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Vaccinating everyone, including youth, is the key to stopping Delta
Vaccinating everyone — including youth 12 and above — is key to stopping the fast-spreading Delta variant.
By Maryjane Puffer, Executive Director
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health
Los Angeles is at a turning point. We must defeat the pandemic now or let a new wave of coronavirus cases sweep through our communities in the next several months.
Forty-five percent of county residents are still not fully vaccinated, and some of the communities hit hardest by COVID-19 have the lowest vaccination rates. Vaccinations are also lagging among the young, who may be more susceptible to the Delta variant than they were to previous strains.
No vaccine offers 100% protection against infection, but current vaccines have proven safe and effective against all strains of COVID-19, including the Delta variant. More than 99.99% of people fully vaccinated people have not had a breakthrough case resulting in hospitalization or death, according to the CDC.
We must get this message to the millions of Angelenos who remain unvaccinated, including our youth 12 and above. This is critical as the virulent and dangerous Delta variant spreads.
Vaccination push
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health is teaming with the L.A. County Department of Public Health, the Public Health Institute and 12 clinics and agencies to increase vaccinations and vaccine awareness as part of WeVa + LA. We are also supporting The L.A. Trust COVID-19 Youth Task Force, which is building vaccine awareness across Los Angeles. The task force is funded by a grant from Aspiration founder Joe Sanberg facilitated by Ethos Giving.
RESOURCES
The L.A. Trust
The L.A. Trust is conducting a social media campaign to support our partners using the hashtag #WeVaxLACounty. Get photos, videos, posts, blogs and account handles at https://bit.ly/3lcbnGe
CCALAC
The Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County has produced a robust COVID-19 toolkit with customizable texts, social media posts and website pages for use by clinics and other agencies.
DPH
The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health Services offers vaccine scheduling and a communications and information dashboard on vaccines and vaccination rates. Get social media posts in English, Spanish, Chinese, Korean and Armenian at https://thesocialpresskit.com/countyofla
To learn more, find a vaccination site near you and make an appointment, visit VaccinateLACounty.com (English) or VacunateLosAngeles.com (Spanish). You can also call 833-540-0473 for help finding an appointment, connecting to free transportation or scheduling a home visit if you are homebound. Vaccinations are free and open to eligible residents and workers regardless of immigration status.
Kids can’t take the COVID vaccine — which is why everyone else should
The L.A. Trust is teaming with the L.A. County Department of Public Health, the Public Health Institute and community clinics to increase vaccinations as COVID cases rise.
By Maryjane Puffer, Executive Director
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health
When it comes to COVID-19, most of the focus has been on those at greatest risk: older people, essential workers and those with compromised immune systems. But there’s another group at risk: children under 12. They can’t get the vaccine yet, which is why every eligible person should do so now, before school starts and the highly transmissible delta variant spreads further.
While 69% of Los Angeles County residents have received at least one dose of the lifesaving COVID-19 vaccine, 4 out of 10 Angelenos are not fully vaccinated, making them susceptible to the delta variant. Nearly half the residents of some communities have yet to be vaccinated at all. This is especially true in many underserved communities, where infection rates and hospitalizations are rising.
Public health officials are concerned about the spread of coronavirus across the board, according to the Los Angeles Times, and the virus has hit Angelenos who can least afford to fall ill. We’re concerned, too. The COVID-19 vaccine is safe and effective — and essential to protect our communities, schools and children. We cannot return to normal until everyone is safe.
Clinics (and youth) take the lead
School and community-based health centers are essential to helping to take the COVID-19 vaccination effort the final mile. The L.A. County Department of Public Health, through the Public Health Institute, has funded a $300,000 vaccination awareness effort — WeVax + LA — supported by The L.A. Trust.
A dozen school- and community-based health centers are stepping up vaccination awareness and access at 35 sites in areas hardest hit by COVID-19. The healthcare providers are Eisner Pediatric and Family Center, LAUSD Wellness Programs, Northeast Valley Health Corporation, South Bay Family Center, St. John’s Well Child and Family Center, Social Model Recovery Systems, South Central Family Health Center, T.H.E. Clinic, UMMA Community Clinic, Valley Community Healthcare, ViaCare and Watts Healthcare Corporation. Vaccination sites range from Banning to Wilmington, South Los Angeles to East L.A.
Increasing public awareness is essential to Increasing vaccination rates, and the funds will promote awareness about vaccination using multilingual materials, social media and other outreach. The initiative will also include an assessment of vaccine awareness and attitudes by Watts Healthcare, workflow and text reminder systems by Valley Community Healthcare, and a Skid Row Health Fair by Social Model Recovery. The L.A. Trust is launching its own social media and communications campaign and volunteering at local clinics to help the WeVAX + LA effort. The L.A. Trust has also distributed PPE to WeVax + LA partners, including USC’s School of Dentistry mobile program.
Youth have a big stake in protecting themselves, their family members and their communities from COVID. High school students from 16 campuses have joined The L.A. Trust COVID-19 Youth Task Force to educate their communities about the dangers of the coronavirus and the importance of vaccination. The task force is funded by a grant from Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg (the grant was facilitated by Ethos Giving).
What you can do
We can eliminate the pandemic and prevent another outbreak — if we work together.
If you are eligible and not vaccinated already, get vaccinated now. It’s free, easy and safe.
Volunteer at a COVID clinic or other support agency.
Stay informed and urge your friends and relatives to get vaccinated. Your word will carry more weight than that of a celebrity or politician. Información en español.
If your child is over 2 and not vaccinated, they should wear a mask in all indoor public spaces and crowded outside public spaces. Even if they are less likely to suffer the worst effects of COVID-19, they are vulnerable to MIS-C (multisystem inflammatory syndrome in children), a dangerous disease linked to COVID infection.
Wear a mask when asked or indoors — especially in schools, healthcare facilities and public transportation. Unfortunately, the risk of transmission is not over and there are still millions of unvaccinated individuals in Los Angeles County.
Cedars grant to The L.A. Trust will grow healthcare access and advocacy
Cedars-Sinai is growing its community outreach with a new grant to The L.A. Trust. Photo courtesy Cedars-Sinai.
Cedars-Sinai has awarded $800,000 to The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health to expand advocacy, equity and effectiveness of school-based healthcare in Los Angeles County.
The goals of the two-year initiative include expanding student agency and healthcare access and increasing visits at 19 L.A. Unified Wellness Centers in high-need neighborhoods.
