The Long Reach Of Trauma From Fires Plays Out At Santa Rosa Health Care Center
Even a year after the Tubbs fire, people are seeking mental health help because of stress and anxiety. "We are realizing fire trauma may be something we will be dealing with for a long time," says Steve Mizera, head of the Santa Rosa school district's student and family services.
KQED:
As Fire Trauma Lingers, Santa Rosa Health Care Center Takes The Long Road
The Santa Rosa City Schools District started the center temporarily in an empty school building during the holidays last year after the Tubbs fire when it was clear families were going to continue to need help during the school break. It's since become a permanent community clinic of sorts, open three days a week after school. Clients now include a secondary wave of families who are renters who have been displaced, sometimes by home owners who needed to move back in. (McEvoy, 11/26)
In other public health news —
The California Health Report:
New Initiative Encourages Community-Generated Efforts To Prevent Domestic Violence
A new initiative to combat domestic violence in California is supporting several high-risk populations — including refugees, immigrants, low-wage workers, Native Americans and rural residents — to develop their own community-based strategies for prevention. Safety Through Connection, a program by the Oakland nonprofit Prevention Institute, is providing $50,000 to five coalitions of community-based organizations that have not previously worked on reducing domestic violence — but that have proven track records in creating change — to spend a year examining the issue and developing interventions. (Kandil, 11/26)