Each Friday at 9 a.m. the Central Valley Health Policy Institute, along with GO Public Schools Fresno, bring COVID-19 related information and awareness to local Spanish-speaking communities through Zoom video calls and via Facebook Live. During the video calls, viewers can hear important updates from the Fresno County Department of Public Health — and also hear from local school districts, as well as the United Farmworkers Union and Immigrant Legal Resource Center.
Funds were made possible through the Central Valley Community Foundation, who initially began making the countywide calls to community benefit organizations to give information on funds available for emergency relief, resources and updates from the Fresno County Department of Public Health. Seeing the need to reach out to the Spanish-speaking communities, the Central Valley Health Policy Institute and GO Public Schools Fresno began translating those same calls into Spanish exclusively on Fridays. They have also implemented special topic webinars, such as how to wear a mask correctly and myths and scams related to COVID-19. In addition, exercise videos are streamed each Monday and Thursday at 7:30 a.m. to encourage physical activity.
To listen and view these calls and/or videos in Spanish, search for “Tania Pacheco-Werner” on Facebook or contact Pacheco-Werner at tpacheco@csufresno.edu.
Impacts to the community
Dr. Tania Pacheco-Werner, co-assistant director of the Central Valley Health Policy Institute recently discussed with The Fresno Bee the impact of COVID-19 on our local communities, particularly concerning those who are most vulnerable.
“Right now, the most important thing is to keep people and communities as intact as possible. We need to keep people in their homes, with the lights and water on, with their kids. If we have unstable neighborhoods going into the recovery, we are starting in a negative position. Once we know the demographics of those most impacted by COVID-19, then we can direct resources to families and neighborhoods that are most impacted as well,” said Pacheco-Werner.
“…Our region has the capability to not only survive something like this, but if prepared, we can thrive, and actually grow from situations like these if we are willing to take bold, long-term actions.”
Read the full article at The Fresno Bee link.
Additional news links:
The Central Valley Health Policy Institute also spoke with Univision to talk about the importance of the census to local residents and programs.
- “The number of trees and parks close to you also depends on what you say in the census”– July 10, 2020, Univision
- “The census helps determine from what your supermarket sells to new job opportunities” – July 10, 2020, Univison
Fresno State College of Health and Human Services 