On Monday night, press sources obtained a leaked draft opinion in the Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization case, which appears to overturn Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey.

While this draft decision is deeply alarming, it is very important to be clear: Right now, Roe v. Wade is still the law of the land. Abortion is legal.

Sadly, this leaked draft decision shows us what we already knew: the conservative, Republican-appointed Justices on the Supreme Court have once again shown their utter disregard for the rights of people who need abortions, and they are bowing down to the demands of extremists. If finalized, this court opinion overruling Roe would effectively allow states to ban access to safe and legal abortion entirely, as well as allowing Mississippi’s 15-week ban to go into effect.

Decades of attacks have left abortion rights hanging by a thread in the United States. We have seen a flurry of state bans in recent weeks, and anti-abortion state lawmakers are already trying to prohibit people from accessing abortion across state lines. These types of laws must be stopped.

Anti-choice activists have made it clear that they aren’t stopping with Roe – they’re committed to a future where abortion is outlawed in every state across the country, showing there is no limit to their cruel attempts to control people’s personal health care decisions.

The House has already taken action by voting to codify the right to abortion access into federal law. As a member of the Pro Choice Caucus, I am proud to have voted for the Women’s Health Protection Act, and I will continue fighting until every person – no matter where they live, no matter their socio-economic status, and no matter the circumstance – has the freedom to make their own decisions about their lives and futures.

This issue could not be more urgent. The House has done its job and passed a bill to codify Roe into law. Now, the Senate needs to do its job and pass that same bill. This leaked opinion makes it clearer than ever that we cannot rely on the courts to protect our rights.

Abortion bans affect everyone, but the impacts of this decision, whenever it comes, will fall hardest on people who already face discriminatory obstacles to health care – particularly Black, Indigenous, and other people of color, people with disabilities, people in rural areas, young people, and those having difficulty making ends meet.

Every American should be able to make the personal health care decisions that impacts their life, their health, and their future. We must – and we will – continue to fight to protect and expand abortion access across the United States.

The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) is asking the public for assistance. VUSD is conducting its Local Control & Accountability Plan (LCAP) Survey. The LCAP is a three-year plan that helps the VUSD Board and staff set goals for the City of Ventura’s District and schools and determines how to use resources and funding. The deadline to provide feedback is Sunday, May 15, 2022.

“This is the chance for our community to help guide the District and provide input on the direction Ventura Unified should be heading in the future,” stated Dr. Antonio Castro, Assistant Superintendent, Educational Services. “It is important to both the Board and the staff that all stakeholders have a voice in this process. It is a vital component to our future goal-setting.”

There are several surveys for stakeholders this year including surveys aimed at parents/guardians of VUSD students, a student survey, a staff survey, and a community survey.

The public is encouraged to fill out the survey(s) that best represent their association with the Ventura Unified School District. VUSD oversees the K-12 public schools in the City of Ventura, not the County of Ventura.

For more information on the LCAP and access to the surveys, the public can visit the LCAP website at www.venturausd.org/about/lcap.

It’s a new day for mental health in America. More people are speaking openly about their mental health conditions than ever before, and the need for mental health services is on the rise.

It’s also a new day for NAMIWalks Your Way Ventura County, the annual fundraising and awareness event presented by the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI), known locally as NAMI Ventura County. For 2022, NAMIWalks Ventura County will return as an in-person event.

NAMIWalks Ventura County will be held on May 21st in Port Hueneme. This is the first time the event has been held in Port Hueneme. NAMIWalks will start at 9am.

Every year, NAMIWalks Your Way raises funds for NAMI’s free, top-rated programs, amplifies awareness to eliminate stigma and strengthens the ever-growing mental health community.

This year, organizers and participants are poised to take this award-winning event series* to a  new level and continue to be an integral part of the growing mental health movement.

“This year promises to be a banner year for all those who turn out to help us move closer to our goal of Mental Health for All,” according to Roberta Griego, Executive Director of NAMI Ventura County.

To join NAMIWalks Your Way, visit namiwalks.org/venturacounty. There is no registration fee, but fundraising is encouraged. One hundred percent of funds raised support NAMI Ventura County’s free local mental health programs, resources and services. In 2021, NAMI Ventura County served more than 5,000 individuals throughout Ventura County.

NAMI Ventura County is part of the nation’s largest grassroots mental health organization dedicated to building better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness. NAMIWalks Your Way, a Top 30 Peer to Peer Fundraising Event, is a national mental health event series with walks taking place in more than 120 locations.

Editor: Even though this event is not in Ventura it is extremely important.

The nurses and medical staff of the Community Memorial Health Services work hard to provide excellent patient care. As a result, CMH has consistently ranked among the highest-rated hospitals for patient satisfaction.

Recently, several CMH Auxiliary members assisted in sorting and packaging gifts to be distributed to various Health Services entities and the nursing staff in appreciation for all they do.

Helping out with projects is only one way the Auxiliary is involved. Members in their navy and white uniforms can be seen throughout the hospital–at the front desk, in the gift shop, escorting patients, and assisting in various departments. These volunteers make a difference!

by Carol Leish, MA

“The Ventura County Continuum of Care (VC CoC) Alliance meetings are held quarterly to update our community about new programs, initiatives and/or grant funding opportunities focused on preventing and ending homelessness in Ventura County,” according to Jennifer Harkey, MPA, Program Management Analyst for the Ventura County Executive Office. “The April 21, 2022 meeting was held remotely on Zoom. All of our meeting dates/times/locations/links are posted on the VC CoC website calendar at: www.venturacoc.org.”

