A Pub l i c a t i on o f R i vers i d e Com m un i t y Hea l t h Found a t i on

Fall 2012

Our Mission:To improve the health and well-being of our community.

Our Vision:To improve the health of the community by funding, developing and operating partnerships and collaborations that provide expanded access to high quality healthcare services and education.

Board of DirectorsJoseph P. BarrChair

Judy Carpenter Vice Chair Thomas LozaTreasurer

Craig MarshallSecretary Daniel Anderson, D. Min. Damon Castillo, Ed. D. Rob Chabot Patti Cotton McNeily Eliza Daniely-Woolfolk Rich Erickson Thomas Ferrer Bradley Gilbert, M.D. Karl HicksBen Johnson II Houshang Karimi, M.D. Marilyn Martinez-Flores, Ph.D.Jennifer O’Farrell Erin PhillipsGeorge ReyesMichelle Reyes, P.A.Donna Sand Visit us at our website: www.rchf.org

Riverside Community Health Foundation4445-A Magnolia AvenueRiverside, CA 92501951.788.3471

Foundation welcomes new staff!

Save the Date: Our Annual Fall Celebration is set for September 29th, 2012! More details inside.

Free ZUMBA® Fitness, Tai-Chi, Arthritis Foundation Exercise Program, Education, and Diabetes classes available throughout the community. Please call for times and locations, or visit our website.

For further information:Riverside Community Health Foundation(951) 788-3471 www.rchf.org

Riverside Community Diabetes CollaborativeSeptember 13, 2012, 12 to 2 pm Magnolia Police Station10540 Magnolia Ave., RiversideFor organizations and individuals with a desire to make an impact in the fight against diabetes. Please RSVP to attend. Contact Desirée Santos-Kho, Program Associate, at 951-788-3471 or desiree@rchf.org

Start RIGHT Challenge Kickoff!September 15, 2012, 9 am to 12 pmWhite Park, 3936 Chestnut St., RiversideEveryone is welcome!

Arlanza Family Health Center & Eric M Solander Center Annual Community FairOctober 6, 2012, 11 am to 3 pmBryant Park, 7950 Philibin Ave., RiversideEveryone Welcome!

Riverside Community Diabetes CollaborativeOctober 11, 2012, 12 to 2:00 pm Magnolia Police Station10540 Magnolia Ave., RiversideFor organizations and individuals with a desire to make an impact in the fight against diabetes. Please RSVP to attend. Contact Desirée Santos-Kho, Program Associate, at 951-788-3471 or desiree@rchf.org

Lifetime Toolbox for Men Seminar & WorkshopSeminar October 17 / Workshop October 22Seminar 6 - 8 pm / Workshop 5:30 -7:30 pmParkview Community Hospital Founders Center3885 Jackson Street, RiversideRegistration Required. Register at 951.788.3471

Healthy Bodies & Healthy Minds Community Health Fair and 100 Mile Club WalkNovember 3, 2012 11 am to 3 pmTroth Street Elementary School5565 Troth Street, Jurupa ValleyEveryone welcome!

“Staying Positive: Living a Happy, Healthy Life with Diabetes”November 17, 20129:00 am to 1:00 pm (English seminar) and 12:00 pm to 4:00 pm (Spanish seminar) California Baptist University8432 Magnolia Avenue, RiversideSeminar is primarily for individuals with Type

2 diabetes and their family members; however, individuals with all types of diabetes are welcome to attend. Please RSVP by calling 951-788-3471.For more information, contact Desirée Santos-Kho, Program Associate, at 951-788-3471 or desiree@rchf.org

Grants Information and Update SessionNovember 29, 2012 3:00 pm to 5:30 pmRiverside Community Health Foundation (Health Education Center, Main Auditorium)4445-A Magnolia Avenue, RiversideFor new and returning applicants to the Foundation’s grants program. For more information, call (951) 788-3471. RSVP required to attend (complete registration form).Contact Desirée Santos-Kho, Program Associate, at 951-788-3471 or desiree@rchf.org

Riverside Community Health Foundation’s 15th Anniversary Celebration

Saturday, September 29, 2012 6:00 pm to 10:00 pm | Help Us Help Others!

Walter’s Automotive Group Porsche/Audi Building3210 Adams St., Riverside, $100 per personCall 951.788.3471 to make your reservation today!

CRUISIN’ UNDER THE STARS

Fall is almost here, which brings cooler temperatures and beautiful weather. Capitalize on the change in season by evaluating and revamping your fitness routine to include more outdoor activities and these other tips for getting the most fitness out of your day.

Not a fan of the gym? Don’t worry! Exercising at home is convenient, and allows you to combine your workout with other activities like watching TV or reading. If you have children, exercising in front of them sets a good example and a onetime investment in exercise equipment can be used by the whole family.

Tips for Maximizing Your Fitness at Home:• Do housework yourself instead of hiring someone else to do it. • Work in the garden or mow the grass. Using a riding mower doesn’t count! Rake leaves, prune, dig and pick up trash. • Go out for a short walk before breakfast, after dinner or both! Start with 5-10 minutes and work up to 30 minutes. • Walk or bike to the corner store instead of driving. • Stand up while talking on the telephone. • Walk the dog. • Park farther away at the shopping mall and walk the extra distance. Wear your walking shoes and sneak in an extra lap or two around the mall.

