Our office is pleased to announce the opening of California’s first Firehouse Clinic in South Hayward. The clinic celebrated the completion of construction on Friday, November 13 thanks to the hard work of the City of Hayward, Alameda County Health Care Services, and Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center.
  
The new clinic is located on Huntwood Road, near Tennyson Road, and will begin seeing patients in December. This innovative clinic will provide health services to adults, who are currently underserved in the area. The goal will be to have patients seen within 72 hours, in this family-friendly setting, in hopes of shifting folks to the clinic instead of visiting crowded emergency rooms.
  
The clinic is a collaboration between Hayward Fire Department, Tiburcio Vasquez Health Center, Acute Care Hospitals, and Alameda County Health Care Services Agency Emergency Medical Services. Local residents will receive accessible and affordable health care regardless of their coverage. The collaboration of the health clinic next door to the new Hayward Fire Station #7 will be a good fit for providers and residents.
  
I would like to thank all the parties involved, as this approach to health care will continue to better serve the community, and specifically District 2 residents. 
  
As always, for more information about ways to be involved with our office please visit our website at www.acgov.org/bos/district2. From all of us in the District 2 Office, we hope you have a very happy holidays!
  
Thank you,

This month’s spotlight we highlight the non-profit organization Alameda County Community Food Bank, and their passionate mission to pursue a hunger-free community.
  
The Alameda County Community Food Bank was started in 1985 with a vision that one day they can go out of business. They currently serve about 1 in 5 residents of Alameda County, and nearly half of them are children. Through a network of 240 strategically placed member agencies such as food pantries and soup kitchens, the Food Bank distributes enough food for 380,000 meals weekly.
  
The Alameda County Community Food Bank is a leader in the national food bank movement in promoting the distribution of healthy, fresh foods. They led the food bank movement for a ban on the distribution of carbonated beverages, and increased distribution of fresh fruits and vegetables by more than 1,000%.
  
For this year’s District 2 Holiday Open House, our office is hosting a big red barrel, and respectfully request that each attendee brings non-perishable food to donate to the Alameda County Community Food Bank. There is always an increased demand during the holiday season, and your contribution will help feed children, seniors, and families in need.
  
For more information about the Alameda County Community Food Bank visit www.accfb.org.

On December 18, 2015 Alvarado Middle School will be formally renamed to Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School. Come celebrate with the school administrators, parents and students, local elected, and fellow community members. Performances by the middle school band, choir, dance groups, and more are planned for the event.
  
The middle school is being renamed to honor Larry Itliong and Phillip Vera Cruz, who helped organize the farm labor movement with Cesar Chavez in the 1960s. Our office is proud to support the renaming to Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School, as it honors two individuals who worked towards the greater good of the community. Their legacy will continue with each student at the middle school as they represent positive values and hard work.
  

Come celebrate on Friday, December 18 at 1 p.m. at 31604 Alvarado Boulevard in Union City to celebrate the dedication of the Itliong-Vera Cruz Middle School.

Students at the middle school will have a minimum day, but are encouraged to attend the ceremony.

The Alameda County Arts Commission is presenting a series of free art workshops for Veterans, their families and friends. The goal of the art workshops is to strengthen bonds and encourage communication through the engaging, joyful, and transformative power of the art making process. The family art workshops will have fun art activities that are easy for all ages and great for the whole family. Participants will make a family book that includes an instant group photo, colorful hand-made shapes, and positive messages.
  
The following are encouraged to participate: Veterans and their families, family members of active service members, and friends and supporters of Veterans.
  
This innovative program is strongly supported by a number of key Alameda County partners including Alameda County New Beginnings, 100 Families Alameda County, Alameda County Veterans Affairs Commission, Alameda County Veterans Service Office, Oakland Vet Center, Alameda County Library and all the workshop sites. This program is also part of a new, statewide initiative for Veterans and active military funded by the California Arts Council and the National Endowment for the Arts.
  
