Public schools and childcare centers within public schools must already test their drinking water for lead under a state law that took effect this year. The new bill would extend this requirement to privately run childcare centers, mandating they take action to replace any water pipes and fixtures found to be leaching lead.
The expansion of the federal low-income health program to cover more people hasn’t benefited Latinos as much as other racial and ethnic groups, according to a recent report by UCLA researchers.
A joint committee of lawmakers unanimously ordered an audit Wednesday on children’s access to primary-care doctors in the Medi-Cal program, the state’s low-income heath program that is overseen by the California Department of Health Care Services.
“We are particularly concerned about children of color facing health disparities that could be perpetuated and/or exacerbated by poor monitoring and oversight,” Assemblyman Jim Wood and Sen. Anthony Cannella wrote in a letter to the audit committee.
As a youth advocate, it’s my personal responsibility to help fix forms of injustice where I see them. I will be using my voice, along with other youth to stop gun violence, whether by participating in national walkouts to get Congress aware of our concerns or by badgering our representatives for comprehensive reform. If our representatives disregard us because of our age and supposed lack of knowledge, then we’ll know who to vote out when we turn 18.
Preterm birth is a public health issue, contributing to infant death rates and also long-term physical and mental health problems in children born prematurely.
My school has its own on campus police that continues to criminalize young black and brown students. We are being over-policed, and our schools are slowing becoming prisons. We cannot arm our teachers as if they are maximum-security prison guards.
Gun violence has taken too many lives and there needs to be a change.
In addition to finding housing, homeless families must also find accommodations that keep the family intact, which in many parts of the state leaves them with few—if any—options.
The Anaheim event resulted in mixed feelings for the volunteer dentists, who came from all over the state to participate. Many were elated to be able to provide care that alleviated pain and enhanced the quality of life for people who often have a tough time getting breaks.
But they were also troubled that obtaining oral care—which many experts believe has a direct correlation to a person’s overall health—is so nettlesome for low-income Californians.
Advocates for pesticide reform are demanding that the state beef up efforts to reduce California’s dependence on toxic chemicals in agriculture after newly released data showed pesticide use at near-record highs.
The report released this week by the California Department of Pesticide Regulation shows state farmers used 192 million pounds of pesticide chemicals for crop production in 2016.
Gun violence in this country is an epidemic, and it needs to be treated like every other epidemic—as a public health crisis. The first step to finding a “cure” for any public health crisis is research.