Selasa, 26 Juni 2012

National HIV Testing Day, East Valley Community Center, Pomona 6-25-12 - HOT 92.3 - Old School

Senin, 18 Juni 2012

Summer Health Myths--Busted! -

Selasa, 12 Juni 2012

5 Nastiest Things in Your Supermarket -

Senin, 11 Juni 2012

The Common Food Ingredient That's Making You Stupid -

Interesting article below. I'm not convinced that the high fructose corn syrup is the culprit, so much as the Omega 3's improving brain power, but I will let you decide for yourself:)

The Common Food Ingredient That's Making You Stupid -

Jumat, 08 Juni 2012

Multidrug-Resistant Tuberculosis -- Good News, Bad News - Infectious Diseases

Selasa, 05 Juni 2012

Cruz Journal - Summer 2012 Missionary Newsetter from Ken Cruz

Reflections on Missions as Transformation

“Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name, Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven” Matthew 6:9-10

The Lord’s Prayer about the coming of God’s Kingdom to earth I believe is the most compelling message that we followers of Christ can share with others. Yet, it seems that it is the least understood truth in church mission and evangelism work in Cambodia. If properly understood I believe this holds the key to the Church’s role in transforming Cambodian society plagued by endemic corruption, poverty, materialism, inequality, hopelessness, social injustices, and environmental degradation.

Still in its growing stages, the Methodist Church in Cambodia is humbly rediscovering the true meaning of preaching the Good News of the Kingdom of God through our holistic approach to mission and evangelism. Our journey in recovering the “kingdom mentality” is not without growing pains, bumps and pot holes. But our journey is worth taking. Majority of 160 local Methodist congregations are now actively involved in addressing various social concerns issues with their respective communities.

We have also witnessed so many signs of God’s unfolding Kingdom through our various works in church-based relief and development. Through health programs sick people have been healed and communities now have increased access to clean water. Our agriculture programs are increasing local food supplies while our income generation activities continue to diversity and expand income sources for families. Similarly, our transformational leadership development training significantly improved the collective capacity of churches and communities in addressing social concerns issues and promoting local initiatives for change.

Our influence extends from the villages all the way up to decision-makers at provincial government agencies. Our network of partners who help us carry out holistic ministries with the poor and the needy come from diverse backgrounds, churches and nationalities. Thus, giving everyone a chance to share or use their God-given gifts and talents. Through acts of mercy, kindness and justice, many Methodist congregations in Cambodia are proclaiming the Kingdom of God that is here and now—not in a distant place or time like many of us tend to believe.

Bearing witness of God’s Kingdom unfolding reminds us that as we seek His Kingdom and his righteousness we can expect God to multiply the impact of our efforts even in our failures!

Changha Village Rice Seed Bank Group posing with bags of rice seeds from UMCOR.

"But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of Him...” I Peter 2:9

Celebrations & Prayer Requests

Praise God for the growing interest of many local churches in addressing social concerns issues.
Praise the Lord for new covenant relationships.
Praise the Lord for the opportunity to teach leadership and transformation- al development at the Cambodian Methodist Bible School.
Praise God for the growing number of people and communities the CHAD program serves.
Pray for our CHAD team as we are facing some growing pains with our work- ing relationship with the Social Concerns Committee.
Pray continually for my wife Jomil’s health.
Pray also for my safety as I frequently travel for out of town project visits.
Pray also for God’s wisdom as I prepare for my half yearly work plan.
Finally, I want to praise God for your faithfulness and commitment to this partnership in mission.

Personal note from the fieldTo see the hands of God working through our partnership in bringing the Good News of His Kingdom to the hopeless is humbling. We consider this a great privilege. As your missionaries, we are constantly reminded how gracious is our God is to entrust to someone as frail and as weak like us the restoration of His fallen creation.

As long as we allow God to mold and shape our being into His likeness, we will remain a mighty tool in His hands capable of doing things we would otherwise be unable to do. We believe God calls each of one us to proclaim His Kingdom wherever we are and whatever we do in life. And we hope you will also experience the incredible joy of seeing God’s Kingdom transforming you and the people around you.

