Diabetes and Contributing Factors Initiative

The primary goals of the Diabetes and Contributing Factors Initiative are to reduce the risk factors associated with diabetes, reduce complications related to diabetes, and decrease the prevalence of childhood and adult obesity in the Pajaro Valley.

Background

Diabetes is often considered a silent killer.  It is the fifth deadliest disease in the United States and the leading cause of adult blindness, kidney failure, and amputations, as well as the leading contributor to heart attacks and strokes.  It is estimated that 18.2 million individuals living in the United States have diabetes, approximately 6.3 percent of the population. In California, there are an estimated 2 million individuals with diabetes, and this number is expected to double by 2020.

In Santa Cruz County it is estimated that 5 percent of the population is diagnosed with diabetes. And, for every two persons with diagnosed diabetes, there is another undiagnosed person with the disease.  This means that Santa Cruz County has an estimated 18,000 cases of diabetes.

Diabetes is particularly relevant to the Pajaro Valley because of its prevalence within the Latino population.  On average, Hispanic/Latino Americans are 1.5 times more likely to have diabetes than non-Hispanic whites of similar age.  Mexican Americans, the largest Hispanic/Latino subgroup, are over twice as likely to have diabetes as non-Hispanic whites.

The Trust's Commitment

The Trust will mobilize communities in the tri-county area to prevent the increase of type-2 diabetes in youth and young adult populations; teach diabetes self-management, and provide medical nutrition therapy to people living with diabetes thereby preventing the life-threatening complications associated with diabetes.  Further, the Trust will promote "best practices" in clinical management of diabetes throughout the region. The Trust will seek to minimize factors that contribute to diabetes, including obesity, poor nutrition, and lack of physical activity.

Examples of Community Investments to Date

• Operation of the Diabetes Health Center
• Convening of the Regional Diabetes Collaborative
• Providing fiscal sponsorship to the Community Chronic Care Network
• Healthy Lifestyles for Pajaro Valley Youth Grants

Health Insurance/Coverage & Education on Using the System Initiative

The primary goals of the Health Insurance/Coverage & Education on Using the System Initiative are to increase the number of Pajaro Valley residents with health insurance, increase residents understanding and appropriate use of a medical home (family practitioner), and decrease inappropriate use of the emergency department.

Background

In order to eliminate health disparities it is not only imperative that everyone has health insurance, but all members of the community must have access to education that will increase their awareness on how to utilize the health care system in order to receive the highest standards of care.

There are more than 30,000 uninsured adults in Santa Cruz County.  This represents approximately 19 percent of the surveyed population; however, 42 percent of Latinos in the county are uninsured.  Meanwhile MediCruz capacity is limited even with rationing of services.

However, through community-wide collaboration, the Healthy Kids Insurance Program is up and running with the goal to provide health insurance for every child in Santa Cruz County.  Thus far, this program has been successful, but it will take continued support to ensure sustainability.

The Trust's Commitment

The Trust will support programs that increase the number of Pajaro Valley residents that have health insurance, as well as programs that improve access to health care for our community's more vulnerable populations.  Additionally, the Trust will look at community-wide solutions to these issues.

Examples of Community Investments to Date

• Grant support to the Healthy Kids Insurance Program
• Grant support to the Center for Community Advocacy's Promotores de Salud program
• Staff and board participation on the Santa Cruz County Indigent Care Committee
• Grant support to Healthy Families Insurance Premiums

Oral Health: Prevention & Access Initiative

The primary goals of the Oral Health Initiative are to reduce the risk factors associated with oral health disease, increase the number of Pajaro Valley residents with ready access to comprehensive dental care, and decrease the prevalence of dental disease among residents of the Pajaro Valley.

Background

In 2000, the first ever Surgeon General's Report on Oral Health was released.  The report elaborates on the meaning of oral health and explains why oral health is essential to general health and well-being.  Oral health is a critical component of health and must be included in the provision of health care and the design of community programs.  Oral diseases are progressive and cumulative and become more complex over time.  They can affect our ability to eat, the foods we choose, our appearance, and the way we communicate.  These diseases can affect economic productivity and compromise our ability to work at home, at school, or on the job.

According to the Santa Cruz County Community Assessment Project, 77 percent of respondents answered "yes" to the question, "Do you have a regular source of dental care?"  However, only 45 percent of Latino respondents answered yes to the same question.

In 2003, 12 percent of kindergarten children in Santa Cruz County had mild dental decay, while 10 percent had moderate to severe decay. In Watsonville, 77 percent of school children have dental decay compared to 52 percent statewide and 26 percent nationally. According to the Surgeon General, dental caries are the single most common chronic disease of childhood, occurring five to eight times as often as asthma.  Aside from the pain and complications of cavities, discolored teeth, and sore gums, dental problems can impair speech development and interfere with a youth's focus in class, according to a 1998 report from the National Maternal and Child Oral Health Resource Center. The 2000 U.S. Surgeon General's report estimated that children miss 51 million school days each year because of poor oral health.

The Trust's Commitment

The Trust's goals include improving access to dental treatment and preventing dental disease.  Through this initiative, the Trust will look at systematic issues facing oral health care, particularly in the areas of prevention and access to care, and work with others in the community to remove these barriers.

 Examples of Community Investments to Date

• Grant to Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency for the Comprehensive Perinatal Services Provider (CPSP) oral health education/disease prevention project
• Grant support for dental services at the Pajaro Valley Unified School District's Children's Resource Center
• Grant support to Salud Para La Gente for development and expansion of dental services at their Watsonville Clinic
• Grant support to Dientes Community Dental Clinic for the delivery of dental services for uninsured adults

Promoting Entry & Advancement in the Health Professions Initiative

The primary goals of the Promoting Entry & Advancement in the Health Professions Initiative are to increase the number of culturally competent healthcare workers in the Pajaro Valley, increase the proportion of bilingual/bicultural healthcare workers in the Pajaro Valley, and reduce the number of unfilled healthcare position in the Pajaro Valley.

Background

In the three preceding strategic program areas, the Trust has focused in on a specific health topic, whether it is a particular disease or access to care. However, all of the work to be done and improvements to be made cannot happen without a qualified, trained, and culturally competent healthcare workforce. The health field faces a crisis if it cannot recruit and train more individuals into its workforce.

The Trust's Commitment

The Trust will support and promote programs that encourage individuals to choose the health professions as a career/professional path. It is a priority for the Trust to encourage all individuals to enter the health professions, particularly bilingual/bicultural individuals that will return to the Pajaro Valley to serve this community's healthcare needs.

Examples of Community Investments to Date

• Scholarships to Watsonville High School, Aptos High School, Cabrillo College & UCSC
• Grant support to the Watsonville High School Health Careers Academy
• Grant support to the Cabrillo College Advancement Program
• In-kind support through use of the Trust's community room for the Annual Health Career Day
• Outreach by Diabetes Health Center staff to local high school students