“Instant Recess” at CRP WIC makes national media

CRP Staff Get Some Exercise at the Office

The physical fitness of Americans has gained attention over recent years and as a result multiple national campaigns to reduce obesity and increase pre-emptive healthcare have been on the table.  Community Resource Project’s Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program has taken the fight against obesity and its related illnesses to the workplace by incorporating worksite wellness programs, such as Instant Recess, into routine break times. These initiatives began in 2009 when state and national agencies, such as California’s WIC program, the California Department of Public Health’s USDA-funded Network for a Healthy California and others recieved training and support materials to build worksite wellness programs. 

     The Instant Recess concept includes periodic 10 minute exercises throughout the day and is designed to increase workplace efficiency by giving employees a healthful energy boost during routine break times. CRP WIC has been recognized several times as a Healthy Worksite. Their efforts most recently have been championed in the book, “Instant Recess”, by Toni Yancy, MD,MPH. Included in her book is a quote from CRP’s Health Director, Maureen Clark, who shares the positive impacts this program has made on CRP:

As a result of incorporating daily physical activity breaks and “lift-off” training, the corporate culture and work environment has dramatically changed at Community Resource Project, Inc.  Comments such as, “That was fun” and “Let’s do that again” are regularly heard in our office.  We see more smiles and laughs during the day, and that has definitely improved staff morale and productivity while decreasing stress.  We are grateful for…the “Lift-off” training, as it’s helped reenergize us and recommit our efforts toward employee health and wellness (pg. 237).

     For more information on Community Resource Project’s WIC program please visit us at www.cresource.org.

 

CRP board member takes message of environmental awareness back to his home town

CRP Board Member Eugene Reyes

The City of Moreno Valley and Waste Management of the Inland Empire announced winners of the Recycling All Stars Program at the November 30th City Council meeting. Among the winners was the Reyes Family. Eugene Reyes, one of CRP’s longstanding board members was recognized for his outstanding commitment to recycling, diverting waste from landfills, and conserving natural resources.

     Waste Management started the Recycling All Stars Program approximately ten years ago to serve as a recycling recognition program for residential and business customers throughout the Inland Empire. Every year Waste Management’s drivers and staff select the winners and present them with a recognition award and a gift basket with recycling promotional items.

     Throughout the year, Waste Management staff attend various communityevents and conduct outreach to help educate residents on the City’s recycling efforts. The program and outreach conducted in the city has been very successful. In 2009, 7,850 tons of residential recyclable materials were collected, and 21,522 tons of residential yard waste were collected and recycled.

     “The City of Moreno Valley strongly supports the responsible and environmentally friendly actions demonstrated by the recipients of the Recycling All Stars Program. We are proud to have these individuals as part of our community and look upon them as a model of how all residents and businesses can make a difference with their individual efforts,” said Robert Lemon, Maintenance & Operations Division Manager for the City’s Public Works Department.

     Waste Management offers a variety of recycling programs. For more information regarding recycling please call 800-423-9986.

 

Community Resource Project’s WIC Program has expanded!

Monthly caseload has jumped from 19,500 to 24,500 clients per month! To accomodate additional participants, two new WIC offices will open in January of 2011.  Stay tuned for updates on hours and exact locations. Visit us and learn more about our fabulous WIC program!

 

California LifeLine Telephone Program

California Lifeline Telephone Program, operated by the California Public Utilities Commission, provides qualified participants discounted home phone services. Determining qualification for this program is made simple with two broad qualification categories: Program-Based Method and Income-Based Method.

Individuals automatically qualify if they or another member of their household is already enrolled in programs such as: Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), Medicaid/Medi-Cal, Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Women, Infants and Children Program (WIC), as well as others. If an individual is not enrolled in an automatically qualifying program, but meets specific income guidelines, they too can also qualify. Several of CRP’s clients have had assistance enrolling in the program.

Since many of CRP’s clients may qualify for the program, our staff has been able to offer education about the LifeLine Telephone Program and assistance in enrollment to those clients who are interested. Thanks to a grant from Richard Heath and Associates, CRP has been able to provide education to 2,435 clients since March 2010.

If you or someone you know would like enrollment information and specific qualification requirements click here.

 

CRP Expands to San Mateo County

In the last several months, CRP expanded its service area to San Mateo County after being awarded the Recovery Act contract for weatherization and utility assistance. CRP staff lent a hand to kick-start struggling weatherization efforts in San Mateo County.  To date, with the help of subcontractors, we have weatherized 123 units in the County and expended $520,556 in Recovery Act funding.  The new year will bring further expansion with the opening of our offices in San Carlos.  This office will offer HEAP utility bill assistance and home weatherization services to local qualifying residents starting in January of 2011.

