Food insecurity is a primary social determinant of health affecting our members, and we encourage those who qualify to access healthy food through CalFresh. With CalFresh, a family of four can qualify for up to $939 monthly for groceries and up to $281 monthly for individuals. As part of the Fiscal Responsibility Act of 2023 (FRA) signed into law by President Joe Biden on June 3, the work-reporting requirement for the CalFresh increased from ages 18–49 to 18–55. As a result, more members are now subject to work requirements. However, the FRA also expanded exemptions from work requirements to include veterans, individuals experiencing homelessness, and youth ages 18–24 who are aging out of the foster care system.

Application closes August 15, 2023 (5 p.m. PST) 

As part of our efforts to overcome health disparities, CalOptima Health is participating in the Department of Health Care Services’ Housing and Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP). Through the program, CalOptima Health is administering a funding opportunity for capital projects to increase equitable and countywide access to permanent, affordable housing. The total grant funding available is $52.3 million. Individual grant requests must be between $1 million and $8 million.  

For information on the project requirements and proposal evaluation criteria and to apply, visit: https://www.caloptima.org/en/About/CurrentInitiatives/CalAIM/FundingOpportunities.

From left: CalOptima Health leaders: Bárbara Kidder-García, Manager, Population Health Management, Thanh Mai Dinh, Supervisor, Population Health Management; Brian DeGeer, Program Manager; Donna Laverdiere, Executive Director, Strategic Development; Peter Bastone, Chief Strategy Officer; Katie Balderas, Director, Population Health Management; Ann Mino, Manager, Population Health Management; Janette Valladolid, Program Manager.  

On July 26, CalOptima Health strategy executives and leaders from Population Health Management attended a presentation by the Orange County Health Care Agency (HCA) on their Community Health Assessment. Joining other health systems, public agencies and community-based organizations, our leaders offered input and feedback to help refine HCA’s findings. HCA is hosting a follow-up collaborative session on August 23, from 9 a.m.–Noon, to work with the community and identify the County’s health priorities for 2023–2025. You can RSVP here. 

From left: Duyen Nguyen, Program Coordinator, CalOptima Health; Katie Balderas, Director, Population Health Management, CalOptima Health; Marie Jeannis, RN, MSN, CCM, Executive Director, Population Health Management, CalOptima Health; Thanh Mai Dinh, Supervisor, Population Health Management, CalOptima Health; Richard Pitts, D.O., Ph.D., Chief Medical Officer, CalOptima Health; Flora Asuncion, MBA, Chief Operating Officer, Families Together of Orange County (FTOC); Bárbara Kidder-García, Manager, Population Health Management, CalOptima Health; Alexander Rossel, Chief Executive Officer, FTOC; Esmeralda Muñoz, Clinic Manager, FTOC; Claudia Magee, Director, Community Support and Development, FTOC. 

CalOptima Health leaders recently visited Families Together of Orange County’s (FTOC) Community Health Center in Garden Grove to learn about the center’s services. In addition to medical, dental, vision, physical therapy and mental health services, the center offers a state-of-the-art 3D mammography machine to provide breast cancer screenings for patients and community members. We’re proud to partner with FTOC through our $50.1 million Comprehensive Cancer Screening and Support Program, as we move to achieve the lowest incidence rate nationwide for late-stage breast, cervical, colon and certain lung cancers.

The OC Health Care Agency (HCA), Communicable Disease Control Division is reporting an increase in the percentage of positive COVID-19 PCR tests in Orange County residents over the past month. To minimize the severity of the recent increase, the HCA is reminding residents to take preventive actions to reduce the risk of severe illness or hospitalization. To read the press release, click here.

For more information on COVID-19, visit www.ochealthinfo.com/covid. Additionally, the HCA responds to community inquiries through the Agency’s Health Referral Line at 1 (800) 564-8448, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Join Supervisor Andrew Do for a CalFresh Resource Application event. The event will be held on Saturday, August 19 from 9 a.m.–1 p.m. at Westminster Library (8180 13th St., Westminster).

The event will offer families:  

• Medi-Cal, CalFresh and CalWORKS enrollment
• Distribution of food, diapers, and backpacks while supplies last  

The flyer is available in English and Spanish.

California law requires that children have a dental checkup 12 months before entering public school for the first time or by May 31 of their first year (Kindergarten or 1st Grade). This requirement is called the Kindergarten Oral Health Assessment. With Medi-Cal, children are covered for two dental checkups a year. To learn more about dental services, visit the Smile, California webpage. 

Paid providers that serve 60+ year-olds in OC can participate in the AdvanceOC’s Older Adults Needs Assessment, a survey in partnership with the County of Orange and Office of Aging. The survey will be closing on August 30. Results from this survey will be used to support the development of Orange County's Master Plan for Aging.

With the start of the 2023-24 academic year fast approaching, the Orange County Department of Education (OCDE) Newsroom has compiled a rundown of all school start dates in Orange County, including charter schools. The timeline looks slightly different depending on the district. While start dates vary, all schools in Orange County follow the state-mandated requirement of providing students with 180 instructional days over the course of an academic year.