March: National Nutrition Month
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Taking charge of your health contributes to overall well-being; as well as losing weight or staying at your ideal weight, which reduces risks of chronic illness such as heart disease and diabetes.
National Nutrition Month began in March 1973, and is an educational campaign focusing on the significance of physical fitness as well as eating nourishing meals.
The campaign was immediately embraced by members of the American Dietetic Association as an effective way to promote messages about nutrition all over the country and world.
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Tuesday (3/10/2020) the Board of Supervisors declared a state of emergency in Contra Costa County due to COVID-19. The guidelines recommended that high risk people (those over age 50 or with a pre-existing chronic condition) avoid mass gatherings where people are within arm’s length of each other and there are 50 or more people. As a result, please be aware and understanding that local events may be canceled.
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Novel Coronavirus Frequently Asked Questions
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Contra Costa Health Services (CCHS) and its partners are working closely with state and federal health agencies to monitor The Novel Corona Virus (COVID-19)
How can I avoid getting sick and what should I do if I have symptoms?
What is being done in Contra Costa?
- All hospitals in the county, including Contra Costa Regional Medical Center & Health Centers, are asking patients about symptoms of coronavirus and recent travel to China. People calling 911 will also be asked about their symptoms and recent travel to China.
- Contra Costa Health Services has sent information about coronavirus to local medical providers, ambulance paramedics and schools.
- County health officials are in ongoing contact with the CDC and the California Department of Health to get the latest information.
This a rapidly evolving situation with new information emerging every day.
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Census Invitations Start Going Out THIS WEEK
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The Primary election may be over in California, but the Census is right around the corner! Starting MARCH 12, households will begin to receive an invitation in the mail to respond to the Census*.
Remember, households can respond online, by phone, or by mail, and should respond by April 30. Head to
cococensus.org
to get answers to any questions you still have about Census 2020.
Check out
this helpful video for a guide
on how to respond to the Census online. This video is also available in multiple languages on the US Census Bureau YouTube channel.
*People living in areas that only receive mail at a P.O. Box will have a Census Bureau enumerator knock on their door beginning March 15 through April 10.
The Census Bureau enumerator will have Census materials, and a laptop to assist residents in completing the census questionnaire on the spot. If no one is home, they will leave a package of materials including the Census Questionnaire on the door step.
These areas include Bethel Island, portions of Byron, Diablo, Knightsen, and other rural areas with no mail delivery. You can check
this map
, which shows the 2020 Census Mail Contact Strategy. Census Bureau enumerators have been sworn to protect your privacy and data, with severe penalties, including fines and or imprisonment. They will have a badge and a census brief case.
Sign up to be a Census partner or
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Supervisors Honor County Employees for Service
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Those honored for their many years of service were:
- Anthony Gomez, for his 25 years of service to Contra Costa County.
- Cece Sellgren, for her 22 years of service to Contra Costa County and on the occasion of her retirement.
- Sue Guest, for her 32 years of service to Contra Costa County Public Health Nursing and on the occasion of her retirement.
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Donate Life California saves lives by creating opportunities for all Californians to sign up on the official state organ, eye and tissue donor registry.
Supervisors encourage everyone to sign up today!
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Donate Blood - Save a Life!
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How Blood Donations Help Patients
There’s no substitute for blood. When a patient receives blood, it was given in advance by a generous donor.
Who Can You Help by Donating Blood?
Every day, blood donors help patients of all ages: accident and burn victims, heart surgery and organ transplant patients, and those battling cancer. In fact, every two seconds, someone in the U.S. needs blood. Here are just a few of their stories.
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Contra Costa County Public Works Seeking Student Interns
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Contra Costa County Public Works is seeking qualified students for a 12 week, full-time summer internship between
May and September 2020
.
Student interns will have an opportunity to gain relevant public sector experience while working on meaningful projects that highlight some of the various programs and services within the department.
The Student Intern Program is a valuable tool to help Contra Costa County provide services and complete important work within the various divisions. Specifically within Public Works, this program provides students with an excellent professional development opportunity and is an essential recruitment tool to identify candidates for future career opportunities.
About Contra Costa County Public Works Department:
Contra Costa County Public Works Department (CCCPWD) maintains over 660 miles of roads, 150 miles of streams, channels and other drainage and over 200 County buildings throughout Contra Costa County. CCCPWD provides services such as Parks and Recreation, Sand Bag Distribution and Flood Control throughout unincorporated areas of Contra Costa County. For more information about CCCPWD, please visit us at www.
contracosta.ca.gov/PublicWorks
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Help with 2020 Census for People Experiencing Homelessness
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Contra Costa needs volunteers to help staff Questionnaire Assistance Kiosks (QAK) in homeless service sites in Contra Costa in April to help ensure that people in our community experiencing homelessness are counted in the 2020 Census!
