contra Costa County during the national March for Meals event.

WHO:
District V Supervisor, Federal Glover – March 24th, Bateman Canteen

District IV Supervisor, Karen Mitchoff – March 21st, Concord Sr. Center

Clayton Mayor, Howard Geller – March, 22nd, Concord Sr. Center

Martinez Mayor, Rob Schroder – March 23rd, Martinez Sr. Center

Pleasant Hill Mayor, Sue Noack – March 21st, Pleasant Hill Sr. Center

Oakley Mayor, Kevin Romick – March 24th, Oakley Sr. Center

Orinda Mayor, Victoria Smith – March 25th, MOWSOS Office

Walnut Creek Mayor Pro-tem, Rich Carlston – March 24th, MOWSOS Office

Contra Costa County Office of the Sheriff, Lt. Paul O’Mary – March 22nd, Bateman Canteen

Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County, Executive Director, Will McGarvey – March 24th, Bateman Canteen

Bay Point Municipal Advisory Council Member, Debra Mason – March 24th, Bateman Canteen

WHY: Senior hunger is a serious issue in our community – 25,000 seniors are hungry in Contra Costa County and nearly 800 rely on our meal delivery to survive.  Community leaders will join MOWSOS volunteers to deliver meals and see first-hand the impact Meals on Wheels has on individual lives.

WHEN:  March 21st through March 25th, 2016 (see dates above for each community leader).

ADDRESS:

Bateman Canteen —  1409 Auto Center Drive, Antioch

Concord Senior Center —  2727 Parkside Circle, Concord

Pleasant Hill Senior Center —  233 Gregory Lane, Pleasant Hill

Oakley Senior Center —  991A Rosemary Lane, Oakley

MOWSOS— Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services 1300 Civic Drive, Walnut Creek.

Meals on Wheels and Senior Outreach Services is a full-service nonprofit organization dedicated since 1968 to helping seniors live independently and with dignity.  Based in Walnut Creek, the agency serves seniors all across Contra Costa County.  More information can be found at www.mowsos.org.

Fundraiser to Help Global Health Fellowship Continue its Work Abroad to Save Lives

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A unique program that sends doctors from Contra Costa County to train physicians around the world is holding an event, on Monday, March 14 in Pleasant Hill, to raise money to continue its work in countries with limited medical resources.

The Contra Costa Global Health Fellowship is one of only six family medicine global health fellowships in the country, according to Dr. Neil Jayasekera, the fellowship’s founder and co-director. The fellowship, an initiative of the Contra Costa Family Medicine Residency Program that works in collaboration with UC San Francisco, was started in 2011.

Fellows train family physicians in other countries to build capacity for them to provide care in their communities. Global health fellows have trained local doctors in Kenya, South Sudan, India and Mexico. Most recently, fellows have been the African nation of Malawi to train medical students there. Malawi has one of the lowest physician-to-patient ratios in the world, as well as some of the poorest health outcomes.

“We are helping train the next generation of physicians in Africa. We’re providing the mentorship and the skills that will allow them to diagnose and treat disease, alleviate suffering, and save their patients’ lives,” said Dr. Jayasekera, who works in the emergency department at Contra Costa Regional Medical Center. “Our philosophy is teach one, help many.”

Dr. Mena Ramos, a current global health fellow, recently returned from a training expedition to Malawi. The experience was extremely rewarding, she said.

“After 3 years of residency training, the global health fellowship allowed me to share the skills I learned while at Contra Costa with providers in East Africa, and in turn, learn from their experiences providing care in a resource constrained setting,” Dr. Ramos said. “There is nothing more empowering than walking away knowing that you have shared a skill that will be useful to patients and communities beyond your own.”

Dr. Jayasekera added that the program also produces local benefits. Global health fellows are the most committed to working with the underserved and are very likely to stay here in our community and work with most underserved and vulnerable patients, Dr. Jayasekera said. For example, he noted, two recent fellows are currently the lead physicians at two prominent homeless clinics in the Bay Area.

The March 14 event is being hosted by the Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation (CCRHF), a nonprofit agency that supports Contra Costa Health Services. Global health fellows will share their stories about the places they’ve been and the people they’ve helped.

Proceeds from the event will help pay for the fellows’ travel expenses and the purchase of critical medical equipment, such as portable ultrasound devices.  The Contra Costa Family Medicine Residency program is a recognized leader in point-of-care ultrasound training for family physicians.

While most people think of ultrasound in connection with prenatal care, its use has become standard in many areas of medicine. Ultrasound is especially well-suited for physicians who work in under-resourced settings locally and abroad. Global Health fellows devote a lot of time teaching doctors and medical students in other countries how to use ultrasound devices in their healthcare practices.

“Ultrasound is like radiology in your pocket,” said Dr. Erin Stratta, a current global health fellow who has worked in Peru. “It can be used every single day with just about every patient that you see. It’s the future of clinical practice and I think it is going to change the face of medicine.”

Those who are unable to attend can still donate to the cause by on the Regional Health Foundation’s website at ccrhf.org.

For more information about the Contra Costa Global Health Fellowship, visit cchealth.org/residency/ghf.

Event Details

WHAT: Fundraiser for Contra Costa Global Health Fellowship. Admission is $35. There will be complimentary wine (donated by Sky Terrace Vineyards) and appetizers (provided by caterer Lovable Feast).

WHEN: 6 p.m. to 8.pm. on Monday, March 14

WHERE: Pleasant Hill Community Center, 320 Civic Drive, Pleasant Hill

WHO: Hosted by the Contra Costa Regional Health Foundation, a nonprofit that supports Contra Costa Health Services

HOW: Register for the event or donate to the cause at ccrhf.org

Contra Costa County Seeks Partners for Reentry Services

By Leave a Comment

County Issues Requests for Proposals Tied to Public Safety Realignment

Matching the formerly incarcerated with jobs, housing and other support services is seen as key in keeping them from going back to a life of crime. With that goal, Contra Costa County’s Board of Supervisors is soliciting proposals from qualified agencies to provide a range of services to bolster the transition for those released to County supervision following California’s Public Safety Realignment.

The Board is making available a total of $3,530,000 for services in specific program areas. Four Requests for Proposals (RFPs) were released Tuesday, March 1, to deliver services in the following amounts: $2,000,000 for Employment Support and Placement Services, $1,180,000 for Short and Long-Term Housing Access, $200,000 for Peer Mentoring and Family Reunification Services, and $150,000 for Civil Legal Services.

Supervisor Candace Andersen, Chair of the Board and of the County’s Public Safety Committee, notes Contra Costa has been a leader among counties in its approach to implementing Realignment. “Partnering with experienced, innovative, effective agencies will ensure we’re tackling recidivism with the right tools,” Andersen added. Private, not-for-profit organizations, for-profit organizations, and public agencies that offer programs serving the needs of the target population, with demonstrated effectiveness in providing evidence-based and research-informed services aimed at reducing repeat offenses, are invited to submit proposals.

A mandatory Bidders Conference for interested responders is scheduled at the following locations and times: March 7, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. at the Pittsburg City Council Chambers; March 8 from 10:00 a.m. to noon in the Zoning Administrator’s Room at 30 Muir Road in Martinez; or March 9 from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. in the Richmond City Council Chambers. Potential bidders need only attend one conference.

Proposals are due by 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1, 2016. Additional information and RFP copies are available at website: www.co.contra-costa.ca.us/2366/Services-Programs or by calling (925) 335-1097.