Food

Supervisors oppose federal efforts to limit food stamps

WAVE NEWSPAPERS — The county Board of Supervisors voted July 30 to oppose federal efforts to limit food stamp eligibility, which would affect an estimated 40,000 Los Angeles County residents. Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and the county’s congressional delegates.

Published

5 years ago

August 5, 2019

Oakland Post

By Mark Ridley-Thomas

LOS ANGELES — The county Board of Supervisors voted July 30 to oppose federal efforts to limit food stamp eligibility, which would affect an estimated 40,000 Los Angeles County residents.

Supervisor Hilda Solis recommended sending a letter to U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue and the county’s congressional delegates.

“The Trump administration is proposing callous rules that would limit Americans’ access to the federal Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, referred to as CalFresh in California,” Solis said. “Such action would affect 3 million Americans who rely on the nation’s most successful anti-poverty program to access healthy food. L.A. County recognizes that food insecurity is a matter of public health, and these heartless proposed rule changes would have a pronounced effect on county residents.”

The proposed rule would take away states’ ability to extend eligibility to households with incomes up to 200% of the federal poverty line or roughly $50,000 a year for a family with two children. That flexibility was granted by Congress in 1996.

Federal officials estimate that nearly 8% of beneficiaries qualify under expanded eligibility, which the Department of Agriculture calls a “loophole.” The department pointed to the case of a Minnesota millionaire who qualified for food stamps after applying to highlight what he viewed as taxpayer waste.

“Too often, states have misused this flexibility without restraint,” U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue said in a statement issued last week. “The American people expect their government to be fair, efficient and to have integrity — just as they do in their own homes, businesses and communities. That is why we are changing the rules, preventing abuse of a critical safety net system, so those who need food assistance the most are the only ones who receive it.”

The Agriculture Department also wants to exclude beneficiaries with more than $2,250 in eligible assets from receiving food stamps. The department estimates an overall savings of more than $2 billion annually from the proposed changes.

The county’s Department of Public Social Services estimates that more than 120,000 California households — including 40,000 in Los Angeles County — would be affected.

Members of the board and education advocates said children would be the biggest losers.

An estimated 500,000 children nationwide could lose their automatic eligibility for free school meals under the proposal, according to Los Angeles County Office of Education Superintendent Debra Duardo.

“Research has shown that access to free and reduced-price school meals allows low-income students to stay engaged and learn,” Duardo said in a statement issued after the board vote. “Removing this access would have a detrimental impact on student academic performance and success in school.

Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas said that children represented 60% of CalFresh beneficiaries in 2016, the last year for which data is available.

“Those who stand to lose … are those who are the most vulnerable among us,” Ridley-Thomas said, which includes seniors on fixed incomes and community college students, many of whom experience “food insecurity.”

Food insecurity is defined as a lack of reliable access to enough affordable, nutritious food.

Supervisor Sheila Kuehl said the proposed change is part of a larger pattern.

“It feels like the current president has announced a program called the War on the Impoverished,” Kuehl said, drawing a contrast with President Lyndon B. Johnson’s declaration of a War on Poverty in 1964.

The proposed rule change is subject to a 60-day public comment period.

“Those who stand to lose … are those who are the most vulnerable among us.”

This article appeared in the Wave Newspapers.

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Richmond’s First ‘Mobile Vendor Plaza’ Opens for Business

The very first Mobile Vendor Plaza brought a variety of food options to a parking lot in Downtown Richmond on Saturday, Sept. 21. It also brought the promise of more markets just like it to come. The market was held in the lot at 1401 Macdonald Ave., near the BART parking garage. It will open every Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering foods such as tacos, pupusas, sandwiches, and also refreshing drinks, according to the city.

Published

6 days ago

October 2, 2024

Oakland Post

Courtesy of the City of Richmond.

The Richmond Standard

The very first Mobile Vendor Plaza brought a variety of food options to a parking lot in Downtown Richmond on Saturday, Sept. 21.