“This grant is a game changer,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The L.A. Trust. “It will enable us and our partners to make long-needed improvements in school-based healthcare and prevention programs and support our students and communities as they recover from the COVID-19 pandemic and address the ongoing effects of systemic racism.”
“Cedars-Sinai recognizes the significance of The L.A. Trust’s approach to ensuring access to care,” said Jonathan Schreiber, vice president of Community Engagement. “We are proud to support The L.A. Trust in the launch of this timely effort to meet the increased wellness needs of students in our communities.”
The Cedars-Sinai grant will fund a School Health and Wellness Initiative that will develop best practices, expand student engagement and foster research and innovation:
Policy Roundtable
The initiative will help re-establish The L.A. Trust Student Health Policy Roundtable and develop it into a robust cohort of Los Angeles-based partners that will advocate for funding and policies that improve the well-being of Los Angeles County public school students. The roundtable will address pressing student health concerns, including anti-racism priorities.
Student engagement
The grant will also help The L.A. Trust expand student engagement by adding Student Advisory Boards at new or recently established Wellness Centers on Los Angeles Unified campuses. Student engagement is a key driver of campus change, enlisting hundreds of students each year to develop health campaigns that reach tens of thousands of students. Student Advisory Board members will also be consulted by the Policy Roundtable for input and participation.
Research and resources
The initiative will also help increase access and improve services across the Wellness Network. This will be accomplished through The L.A. Trust Data xChange, a first-in-the-nation initiative that links student health metrics with academic and attendance data to identify concerns and find solutions. Other research and best practices funded by the Cedar-Sinai grant will include a verified school-health integration measurement tool, community events such as clinic open houses, and The L.A. Trust’s long-running Wellness Network Learning Collaboratives.
“Cedars-Sinai is a generous and forward-thinking community partner,” said Anna Baum, director of development and communications for The L.A. Trust. “They are deeply concerned about student and community health, and their expertise and funding have supported our work in mental health, oral health and prevention education for five years,” Baum said. “We are grateful for their partnership and for making this important new initiative possible.”
Youth COVID-19 campaign will hit close to home
Students on The L.A. Trust COVID-19 Youth Task Force are developing a campaign to promote awareness and vaccination in Los Angeles.
High school students from 16 different campuses have joined The L.A. Trust COVID-19 Youth Task Force to educate their communities about the dangers of the coronavirus and the importance of vaccination. For many — quarantined for a year and grieving lost loved ones — the effort is personal.
“While all of our youth have been impacted one way or another, some of them are also grieving lost family members,” Nina Lee Tran, program manager for The L.A. Trust. “These youth applied to our Task Force and were selected to go through a rigorous and fast-paced program to learn more about COVID-19 and make a difference through their campaign.”
The task force is funded by a grant from Aspiration co-founder Joe Sanberg (Sanberg’s grant was facilitated by Ethos Giving). The task force started work March 1 and will continue through the end of August. The students, ages 15 to 17, have a lot on their plate, including learning about COVID and developing community presentations and social media campaigns.
Follow the task force on Instagram @covid_19ytf
The students’ participation “reminds me that youth are eager to learn and impact their communities, even during the pandemic,” Tran said.
Learning will be on two tracks: Students will become informed about the virus, the disease and vaccination, and will also become experts on communicating their message at community meetings and on social media.
Learning from experts
The 22 student members meet two hours per week and learn about COVID-19 from experts from UCLA, including Dr. Moira Inkelas, Dr. Vladimir Manuel and Dr. Jennifer B. Peralta. Topics include the biology and virology of COVID-19; understanding data and interpreting local testing and vaccination rates; and understanding vaccines.
The second half of each weekly two-hour session will focus on campaign and presentation development. It will be led by Tran, Program Manager Esther Yepez of The L.A. Trust, and Sabrina Rodrigues, an MPH fellow from UCLA.
High schools and charter schools represented on the task force are: Alliance Ted K. Tajima High School; Bell High School; Bright Star Secondary Charter Academy; Carson High School; Crenshaw High School; Girls Academic Leadership Academy; Huntington Park High School; Jordan High School; Locke High School; Manual Arts High School; San Pedro High School; South East High School; STEM Academy of Boyle Heights; STEM Academy of Hollywood; University Prep Value High School Charter; and West Adams High School.
Mental health is a key concern as students return to class
As students return to campus after a year of lockdown, youth mental health will be a paramount concern.
As Los Angeles Unified and other local school districts reopen, the question becomes, “What comes after COVID?”
“We can’t carry on as if the past year hasn’t happened,” says Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health. A year of isolation, economic and food insecurity, distance learning and delayed healthcare have created a crisis for hundreds of thousands of Los Angeles County public school students — one that will not disappear when in-person learning starts later next month.
Existing healthcare systems, like the 16 LAUSD Student and Family Wellness Centers offering mental health services to schools and communities hardest hit by COVID, will play an important role in the post-COVID recovery process. So will programs like The L.A. Trust’s Student Mental Health Initiative ramping up this year.
Wellness Centers key
“School wellness centers could be an answer to soaring mental health needs in California,” according to a report — “Every Young Heart and Mind: Schools as Centers of Wellness” — released last December by the California Mental Health Service Oversight & Accountability Commission. According to the report, 1 in 6 high school students in California has considered suicide in the past year, and 1 in 3 report feeling chronically sad. LGBTQ students and low-income Black and Latinx students experienced higher rates in both categories and were less likely to receive services intended to help them, the report said.
The American Psychological Association recommends teachers use existing processes and referral protocols to identify students who need extra support — especially those suffering anxiety and depression, which can be hard to identify under the best of circumstances.
Youth Mental Health First Aid
Teachers, counselors and healthcare professionals are not the only ones who can help. The L.A. Trust staff was trained in Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) last fall and is sharing its knowledge with after-school providers and others.
The first YMHFA class of 20 after–school providers was held online March 12. “The participants were eager for the information and the feedback was very enthusiastic,” said Eddie Hu, program manager at The L.A. Trust. “Mental health is an urgent issue and this training curriculum is timely and compelling.”
The Youth Mental First Aid training will be expanded later to include members of The L.A. Trust’s Student Advisory Boards and other students on L.A. Unified campuses.
“People who work with students — and students themselves — need to be aware of the danger signs of suicide and self-harm,” said Hu. “The crisis is real — without training we can miss the red flags.”