We all love you with the love of the Lord!
Your grateful partners in Christ,
Ken, Jomil, Kim and Kyle Cruz

East Valley Staff is Honored with the Outstanding Ally Award

Efren is a Health Educator for the CHICAS program at East Valley Community Health Center (EVCHC). Over his past 5 years of employment at EVCHC Efren has helped to build and strengthen ties with the transgender community. He has focused his work specifically within the San Gabriel Valley, where services for this community are scarce. Through the relationships he has built with a variety of agencies, Efren has been able to coordinate free legal services, food pantry items, employment services, mental health services, and more for the transgender community! Efren has also coordinated a number of events meant to empower the transgender community.

We would like to congratulate Efren on receiving the 2012 Outstanding Ally Award for his exceptional work with the transgender community! Thank you for all of your hard work Efren! Your work has embraced EVCHC's mission by giving outstanding service to the underserved populations in our surrounding communities. Keep up the good work!

Find Happiness in Unexpected Places

Senin, 04 Juni 2012

SGV Tribune Article: "Community clinic opens to Rowland Unified families"

Community clinic opens to Rowland Unified families

By Juliette Funes, SGVN
twitter.com/juliette_funes

Posted: 05/22/2012 08:04:44 PM PDT

The East Valley Community Health Center, a new school-based health center at Villacorta Elementary School in Valinda, Calif., on Tuesday. The $875,000 clinic will serve children and youth in the Rowland Unified School District. (Staff Photo by Keith Birmingham)

A examine room at the East Valley Community Health Center a new school-based health center at Villacorta Elementary School in Valinda. (Staff Photo by Keith Birmingham)

VALINDA - Living in a community isolated from services and businesses has made it tough for some low-income families here to get basic health care for their children and themselves. Among them is parent Miriam Magallanes.
The Valinda resident usually travels by bus to a clinic about three miles away in La Puente for regular check-ups for her children. By the time they've gotten back home after waiting hours to be seen, the school day has already ended, she said.
"It's usually an all day thing taking them somewhere else," Magallanes, 31, said.
But last week, the East Valley Community Health Center, a West Covina-based nonprofit medical group, made the journey to affordable health care much shorter.
In partnership with the Rowland Unified School District, East Valley opened the doors to its new $875,000 school-based health center on the Villacorta Elementary School campus at 17840 E. Villacorta St.
Primarily funded with a $750,000 grant from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, the new medical center will provide services such as physicals and immunizations, women's health care, prenatal care and treatment of chronic diseases to the needy and uninsured.
"There's such a need here because there's a lot of poverty, multiple families and single-parent homes with limited transportation," East Valley spokeswoman Lorena Gardea said. "Its such a rare thing to have a full-fledged clinic open to the community."

And although it's only been open a few days, already the neighborhood clinic has served 22 local residents, including Magallanes.
"It's so much better," she said. "It's close by and it's faster than over there. I've already told my mom and she wants to come by."
The 2,160-square-foot facility will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesdays and Wednesdays and 1 to 5 p.m. Fridays. On those days, youth will be seen between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. and the clinic will be open to the community from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Once it is open full-time, which officials hope will be in August, hours will increased to six days a week, allowing up to 380 patients to be seen. Services will also expand to include mental health and nutrition consultations.
"The focus is Rowland students and their families, but we're not turning children away," Gardea said. "The greatest need was for children here to get their health care and not miss a day of school."
Villacorta Vice Principal Sylvia Cadena said having a nearby facility will promote increased academic learning.
"There's a strong correlation between attendance and great academic learning," she said. "We feel it's going to help us on a lot of levels, and parents can tap into this extraordinary resource."
For years, officials at the district - which already has a children's clinic and dental clinic at nearby Northam Elementary school - have supported the need for a larger family medical center.
"I've wanted our own clinic since 1986," District Nurse Cindy Rose Escamilla said. "We tried 10 years ago at another school site in Rowland Heights, but it didn't work out."
The district then partnered with East Valley, which evolved from a free clinic in West Covina in 1970 to a comprehensive health center. East Valley added another clinic in Pomona in 1992. Villacorta is the third health center.
"This is a clinic for our community," Gardea said.
For more information on the clinic, call 626-919-4333, ext. 2140 or ext. 3141.
Staff Writer Richard Irwin contributed to this story.

juliette.funes@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2446

San Gabriel Valley Tribune Article: "East Valley Health Center opens community clinic at Villacorta School in La Puente"

East Valley Health Center opens community clinic at Villacorta School in La Puente