 

Pilot Project Funds Installation of Solar for Low-Income Homeowners at No cost

Community Resource Project, Inc. (CRP) is one of the first organizations to participate in the Solar for All California Pilot Project. Funded by a grant from the California Department of Community Services & Development, this pilot project allows for installation of solar systems into the homes of California’s low-income residents. CRP will have the opportunity to install solar systems into 200 single family homes throughout Sacramento County. These systems, including warranty, will be installed at no cost to the qualifying homeowners and be coupled with standard weatherization services provided by CRP through its DOE and LIHEAP contracts. Installation of these systems would drastically reduce, if not altogether eliminate, electricity costs for the participating families.

The Solar for All California Pilot Project has three main goals:

1. To provide qualifying low-income homeowners access to solar technology at no cost, thus  decreasing electricity usage and utility bills without increasing monthly household expenses.

2. Stimulate the creation of local green collar jobs by participating as a training site for students in solar installer programs and by hiring local subcontractors to help us do the installation work.

3. Become a national demonstration site for the effectiveness of installing solar systems in existing homes within the low-income community.

More than anything, the Solar for All California Pilot Project aims to make available the substantial benefits of solar energy to those in the community who would otherwise find this technology out of their reach.

More than anything, the Solar for All California Pilot Project aims to make available the substantial benefits of solar energy to those in the community who would otherwise find this technology out of their reach.

Benefits of the Solar for All California Pilot Project:

• NO cost to participants
• Increase in value of home
• Elimination or drastic decrease in energy bills
• Weatherization services

How to Apply:

In order to be eligible for the Solar for All California Pilot Project, you must be income qualified and reside in a single family home, which you own, in Sacramento County. For more information about this program and to determine your qualification, please call (916) 567-5220 ext. 2224. Our office phone lines are open for clients Monday through Friday from the hours of 8:00 am to 12:00 pm and 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. A weatherization specialist will work with you to determine if you are eligible for the pilot project and assist in the application process.

 

Breastfeeding Celebration 2010

Every August Community Resource Project’s Health Division holds a Breastfeeding Celebration entitled, Best Beginnings Through Breastfeeding. This event coupled with other activities,is to acknowledge and congratulate our breastfeeding mothers and to provide education and support for their continued breastfeeding success. This year, the event was held at two of our WIC clinics and corresponded with World Breastfeeding Month, held annually in August.

Activities included information booths, raffles, gift bags, education materials, breastfeeding support groups and healthy refreshments and recipe ideas. Our efforts worked toward the U.S. Healthy People 2011 goal to improve the health and well-being of children through increased breastfeeding rates.  Studies have shown that breastfeeding is a strong indicator for performing well in school and for reducing childhood obesity.  Higher breastfeeding rates ultimately benefit local communities.  Mothers who return to work and school while breastfeeding require less time off and maintain higher productivity and morale.

Many thanks to all of the agencies and organizations that provided donations and support:

2-1-1 SacramentoAnthem Blue Cross  Asian Resources California Life Line Child Abuse Prevention Council of Sacramento Child Action, Inc. CHP Car Seat Safety Program Cover the Kids The Effort

First FiveDairy Council of California  Health Net of California, Inc. Healthy Marriage Project Maximus Healthcare Options Molina Healthcare My Sister’s House Sacramento Natural Foods Co-op Sacramento Dept. of Human Assistance

 

Farmers’ Market Equal Access for All

As the summer begins we start to think of the ease of which we can now find fresh peaches, asparagus and melons right outside our backdoors.  As Californians one of the
luxuries our fine weather provides us is the abundance of weekly farmers markets. These markets appear everywhere from city corners and parks to suburban downtown squares.
Farmers’ Markets and produce stands are gaining popularity because of their variety, freshness and the nutritional value of the products they sell.
Due to the rising cost of fresh fruits and vegetables, these markets might not be as accessible to lowerincome consumers. The Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program (FMNP), established in 1992, aims to assist lower wage earners in a partnership with the Women, Infants and Children program (WIC). Congress established this program to provide fresh, unprepared, locally grown fruits and vegetables to WIC participants, and to expand the awareness, use of and sales at farmers’ markets. Currently, 48 State agencies operate the FMNP. Anyone registered for the WIC program may obtain coupons for this program, enabling all income levels an opportunity to provide fresh, nutritious, local fruits, vegetables and herbs to their families. State agencies can limit sales to specific foods grown within state borders to encourage FMNP recipients to support the farmers in their own states.

