el dorado county health

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 through December 7, 2016. This enrollment period is one of the few times Medicare beneficiaries can change, enroll into or disenroll from a Part D drug plan or a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO). Changes to plans are effective January 1, 2017.

South Lake Tahoe students in grades 8 through 12 are invited to participate in the juvenile justice system through the Teen Court program.

Orientation training will be held on September 29, 2016, from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. at Superior Court, Department 4, located at 1354 Johnson Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe. After completing the orientation training, teens will serve as court personnel for real cases in which a minor has committed an offense, admitted the offense and chosen to be judged by his/her peers.

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency is offering a free “Aging and Caregiver” education series in South Lake Tahoe on Mondays from October 10 through November 14 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel.

The educational series will provide instruction and support for people who care for or plan to care for an aging family member or friend. Series topics will include:

Location

Approximately 90-94.9 percent of students registered for school in South Lake Tahoe are fully vaccinated, which means its time for immunizations before school starts in August for the other 5 to 10 percent.

The El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency is looking for individuals in the South Lake Tahoe area who could open their hearts and homes to a child in need of care. Local individuals and families are needed to serve as Resource Families, providing shelter care (up to thirty days) or full term homes (up to and over eighteen months) for foster children.

Are you prepared for an emergency? The City of South Lake Tahoe has developed a 12 month emergency preparedness tool to help you prepare.

As part of the City's continued initiative to increase communications, we will be offering a 12 part monthly series throughout the year highlighting emergency preparedness. Use these tools to prepare yourself for an emergency. More information is available in the City’s website at www.cityofslt.us/emergency

Emergency Preparedness—Month 1 - CREATE A FAMILY DISASTER PLAN

El Dorado County Connections – One Stop has free services to help people who need a job.

“We have special programs and services for youth ages 16 to 24,” said Jenny Wilson, Program Supervisor with Connections - One Stop. “We are especially looking to assist youth ages 16 to 24 who are not currently enrolled in school.” Through the youth program, unemployed and underemployed youth can receive help with job searches and placement, paid on-the-job training, money for vocational or technical school tuition and more.

El Dorado County health officials are warning people to not drink and dispose of any unpasteurized apple juice purchased from High Hill Ranch on or after October 6, 2015 after several cases of E. coli were reported.

High Hill Ranch, located in the community of Camino in El Dorado County, has initiated a voluntary recall of its unpasteurized apple juice following notification from local health officials of suspected contamination with bacteria, likely Escherichia coli (E. coli.).

Big Brothers Big Sisters of El Dorado County (BBBS) has served at-risk children since 1977, primarily on the Western Slope. On October 15, 2015, BBBS will be hosting a Ribbon Cutting Ceremony to announce the expansion of their programs into South Lake Tahoe.

The ceremony will take place from 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. at Tahoe Mountain Lab located at 1048 Ski Run Blvd. The owners of Tahoe Mountain Lab, David and Jamie Orr, have generously donated the space to BBBS for meeting purposes. David was previously a “Little” and considers this an opportunity to “give back” to his community.

Medicare Open Enrollment is October 15 through December 7, 2015. This enrollment period is one of the few times Medicare beneficiaries can change, enroll into or disenroll from, a Medicare Advantage Plan (such as an HMO) or a Part D drug plan. Changes to plans will be effective January 1, 2016.

A California ground squirrel found dead at Kiva Beach picnic area on August 17 has tested positive for plague.

El Dorado County health officials were notified by the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) that the squirrel tested positive for plague on September 2.

The squirrel had been sent for testing to the state laboratory.

Warning signs have been posted in the affected area and individuals are advised to report any dead or sick rodents. Health officials are not aware of human contact with the squirrel.