YMFA training is part of The L.A. Trust’s Student Mental Health Initiative, a multi-pronged effort funded by Health Net, Cedars-Sinai, Dignity Health and Ballmer Group. It includes a Youth Mental Health Collaborative launching this month, made up of LAUSD leaders, Wellness Center staff, and community mental health organizations to identify and resolve obstacles to care. Student input will be a key component informing the group’s work. The group will also advocate for needed policy change at the district and county level.
The state of student mental health in Los Angeles Unified School District was acute even before the pandemic. In a screening of 572 LAUSD students, 88% reported experiencing three or more traumatic events in their lifetime, 55% of whom showed symptoms of PTSD, depression or anxiety. LAUSD recorded 7,661 suicidal ideation incident reports in the 2018-2019 school year.
Time will tell how much damage has been wrought by a year of lost education, healthcare and outside contact and support. The pandemic of trauma caused by COVID-19 will be felt for years according to the National Education Association, which states “the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color has magnified the trauma of Black and Latinx students.”
“Teaching and learning can’t just pick up where educators and students left off,” the NEA observes. Trauma-informed policies and care are critical. ”Moving forward with grief or loss is better than just moving on.”
Data xChange report shows growth of Wellness Centers
The L.A. Trust Data xChange has issued a new report showing the impact of L.A. Unified’s Wellness Centers since 2015.
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health has released a new Data xChange report demonstrating the widespread impact of L.A. Unified’s 16 full-service Wellness Centers on students, families and community members in the District’s highest-need areas.
According to the Data xChange report, 11 school-based Wellness Centers reported more than 229,000 visits from 86,000 patients in the past five years. Visits grew 143% in the past half decade and patients averaged 2.7 visits per year, demonstrating “a strong bond between clinics and patients.”
The statistics in the Wellness Center 5-Year Impact Report were produced by The L.A. Trust’s Data xChange, which is designed to measure the impact of Wellness Center investments, improve the allocation of health resources and connect the dots between student health and academic achievement.
Vital services
Quality healthcare is essential to student success, the report noted. The L.A. Trust supports these clinics by offering best practices, prevention education programs, learning collaboratives and other vital infrastructure. In addition, it has independently raised more than $1.5 million to create the Data xChange, which The L.A. Trust views as key to the future of school-based health in Los Angeles and throughout the nation.
Common student services include Well Child Exams, contraceptive management, weight and obesity management, immunization and vaccines, sexually transmitted infection testing and management, and mental health and substance use services.
Because students are only as healthy as the communities they live in, Wellness Centers treat family and community members, too. Community members are more likely to be treated for chronic conditions such as diabetes and hypertension.
There are currently 16 LAUSD Wellness Center clinics with two more on the way. They bring high-quality medical services into traditionally underserved communities, provide culturally competent care and reduce transportation burdens by putting the clinics on school campuses. (Most of the clinics have a street-facing door to admit community members and a school-facing door to admit students.)
COVID-19 response
The coronavirus pandemic has hit Los Angeles hard, especially predominantly Black and Latinx communities served by the Wellness Centers, the report stated. Six Wellness Centers have remained open during the height of the school lockdown and received more than 12,000 visits between March and June of this year.
“As many of our Wellness Centers pivot toward telehealth and incorporate more specific coding practices related to COVID-19, The L.A. Trust Data xChange will stay in step with them by working to create new reports and insights,” the impact report affirmed.
The Data xChange is guided by an Expert Advisory Council that includes: Manal Aboelata, The Prevention Institute; Mayra Alvarez, The Children’s Health Partnership; Grace Kim Crofton, L.A. Care Health Plan; Rebecca Dudovitz, UCLA; Pia Escudero, LAUSD Student Health and Human Services; Mehrnaz Davoudi, Kaiser Permanente; Art Garcia, First 5 Los Angeles; Will Grice, Kaiser Permanente and board president of The L.A. Trust; Lyndee Knox, PatientToc; Hayley Love; James Kyle, L.A. Care Health Plan; Anitha Mullangi, St. John’s Well Child and Family Health Center; Kevon Tucker-Seeley, LAUSD Office of Data and Accountability; Mollie Rudnick, LAUSD Chief Strategy Office; Nina Vaccaro, Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County; Ron Tanimura, LAUSD Student Medical Services; Kimberly Uyeda; and Lynn Yonekura, L.A. Best Babies Network
COVID testing key to L.A. Unified’s return-to-school strategy
L.A. Unified return-to-school plan encompasses testing and tracing for nearly 800,000 students and employees.
The Los Angeles Unified School District has begun an unprecedented coronavirus testing program, part of its developing return-to-school plan for nearly 800,000 students and employees
Los Angeles Unified Superintendent Austin Beutner said, “Health practices are in place. Classrooms and facilities have been electrostatically cleaned top to bottom, air-conditioning systems have been upgraded with the equivalent of N-95 filters, personal protective equipment is provided to all individuals on campus, and classrooms and facilities have been reconfigured to keep all at a school a safer distance apart.
“When students do return to schools, they’ll be kept in small cohorts to reduce the risk of spreading the virus. And as we learn of other ways to enhance health practices, we’ll incorporate them as quickly as possible.”
‘Taking the lead’
“Once again, LAUSD is taking the lead nationwide in protecting our students, teachers, staff and community members,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health. “It is essential that we open our schools as soon as it is safe to do so.”
Beutner added, “While unprecedented, the virus testing, community engagement and contact-tracing program is necessary and appropriate as we must do everything we can to protect the health and safety of all in the school community.”
Among those collaborating on the program are UCLA, Stanford University, Johns Hopkins University, Microsoft, Anthem Blue Cross, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center and Health Net.
Q&A with Jim Mangia: “South L.A. has been hit hard by COVID”
Jim Mangia is president and CEO of St. John’s Well Child & Family Center, operator of Wellness Centers at Lincoln, Manual Arts and Washington Prep, all of which have remained open during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Maryjane Puffer is executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health and has led the organization since 2009. The former pediatric nurse is a recognized expert in student health programs and community outreach.
Question from Maryjane Puffer: COVID-19 has been especially devastating to communities served by the Wellness Network. Can you describe the impact of COVID-19 on the communities you serve?
Answer from Jim Mangia: The South Los Angeles community has been hit hard by the COVID pandemic in so many ways. We have the highest rates of COVID cases in the county. Some days over the summer, 30% of the people who came in to be tested were infected with COVID. Frontline workers, essential workers, factory workers were called back to work in June and July, were not given masks and protective gear and got infected at work. They brought it home to their families. And then the employers wouldn’t let them back to work until they showed a negative test result, which could take months. In addition to being sick, or seeing loved ones die, people lost their homes, their jobs. It was devastating.
