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Opinion
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- Written by: Dr. Archana Dubey
April is recognized by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services as Minority Health Month, an observance that brings awareness to health disparities and encourages action through education, early detection, and disease control.
Part of this work includes raising awareness about the disproportionate health outcomes among people who belong to racial or ethnic minority groups.
The conditions in which we are born, live, learn, work, play, and worship and our age — known as social determinants of health, or SDOH — have important impacts on health.
Differences in SDOH contribute to the stark and persistent chronic disease disparities in the U.S. among racial, ethnic, and socioeconomic groups, systematically limiting opportunities for members of some groups to be healthy.
Cancer
Black/African Americans have the highest mortality rate of any racial or ethnic group for all cancers combined and for most major cancers.
From 2015-2019, African American men were 1.2 times and 1.7 times more likely to be diagnosed with new cases of colon and prostate cancer than non-Hispanic white men.
Although Hispanic men and women generally have lower cancer rates than the non-Hispanic white population, disparities do exist in certain types of cancer. Both Hispanic men and women are almost twice as likely to have and die from liver cancer than non-Hispanic Whites.
Hispanic women are 40% more likely to be diagnosed with cervical cancer, and 30 percent more likely to die from cervical cancer, as compared to non-Hispanic white women.
Mental health
Black females, grades 9-12, were 60% more likely to attempt suicide in 2019, as compared to non-Hispanic white females of the same age.
Suicide attempts for Hispanic girls, grades 9-12, were 30% higher than for non-Hispanic white girls in the same age group, in 2019.
In 2018, Hispanics were 50% less likely to have received mental health treatment as compared to non-Hispanic whites.
Prenatal care
Although overall infant mortality rates have fallen over time, the 2018 infant mortality rate for infants of non-Hispanic Black women was more than twice as high as that for infants of non-Hispanic white and non-Hispanic Asian and Hispanic women.
In 2019, Hispanic mothers were 80% more likely to receive late or no prenatal care as compared to non-Hispanic white mothers.
This awareness month brings light to differences in the health outcomes of various racial and ethnic minority groups.
This awareness can also inform individuals about how groups who have poor social determinants of health and lack of access to high-quality medical care are more likely to be diagnosed with and die from diseases.
Dr. Archana Dubey is chief medical officer for UnitedHealthcare of California.
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- Written by: Shouan Pan
As I write this article in late March 2024, I am completing nine months of serving as Chancellor of Yuba Community College District, or YCCD.
While settling into my new role and becoming acquainted with the community, I have had the opportunity to meet many individuals — nurses, dental hygienists, police officers, as well as elected city and county leaders — who either have personal ties to one of YCCD's two colleges or have relatives who have studied or worked at one.
Each person has a different story, but I hear a consistent theme: Yuba College (YC) or Woodland Community College (WCC) played a vital role in getting them where they are today. I feel honored to be a part of a community college system that is so deeply integrated into our
communities, serving them in countless impactful ways both now and in the future.
I have come to understand that YCCD's strong connections with the diverse communities it serves establish YC and WCC as anchor institutions for the eight counties spanning across rural, north-central California. Like other rural community colleges in California, YCCD’s institutions have their own set of challenges, but they also draw benefits from their strengths.
Unlike their urban counterparts, rural community colleges serve large geographic areas that have low population density, which often means smaller enrollment and budgets.
Additionally, staff take on multiple roles and responsibilities beyond their official titles, and administrators manage branch campuses situated miles apart. That has been the reality for YC and WCC, and the COVID-19 global pandemic exacerbated these challenges. I am relieved and inspired to see that they have not allowed these obstacles to weaken their commitment to serving students and the communities.
YC and WCC continue to embrace new and innovative initiatives. Both are federally designated Hispanic Serving Institutions, reflecting YCCD’s commitment to strive for equitable student success. Both colleges have significantly expanded dual enrollment and currently serve over 3,500 dual-enrolled students. A significant percentage of these students are the first in their families to take college-level courses and come from populations that have been historically underserved.
Building business partnerships is a priority for YC and WCC to fully serve their mission. Last fall, YC collaborated with the Yuba Water Agency to offer a highly sought-after Watershed Management program, resulting in an enrollment of more than sixty students. Upon graduating from the program, they will have the opportunity to work in an exceptional, high-paying career field.