The El Dorado County Senior Nutrition Program is currently looking for dedicated, caring volunteers to help in a variety of capacities. "Volunteers are a vital asset to the Senior Nutrition Program," said Ruth Green, Program Coordinator for the Senior Nutrition Program. "Without this valuable community support, many of the County's senior services would simply not be possible." Current volunteer needs include:

Looking for a career as a professional truck driver, but don't have money for school? El Dorado County Connections - One Stop has announced that funds are now available through the Federal Workforce Innovation Opportunity Act (WIOA) to pay for truck driving school tuition. Any unemployed resident of El Dorado County over the age of 23 with a clean driving record is eligible. There is no income restriction.

El Dorado County joins the Rural County Representatives of California (RCRC), the California Hospital Association, and a broad-based coalition of Medi-Cal providers known as We Care for California in urging the Legislature and Administration to eliminate Assembly Bill 97 (2011) Medi-Cal rate cuts, and increase Medi-Cal payments to healthcare providers and health plans during the upcoming State Budget negotiations.

In recognition of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, El Dorado County Mental Health's South Lake Tahoe Clinic is hosting an Open House on Wednesday, May 13, 2015, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. at its Wellness Center located at 1900 Lake Tahoe Boulevard. The event is free and open to the public.

Last month, the City Manager and City Council hosted a strategic planning session with all City departments to ensure we are coordinated and pulling together to address key community issues. Community wellness is one such focus area.

El Dorado County Animal Services is pleased to announce it has completed the adoption process for all of the horses that came from the former Grace Foundation facility in El Dorado Hills. "We want to thank everyone in the community and all the volunteers who either adopted a horse or provided support to our agency through this process," said Don Ashton, Director of the El Dorado County Health and Human Services Agency, which includes Animal Services.

The facts are startling. El Dorado County has twice the number of suicides than the state average. El Dorado County has 2.5 times the state average of maternity mental issues. The domestic violence rate in El Dorado County is 1.5 times higher than the state average. More people are living in the county with mental issues than ever before.

A day long forum of mental health care providers, agencies, medical professionals and other community members was held in South Lake Tahoe on Thursday in order to find what needs are being met, and unmet, in the area.

With over 200 students in the Lake Tahoe Unified School District not immunized against the measles, district officials are monitoring the situation and may even exclude those children from attending classes.

Even though there are no cases in El Dorado County as of yet, the cases in Washoe County and Bay Area are of concern.

The 2014 Fall Aging & Caregiver Series will be given for the next six weeks in South Lake Tahoe. This six week series of classes are designed to provide instruction and support for caregivers who are, or are planning to, care for a family member or friend age 60 or older.

All classes are held at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel (formerly Embassy Suites) from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Participants must register by calling 530-621-6369 or 800-510-2020. Free in-Home respite is available to qualified caregivers. Pre-authorization is required for respite services.

The former City Council building on Lake Tahoe Blvd is the new home for El Dorado County Mental Health. They'll be packing up their current Johnson Avenue offices on Friday, September 5 and are planning on opening in their new location on Monday, September 8.

Local residents who are disabled and looking for work have free resources at the South Lake Tahoe office of Connections-One Stop. Special funding for school tuition, paid work experience, job training and other services ends August 30, 2014.

"The El Dorado County Connections - One Stop program can help disabled individuals search for a good job, develop a quality resume, enhance job interview skills and more," said Jenny Wilson, Program Supervisor for Connections - One Stop.

Services through Connections - One Stop include:

Two possible cases of pertussis, also known as whooping cough, were reported at South Tahoe High. A letter from El Dorado County Health & Human Services was emailed to South Tahoe High parents Friday evening, warning them of the probable cases.

All organizations that assist clients who are living with hunger, from children to the elderly are invited to attend the Food Bank of El Dorado County's Hunger Response Network Meeting. The meeting will be at the American Legion Hall at 2748 Lake Tahoe Blvd from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m.

The need for food assistance is growing in the community and the Food Bank wants to collaborate with local organizations to conduct a South lake Tahoe focused hunger to truly understand the community’s needs and the best ways to allocate the Food Bank’s resources in Tahoe based on these results.