Q. How has COVID and the school and economic shutdown impacted your three Wellness Centers? Are you still seeing a lot of students or are you seeing greater numbers of community members?
A. People still need healthcare. And since we’re offering free COVID testing for students and their families, our Wellness Centers have been extremely busy. We erected sterilized isolation tents at all of our sites to reduce the possibility of infection during the COVID test. We’ve had no cross-infection at any of our clinic sites or Wellness Centers because of the rigorous protocols we put into place. But we’re seeing more patients than we were before the pandemic hit, because in addition to people needing their diabetes medicine or their hypertensive care, tens of thousands of people depended on St. John’s for their COVID testing.
Q. What services are you offering to students and community members? Have you noted a change?
A. We’re continuing to offer the full range of medical, dental and behavioral health services to students, their families and the community at large, in addition to COVID testing, triage and follow-up care. We have added telehealth services so we can better triage patients with symptoms. If a patient tests positive for COVID, our doctors can call them every day and monitor their symptoms. If their symptoms start to worsen, we can get them into a hospital immediately. We know that once symptoms occur, the sooner you get to a hospital, the better chance you have for survival. We’ve saved hundreds of lives through the telehealth monitoring we’ve been doing, in addition to the testing and regular primary care services that have continued.
Q. Are people foregoing treatment they should otherwise be getting?
A. Initially yes. About one-third of our patients were foregoing treatment and cancelling appointments. We were able to provide telehealth to them and have medicine delivered to their homes, which allowed our doctors to stay on top of their health status and health conditions. Our screening protocols are so rigorous, and the fact that we have two isolation tents at every site also made patients feel more secure coming in for their visits. Now our cancellation rate is under 5%, so patients are feeling safe and keeping their visits. We take every patient’s temperature before they enter the clinic and ask a set of screening questions. If they answer yes to any questions or have fever, they are sent to the isolation tent for their visit, where we also administer a COVID test.
Q. How has student and community mental health been impacted by COVID? What can be done about it?
A. We’re seeing a significant increase in depression and anxiety disorders as a result of the pandemic. It’s most acute with patients who have lost a loved one to COVID, but there is widespread stress, anxiety and depression as a result of the pandemic. Many residents have lost their jobs. Many have lost loved ones. Many have been sick. The pandemic is having a direct and significant impact on the mental health of the South Los Angeles community.
Q. What is the most important thing students and community members should know about your services right now?
A. That we are open to serve them and can provide whatever health services they need — medical, dental, behavioral health, in addition to COVID testing and triage. We are also participating in a clinical trial with UCLA to provide a very effective and free COVID treatment to patients who have symptoms and are infected.
Board members of The L.A. Trust strategize in face of COVID-19
Dr. Manuel Pastor, author and distinguished professor at USC, briefed The L.A. Trust Board on healthcare inequties and demographic dynamics impacting student wellness.
The coronavirus crisis and healthcare inequity topped the agenda as members of the Board of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health gathered online for their annual retreat August 6-7.
The objectives of the retreat were to understand the current landscape for student health and wellness in Los Angeles, assess the status of The L.A. Trust and its strategic plan, understand the priorities of L.A. Unified, and identify opportunities to pivot.
Board members and officers also welcomed a new member, Jordan Keville of the law firm Davis Wright Tremaine, who will replace Dennis S. Diaz effective January 1.
Dr. Manuel Pastor, distinguished professor of sociology and American studies and ethnicity at the University of Southern California, opened the retreat with a detailed overview of demographic dynamics impacting California and student and community health, including the impact of coronavirus on communities of color.
Pastor, author of State of Resistance: What California’s Dizzying Descent and Remarkable Resurgence Mean for America’s Future, noted that California is a majority people of color state, and the nation will follow in its footsteps in the next two decades.
“Racism in our society is a feature, not a bug,” he said. “We must teach young people to be racism ready and racism resistant – that is, able to stand up for themselves and understand that racism is a system” that must be fought.
Students tell it like it is
Members of The L.A. Trust’s Student Advisory Boards from Crenshaw, Locke and John Marshall High Schools shared with the Board their personal and candid accounts of life during lockdown.
One student had tested positive for COVID-19 and was isolated from her parents, who were taken ill with virus. She said she had lost several loved ones to the COVID-19.
Other students reported being family caregivers while their parents worked outside the home, and a few said the lockdown had enabled them to get closer to their families.
Asked how things could be improved, one student said, “Youth have a lot of stuff happening. Slow down the (school) demands.” Another student said he would like to visit his campus in person one time. Students were concerned that classmates were falling behind. “Most of our friends have not finished all their classes, they have to go to Saturday school to make it up.”
One student was concerned about “foster kids or very poor kids who didn’t have food, electricity or rent. A lot of my peers haven’t been eating.” Her biggest frustration was not being able to go out to her school and community to help.
Related:
COVID-19 worsens L.A.’s food crisis: How to get help (or help others)
COVID Q&A with Barbara Ferrer, L.A. County Department of Public Health
Dr. Barbara Ferrer, director of the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, is leading the fight against coronavirus in the nation’s most populous county. She has more than 30 years of experience as a public health leader, philanthropic strategist, educational leader, researcher and community advocate.
Maryjane Puffer is executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health and has led the organization since 2009. The former pediatric nurse is a recognized expert in student health programs and community outreach.
QUESTION BY MARYJANE PUFFER: Los Angeles County and other jurisdictions have been setting new records for COVID-19 cases. Dr. Anthony Fauci has warned that the nation could soon be looking at 100,000 cases per day. What happened?
ANSWER BY BARBARA FERRER: The main reasons for the uptick are simple. As more people are going back to work and many sectors are reopening, individuals are in in close contact with many more people. Where businesses and individuals are not observing physical distancing and infection control directives (including the required wearing of a face covering when around others), there is much easier spread of the virus.
Everyone must do their part to ensure we flatten the curve. Every resident and business owner must do their part in following directives that are intended to keep us all safe. If we want to save lives and get these numbers down, people must maintain physical distance from people they don’t live with and they must wear a face covering. These are critical requirements in the Health Officer Order and are two of the best tools we have to protect each other, our families and those most vulnerable in our communities.
