Building Healthy Communities 
Newsletter 
August, 2014 
Don't Miss BHC-SK's Annual Celebration

Join us in making a healthy South Kern on Saturday, August 23!

In South Kern, the community faces many struggles including poverty, unhealthy air, unemployment, and low educational attainment.  Residents, youth, businesses, and organizations are leading the BHC-SK effort to positively change the health of our communities through a shared vision, goals and action plan that guide our work.

Come and share your voice and enjoy a day full of fun interactive activities for those of every age, great great prizes and free food!

Saturday, August 23, 2014

10 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Rexland Park

425 E. Fairview Road, Bakersfield  

 

Let's work together to make a bigger, more focused impact on the future of our communities and create a brighter future for our children.  Transportation will be available. For more information call: (661) 845-2724 or visit our site.   

Local Schools Recognize the Need for a New Discipline Approach 
In Kern County expulsions and suspensions are four times more than the state's average and kids of color are disproportionately targeted. In an effort to reduce suspensions and expulsions several local school districts have implemented a new discipline method called Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS). PBIS is a school-wide collaboration that aims at changing school culture from a punitive approach to a proactive approach by teaching and recognizing positive behaviors.

Since the implementation of this approach the Greenfield Union School District has seen an 85% decrease in suspensions at all PBIS schools. 

                                                                                             

 

This past June, Lamont Elementary School District's Board of Trustees passed a resolution to recognize outstanding behavior among their students. The resolution proclaims that the last Friday of every month positive behavior will be celebrated through meaningful activities and programs that demonstrate Social Emotional Learning.

With a grant from The California Endowment, the Lamont Elementary School District (LESD) trained teachers and staff in PBIS methodologies. LESD implemented this approach late last year in all four of their schools and expects to have results by December. 

South Kern Sol, Alfredo Camacho

In late July The California Endowment announced that this fall, hundreds of Agua4all water stations will be installed throughout schools and public spaces in South Kern and the Eastern Coachella valley. The Agua4all initiative is also a partner in the First Lady's Drink Up! campaign and only part of a wider effort in South Kern to address unsafe drinking water, namely water with high levels of arsenic.   

 

"No matter who you are or where you live, you should be able to drink a glass of water in your school or neighborhood," stated Annalisa Robles, Program Manager for The California Endowment in a press release. "Sadly, this isn't the reality for more than a million Californians, whose water isn't safe to drink. Californians living in high-poverty areas are most affected-those who can least afford the extra expense. This isn't right. It's not healthy for kids, it's not good for their learning, and it's not what we Americans believe should happen."

 

Read more at South Kern Sol    

 

BHC-SK Partners Attend First Lady's Drink Up Event   

 

The California Endowment's plan came in tandem with an announcement made by First Lady Michelle Obama, in which as part of the Drink Up! initiative, a partnership with Brita, Haws Corporation and Nalgene has been formed to increase access to potable drinking water by installing hydration stations, water fountains and reusable water bottles in places with a need for safe drinking water.

 

Annalisa Robles, Program Manager for The California Endowment along with Building Healthy Communities partners, Michelle McLean, Superintendent of Arvin Union School District, Rural Community Assistance Corporation, and Pueblo Unido from East Coachella Valley, attended the event with Michelle Obama in Washington DC on July 22.

A student refills his water bottle at Coachella Valley High School's new hydration station. Photo: COACHELLA UNINC
BHC-SK's Newest Education Action Team Co-Chairs 

Frank Ramirez is the director of the Greenfield Family Resource Center (GFRC). This job, according to him, combines all of his past job experiences with his life's passion: effecting positive change in communities and the lives of the people in them. Ramirez's passion for positive change led him to develop Youth2Leaders Education Foundation, a successful nonprofit organization that gives scholarships to local students. Prior to joining the GFRC, Ramirez worked for University of California, Merced in the admissions office and as a financial aide counselor for Cal State, Bakersfield.

What do you hope to achieve as an Education Co-Chair?
Ramirez: I hope to help lead our Action Team to host 2 -3 events that will address the needs of the community regarding education.

Karen Davis has been the Director for the Arvin Union School District's Family Resource Center (AUSD-FRC) for the past seven years. Davis has always enjoyed working in education. Prior to joining the AUSD-FRC, Davis was a sixth grade teacher for the same district for twelve years. 

What do you hope to achieve as an Education Co-Chair?
Davis: My hope is that quality parent involvement and parent education will increase at all BHC-SK school districts. I also hope more students will see college attendance as part of their future.

About Us

 

Building Healthy Communities is a comprehensive community initiative that is creating a revolution in the way Californians think about and support health in their communities.  Residents are proving that they can make health happen in their neighborhoods, schools and with prevention-and in doing so, they are creating a brighter future for their children.

 

Over 2,000 residents, youth, businesses and organizations are leading the BHC-SK effort to positively change the health of our communities through a shared vision, goals and action plan. Residents in Arvin, Lamont, Weedpatch and the unincorporated areas of Greenfield are proving that we have the power to make health happen in our communities.

 

BHC-SK is promoting healthy change in the areas of:

  • Education: Improving education from pre-K through adult education
  • Environment: Creating a healthy environment with clean air and water
  • Health Access: Increasing access to a better health care system
  • Recreation: Improving recreational activities, facilities and parks

 

We have the power to build healthy communities for the next generation.

 
In This Issue
BHC-SK's Annual Celebration
LESD's School Discipline Resolution
Drink Up Initiative
BHC-SK's Newest Education Action Team Co-Chairs
BHC-SK's Community Workshops
Quick Links
Save the Date: BHC-SK Workshops
students.jpg
BHC-SK will be hosting a series of workshops in September and October to discuss BHC-SK's goals. In these important workshops, input will be asked from com
munity members to move forward to 2020.  
Don't miss the opportunity to be heard!  

Bakersfield
Tuesday, 
September 23, 2014 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Rexland Park
325 E Fairview Road

Lamont
Thursday, 
September 25, 2014
5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
David Head Center 10300 San Diego St.

Weed patch
Wednesday,
October 1st 
5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Sunset School Gym
8301 Sunset Blvd.

Arvin
Tuesday, 
October 7th 
5:00 to 7:30 p.m.
Arvin Veterans Hall 414 Fourth Avenue

 
Health Happens Here
  In partnership with
The California Endowment