It also brought the promise of more markets just like it to come.

The market was held in the lot at 1401 Macdonald Ave., near the BART parking garage. It will open every Thursday and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m., offering foods such as tacos, pupusas, sandwiches, and also refreshing drinks, according to the city.

Announced in August, the new market is a partnership between the City of Richmond and Richmond Farmers Market. It is the first of the Mobile Vendor Program, which aims to provide a place for sidewalk vendors to conduct business in a regulated manner.

All mobile vendors can participate for free, but vendors must be registered with the City with a Special Business Activity Permit. For more about the program, go to https://www.ci.richmond.ca.us/4685/COMING-SOON—Mobile-Vendor-Market.

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Bay Area

Jumpy House, Car Show and Good Food Mark Marin City Labor Day Celebration

Many people came out and enjoyed the Marin City Labor Day celebration, which was held on Monday, Sept. 2 on the grass of 100 Drake Ave. The celebration featured a a jumpy house for kids, food, music, and a car show.

Published

7 days ago

October 1, 2024

Oakland Post

From top to bottom, left to right: Event planners Lulu and Antoinette, Annette Henry, Shannon Bynum, and Lamesha Bynum. Next row: Ain Ashby, Krystal Rose and Vincenzo Bezerra. Bottom: Melba Banks and Darrell Roary, car show with Dennett Colescott’s white 1966 Dodge Charger on the left. Photos by Godfrey Lee.

By Godfrey Lee

Antoinette and Lulu, who also organized the celebration event, gave out backpacks and school supplies. The Books and Blends table, manned by Krystal Rose and Vincenzo Bezerra, gave away donated books.

Annette Henry, Shannon and Lamesha Bynum manned the Marin County Cooperative Team (MCCT). They were collecting names for the Marin City email newsletter and was announcing the launch of the “Vision Project” — a holistic mentorship program for Marin City Transitional Age Youth, ages16 to 25.

The Vision Project, according to the flyer, involves mentorship from a non-parental adult who plays an important role in promoting healthy development for youth within a strengths-based, advocacy framework.

Mentees and mentors are provided a monthly stipend for active participation.

“Mentees have their own mentor who they meet with weekly one-on-one for at least 2 hours,” according to their FaceBook Page. “With their mentor’s support, mentees set goals within their Individual Development Plans (IDPs) to foster success within life skills, employment, education, mental health, healthcare, housing and other critical support/needs.”

MCCT also announced their drug overdose treatment training every Tuesday from 1 p.m. to 2 p.m. at the Starbucks patio in the Gateway Shopping Center, 110 Donahue St. The training will help you learn the signs of a fentanyl overdose, train to reverse an overdose with Narcan®, and to get free Narcan® so you’re always prepared.

The food was good. Among the many food booths were: Ain Ashby who served her Torani-flavored lemonade, Lester and Diema who served their turkey legs that was large enough for leftovers, and Melba Banks, of Pieman Sweets, displaying her pies.

Tiffany Richards was displaying her purses for sale.

Close to two dozen classic cars were being displayed in the parking lot, three of them being the Oldsmobile Cutlass. One was a yellow, 1972 model owned by Darrell Roary. Dennett Colescot of San Rafael also displayed his car, a 1966 Dodge Charger.

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Activism

Access Better Health with Medically Tailored Meals – Transforming Health Through Nutrition for Medi-Cal Patients

Medically Tailored Meals are one of 14 new services offered through Medi-Cal that provide members with access to new and improved services to get well-rounded care that goes beyond the doctor’s office or hospital.

Published

3 weeks ago

September 19, 2024

Oakland Post

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Launched in 2018, the Medically Tailored Meals pilot program was designed to help Medi-Cal patients with congestive heart failure by reducing hospital readmissions and emergency department visits by providing tailored meals meeting specific dietary needs.