We need to all be in this together to help slow the spread of the virus. We have done it before and we must do it again.
Q. Our children have endured months of isolation and anxiety. How do we keep them emotionally and physically fit during the summer and still keep everyone safe?
A. This COVID-19 virus has taken an emotional toll on all of us, and our children are no exception. This is the time of year children should be enjoying summer activities, playing with their friends and making lasting memories.
It is important that parents and guardians create an environment that involves physical activity and allows for time to talk with your children about what is going on in our world right now.
Spending time outside improves mood and well-being and is particularly beneficial to children. I recommend parents in Los Angeles County take full advantage of the natural resources we have, including our beautiful beaches, mountain trails and parks. There are activities sponsored by the County’s Parks and Recreation Department that comply with all public health directives and offer wonderful opportunities for children and families to have fun in our beautiful parks.
Remember, though, it’s important that everyone, including our children, avoid the three Cs: crowds, confined spaces and close contact with people outside your own household. If a trail is crowded, look for another one. If the beach is full of people, move to a less populated area.
I know our children will have memories of the unusual summer they spent this year, and I hope these memories will include the fun and safe things they did with their parents or guardians during this unprecedented time.
Q. I know your department has stepped up to meet this unprecedented emergency. Can you mention some of the resources available to families at this time?
A. The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health has taken immediate and urgent actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Our public health system and safety net is made up of our local, state and federal partners and we will continue to work together to ensure the collective public health of all of our residents. As such the County of Los Angeles has made critical resources readily available for families that have been impacted by the pandemic such as:
Food Banks and Pantries: The County of Los Angeles is committed to feeding our most vulnerable residents during this economic and health crisis. An estimated 2 million residents in the County experience food insecurity on an ongoing basis — more than any county in the nation. This need is sure to continue and possibly increase in the coming months due to job losses associated with COVID-19. The County has many resources available for those in need and they can be found at https://food-resources-lacounty.hub.arcgis.com/
Mental Health: The County’s Department of Mental Health has a 24/7 hotline for people in need of mental health services. Anyone in need of these important health services should call (800) 854-7771.
Online Library Services: The Los Angeles County Library has many digital resources you can access 24/7, including eBooks, audiobooks, magazines, movies, TV, homework help, online classes and more. There’s even online story time for children. For more information, visit https://lacountylibrary.org/coronavirus/.
Public Health Contact Tracing: For those households that have a family member who is ill with COVID-19 or is a close contact of a person who is positive with COVID-19, public health specialists will call to collect information to prevent additional transmission and to offer support. If you tested positive for COVID-19, and have not yet received a call from a public health specialist, you can call our toll-free line at (833) 540-0473.
Q. Is the healthcare system ready for this new surge of cases? How can we keep our frontline healthcare workers safe?
A. First, I want to say I am grateful to the frontline healthcare workers who have been caring for our loved ones. They are the heroes in this unprecedented time. Together, we are managing a pandemic the likes of which hasn’t been seen in 100 years, fighting against a new deadly virus unknown to the world even a year ago. Given this new reality, our number one priority as public health officials is to protect the health of our residents, and that includes the healthcare workers on the frontline.
This means we are ensuring the County and its healthcare system have the necessary personal protective equipment and resources in place to meet the demands presented by the pandemic. Since day one of this pandemic I am proud to say that our medical and public health personnel have met the pandemic head-on, fully prepared, implementing strategies to effectively protect the public and the capacity of the healthcare system.
This is ongoing. Our partners in the Department of Health Services continue to monitor and plan for the impact of COVID-19 on our healthcare system. And our hospital system has strategies in place to create additional capacity for COVID-19 patients should surge capacity be needed to meet increased demand.
We will continue to mobilize County resources, accelerate emergency planning, streamline staffing, coordinate with agencies across the County and State and Federal partners, and raise awareness about how everyone can be prepared for more cases and community spread.
Q. You and your colleagues have been the target of death threats for doing your jobs. Public health officials have been forced to resign in some places. Where do you find the courage to keep going during this crisis?
A. COVID-19 has dramatically changed the world, and it is understandable that people are upset. We mourn every single person that has passed away due to COVID-19. Beyond the human toll, the economic toll has been devastating. We are working tirelessly to slow the spread and find good solutions for the future of our communities.
It is also disheartening that countless numbers of public health officials, across the country – myself included – have been threatened. These attacks on public health officials distract from the data and science. And the science says if we don’t change the way we go about our daily routines, we could pay for it with our lives or the lives of others around us. Change is hard, but we must change if we want to contain this virus.
I know I stand with other public health practitioners who are committed to continuing to do our job during this pandemic, which is to protect and save lives. The virus is still here, and we come to work every day to do our best and implement strategies to slow the spread of COVID-19.
I am also thankful for the many people who stand against this hate and who have supported our work, including those who do so simply by following our advice.
Student mental health challenged by COVID, recession and racism
Idle busses and empty classrooms are reminders of the scale of the education and healthcare void caused by the continued coronavirus shutdown.
Student mental health in Los Angeles is facing unprecedented challenges, according to Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health.
“Our students are under tremendous pressure,” she said. “Many were already dealing with inadequate access to mental healthcare and the impacts of poverty and racism. The isolation and economic hardships brought on by COVID-19 threaten to create a student mental health crisis in Los Angeles.
“Students miss the structure of school, their friends and their support system, including access to counseling and mental health treatment,” said Puffer. “Some students may be in stressful situations at home or even the targets of abuse. We must redouble our efforts to help them.”
New initiative
This fall The L.A. Trust will launch its Student Mental Health Initiative. The collaborative is funded by a $100,000 grant by Cedars-Sinai and a $50,000 grant by Health Net.
The initiative will train students as peer leaders through The L.A. Trust’s Student Advisory Boards, increasing awareness of symptoms like anxiety and depression, and building positive coping mechanisms and self-referrals to care. The initiative will foster student social media campaigns and conduct online trainings such as “First Aid for Mental Health,” scheduled for August.
“Student voices are critical in addressing mental health awareness and to ensure access to services,” said Pia V. Escudero, executive director of Student Health & Human Services for Los Angeles Unified. “We are grateful for this grant opportunity that will lift stigma and access to services for students and families that need it the most.”
Puffer added that “as a backbone agency for student health in Los Angeles, The L.A. Trust has a unique role and responsibility. We are committed to lead on this issue, helping support students, family members, healthcare providers and LAUSD tackle these issues.”