WHAT IS A QAK?
QAKs are physical locations where people can access a computer to complete their Census questionnaire online or complete it by phone.
WHAT WILL VOLUNTEERS DO?
QAK volunteers will be stationed at homeless service sites/events with a laptop computer to encourage people to fill out the form, give out incentives when someone completes their form and direct people to more information about the Census. Volunteers will receive training on how to complete these activities.
WHEN IS THIS HAPPENING?
QAK shifts (typically 2-4 hours) will be available in multiple parts of the county and during daytime, evening and weekend hours in the month of April.
WHAT IS THE CENSUS AND WHY IS IT IMPORTANT?
The Census determines the number of Representatives each state has in Congress and possible redraws of district boundaries. Census data is used to distribute billions of dollars in Federal and State funding, including funding for homeless services. Being counted brings those resources, including funding for homeless services, back to your community.
The Census form includes ten questions about each person’s age, gender, race, and relationship to the person filling out the form. It should take about 10 minutes to fill out, more if there are more people living in the same household.
In 2020, you will be able to fill out the census form online, over the phone, by paper, or in person.
All data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau is confidential and may not be turned over to any other government agency including immigration enforcement or even the President. There will NOT be any questions about citizenship.
WILL I GET TRAINED?
Yes, all volunteers will need to complete a short (30 minute) training before their shift.
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Talk. Read. Sing. It Changes Everything.
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Boosting your baby's brainpower starts with you.
Talk. Read. Sing. It changes everything®.
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Who is it for?
CalFresh is for people with low-income who meet federal income eligibility rules and want to add to their budget to put healthy and nutritious food on the table.
Expansion of CalFresh to SSI/SSP Recipients!
Beginning June 1, 2019, recipients of SSI/SSP benefits may be eligible for CalFresh Food benefits for the first time! There is no change to the SSI/SSP monthly benefit. To learn about this policy change, see the
Expansion of CalFresh to SSI Recipients
Partner Flyer located here: (
English
) (
Spanish
).
For more information on how SSI recipients may apply for CalFresh Food benefits, visit
CalFreshFood.org
CalFresh Info Line 1-877-847-3663.
Available in English, Spanish, Cantonese, Vietnamese, Korean, and Russian.
For speech and/or hearing assistance call 711 Relay.
The CalFresh Program, federally known as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), issues monthly electronic benefits that can be used to buy most foods at many markets and food stores. The CalFresh Program helps to improve the health and well-being of qualified households and individuals by providing them a means to meet their nutritional needs.
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Blue Water Navy Benefits for Veterans
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As of Jan. 1, 2020, VA extends benefits to Veterans who served offshore of the Republic of Vietnam, or in the Korean Demilitarized Zone during a certain time period, are presumed to have been exposed to herbicides, such as Agent Orange. Learn what the
Blue Water Navy Vietnam Veterans Act means for you.
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Spotlight: Contra Costa Television (CCTV)
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Contra Costa Television (CCTV) is the flagship channel of Contra Costa County's cable television programming, bringing you special events, government meetings and produced shows.
CCTV currently broadcasts six channels – CCTV, City Channel, Ed TV, Community Access, Hercules Community TV, and Delta TV.
The Contra Costa Television network provides public, education and government access services for users in Contra Costa County, in the cities of Antioch, Clayton, Danville, Hercules, Martinez, Moraga, Pleasant Hill, and San Ramon.
CCTV is also proud to partner with Contra Costa County Veterans Services to produce the monthly
live, call-in talk show Veterans' Voices
,
focusing on the issues veterans face as they transition back to civilian life.
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East Contra Costa Fire Protection District “We are listening.”
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Cancer Support Community provides free services that are
open to all people with cancer and their loved ones.
Programs are always free of charge and led by highly skilled professionals.
Click on document to open.
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Learn about Cancer Support Community by coming to an individual welcome session.
Contact: Zenaida Burgos, East County Program Manager at
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East Bay Intended Wildfire Evacuation and PSPS Event Study
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Researchers from the University of California, Berkeley are conducting a study to better understand wildfire evacuation decision-making and the recent October public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events.
The UC Berkeley team is asking residents from East Bay communities to fill out a survey about their choices in a future wildfire evacuation. The team is also interested in learning about residents' experiences during the recent PSPS events.
Survey-takers will be entered into a drawing for 1 of 5 $200 Amazon gift cards.
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Do you have Medicare? Are your prescription drug costs too high?
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Are you having difficulty paying for your Medicare Part B premium? Has your Medicare Advantage plan changed over the years? Will you be signing up for Medicare soon and are confused about your choices? Did Medicare deny a medical or ambulance bill?
Contra Costa County has a wonderful free Medicare counseling program, HICAP, Health Insurance Counseling and Advocacy Program. HICAP can help you apply for low-income programs that can help with Medicare-related costs, if you qualify. It can give you information to help you make the best plan choices for you.