The financial backing provided by the Yuba Water Agency has been instrumental in making this program feasible, with YC taking proactive steps to address a vital need for workforce development within the region.
Similarly, WCC offers the Environmental Technology Program with a specialization in Drinking Water and Wastewater Technology at its Lake County Campus. The program has proven to be a resounding success, providing many post-traditional students with a solid foundation, industry recognition, and the practical skills needed to excel in the dynamic field of environmental technology.
Like sister colleges across the state, YCCD has always prioritized student success. Our faculty, staff, administrators and the governing board focus heavily on raising degree and certificate completion and graduation for all students.
The work we are doing to enhance student support services, streamline processes, improve academic support, and respond to students’ basic needs is paying off. Our completion, transfer, and living wage outcomes significantly exceed state averages.
In a recent study session of the district board of trustees, college and district staff reported that student completion of associate degrees for the district increased by 24%, from 851 degree completers in 2017 to 1,601 degree completers in 2021. For YC, the increase is 16% for the same period, from 624 to 721; for WCC, the increase is 48%, from 229 to 340. This significant boost in student degree completion across YCCD’s two colleges has only been possible due to the faculty and staff’s commitment to equitable student success.
As we recognize Community College Month this April, it is befitting for us to take a moment to celebrate YCCD and the other 114 community colleges across the state and honor our students, faculty, staff, trustees, and supporters.
Each of these institutions has, in its own way, played a vital role in improving California’s educational and economic health and development, one student, one community at a time.
Dr. Shouan Pan is chancellor of the Yuba Community College District.
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- Written by: Becky Salato
Most folks say they want to live in a functioning society, but they sometimes forget this means we must depend on each other. We each have a role to play.
Along with parents and families, schools’ have a responsibility to teach children the skills they need to become self-supporting adults. As life gets more complex, so does the challenge of educating our youth.
When people cannot read, they struggle to fill out job applications. When they cannot do basic arithmetic, they struggle to manage their personal finances. When they cannot think critically, they struggle to make good decisions.
At Konocti Unified, we offer an educational experience that builds the academic, social, and emotional capabilities to help our students navigate the world around them.
From the time students enter kindergarten, we provide pathways so students will have options open to them after high school.
The requirements to graduate from Lower Lake High School are structured to ensure that students are exposed to a wide variety of subjects and skills.
As we plan classes and programs, we ask ourselves what our students need from us to grow into their potential, and what our community needs from our students to regenerate a healthy, thriving community.
We offer college-prep classes in traditional disciplines like math, language arts, science and social studies.
We also offer Career Technical Education, or CTE, classes to let students explore their interests and to give them a launch pad to pursue certain fields after high school (whether they start with college, technical training, or go directly into the workforce).
Most of the businesses in Lake County are owned and operated by local people who have had to learn new skills on the job. To adjust to an ever-changing work environment, people don’t just need to master a fixed set of skills; they need to know how to learn new skills.
That is what a high school diploma and/or a college degree often represent — the ability to learn and the determination to see something through to the end.
I am especially proud of our growing CTE program. With our community partners, we are providing students with essential skills and the knowledge they need to pursue their interests.
Last year, more than 50 students completed a full CTE pathway, and this year, almost 80 students are on track to do so (an increase of 65%). Last year, we offered seven pathways; now we offer eleven.
The pathways include ornamental horticulture/floral design, animal science, child development, food service/hospitality, welding/materials joining, structural repair and finishing, design/visual/media arts, patient care, emergency response (EMT) and beginning in fall 2024, TK-12 Education.
Some of these programs wouldn’t be possible without our community partners. For example, our new emergency services pathway is team-taught with a high school teacher and a firefighter (Fire Chief William Sapeta or Battalion Chief Marc Hill). When students complete this pathway, they are ready to take the emergency medical technician, or EMT, certification test so they can work alongside paramedics as first responders.
Our new education pathway will address the nationwide teacher shortage right here at home. Students who complete this pathway can apply for positions as paraprofessionals in our district when they graduate from high school.
They can remain in that position, or they can work as paraprofessionals during college while they earn their bachelor’s degree. Then, they can come and work as teachers for us while they complete their teaching credential.
