The trustees of the Harriet H. Samuelsson Foundation recently awarded grants totaling $670,000 to 16 local non-profit organizations providing remote and in-person services to youth and adolescents during this ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. Grants ranged from $10,000 to $85,000, and were allocated locally:

$45,000 to CAREGIVERS: Volunteers Assisting the Elderly for matching a teen volunteer with a senior to assist with indoor and outdoor home maintenance, lawn mowing, window washing, vacuuming, laundry, and home organization

$45,000 to Community Memorial Healthcare Foundation for new adjustable bassinettes and cribettes with digital monitors for infant resuscitation at Community Memorial Hospital

$15,000 to Step Up Ventura, Inc., to recruit, train and coach volunteers to read twice a week to children impacted by homelessness to promote pre-literacy activities, increase language and cognitive reasoning skills, and support healthy social, emotional, and behavioral development

Grants are awarded in the spring and fall of each year. The deadline for letters of interest for Fall 2022 grants is September 30, 2022. For more information about the Harriet H. Samuelsson Foundation, including instructions on how to apply for a grant, please visit the Foundation’s website at www.samuelssonfoundation.org.

Here is a bi-weekly highlight of some of the new developments being proposed, approved or under construction in Ventura

Submitted by Eileen Shaw, Carol Spector and Livable Ventura.

Park Plaza- a 5 story mixed-use building with 87 residential units proposed on the corner of Fir and Santa Clara

Front and Kalorama- a 4 story building with 88 residential units on the corner of Front Street and Kalorama. Design Review hearing was on 3/31

Hilton Hotel– a new 160 room hotel with a restaurant and retail on the corner of Figueroa and Harbor. Design Review meeting on 05/19

Two Eleven- a 6 story mixed use with 94 units proposed for the corner of Figueroa and Thompson

Anastasi- 97 condos plus commercial space in 15 buildings on the corner of Harbor and Seaward. Design Review meeting was on 3/31

Shea Homes Del Sol- 201 residential units (89 townhomes and 112 single family homes) proposed at South Wells Road and Citrus Drive. Planning Commission hearing on 05/25

For more information go to www.LivableVentura.com or access the city development map at www.cityofventura.ca.gov Permit Services “button” or Development Map https://www.cityofventura.ca.gov/1854/Permit-Services for projects Under Review, Scheduled for Hearing or Entitled (Approved) and Under Construction.

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.”