Serving Sacramento County, with a total of 12 farmers’ markets, Community Resource Project WIC Program actively participates in the FMNP. Having received 2000 market
booklets, each containing $20.00 worth of coupons to purchase approved foods from WIC certified farmers’ markets to distribute to clients, CRP WIC strongly encourages
clients to utilize the local, fresh fruits and vegetables available to them. In combination with the market booklet CRP WIC also encourages their participants to increase fresh
produce consumption by including seasonal nutrition education with each market booklet. The seasonal nutrition education currently being provided during these summer
months, focus on benefits of fresh fruits and vegetables and quantities needed for good health in children and adults.
CRP WIC keeps its participants in the know about local farmers, community co-ops and where they can find the most nutritious foods for their families. Farmers’ markets are not
just about nutrition, they are also about independent local economies. Support for local markets will not only feed the souls of residents, they also feed our need for community
action and awareness. To see a listing of local farmers’ markets in your county, click here. For more information on the Farmers’ Market Nutrition Program please visit the website:

http://www.cdph.ca.gov/programs/wicworks/Pages/WICFarmersMarketNutritionProgram.aspx

 

Home Star Energy Retrofit Legislation Could Turn California Green

Efforts to create jobs for the unemployed are ongoing. One idea up for legislative
discussion this summer will not only create new manufacturing and construction jobs, it
will also provide middle income home owners the chance to retrofit their homes without
breaking the bank. The legislative bill is called Home Star and is currently being
discussed in the U.S. Senate’s Energy and Natural Resources Committee.
It is already estimated that jobs have been created through last year’s stimulus funding for
the Weatherization Assistance Program, which was aimed towards the nation’s low income
communities. Home Star is geared more toward the middle class and is estimated
to create 168,000 direct new jobs in construction and other weatherization fields. This
will certainly boost struggling industries in California. It will also help residents who do
not qualify for traditional low-income programs to save hundreds of dollars to retrofit
their homes. Some of the measures that would qualify under this program are: insulation,
windows, doors, HVAC systems, cool roofs and duct sealing or even a whole house
retrofit.
This legislation outlines four incentive programs:
The Silver Star rebates will occur during the first year of the program.
Consumers could receive between $250 and $1500 in “point of sale” rebates for
individual retrofitting measures. Rebates will be targeted towards the most energy
efficient measures and with products that are made within the United States.
The Gold Star rebates will run for the first two years of the program and would
target consumers that desire a whole-home retrofit. Consumers are eligible for up
to $3000 in rebates to retrofit a home based on a comprehensive energy audit.
Rebates are awarded based on audits for retrofits that yield a 20% energy savings
in the home.
The Performance Tax Credit is available after the first year of the program, to
consumers doing whole home retrofits with homes meeting specific Home Energy
Ratings (HERS). Within this incentive program consumers may receive rebates
up to $8000 or 50% of the total cost of the retrofit.
If enacted by Congress, the Home Star program would run until the end of 2013.

 

Vaccine and Immunization Clinic Now Open

Partnerships have long been a cornerstone of our work at Community Resource Project,
Inc. (CRP). We are excited to announce that we are working with Health Net, one of our
oldest partners, to expand services provided to clients at our office in North Highlands.
Thanks to our partnership with Health Net, participants will now
have the opportunity to take advantage of a Pediatrics Clinic. This
service will be available to children participating in the Women,
Infants & Children (WIC) program or children of clients receiving
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) services, both offered at
the North Highlands office.
Dr. Biyo, of Nativity Pediatrics, is offering immunization and
vaccination services to children twice a week. The H1N1 flu vaccines
are available as are the regularly scheduled series of immunizations such as Tetanus,
Pertussis, Hepatitis and Pneumonia. Also available are “well baby visits” and with the
pending permission of California Department of Public Health, “sick visits” will also be
offered. All immunizations are free and referrals to MediCal are available for those
without insurance.. Health Net maintains partnerships with other WIC locations
throughout California, however there are very few other sponsored clinics such as this
one. Dr. Biyo hopes this clinic may remain open as long as there is a need for pediatric
services in the local community. Nativity Pediatrics, Dr. Biyo’s home office, is often too
far for many Sacramento residents to travel to. This, says Dr. Biyo, is what spurred her
desire to participate in a partnership with CRP and Health Net.
On a typical visit, Dr. B, as her clients like to call her, will establish a rapport with
parents and babies, take their past medical histories and perform routine physical exams
before giving guidance on growth and development, as well as that first set of vaccines if
needed. Dr. Biyo’s focus for care is on the specific needs of each of her patients. She
says, “We want efficiency….we want to cater to our patient’s needs”. Dr. Biyo is
assisted by Patti Merritt, a medical assistant.
Parents can schedule well or sick visits with Dr. Biyo by calling (916) 984-9588. Clinic
hours are currently Tuesdays and Thursdays between 8:30 am and 12:00 pm.
Appointments are highly encouraged, but walk-ins will also be accepted.