Upcoming Veterans Family Art Workshop Dates:

• Saturday, December 5, from 10:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at Hayward Area Historical Society’s Center for History & Culture at 22380 Foothill Boulevard in Hayward
• Saturday, December 12, from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. in conjunction with “Help Veterans Heal: Art is the Prescription” Art Exhibit at Oakstop at 1721 Broadway, Suite #201 in Oakland

  
RSVP is encouraged as space is limited. To RSVP or for more information about the workshops contact Violet Juno, Program Coordinator, at (510) 891-5716 or violet.juno@acgov.org. 
  
This project is inspired by the belief that the arts and engagement with the arts contributes to a thriving Alameda County

Functional Assessment Service Team (FAST) was created in response to Hurricane Katrina, as a preparation course for potential disasters in California. FAST consists of trained government and non-government personnel prepared to respond to disaster areas to work in emergency shelters. FAST members work with emergency response personnel to conduct assessments of people with access and functional needs in emergency shelters, and facilitate the process of getting resources needed by the people. These resources may include durable medical equipment, consumable medical supplies, prescribed medications, or a person to assist with activities of daily living.
  
FAST members must possess the knowledge, skills and abilities to work in their area of specialty, as well as a minimum of two years of experience working with and assessing the needs of people with disabilities or access and functional needs.
  
A fully-staffed FAST has members with experience in the following areas: aging (services/supports, including dietary needs), chronic health needs, developmental and cognitive disabilities (i.e. traumatic brain injury), hearing loss, vision loss, mental health disabilities, physical disabilities, and substance abuse issues.
  
To be considered for this 2-day (16 hours) course, applicants should complete the application and fax it to (510) 273-3865 or email to sandi.soliday@acgov.org. The most qualified applicants will be selected and notified, as well as, suggested steps to prepare for the class. Applications must be received no later than December 1, 2015 to be considered for a space in the course.
  
Training will be at the Alameda County Office of Emergency Services at 4985 Broader Boulevard in Dublin. The two-day course will be on Thursday, December 10 and Friday, December 11 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
  
Course topics include:

• FAST Shelter Operations
• Resource Request Process
• Emergency Management
• Roles and Responsibilities
• Preparation and Response
• Recovery: Transition and Demobilization
• Practical Application- Table Top Exercise

Admittance to this course will be limited to those individuals who are ready to commit to becoming a FAST member. To become a FAST member, applicants must complete the two day training course, and successfully pass a pre- and post-test.
  
For additional information about FAST visit http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/dis/PG1909.htm. 

Poisoning, accidental death, sharp sticks, and negative impacts on water quality are just some of the consequences of improper storage and disposal of medications and sharps (including hypodermic needles, syringes, auto injectors and lancets). As leaders in protecting public health, Alameda County Supervisor Nate Miley’s Office and the Medication Education and Disposal Safety (MEDS) Coalition have joined with law enforcement, public health and environmental advocates to help increase convenient medicine and sharps disposal in Alameda County.
  
You can help by completing a brief 2-3 minute survey to share advice you have received from prescribers on storage and disposal, your current storage and disposal practices, and what locations would be most convenient for you to properly dispose of unwanted and expired medicines and sharps.
  
The survey will not ask for your name and responses will be compiled with other Alameda County residents. The results will be used to help improve education and convenient collection and disposal options. Click here for the survey. 
  
Thank you in advance for your help protecting Alameda County's public and environmental health.

The Alameda County Temporary Assignment Pool (TAP) Unit and the Alameda County Registrar of Voters are recruiting temporary workers for the upcoming 2016 elections.
  
Qualifications:

• The equivalent of one year of full-time clerical experience.
• All positions must be available to work full-time, overtime and be available to work on weekdays, weeknights, weekends and holidays as needed.

Desired:

• Candidates possessing the ability to read, write and speak fluently in English and any of the following languages: Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, Vietnamese, Khmer, Hindi, Japanese, Korean
• Must possess a valid Driver’s License and a reliable vehicle to use at any time to transport supplies and/or equipment and travel to various county locations as required.
• Teaching, conducting training programs, or giving instructions in a group setting is highly desirable.

Salary:

• Registrar of Voters Temporary Assignments- Pay Rate: $19.68/hour
• Registrar of Voters Instructor - Pay Rate $22.03/hour

 Apply here: http://www.acgov.org/hrs