Hi, just a reminder that you're receiving this email because you have expressed an interest in the First 5 Health Access Training Project. |
|
SLO County Health Access Update
Connecting Children Ages 0-5 to Health Care
April 2023
|
|
Information and articles from these newsletters are housed on the San Luis Obispo County Health Access website. The website is updated frequently and is intended as a resource for professionals working with children ages 0-5 and their families.
To view this newsletter in your browser click here.
|
|
Medi-Cal Continuous Coverage is Ending! |
|
Early in 2020, eligibility renewals were temporarily waived to help people with Medi-Cal keep their health coverage during the pandemic.
The continuous coverage has now ended and California has restarted eligibility renewals beginning April 1, 2023.
Here's how you can help clients maintain health insurance:
- Encourage families on Medi-Cal to report any changes in contact information to the SLO County Department of Social Services (DSS) including name, current address, email address, or phone.
- Remind Medi-Cal members to watch for their redetermination package in the mail and send it back promptly.
-
If a family no longer qualifies for Medi-Cal, they may qualify for discounts on health insurance through Covered California.
- Send families who need more help to their DSS worker or to Public Health's Health Care Navigation Service (see next article for more information).
Who is eligible for Medi-Cal?
Medi-Cal is for low-income Californians, including while pregnant and undocumented immigrants ages 0-25 and 50+.
How does one apply/re-apply for Medi-Cal?
|
|
Navigation Help to Access Insurance and Medical Care |
|
SLO County Public Health offers free Health Care Navigation Services for Medi-Cal, the Medically Indigent Services Program (MISP) and Covered CA. Services include:
- Determining eligibility and guiding the application process
- Helping find a doctor
- Answering questions about a medical bill
- Redetermining eligibility for those who currently have Medi-Cal
- Locating a DSS caseworker
- Distributing free COVID tests
Call: (805) 781-4838. (Staff are bilingual English/Spanish. Support in Mixteco is available, call to request in advance.)
In person: 2180 Johnson Avenue, San Luis Obispo
Hours: Monday - Friday, 8am - 5pm
|
|
Did You Know About Pregnancy & Parenting Support's Services for Families? |
|
Pregnancy and Parenting Support of San Luis Obispo County (PPS) provides local families with emotional support, practical assistance, and connections to community resources from pregnancy through age 5.
|
|
PPS is a perinatal resource center, providing resources for families specific to the needs of pregnancy and early childhood such as maternity and baby clothes, diapers, wipes, formula and baby food, nursing supplies, baby equipment (including safe sleep items) and new car seats.
PPS staff are certified car seat technicians and instruct clients on how to properly install car seats and safely position their children.
Emotional support and access to therapy is provided through the Postpartum Depression Warmline (805) 541-3367 and in-person appointments.
PPS provides referrals to medical and mental health providers, lactation and parenting consultants, and housing and basic needs assistance.
- All of the services provided by PPS are free of charge and available for ALL families within SLO County.
- Services are available in English and Spanish.
- All services are by appointment only (Monday through Friday, 8am to 3pm) at 3480 South Higuera, Suite 100, San Luis Obispo.
-
Families can call (805) 541-3367 to schedule with bilingual, bi-cultural staff.
|
|
Free Medical & Health Resources |
|
A free SLO Medical Pop-Up Clinic provided by Vituity Cares will launch in May and be held on the third Sunday of every month. The clinic is for adults age 18 and older, no documentation or proof of financial eligibility required.
Sunday May 21, 2023. 12:30 - 3:30pm. (3rd Sunday of every month)
SLO Public Library, 995 Palm St, San Luis Obispo, CA 93403. (Located alongside Shower the People’s Mobile Showers.)
FREE medical services for the underserved and unsheltered, including:
- Medical Screenings
- Physical Exams
- Blood Sugar Checks
- Wound Care
- Medical Advice & Treatment
- Basic Prescriptions
|
|
Free COVID-19 Telehealth Appointments for those without insurance or with limited coverage.
If someone tests positive for COVID-19 at home, they can call for a telehealth appointment to speak with a doctor. If treatment is prescribed, medication can be picked up from a pharmacy for free. More than 15 languages are available, including Spanish and Mixteco. For free telehealth appointments, call (833) 686-5051 or visit sesamecare.com/covidca to schedule. ID not required.
In California, this service is expected to remain widely available at no cost through June of 2023 and potentially longer. After June of 2023, it will be a good idea to ask whether there is a cost when calling to request treatment.
|
|
Trauma-Informed Care: Tip of the Month |
|
One definition of suffering is:
When you get something in life you didn’t want,
or you want something in life you didn’t get.
Suffering is something we all have in common. As a family-serving professional, one of the most effective things you can do is compassionately witness your clients’ suffering. Give the gift of trauma-informed compassion through your presence.
You don't have to know about every incident of trauma in a client's life. You can't solve all problems and remove all suffering. However, you can walk alongside clients as they recover and heal.
TIP: At the beginning of meetings allow for a few minutes to sit quietly with clients, offer some water or tea, maybe suggest taking a few breaths together. This might be the only time they've had all week to just be. Your client might want to talk, or they might appreciate having a few quiet, supported moments.
|
|
Local Health Referral Information at SLOHealthAccess.org |
|
SLOHealthAccess.org has a wealth of information to help you help families, with local resources related to:
- Practical Resources for Basic Needs
- Behavioral Health
- Immigration: safety and service access
- Dental
- Prescriptions
- Medi-Cal & Covered CA
- Transportation
- Special Needs
- Parental Substance Use, and
- Resources to help parents advocate for services
General needs and system navigation:
Can't find an answer?
Let us know and we will find you the information you are looking for. For general questions about health access and health care reform, contact:
Becca Carsel, Health Access Project Director,
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