We also have a childhood development pathway that prepares students to work with young children, ideally providing more qualified staff for preschools and transitional kindergarten classrooms.
Our public safety pathway helps fill another shortage in our community: that of law enforcement. Once students complete this pathway, they can apply to any number of agencies to finish their law enforcement education, whether they choose police, highway patrol, sheriff, or corrections.
To fill the pipeline of people qualified to work in agriculture, we offer ornamental horticulture, floral design and animal science. These courses open the door to many fields of study, from crop science to animal husbandry and more.
Our food service/hospitality pathway has introduced the world of culinary endeavors to many students. Whether they choose to become chefs or simply cook amazing meals for friends and family, this program offers many rewards.
Sometimes CTE classes help students get summer jobs making excellent wages. I recently learned that one of our seniors was hired as a welder last summer at $45/hour.
Along those lines, we are working with the Lake County Economic Development Corp. to identify local employers interested in hiring our students for work-based learning opportunities as part of our Structural Repair and Finishing Pathway (automotive).
Our goal is to prepare students for college and eventually, for them to become our community’s next generation of workers. All CTE pathway courses satisfy college entry (“A-G”) requirements for California’s public universities. Some courses even offer dual enrollment so students get high school and college credit at the same time.
When students at Carle recently asked about the value of a high school diploma, they were encouraged to figure it out–in terms of dollars and sense. Their research determined that the difference in earnings with a high school diploma versus without one would amount to about $600,000 over their lifetime. That’s a lot!
We are so fortunate to work hand-in-hand with our community partners. Thanks for supporting our schools. We’ll continue to do our best to prepare our students to be the workers you need in the years to come.
Becky Salato is superintendent of the Konocti Unified School District.
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- Written by: Marie Garceau
St. Patrick’s Day in 2024 is not celebrated for the same reasons it once was, as times change, and holidays take on different meanings.
While some still see it as a family-centric Catholic celebration or a break from Lent-related restrictions, the day primarily focuses on parties, rowdy parades, green beer, bar specials, and heavy drinking.
Sounds fun, right? There are undoubtedly good times had by all who take part, but if you want to stay sober and avoid alcohol, it can pose a challenge. What seems like harmless fun quickly turns into days, months, or years of sobriety down the drain.
Suppose someone is in recovery from alcoholism, choosing a healthy lifestyle, or recently decided to give up alcohol for whatever reason; the temptation of St. Patrick’s Day celebrations is tough to avoid. In any social setting this time of year, there is lively music, good food, and lots to drink.
While it is only one day a year, it can quickly derail any progress on sobriety. Fortunately, there are practical approaches you can take to stay sober and reap the benefits of St. Patrick’s Day sobriety.
Initially, the best benefit of sobriety on St. Patrick’s Day is avoiding impaired driving and not becoming another statistic. In California, alcohol-impaired driving remains one of the biggest threats to public safety. According to a 2021 report, alcohol-involved crashes increased by 16% from 2020 to 2021. If you choose to celebrate, do not drink and drive, and plan ahead.
Staying sober means knowing what to do; consider some pointers.
Remind yourself why you are sober, and don’t do it alone. You can still have fun and celebrate but do it with other sober people. Everyone has their reasons why they stopped drinking; remind yourself of those reasons and hold yourself accountable.
Know your triggers; it doesn’t matter if you are a recovering addict or have removed alcohol from your life. Be cautious around possible triggers that pose a challenge. Most people in this situation choose to skip the bar and find something fun to do or go to a sober celebration.
Keep a non-alcoholic drink or mocktail in your hand. People will not bother you to ask if you want a drink if you already have something to sip on, like a mocktail. This also leads to planning how to say no. You will encounter social pressure if you go to a bar on St. Patrick’s Day. It’s unavoidable. It’s wise to practice ways to refuse alcohol.
Finally, if all else fails, take a walk outside if you feel overwhelmed. The most straightforward solutions are usually the best. Remove yourself from any situation you know will lead to relapse. This is also why it’s essential to be with a sober friend or loved one; there is accountability and someone to lean on.
Marie Garceau has been working in the field of substance use and addiction recovery for over a decade. She works at DRS and primarily focuses on reaching out to the community and spreading awareness.