Working long hours and can’t squeeze in a workout? Most of us have sedentary jobs, meaning we sit all the time! Since work can often take up the majority of our day, especially when you factor in your commute, it can be difficult to make time for fitness. However, with some creative thinking, you can add exercise to your daily office routine without missing a beat.

Tips for Maximizing Your Fitness at the Office:• Brainstorm project ideas with a co-worker while taking a walk. • Stand while talking on the telephone. • Walk down the hall to speak with someone rather than using the telephone. • Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Or get off a few floors early and take the stairs the rest of the way. • Form a sports team with your coworkers to raise money for charity events. • Join a fitness center near your job. Work out before or after work to avoid rush-hour traffic, or drop by for a noon workout. • Get off the bus a few blocks early and walk the rest of the way to work or home. • Walk around your building for a break during the work day or during lunch.

years

Need some extra motivation to get in shape?

Join Riverside’s Start R.I.G.H.T. Challenge!8-weeks of free fitness, nutrition, and health education opportunities. Prizes for Challenge winners!Challenge begins September 15th! Register online at fitfreshfunriverside.com or at White Park in Downtown Riverside on September 15th from 9 am to 12 pm.

Calendar of Events

WellAware of a Healthier You

Get Moving: Fitness tips for home and work

Today, more than ever, organizations in the social sector face major change; the organizations that are able to manage this change effectively will be the successful ones. I believe these successful organizations not only invite change, they use the energy it creates to drive their results and outcomes. With these beliefs in mind, RCHF staff came together to review its present strategies and the pressing health needs of our community this past month in a day of strategic planning. The day allowed staff to evaluate and reflect upon the programs and services that our organization provides and address RCHF’s areas of strength and opportunity.

What we know is that our staff is passionate about what they do. They work hard and help others. What we learned from staff is that they have pride in their work and in RCHF. They want to be in a place where they can accomplish more together than they ever could accomplish on their own. Staff also wants to contribute in a significant way to the purpose of RCHF and to know that their efforts are making the difference that our community needs.

Perhaps, most importantly, we learned our staff grows through change. That’s good, because change is here to stay. With Health Care Reform, there will be opportunities for RCHF to strengthen our community clinic services, expand health education and prevention to address more immediate health needs, and create crucial partnerships to pull together other key services to round out what we are able to provide.

Through these changes, we want to make sure that RCHF is growing stronger rather than just larger. What we want to guard against is “doing for the sake of doing.” This is that tendency to “just get going” when we see a pressing need in our community. However, we have learned that we need to pause, in order to prepare for the next steps, and ask ourselves “are we on task with our mission? Are we duplicating services? Is this the most effective program we can provide?” We have also learned that we have grown very quickly with need for more staff, improved technology, and stronger communication.

Our strategic planning session was both productive and informative. I’m excited that staff walked away from our meeting with the beginning of a plan to guide our growth and development as an organization. Over the next year, look for us to continue to strengthen our partnership with clinic operator Borrego Health, as we work together to expand our clinic services to meet the needs of our communities. In addition, our Education and Outreach Staff will be collaborating more frequently to increase our programs’ reach, impact, and effectiveness. Also, we plan to increase our use of new media to grow awareness of our programs and services in the community.

As a leader of RCHF, it is my responsibility to guide the values and beliefs that keep RCHF mission and community focused. Our growth creates challenges that need to be met with strong values, flexibility and caring; I’m confident that our leadership and staff will meet the challenges that face RCHF with their trademark integrity and passion.

Yours in Service,

Dr. Dan Anderson

PS: Don’t forget to join us at our 15th Anniversary Celebration this month! The Celebration will be held on September 29th from 6 to 10 pm. Call 951.788.3471 to make your reservation today!

Pictured: Mike Matthews, Frank Becerra, April Hodges, Cristina Planchon.

Foundation Provides a New Wellness Program for Janet Goeske Center

Poor health is not a foregone consequence of aging. Older adults and seniors that maintain a healthy and active lifestyle are much more likely to prolong their independence and have a better quality of life than those who do not. With this in mind, our Director of Health Education Stephanie Smith has developed a new wellness program for seniors. The program Fit, Fresh, Fun +50: R.I.G.H.T. Steps Program is currently being piloted at the Janet Goeske Center.

The Fit, Fresh, Fun +50: R.I.G.H.T. Steps Program is an 8-week program that includes “mini-talks,” activities, resources, and “Tips & Tasks” sheets for participants to take home all centered on the topics of nutrition, health education, and physical fitness. The goal of the program is “to improve nutrition and encourage physical activity in older adults.”