Racism and mental health
Puffer noted that July is BIPOC Mental Health Awareness Month and that racism must be factored into any discussion of student mental health. This is especially relevant in Los Angeles, where four out of every five LAUSD students is Latinx or Black.
A review of literature on the impact of racism on child health found that 11 out of 12 studies showed an association between racism and depression, while three studies showed an association between racism and anxiety. “We can’t ignore the impact of racism on the mental health of our students,” Puffer said. “Our programs, outreach and training must acknowledge the racism that many of our students live with every day.”
Resources available
Puffer saluted LAUSD Student Health and Human Services, the Los Angeles County Department of Public Health and other public and private organizations for adapting and expanding to serve students and family members during the COVID-19 crisis.
LAUSD Mental Health Hotline (213) 241-3840. Open weekdays 6 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is staffed by counselors and mental health professionals who can provide support in English and Spanish. Teachers can also call and get advice on how to connect their students to services. Questions can also be emailed to mentalhealth@lausd.net.
Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health (800) 854-7771. Open 24/7 for all mental health services.
2-1-1 Hotline. The central source for all health and human services support in Los Angeles County.
National Suicide Prevention Hotline English: (800) 273-8255 Español: (888) 628-9454.
Teen Line Text “TEEN” to 839863 between 6:00pm-9:00pm PT to speak to a teen.
Posted July 15, 2020 at 9:55 a.m.
The impact of racism on children’s health cannot be ignored
The murder of George Floyd has shined a spotlight on racism, which affects every aspect of American life, including the health of children and adolescents. Photo by Gabe Pierce on Unsplash.
The murder of George Floyd has brought the issue of racism to the forefront once again. But racism does not affect just the justice system — it is the major determinant in the healthcare outcomes of children and adolescents.
Last August the American Academy of Pediatrics put out its first policy statement on how racism affects the development and health of adolescents and children. “Policy statements like these are welcome — and long overdue,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health.
According to the AAP, racism has a profound impact on the health and status of children, adolescents, emerging adults and their families. The continued negative impact of racism on health and well-being through implicit and explicit biases, institutional structures and interpersonal relationships is clear.
Racism is a disease
“Those of us who have been doing this work are not surprised by findings like these,” Puffer said. The AAP states that racism, experienced directly or just witnessed, can lead to high levels of stress, depression and even inflammatory reactions. Race is also a factor in low birth weight, maternal mortality, heart disease and hypertension.
“If you saw these symptoms in a clinical setting you would diagnose racism as a chronic illness – one that is passed down from generation to generation,” Puffer said.
In addition to the direct physical effects of racism, there are the health effects of institutional racism and implicit bias built into every aspect of American life, including jobs, housing, policing, incarceration and our education and healthcare systems. All of these factors impact the health outcomes of Black and Brown students and families. Any one of these factors can kill.
COVID-19 is a textbook case. African Americans have the highest death rate for the disease in Los Angeles County: 13 deaths per 100,000 people versus 9.5 for Latinx, 7.5 for Asians and 5.5 for whites. The factors are myriad (poor healthcare, housing and greater co-factors like diabetes, asthma and heart disease), but underlying all these is racism.
Two–front battle
“We need to advance on two fronts,” Puffer said. “We must address structural racism by investing in healthcare and preventative programs in our underserved communities.” Our communities — and the kids who live in them — are not getting the primary, oral and mental healthcare services they need and deserve.
Funding is needed, funding that is threatened by the budget cuts being actively considered in Sacramento and Washington. Community clinics, oral health providers and hospitals have been hit hard by COVID-19. “We must fight for government funding and reject false economies during this economic crisis,” Puffer said.
“We also need to look at racism and bias within our healthcare system itself,” she said. As many institutions have acknowledged, there is a long legacy of inequal treatment of Black, Brown and Indigenous peoples in the healthcare system. People of color, especially African Americans, are less likely to be heard, diagnosed and successfully treated than whites. “We need more Black and Brown healthcare providers. We must eliminate unconscious bias and serve patients in a cultural context. We’re making progress, but not enough.
“The healthcare providers I see working in our underserved communities are doing heroic work,” Puffer said. “They know their patients and they know their communities. But there are not enough of them and they do not have the resources they need,” Puffer said. “We must expand, not cut, healthcare in our communities.
“We must seize this moment and redirect our priorities to invest in the healthcare of our students and communities,” she added. “We can’t end racism overnight, but we can start dismantling healthcare disparities piece by piece, patient by patient. We must ensure the current revolution leads us to a long-term evolution of our healthcare system.”
A special message: Our young people are hurting
The death of George Floyd has brought the issue of racism and police brutality to the forefront once again. But our Black and Brown students do not need reminding — they live the reality of racism every day.
Racism affects every aspect of American life, from policing and criminal justice to our healthcare and education systems. Its legacy is economic inequality, underfunded schools and inadequate healthcare.
The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health was founded 19 years ago to help address disparities in access to healthcare and prevention programs. With the COVID crisis and economic recession, these inequities are getting worse, not better.
Our families are hurting. Our young people are angry. Well-meaning proclamations will not do. We need real reform in criminal justice, healthcare and education. We cannot do this overnight, but we must begin.
Maryjane Puffer
Executive Director
Wellness Centers discuss COVID challenges at virtual collaborative
Pia V. Escudero of LAUSD Student Health and Human Services addressed more than 100 participants at The L.A. Trust’s online Learning Collaborative.
Wellness Centers online meeting (recording)
Representatives from the Los Angeles student health community met online Thursday, May 7, 2020 at The L.A. Trust’s Wellness Center Learning Collaborative to discuss how to serve students and their families during the COVID-19 health emergency. More than 100 clinicians, educators and healthcare advocates attended.
The coronavirus is impacting patients — and the clinics that serve them. Nine of the sixteen on-campus Wellness Centers have suspended operations (see list). Fewer students and community members are visiting clinics, putting their long-term health at risk. It also threatens the financial health of some clinics that have been serving high-need communities for years.
Dr. Yohanna Barth-Rogers, chief medical officer of the UMMA Wellness Center at John C. Fremont High School in South Los Angeles, told the Learning Collaborative that her clinics were moving the majority of patient visits to video conferences and phone calls.
In-person visits must be approved in advance and be deemed medically essential. Two of the needs deemed essential are vaccinations and contraception.
One challenge is finding safe spaces to have sensitive conversations with students, she said. “My worry is that we’re missing things, such as violence in the home.” She said the clinic was developing ways to have confidential conversations with students during the coronavirus shut-down.