For help with these issues and more, contact HICAP toll-free from a landline phone at 800-510-2020 or at (925) 602-4163. HICAP offers “Welcome to Medicare” talks countywide each month. For a complete listing, please visit
www.cchicap.org
.
HICAP offers unbiased individual counseling throughout the county. HICAP is not associated with the insurance industry and does not earn commissions. Counseling is provided by Medicare counselors registered with the California Department of Aging.
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Community Care Corps Request for Proposals
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Community Care Corps Request for Proposals: Innovative Local Models to Provide Non-Medical Assistance to Older Americans, Persons with Disabilities, and Family Caregivers
Community Care Corps seeks proposals for innovative local models in which volunteers assist family caregivers or directly help older adults or adults with disabilities with non-medical assistance in order to maintain their independence.
Community Care Corps will award
competitive grants between $30,000 and $250,000 to establish, enhance, or grow volunteer programs.
A wide range of nonprofit entities, such as faith- and community-based organizations, aging services organizations, Centers for Independent Living, institutions of higher education, and service organizations, as well as state, county, and local governments are encouraged to apply.
Community Care Corps seeks to fund local models that represent a diverse cross section of the nation reflective of geography, urban/rural/frontier and Tribal communities, underserved and limited English-speaking populations, communities with limited support programs, and more.
For more information, including information on the application process and deadlines, and to access the RFP, click
here
.
Contact:
Nanette Relave
Senior Director, National I&R Support Center | ADvancing States
241 18
th
Street S, Ste. 403, Arlington, VA 22202
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Citizen Advisory Boards and Commission Openings
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The Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community participation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly on a regular basis.
Candidates for these positions must live in District 3 or any specified boundary area for special districts. District 3 is comprised of the cities of Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood, and the unincorporated communities of Blackhawk, Diablo, Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen and Discovery Bay.
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District 3 Committee Openings
Assessment Appeals Board
1 Alternate seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
The Assessment Appeals Board conducts impartial hearings on property assessment disputes between taxpayers and the county assessor. Based on the evidence presented at these hearings, the appeals board determined the value of the disputed property or determines other matters of property tax assessment within the board's jurisdiction.
Qualifications:
Applicants should possess five or more years of professional experience in California as one of the following: licensed real estate broker, attorney, certified public accountant (CPA) or public accountant, property appraiser accredited by a nationally recognized professional organization, property appraiser certified by the Office of Real Estate Appraisers, or property appraiser certified by the State Board of Equalization.
Compensation:
This is a volunteer position. Assessment Appeals Board members are compensated for their time at hearings and reimbursed for their mileage to attend assessment appeals hearings.
The Assessment Appeals Board meets every Thursday at 9:00 a.m. located at 651 Pine Street, Room 107 in Martinez.
County Service Area, P-6 Citizen Advisory Committee
(Discovery Bay)
4 seats
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
The County Service Area P6 Citizens Advisory Committee advises the Board of Supervisors on the needs of the Discovery Bay community for extended police protection services which shall include, but not limited to, enforcement of the State Vehicle Code where authorized by law, crime prevention, and litter control.
The Committee meets quarterly on the 2nd Wednesday of every month at 6:00p.m. located at the Discovery Bay Community Center, 1601 Discovery Bay Blvd. in Discovery Bay.
Library Commission
1 Alternate seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
The Commission serves in an advisory capacity to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian; provides a forum for the community to provide input concerning Library operations, and recommends proposals to the Board of Supervisors and the County Librarian which may improve the Library.
The Commission meets on the 4th Thursday of every other month at 7pm located at 777 Arnold Drive in Martinez.
Mental Health Commission
1 Consumer seat
Closing Date: Open Until Filled
To review and assess the community's mental health needs, services, facilities, and special problems, in order to advise the Board of Supervisors concerning local mental health services and programs.
The Commission meets on the first Wednesday of each month at 4:30 p.m. located at 550 Ellinwood Way, Pleasant Hill.
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Background: The Board of Supervisors receives valuable input and community participation from numerous citizen advisory boards on a range of issues. Boards usually meet monthly on a regular basis.
Candidates for these positions must live in District 3 or any specified boundary area for special districts. District 3 is comprised of the cities of Antioch, Oakley and Brentwood, and the unincorporated communities of Blackhawk, Diablo, Bethel Island, Byron, Knightsen and Discovery Bay.
Applications should be submitted to the Clerk of the Board's office 925-335-1900 located at 651 Pine Street, Martinez, CA 94553.
For more information, including on how to apply, you may contact Supervisor Burgis' Deputy Chief of Staff, Lea Castleberry at 925-252-4500 or
Lea.Castleberry@bos.cccounty.us
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