Linda Childers

LGBTQ Teens Face Increased Stress and Anxiety Under Trump

Since the presidential election in November, LGBTQ teens in a Concord-based group have voiced their anger and concerns about the Trump administration, and their fears that the president reverse progress on LGBTQ rights. The rise in stress among LGBTQ teens isn’t limited to the Bay Area. The Trevor Project, a nationwide crisis intervention and suicide prevention organization for LGBTQ youths, reports that call volume to its hotline doubled the day after the presidential election and has continued to increase.

Sextortion, a Newer Social Media Threat, is Difficult to Track

By Linda Childers

Sextortion has a definition — it’s a form of online blackmail in which explicit images are used to extort either money, additional photos or sexual favors from victims — but there is no specific law to prosecute the crime.

Those Who Fought for LGBT Rights Often Can’t Find Fair Housing

By Linda Childers

Though they rocked cultural norms by being open about their sexuality in their youth, these lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) elders, often find that moving into an assisted living or skilled nursing facility means going back into the closet.

Slashing Payments to Planned Parenthood Will Limit Access to Care in Central Valley

By Linda Childers

Planned Parenthood is a major provider of reproductive health care to primarily low-income men and women and those who live in underserved communities, says Kathy Kneer, CEO and president of Planned Parenthood Affiliates of California. For some, it’s their only source of health care.

Asthma Studies Raise Thorny Questions about Race and Genetics

By Linda Childers

Walking through the halls of West Oakland Middle School in Oakland, it’s not uncommon to hear the sounds of students wheezing and coughing mixed with preteen chatter. According to school data, approximately 39 of the 220 students enrolled at this school have confirmed cases of asthma, and many more have breathing issues, including an increased incidence of respiratory infections.

Driven By High Asthma Rates, Central Valley Tries to Improve Indoor Air Quality

By Linda Childers

Launched in 2013, the Asthma Impact Model, focuses on helping low-income families in the Central Valley better manage their children’s asthma, thus avoiding ER visits. The program was designed by the Central California Asthma Collaborative and Clinica Sierra Vista, a Fresno health clinic.

New Report Finds Children at a Higher Risk of Lead Exposure in Several California Cities

By Linda Childers

In several neighborhoods across California, many children face an invisible health threat: lead poisoning. Found in paint dust from homes and apartments built before 1978, long-term exposure to lead has been shown by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to cause health problems ranging from anemia to learning disabilities.

A New Path to Help for Victims of Domestic Violence

By Linda Childers

Telephone hotlines staffed by advocates have long been a lifeline for victims of domestic violence. While how we communicate has changed in the digital era, high rates of domestic violence remain a widespread problem, especially among younger women.

PrEP Awareness Programs Aim to Reduce Disparities in New HIV Infections

By Linda Childers

Although one of the most powerful biomedical drugs in the fight against HIV/AIDS has been available for the past four years, California health officials say the disease continues to disproportionately affect populations including Black and Latino gay and bisexual men, black women and transgender women.

Outreach to At-Risk Communities Crucial to Diabetes Prevention

By Linda Childers

At the senior center in Kerman, Calif., Rosendo Iniguez demonstrates how to cook a more healthful version of empanadas. Although such traditional Latino dishes are typically high in calories, fat and carbs, Iniguez is showing how diabetics can create healthier versions by making simple substitutions.

Author: Linda Childers

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