“Simple, modest increases in daily activity and nutrition can improve overall health, prevent disease and disability, and reduce health care costs,” said Smith. For example, 87 percent of older Americans have one or more chronic diseases that can be improved by nutrition therapy, including cancer, chronic lung disease, congestive heart failure, dementia, diabetes mellitus, high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, osteoporosis, and obesity. And, regular physical activity benefits individuals with arthritis and those with depression and anxiety. It may reduce the risk of cognitive decline in older adults as well.

“This program will provide practical and easy to apply strategies for seniors to begin making healthy behavior changes,” Smith continued.

President’s Letter Staff SpotlightThe demand for the Foundation’s services and programs have increased over the past several years for many reasons, chiefly among them the struggling economy and the high rates of chronic conditions in our communities. To make sure we are serving our communities to the best of our abilities, we’ve transitioned three of our part-time employees to full-time over the past several months.

The Foundation is excited to add Jennie Terriquez as a full-time Dental Educator and Sealant Assistant. Jennie has worked with MOS for almost two years as a part-time employee. With over six years of dental experience, Jennie says she has seen firsthand how badly children and families need the dental services MOS provides, which motivates her to give her all for the MOS program. “I’m most excited about getting more involved with our schools and the community now that I’m a full-time employee,” Jennie said.

Carolina Bojorquez-Ramirez has transitioned to our full-time Diabetes Community Outreach Worker/Promotora. Carolina began working with the Foundation this past winter and has already made a significant impact in expanding the reach and scope of the Foundation’s Diabetes Initiative. Carolina has over 16 years of experience as a Community Outreach Worker.

Francisca Beltran or “Frances” the Foundation’s Promotores Coordinator has made the move to full-time as well. Frances began working for the Foundation in 2005 as a Community Outreach Worker/Promotora, and was promoted to her current position in the spring 2011. The increase in hours gives Frances more time to organize and promote the services our Outreach Team provides – last year, the exercise classes that Frances and her team of Promotores provided over 27,000 interventions in our community!

In May, the Foundation was awarded a $1.7 million Personal Responsibility and Education Program (CA PREP) grant by the California Department of Public Health, Center for Family Health Maternal, Child and Adolescent Health Division. Thanks to the grant we are able to greatly increase our Teen Health Services. We’re excited to welcome the following new employees, who will be helping to implement the CA PREP Grant:

Mike Matthews, Ph.D.– Program AnalystMike Matthews began working with the Foundation in 2005 as an independent consultant to help evaluate our teen pregnancy prevention interventions under the California Community Challenge Grant, which the Foundation had from 2005 to 2011. Mike owns and operates Nexus Consulting, and has consulted for many local nonprofits and organizations including Operation SafeHouse and San Bernardino County Department of Public Health. He received both his M.A. and Ph.D in Sociology from the University of California, Riverside. “I look forward to helping the Foundation demonstrate and communicate how effective its programs are, how the Foundation is making a positive impact on the health and well-being of the community,” Mike said.

Rachel Dowling – Project AssistantRachel Dowling comes to the Foundation from Reach Out where she worked as an Environmental Prevention Specialist and Volunteer Coordinator. Rachel brings a multitude of experience and skills to her position of Program Assistant. In the past, she’s coordinated a mentoring program, worked to bring organizations together to fight substance abuse through policy change, and holds both Cultural Competence (CARS) and Grant Writing (CARS) certifications. Rachel received a B.S. from California State University, San Bernardino in Science, Child, and Adolescent Health.

Frank Becerra – Health EducatorFrank Becerra comes to the Foundation from Reach Out where he has served as a Program Coordinator since 2010. At Reach Out, Frank developed a fatherhood strengthening and skills program for at-risk fathers. In addition, Frank is a part-time Lab Instructor for Health Science students at California State University, San Bernardino (CSUSB). Frank received his Master of Public Health (CSUSB) this past March. He says he’s most looking “forward to working with passionate people who are dedicated to helping the community and the principles of health promotion” at the Foundation. Frank added, “RCHF has a great reputation in the community, and I can’t wait to be part of it.”

April Hodges – Health EducatorMost recently, April Hodges worked as a Fatherhood Services Coordinator for Reach Out where her role was to facilitate parenting classes, provide home visits, and administer general case management to at-risk dads. Prior to Reach Out, April worked with teen parents as the California School Age Families Education (Cal-SAFE) Infant Center Lead Teacher at the Colton Joint Unified School District. April has both a Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Human Development, with an emphasis on Child Development, from California State University, San Bernardino. “For me, becoming a part of the Foundation means locking arms with others who believe it is possible to change the world through education and empathetic hearts,” April said.

Cristina Planchon – Health EducatorCristina Planchon has served as a contracted employee for the Foundation the past few months teaching Project S.H.A.R.P. We’re very excited for her to come on board full-time! Cristina has had a life-long passion for teaching. She received a B.S. in Child and Adolescent Studies from Cal State Fullerton, and then attended Azusa Pacific to receive her Master of Education and single subject teaching credential in Health and PE. She served as a Health and PE teacher for 7 years before she decided to return to school to earn her Master in Special Education and a single subject teaching credential in Special Education. “I believe teaching is the best job in the world,” Cristina said. “If I can make a positive difference in the life of one child, it would be worth it.”