By Daniel Weintraub Californians eat more fruits and vegetables than other Americans, refrain from smoking, keep their blood pressure under control and do a decent amount of physical activity. But our health, overall, is still worse than the residents of 21 other states, according to a recent report. Why? A big reason might be a category in which California ranks at the very bottom of
Month: December 2015
In the heart of Richmond, Calif. lies the Iron Triangle, named after the three railroad tracks that define and enclose the area. Today children can be seen playing at a renovated community park in the neighborhood, but this hasn’t always been the case. In this working-class neighborhood historically plagued by drive-by shootings, substance abuse and prostitution, parents haven’t always felt safe letting their children play outside.
The day begins on Crocker Street in downtown Los Angeles in a shady, fenced-in courtyard behind the Volunteers of America building. A team of health and social service workers gather with cardboard coffee cups in hand, chatting and planning for the work ahead. They form a circle, and a group leader steps forward: What are we offering today? Team members call out the services available: help for mental health problems and substance abuse, and referrals for doctor visits.
Although California’s low-income health plan paid for prenatal care, until recently it sometimes didn’t cover other medical conditions that women faced during pregnancy. The exclusions included conditions, ranging from broken bones to cancer, that could influence the health of the baby.
Under the new Safe Housing for Domestic Violence Survivors law—which also applies to victims of stalking, human trafficking, sexual assault and elder abuse— tenants in an unsafe living environment may break their residential lease with a statement from a counselor or caseworker.
You’re sick, constantly in and out of the hospital, faced with an unending series of tests, tubes and monitors. You may soon qualify for hospice, but not yet. Instead, you remain stuck in that frustrating netherworld between acute medical interventions and end-of-life care.
Women of color in California say they have a more difficult time finding a personal doctor and affording visits than white women, according to a new report.
Although it happened eight years ago, Carolyn Russell clearly remembers the tragic murder of a female parishioner at Acts Full Gospel Church in Oakland. The 40-year-old woman was in the midst of a bitter divorce, when her estranged husband approached her in the church parking lot and shot and killed her. Sadly, the woman had obtained a restraining order against her former husband only three days before the shooting.
By Daniel Weintraub Republicans in Congress will soon make good on their long-held promise to pass legislation repealing much if not all of the Affordable Care Act, the federal health reform widely known as Obamacare. President Obama, of course, will promptly veto the bill, but Republicans see their action as a message to voters demonstrating what they will do if a Republican wins the White
Latinos in California who worry about where their next meal will come from are more likely to report serious psychological distress, according to a new study.