Reaching out
In addition to telehealth, clinic operators have been staying in touch with patients through community networks and social media. “Asian Pacific Healthcare Venture Inc., serving Belmont and John Marshall High Schools, cares about you,” they said in an email to The L.A. Trust. “If you have any health concerns, call us. We’ll make a telephone appointment to talk to a provider or get your medication refilled. We are also open for confidential services. Stay safe!”
North Hills Wellness Center at James Monroe High School issued a “stay at home challenge” for students: “Eat an apple instead of chips. Get outdoors (with your mask on!). Follow a workout routine on FaceTime or YouTube. Learn a TikTok dance. Be creative and remember that social distancing and face coverings save lives!”
Dr. Rosina Franco and Student Medical Services reported that while the Hollywood High Wellness Center was closed for safety reasons, “we are currently working on a re-entry plan for when schools, and our clinic, will re-open. In the meantime, please log on to the LAUSD SHHS webpage.”
COVID-19 worsens L.A.’s food crisis: How to get help (or help others)
Los Angeles County residents get groceries through the Emergency Food Assistance Program, at the East Los Angeles Service Center. Photo courtesy Los Angeles County.
Los Angeles County is mobilizing a Countywide response to hunger by coordinating public agencies, nonprofits and volunteers to provide meals to anyone in need during the current pandemic-related food crisis. An estimated 2 million people in Los Angeles County already face food-insecurity issues — and this number is sure to swell as pandemic-related economic losses take their toll.
The County is also launching new digital resources to help members of the public access food at no cost — including program sign-up information, maps, and frequently asked questions — all located on the County COVID-19 website.
Individuals and families in need:
Get help with food expenses. CalFresh is a Nutrition Assistance Program that can help people in low-income households purchase food by increasing their food-buying power. Apply here and see eligibility requirements here.
Find free food near you. County agencies and partners that provide free groceries and meals are expanding their services during COVID-19. Click here to see options and find food distribution sites near you. Some programs also provide delivery. Get food delivery assistance. The County has launched a Critical Delivery Services program to deliver food and other vital items to adults aged 60+ and individuals with disabilities who are unable to leave their homes due to COVID-19. Items must be prepaid and ready for pick-up. There is no cost to the client for delivery. For more information, click here or call 1-888-863-7411.
For assistance, or if you do not have access to the Internet, please dial 2-1-1. Multilingual operators are available to help members of the public find free food resources.
Service providers and nonprofits in need
Request volunteers. L.A. Works matches community organizations with volunteer labor and other resources. More information here.
Request food to redistribute. The L.A. Regional Food Bank is accepting new applications for partner agencies. Partner agencies receive free food and re-distribute it to community members. More information here.
Join a food recovery network. There are a number of organizations that use mobile apps with matching technology to recover unused food from restaurants and other businesses and re-distribute it to communities in need. If you are interested in donating food or receiving donated food to re-distribute, look for the following in your mobile app store: Food Finders and ChowMatch
How you can help
Giving food-related offers and donations. Does your business or organization seek to sell or donate food-related resources to support COVID-19 response efforts? The County is helping to match available food resources with those in need. Fill out an online questionnaire to let us know what food resources you have to share. Our partner providers are in need of food resources, services, and equipment including:
Prepared meals ready-to-eat meals: no heating required
Prepared meals: just heat and serve
Groceries: non-perishable, shelf-stable food items and perishable food such as produce, meats, and dairy
Specialty foods: Vegan, kosher, gluten-free, and other specialty options
Food delivery: drivers and vehicles, including special vehicle types such as refrigerated trucks
Other types of donation and support. Looking for other ways to lend a hand during this crisis? Explore the County’s COVID-19 resource page to learn how you can help, from doing wellness checks on older neighbors to donating blood.
Starting a food pantry. Interested in offering free food to community members? If you already have food to re-distribute or are planning to collect food items from private sources, please follow these Guidelines for Charitable Feeding Operations. If you are interested in receiving donated food to re-distribute, consider partnering with the L.A. Regional Food Bank, which is currently accepting new applications for partner pantries. More information here.
Volunteer your time. L.A. Works matches community organizations with volunteer labor and other resources. More information here.
California offers financial and health aid during COVID-19 crisis
The COVID-19 outbreak has hit L.A.’s most vulnerable families, including low-income single-earner households with school-age children.
The L.A. Trust participated in a statewide interagency conference call with California Superintendent of Public Instruction Tony Thurmond and other officials outlining state services available to assist families during the COVID-19 event.
Among the highlights:
If your employer has reduced your hours or shut down operations due to COVID-19, you can file for unemployment insurance. If you are expecting to return to your job after the dust settles, you do not have to be actively seeking new work during the outbreak. But you must be “able and available to work” to get these benefits, which generally range from $40 to $450 per week for up to six months.
If you are sick or have been exposed
Individuals who are unable to work due to having or being exposed to COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Disability Insurance claim. Disability Insurance provides short-term benefit payments to eligible workers who have full or partial loss of wages due to a non-work-related illness, injury, or pregnancy. Benefit amounts are approximately 60-70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50 to $1,300 a week.
If you are caring for someone sick
Californians who are unable to work because they are caring for an ill or quarantined family member with COVID-19 (certified by a medical professional) can file a Paid Family Leave claim. Paid Family Leave provides up to six weeks of benefit payments to eligible workers who have a full or partial loss of wages because they need time off work to care for a seriously ill family member or to bond with a new child. Benefit amounts are approximately 60 to 70 percent of wages (depending on income) and range from $50-$1,300 a week.
Health resources
The Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has published additional and updated guidance for providers, beneficiaries and the public related to COVID-19:
Fee-For-Service Prior Authorization – Section 1135 Waiver Flexibilities
Fee-For-Service Pharmacy – Section 1135 Waiver Flexibilities
Provision of Care in Alternative Settings, Hospital Capacity, and Blanket 1135 Waiver Flexibilities
FFS and Managed Care Telehealth and Virtual Communication Guidance
APL 20-004 Emergency Guidance for Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plans
Guidance Relating to Non-Urgent, Non-Essential or Elective Procedures
Guidance for Family PACT Providers, including Telephonic Client Enrollment and Re-certification
Additional updates will be posted to the DHCS COVID-19 resource page.
This story was updated March 28, 2020 at 10:44 am.
