Kern County’s Post

At Direct Interactions, we know firsthand the positive impact accessible support can have on individuals and communities. The HELP Act is a game-changer, ensuring more people get the assistance and support they need, when they need it. Let’s continue to champion accessible, compassionate care for everyone! 💪💙 For more information on the HELP Act, check out this link: https://lnkd.in/gVZ-7ieY

As an HR executive, living and working with compassion means prioritizing the well-being of our employees, who in turn dedicate themselves to the care of our residents. Unlike my colleagues and co-workers, whose primary focus is directly on our residents—from custodians and maintenance staff to CNAs, LPNs, RNs—my focus is on the people who make our mission possible: our employees. Compassion in my role involves ensuring that our team members have the support they need to thrive, both professionally and personally. This means crafting and implementing policies and procedures that not only foster a positive work environment but also empower our staff to deliver the best possible care to our residents. By working compassionately, we create a workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and equipped to provide compassionate care. It’s about recognizing the vital role each team member plays and ensuring they have the resources and environment needed to succeed. When we care for our employees with the same dedication they show our residents, we build a stronger, more resilient organization. It’s a cycle of care that starts with us and radiates out to every individual we serve.

Imagine: You have chest pain. You suspect it’s a heart attack, but the closest hospital is an hour away. This is reality for millions of rural Americans. It’s just one of the reasons people who live in rural areas get sicker and die sooner than people in urban areas. The American Heart Association is committed to closing the gap between urban and rural care, working with people in rural communities to increase access to care, improve quality of care and reduce risk factors. Learn more the challenges rural Americans face and what you can do to help at http://spr.ly/6040jHZf0.

Imagine: You have chest pain. You suspect it’s a heart attack, but the closest hospital is an hour away. This is reality for millions of rural Americans. It’s just one of the reasons people who live in rural areas get sicker and die sooner than people in urban areas. The American Heart Association is committed to closing the gap between urban and rural care, working with people in rural communities to increase access to care, improve quality of care and reduce risk factors. Learn more the challenges rural Americans face and what you can do to help at http://spr.ly/6185j24HR.

This week is ‘Dying Matters’ week, and to celebrate these conversations, we are sharing our article on how we can: identify adults approaching end of life, use disease-specific indicators to help, and develop and expand our communication skills. Read our Pearl here- https://hubs.li/Q02wFn900

Join the conversation! Spread the word!

I encourage anyone interested in the future of pets and people to join Ellen Jefferson, DVM, Vincent Medley, and myself for this meaningful conversation. We will discuss the importance of expanding how we measure (and promote) success and impact beyond (but including) the save rate to include our broader impact on communities and people. Much like my last sentence, the issues we seek to address are complex (yet nuanced), and success will never be accurately measured by a single metric. So how should we measure success? I'm not completely sure yet, but I'd love you to join us as we talk about it!

If you missed the recent webinar on the child welfare system that I moderated, here's the video:

Local governments in California are making an effort to improve engagement with community, but there are still many challenges to this. That's why at the foundation, we support work that aligns systems with community priorities.  In this month's newsletter, we highlight some of the innovative work happening to center community voices. Here's what you'll find inside this month's Intersections:  ➡️Our grantee partners San Joaquin Valley Health Fund, The Center at Sierra Health Foundation, and Public Health Institute are creating accessible spaces for people with lived expertise to have a seat at the table.  ➡️A multi-sector collaboration, Safety & Healing in Networks of Equity (SHINE), is creating safer, more supportive communities that can drive systemic change in domestic violence prevention and response.  ➡️Our partners Onside Partners and ThinkForward Strategies conducted research on how public health agencies are actively using an equiy-centered approach. Learn more: https://lnkd.in/gnTcy7Pv

If I had my own holiday, what would it be called? What would we celebrate? These questions, which we include each of our Care Kits, are designed to help you reflect and connect on deeper levels. Perfect for solo contemplation or sharing with your chosen family. With your chosen family it can be fun to all answer the same question and learn the ways you are alike and different. Share this question on a car ride or during a meal and you might just learn something new about the people you spend most time with! Learn more about our care kits here: https://lnkd.in/ga6eQV5U