“The focus of the April 21, 2022 meeting was on three areas: 1) Rising rent costs in Ventura County; 2) New State grant funding through the Homeless Housing Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Programs; and, 3) A New State initiative with the Housing & Homelessness Incentive Program (HHIP).”

Maria Navarro, VC Policy Advocate, CAUSE(Central Coast Alliance United for A Sustainable Economy) : [email protected] discussed, “There is the need for community advocacy in order to put caps on the rising rents within the local jurisdictions by Ventura passing a tenant protection ordinance.” She also recommended that, “Stronger relocation assistance is important. And, having it be permanent is important, too. With the City of Ventura adopting a simple short-term interim ordinance, it would give tenants relief while the City Council has time to deliberate on how best to design long-term protections.”

Alicia Morales-McKinney, LCSW, Management Analyst at the Ventura County Executive Office: [email protected] focused on the Homeless Housing, Assistance and Prevention (HHAP) Program Round 3. “The Eligible Activities included: 1) Rapid Rehousing; 2) Operating subsidies; 3) Street outreach; and 4) Services coordination. The remainder of the Eligible Activities included: 4) Delivery of permanent housing; 5) Prevention and shelter diversion; 6) Interim sheltering (new and existing); and, 7) Shelter improvements to lower barriers and increase privacy.” She also asked for public attendees to complete the surveys included in her presentation in order to identify HHAP Round 3 funding priorities and outcome goals.

The Housing and Homeless Incentive Program was the focus of the talk by David Tovar, Senior Policy Analyst at Gold Coast Health Plan (GCHP): [email protected]. He requested partnerships with local service providers in supportive housing, recuperative care programs and street medicine staff to improve health care service to those who are unsheltered. He said that this is possible by “Improving health outcomes and access to whole person care services by addressing housing insecurity & instability as a social determinant of health for the Med-Cal populations. Also, by ensuring that GCHP has the necessary capacity and partnerships to connect members to needed housing services. And, by reducing and preventing homelessness.”

The approach emphasizes, according to Tovar, “Providing rapid rehousing for Medi-Cal families and youth, and interim housing for aging and disabled populations. Improving access to coordinated housing, health and other social services is also important. This will reduce avoidable use of costly health care services. It will improve whole person health for Medi-Cal enrollees, including behavioral health treatment and resources. This will enable implementing solutions that manage information to better identify populations of focus and member needs.”

Harkey summarized by saying, “The VC CoC is working with each of these programs and initiative to improve affordable housing options, increase supportive service, provide emergency shelter, as well as prevent and end homelessness in Ventura County. An April 27^th meeting determined the Round 3 funding priority recommendations before reviewing and approving it on May 11, 2022 occurs. Gold Coast Health Plan is working with the State on Implementing the Incentive program in Ventura County this year.”

Sabrena Rodriguez is once again president of the Ventura Unified School District board of trustees, replacing Matt Almaraz, who resigned April 13.

Almaraz, who had been a board member for three years and was elected president in December 2021, said he had taken a job that could pose a conflict of interest because the company does business with the city of Ventura.

Jerry Dannenberg, a former school administrator and district board member since 2018, was chosen to replace Rodriguez as vice president on a 3-0 vote.

To avoid a special election, the board decided it would have an appointee serve the remainder of Almaraz’s term, which expires Dec. 12. The trustees approved a timeline for selecting a replacement by May 18.

Almaraz’s seat representing Area 5 is up for election in November as are Area 1 and Area 4 seats currently held by Velma Lomax and Dannenberg, respectively.

The Ventura Unified School District (VUSD) has announced that applications are now open to fill a vacancy in Trustee Area 5 on the Board of Education for the next seven months. The deadline to apply is Tuesday, May 10 at 4 pm.

At the Board meeting of April 21, 2022, the Board announced the process to fill the vacancy by a provisional appointment from among qualified applicants. The appointee will hold office through the next regularly scheduled election on November 8, 2022. This provisional appointment shall expire on December 12, 2022. While not required, the appointed person will have the opportunity to run in the November 2022 election if they so choose.

The District requests all those interested in serving on the school board to apply. Once open, the applications will be available on the District website https://www.venturausd.org/about/board-of-education and at the District Office, located at 255 West Stanley Avenue, Suite 100, Ventura, CA 93001. To be eligible to apply for appointment to the Board of Trustees, an individual must be at least 18 years old, be a resident of the Ventura Unified School District in Trustee Area #5, be a registered voter in the State of California, and not be disqualified from holding civil office by the constitution or any law of the State of California.

The Board position vacated by former President Matthew Almaraz, represents Trustee Area 5. Trustee Area 5 is located on the east end of Ventura, in the Montalvo area. The area borders Highway 101, Telephone Rd., the railroad, and Petit Ave. To view an interactive county map that includes the streets in this area, go to https://www.venturausd.org/about/board-of-education for a link to the map and directions on using the map.

“Board members are our elected representatives and a vital link between the school district and the community,” said VUSD Superintendent Dr. Roger Rice. “The Board sets the foundation and vision for the District, directs resources where they are most needed, and ensures accountability to the community by monitoring progress toward goals. Their end goal, of course, is to support and elevate student achievement.”

More information, including a link to the application, is available on the District website, https://www.venturausd.org/about/board-of-education.