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The General Plan Project
Our local governments
should have written policies in place about how they
plan and provide programs and services for families.
Family Action is leading a charge to have the County
of Sonoma and every city in our county develop written
policy about child, teen, senior and family issues.
As a result of Family Action’s work on this issue,
the County of Sonoma is moving toward adoption
of its first ever Family Element in 2005.
Nutrition and Physical Activity
The incidence of overweight and
obesity in Sonoma County children is growing rapidly.
Family Action has joined with the Family Activity and Nutrition Task
Force to address this issue and find new and creative
ways to encourage families to focus on healthy eating
and increasing physical activity.
Children's Health Initiative of Sonoma County
Family Action is an active participant in the planning and implementation of the Children's Health Initiative of Sonoma County (CHI). The CHI project is developing a program which will provide comprehensive health insurance and access to health services for the 8,000 Sonoma County children who are uninsured. CHI plans to launch the program in 2005.
Pediatric Dental Initiative of the North Coast
Thousands
of children throughout the North Coast have nowhere
to go for dental treatment requiring anesthesia. As a
result, many children are suffering needless pain and are
developmentally at risk. To respond to this crisis, Family
Action started this three-county initiative to develop an
outpatient pediatric dental surgery center in Northern
Sonoma County. The surgery center is expected to open
in 2005.
Children’s Oral Health Partnership
Many Sonoma
County children suffer needlessly from oral disease—
which is almost entirely preventable. Family Action’s
Children’s Oral Health Partnership is working to educate
the public about the importance of children’s dental
health. The Partnership published a report: Children’s
Oral Health—Preventable Disease Causes Pain and
Suffering for Sonoma County Children. The report
detailed the Partnership’s action plan, which includes:
Children’s Mental Health Partnership
Family Action convenes the Partnership, whose membership consists of individuals and organizational representatives working in the field of children's mental health. The Partnership is focused on improving access to care through a number of strategies. These strategies include increasing the number and expanding the knowledge base of those working with children in varying capacities. Among the other priorities is to bring greater awareness about the importance of infant and child mental health. The Partnership began in 2001 with its first endeavor being the publication of a report entitled: Children's Mental Health-Nurturing Children's Behavioral and Emotional Well-Being.
Asthma in Schools
In partnership with the Sonoma County Asthma Coalition, Family Action is working in the Roseland School District to improve the systems that support children with asthma. The project is called the Asthma Friendly Schools Initiative and is one of eight pilot projects across the nation. Supported by a two year grant that extends through December of 2005, the Coalition is now working on implementing the many strategies outlined in their recently developed asthma management plan. The work involves improving the communication path between health care providers, home and schools so that children with asthma are identified, their triggers and severity of asthma are known and that medication is available at school for all students with prescription asthma medication.