Education and healthcare meet COVID-19 head on
Los Angeles Unified has opened more than 60 Grab and Go food distribution sites to ensure students receive nutritious breakfast and lunch meals during the COVID-19 school closures. Superintendent Austin Beutner pictured center.
An unprecedented health crisis has been met with an unprecedented response from the Los Angeles healthcare and education communities.
“While the coronavirus mostly strikes adults, our kids are isolated and vulnerable right now,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health. “They are not in class. They miss their friends. And they are not getting the structure and services schools provide. We must support our students and families as they face this dual health and economic crisis.
“I applaud the students, teachers and leaders of L.A. Unified for adapting so quickly,” she said. “The resources the District has brought to bear — including nutrition, distance learning, and primary and mental health support, have been impressive.
“I also want to salute the response of our healthcare partners. They are the first responders in this crisis, and they are working hard under difficult circumstances,” she said.
How to give
Private donations are helping families with the greatest need. LAUSD has launched Students Most in Need to provide food, learning materials and digital devices to students.
Twenty area nonprofits are supporting We’re One Family, Los Angeles, a fund to help families meet basic needs, including food, rent, gas, childcare and healthcare. As of March 23, the fund had raised $100,000 in just 72 hours.
Get COVD-19 resources for California kids and families from Children Now.
Shutting down, ramping up
The Los Angeles Unified School District was one of the first in the nation to cancel classes to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus — and it moved quickly to fill the void. Within days of the shutdown LAUSD:
Opened more than 60 food “grab and go” sites distributing nearly 250,000 meals daily.
Deployed educational programming for hundreds of thousands of pre-K-12 students on the air. (Three PBS affiliates, — KCET, PBS SoCal and LAUSD station KCLS — will broadcast educational programming for all grade levels.)
Launched instructional continuity classes and announced an agreement with Verizon to provide Internet connectivity for students who need it. The agreement is a key component in the district’s plan for students to continue learning as campuses remain closed in response to COVID-19.
While LAUSD Student Health and Human Services has closed its LAUSD school-based clinics, many of the Student and Family Wellness Centers remain open to students and community members during the school closures. Visit our website for a complete list. They are also offering a wide range of services from its main hotline, (213) 443-1300 and website.
“The L.A. Trust is conducting day-to-day operations remotely and developing new curriculum and communications to support students and communities virtually while our schools are closed,” Puffer said. “We are laser-focused on the needs of our students and their families.”
Many Wellness Centers (and The L.A. Trust) will stay open
Many LAUSD Wellness Centers will remain open during the COVID-19 health crisis, according to a survey of the Wellness Network by The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health.
OPEN WELLNESS CENTERS*
Belmont
Carson
Fremont
Gage Middle School
Jefferson (Wednesdays only)
Manual Arts
Monroe
Washington Prep
CLOSED WELLNESS CENTERS
Crenshaw
Elizabeth Learning Center
Garfield
Hollywood High
Jordan
Locke Early Education Center
MaCES
Santee Education Complex
*Some Wellness Centers have modified schedules. Call for details.
The County of Los Angeles advises anyone with flu-like symptoms to call their doctor or 2-1-1 to see if they need testing — they should not visit any healthcare facility without checking that it is safe for them to do so.
The L.A. Trust open
In a letter to stakeholders, The L.A. Trust announced it would remain open during the coronavirus emergency.
“This is an unprecedented time in our city, nation and world,” Executive Director Maryjane Puffer said. “As we all take steps to stop the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus, we want you to know what The Los Angeles Trust for Children’s Health is doing in response:
The L.A. Trust is open for business during regular business hours, with staff working remotely. We will continue our day-to-day operations and reschedule on-campus and community outreach when we can safely resume these services.
We have postponed our Spring Wellness Network Learning Collaborative and cancelled our Summer Solstice 2020 fundraiser.
We will closely monitor the situation and provide updates from The L.A. Trust, the Los Angeles Unified School District and our Wellness Center and healthcare partners.
We will share fact-based content on how to mitigate the effects of the coronavirus crisis that is impacting our students, communities, clinics and healthcare providers.
“Nothing is more important to The L.A. Trust than the health of our children — or the well-being of the educators and healthcare professionals who care for them,” Puffer said. “I want to thank them for all they’re doing to help our students and protect the health of our community in this difficult time.”
This story was updated March 27 at 9:30 am PDT.
LAUSD and health officials plan for coronavirus
The COVID-19 outbreak is serious and the situation is changing fast. Experts say don’t panic, stay informed — and wash your hands thoroughly for 20 seconds.
The Los Angeles Unified School Angeles District and public health agencies are addressing the rapidly changing global coronavirus outbreak with contingency plans and public information.
LAUSD officials are getting updates daily at 5 a.m. and 5 p.m. from The Los Angeles County Department of Public Health, and Superintendent Austin Beutner is posting Twitter updates twice a day. The LAUSD has also opened a hotline (213 443-1300) Monday through Friday from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m., and is updating its website daily with news on the virus. The California Department of Public Health and the Centers for Disease Control are also providing real-time updates.
“It’s too soon to know where this epidemic is headed,” said Maryjane Puffer, executive director of The L.A. Trust and a former pediatric nurse with a master’s degree in public health. “There are a relatively small number of cases in the County today, but that could change rapidly. The most important thing is to stay informed and use the same hygiene precautions you use for the flu.”
Hygiene is key
LAUSD has released a video on the outbreak emphasizing the importance of frequent and thorough handwashing. The Los Angeles County of Department Health recommends these precautions to prevent the spread of coronavirus and flu:
Have provisions that will last a few days (water, food, essential hygiene, etc.)
Get immunized against the flu. This will relieve what could be a highly impacted healthcare system
Stay home when you’re sick (don’t wait until you are very sick)
Make sure you are using a robust, regular cleaning schedule for frequently touched surfaces
Wash your hands frequently (for at least 20 seconds)
Check out their website for the most accurate information at publichealth.lacounty.gov
What to tell students
“Be informed and honest about the virus, but avoid anything that might stress your students or family members,” Puffer said. “And remember, kids are good at reading emotions.”
“You can be frank with adolescents — they may know more than you. With younger kids, it’s important to listen and hear what their concerns are,” Puffer said. “Emphasize that the risk of getting sick is low and you will take them to the doctor should the need arise.”
“On behalf of The L.A. Trust I want to thank the healthcare professionals who are working locally and worldwide — often at risk to their own health — to address this outbreak,” she added.