By Richard Irwin SGVN, twitter.com/richirwinsgvn

Posted: 05/22/2012 10:38:19 AM PDT

Dr. Miles Masatsugu takes Gloria Mejia's blood pressure. Mejia was the first patient seen at East Valley Community Health Center's new Villacorta clinic on May 15. (Courtesy photo by Gina Ward, Rowland Unified)

School nurse Cindy Rose Escamilla has always dreamed of serving all the low income families in the Rowland Unified School District, but there's only so much the school district can do.
Unless, of course, it gets help from the East Valley Community Health Center. Then dreams really can come true, such as the new clinic at Villacorta Elementary School in La Puente.
The sparkling new medical center opened on May 15, bringing affordable health care to not only the students, but their entire families.
"I've wanted our own clinic since 1986," Escamilla recalled. "We tried 10 years ago at another school site in Rowland Heights, but it didn't work out."
Good thing the pediatric nurse practitioner didn't give up. And

Front and back office staff at East Valley's expansion at the Villacorta Community Health Clinic. (Courtesy photo by Gina Ward, Rowland Unified)

it gave her the chance to meet Alicia Mardini, the chief executive officer of East Valley.
"I've known her for years, since then she's been interested in opening a clinic in our district. She's amazing at getting people involved," Escamilla continued.
This partnership between the schools and health care provider resulted in the new $875,000 clinic on the sprawling La Puente campus. It was funded primarily by a grant for $750,000 from the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services.
County Supervisor Gloria Molina introduced the motion to permit the Health Services Department to establish neighborhood clinics such as Villacorta.
"And it's not just for kids. During school hours, children from the district will

be seen. But after school, the clinic is open to everyone," the nurse practitioner said with a smile.
Gloria Mejia was the first patient seen on opening day on Tuesday.
"Gloria, 32 years old, shared that she had not had a physical exam since the age of 17 due to lack of funds," said Gina Ward, spokeswoman for Rowland Unified. "She was very grateful to know that she can receive quality care at East Valley."
East Valley spokeswoman Lorena Gardea noted that all Medi-Cal/Healthy Families members will have access to all their facilities.
"Many families may qualify for free or low cost health care at our clinic," Gardea explained. "We work with the low income families to enroll them in the many programs available to help them."
Founded in 1970, East Valley has evolved from a free clinic in West Covina to a comprehensive health care center. It became a federally qualified health center in 2002.
"We scored a 97 percent in our last qualification," Gardea noted.
A new West Covina facility opened in 2008. In 1992, East Valley added another community clinic in Pomona. Villacorta is its third health center.
Gardea said East Valley provided services for 25,655 patients last year. That included more than 85,000 patient visits.
The Villacorta center will offer pediatrics, prenatal care and women's health care. Doctors will also treat chronic diseases such as diabetes, asthma and high blood pressure.
"Now, local families will have a place nearby where they can get the health care they need," Escamilla pointed out. "Many don't have transportation."
Gardea showed off the new health center. Patients enter a bright, airy reception room, where they are greeted by a friendly receptionist.
"We're placing Mirabel Del Muro from Rowland's Family Resource Center in the clinic so the families have a familiar face to meet them," Escamilla said.
Staff helps families enroll in Medi-Cal and other insurance programs for the uninsured. Gardea said the clinic uses a sliding pay scale determined by the individual's income.
Inside, patients are taken to one of five exam rooms. Each is equipped with a rolling computer stand.
"All our medical records will be kept digitally. Doctors and their assistants will be able to locate a patient's file instantly," Gardea said.
Doctors and physician's assistants occupy nearby offices. Three extra offices will allow the clinic to expand its services when it opens full-time later. These will include nutrition, education and mental health services.
"The Villacorta health center will be open Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Fridays from 1 to 5 p.m.," the East Valley official said. "These hours will eventually expand to include full weekday and Saturday hours."
Health services will now be available for Rowland Unified students five days a week. The district's Children's Clinic at Northam Elementary already offers free immunizations, physical exams and minor treatments on Mondays and Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
A Children's Dental Clinic also provides low or no-cost dental care for low-income students from Rowland and nearby school districts. It is located next to the Family Resource Center at Northam in La Puente.
Villacorta joins 200 school-based health centers in California.
"I can't think of a better way to deliver primary care and preventive care to not only students but their families than through school-based clinics," said Kathleen Sebelius, U.S. Secretary of Health and Human Services.
But it means much more to local families.
"It's really an exciting start," Escamilla said. "A dream fulfilled."

richard.irwin@sgvn.com
626-962-8811, ext. 2801

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