The program’s success in improving health outcomes and reducing costly emergency room visits encouraged the Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) to expand the Medically Tailored Meals program to all 58 counties through Medi-Cal transformation and a new set of services called Community Supports.

Medically Tailored Meals: Overview

Malnutrition and poor nutrition can lead to severe health outcomes, especially among Medi-Cal patients with chronic health conditions. Medically Tailored Meals aim to improve health outcomes, reduce hospital readmissions, and enhance patient satisfaction by providing essential nutrition.

Key Features:

Post-Discharge Delivery: Meals are delivered to patients’ homes immediately following discharge from a hospital or nursing home.
Customized Nutrition: Meals are tailored to meet the dietary needs of those with chronic diseases, designed by registered dietitians (RD) or certified nutrition professionals based on evidence-based guidelines.
Comprehensive Services: Includes medically tailored groceries, healthy food vouchers, and food pharmacies.
Educational Support: Behavioral, cooking, and nutrition education is included when paired with direct food assistance.

Key Benefits:

Address Food Insecurity: Mitigates poor health outcomes linked to food insecurity.
Support Complex Care Needs: Tailored to individuals with chronic conditions.
Improve Health Outcomes: Studies show improvements in diabetes control, fall prevention, and medication adherence.

Patient Testimonial:

“My diabetes has gotten better with the meals. I’ve kept my weight down, and I feel much better now than I have in a long time. I’m one of the people this program is meant for.” — Brett

Eligibility:

Eligible Populations: Eligible Medi-Cal members include those with chronic conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disorders, congestive heart failure, stroke, chronic lung disorders, HIV, cancer, gestational diabetes, and chronic mental or behavioral health disorders. Also, those being discharged from a hospital or skilled nursing facility or at high risk of hospitalization or nursing facility placement are also eligible.

Service Limitations: Up to two meals per day for up to 12 weeks, extendable if medically necessary. Meals eligible for reimbursement by alternate programs are not covered.

Cost Savings and Improved Health Outcomes:

Health Outcomes: Research indicates a 22% to 58% decrease in emergency department visits and a 27% to 63% decrease in inpatient admissions among Medically Tailored Meals recipients, translating to significant health care cost savings.

Project Open Hand: A Success Story

Project Open Hand has been a leader in providing Medically Tailored Meals, significantly impacting the lives of Bay Area Medi-Cal patients with chronic illnesses. Since its inception, Project Open Hand has delivered nutritious meals to individuals with diabetes, HIV, and other serious health conditions, demonstrating remarkable health improvements and cost savings.

Key Achievements:

Improved Health Outcomes: Project Open Hand’s research found a 50% increase in medication adherence among recipients of Medically Tailored Meals.
Reduced Hospitalizations: Their program showed a 63% reduction in hospitalizations for patients with diabetes and HIV.
Enhanced Quality of Life: Patients reported better health and increased energy levels.

Project Open Hand ensures that each meal is prepared using fresh, wholesome ingredients tailored to meet the specific dietary needs of its clients. By partnering with Medi-Cal managed care plans, Project Open Hand continues to provide life-saving nutrition to those who need it most.

Join Us in Our Mission

You can experience the profound impact of Medically Tailored Meals by joining the Medi-Cal Community Supports services initiative. Your involvement can make a difference in promoting your health through nutrition.

Learn More

For more information about Medically Tailored Meals and how to get involved, call the state’s Medi-Cal Health Care options at 800-430-4263 or contact your local managed care plan.

In Alameda County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

Alameda Alliance for Health: 510-747-4567
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613
In Contra Costa County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:
* Contra Costa Health Plan: 877-661-6230
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Marin County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
* Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

In Solano County, Medi-Cal recipients can contact:

* Partnership Health Plan of California: 800-863-4155
Kaiser Permanente: 855-839-7613

Your health and well-being are your health care provider’s top priority. Medically Tailored Meals are designed to enhance quality of life by advancing health care through the power of nutrition. Experience the benefits today and take the first step toward a healthier you.