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Dear Third District Resident,
The Riverside County Third District Supervisor’s Office is working remotely to answer questions about property taxes, COVID-19 restrictions and testing, social-service benefits and other County-related matters. Staff members are available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please call 951-955-1030 or send an email to d3email@rivco.org, and someone will be in touch with you promptly. You may also visit our Facebook and Instagram pages (@supervisorchuckwashington), Twitter page (@SupWashington), and website (www.SupervisorChuckWashington.com).
Sincere regards,
Chuck Washington
California COVID-19 Update
Riverside County is currently in the State’s Purple Tier. To see what is open in Riverside County and to read industry guidelines, visit covid19.ca.gov/safer-economy.
As of Tuesday, March 2, 2021, our adjusted case rate per 100,000 residents is 11.3, and our positivity rate is 5.8 percent. To move to the State’s red tier, we need to have a case rate of fewer than seven per 100,000 and a positivity rate of less than eight percent.
Beginning March 15, healthcare providers may use their clinical judgment to vaccinate individuals ages 16 – 64 who are deemed to be at the highest risk to get very sick from COVID-19 because they have severe health conditions or developmental or severe high-risk disabilities. To see a full list of eligible health conditions, use the following link: https://bit.ly/3bW7X4j.
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Riverside County COVID-19 Update
As of Wednesday, March 3, 2021, there have been 290,498 cases of COVID-19 in Riverside County. There have been 3,849 deaths and 277,141 recoveries. For more detailed data on the County’s COVID-19 cases, visit www.rivcoph.org/coronavirus. For state updates, visit www.cdph.ca.gov, and for national updates, visit www.cdc.gov.
If you would like to make an appointment to receive a COVID-19 test, visit https://gettested.ruhealth.org/home.
Moderate- and high-contact sports, including soccer, football, baseball, cheer and water polo, may now resume in Riverside County.
Athletic programs must obtain informed consent by the parents or caregivers on the risks of transmission by participating in the sport. In addition, weekly COVID-19 testing for all players and coaches is required for specific groups. Tests and results must be available within 24 hours of competitions.
Competitions between different teams will be allowed if both teams are within Riverside County, or a neighboring county that also has an adjusted case rate of 14 or less where that sport is also permitted. Teams are only allowed to play one game per day.
Youth sports may include observers who are immediate household members during practice and competition. Physical distancing and face coverings must be maintained. Spectators are not permitted for adult sports at this time.
For more detailed information on the new sports guidance, which sports may resume and the testing requirements, visit: https://bit.ly/3oH7qHT.
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COVID-19 Vaccine Information
The County of Riverside is vaccinating the following groups: healthcare workers, long-term care residents, individuals ages 65 and over, and workers in education, childcare, food and agriculture and emergency services. To make an appointment, visit www.ruhealth.org/covid-19-vaccine. Residents 65 and older who need assistance making an appointment can call 951-867-3895. Press one for English or two for Spanish, then press one for vaccine assistance.
If you received your first vaccine dose at a county vaccine clinic, then a local health official will reach out to schedule your second dose. You will be sent an individualized appointment link - no one else can use that link to schedule an appointment.
You can visit www.rivcoph.org/COVID-19-2nd-Dose-Information to see which clinic locations and dates have received invitations for second doses. If your clinic and the date of your first dose is listed, but you have not received an invitation, email rivco.vaccines@ruhealth.org with your name, date of birth, email and phone number, and a county representative will contact you.
Two pop-up COVID-19 vaccination clinics are coming to Hemet. The first pop-up vaccination clinic will be located at The Simpson Center (305 E. Devonshire Avenue, Hemet).
Appointments are available from Thursday, March 4 to Saturday, March 6 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Use the links below to register:
Thursday, March 4: http://bit.ly/3q9v0xH
Friday, March 5: http://bit.ly/3e3noKH
Saturday, March 6: http://bit.ly/2PjNjmW
The second pop-up vaccination clinic will be located at Sierra Dawn Estates (1050 San Marcos Drive, Hemet). Appointments are available Monday, March 8 and Tuesday, March 9 from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Use the links below to register:
Monday, March 8: http://bit.ly/2OkMPwi
Tuesday, March 9: http://bit.ly/2Ol2NH2
Seniors who need assistance registering for an appointment at either pop-up clinic in Hemet can call the Riverside County Office on Aging helpline at 951-867-3895.
Finally, there is a new Third District vaccination clinic in Temecula. Located at 39716 Winchester Road, this site is run by OptumServe. To make an appointment at the Temecula site, call 877-218-0381 or visit the following link: http://bit.ly/3kImRPC.
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The picture above shows that 14 percent of Riverside County residents are partially vaccinated, and 5.6 percent are fully vaccinated. To see a larger image, click on the picture.
Survey Launched for Residents of Unincorporated Areas
- The County of Riverside has launched a survey to hear from residents living in unincorporated areas about the services and programs that are most in need. The unincorporated communities initiative recognizes that building strong community wellbeing requires critical services and infrastructure.
- The survey will be online until March 31 and is also available in Spanish. The results will focus on underserved areas to prioritize projects and services for future budget cycles, starting with the next fiscal year budget that begins on July 1.
- An unincorporated area is a geographic community that is not within the jurisdictional boundaries of a city, and as a result, is governed at the county level.
- The types of services and needs that will be prioritized will be those that improve quality of life for residents and could range from improved utilities and roads to social services and public protection.
- For more information and to take the online survey, visit http://bit.ly/3sgifTm.
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Riverside County Housing Element Update
- The County of Riverside is preparing its 6th Cycle Housing Element, covering the years from 2021 to 2029.
- The primary goal of the Housing Element is to preserve, improve and guide the development of housing for all economic segments of unincorporated Riverside County.
- Your input will help guide housing policies and programs in unincorporated Riverside County.
- Respond to survey using the following link: http://bit.ly/3uIM6pH.
- Questions can be directed to Robert Flores by calling 951-955-1195 or emailing RFlores@rivco.org.
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Riverside Superior Court Accepting Applications for Civil Grand Jury
- The Riverside Superior Court is accepting applications from qualified citizens interested in serving as civil grand jurors between July 1, 2021 and June 30, 2022.
- Duties include, but are not limited to, investigating the operations of county government, researching matters of civic concern, and inquiring into public offenses. A daily stipend plus mileage and parking fees are paid to defray expenses.
- Those interested in serving as a grand juror must have the following qualifications:
- Citizen of the United States;
- 18 years of age or older;
- Resident of Riverside County for at least one year prior to July 1, 2021;
- Be of sound judgment and fair character;
- Possess sufficient knowledge of the English language; and
- Be able to attend hearings and meetings four days a week.
- In addition, applicants cannot:
- Currently be serving as a trial juror in any court in California;
- Have been discharged as a grand juror within the previous year;
- Be serving as an elected public official; and
- Have been convicted of malfeasance in office, or any felony or high crime.
- To receive a fillable application, call 951-777-3644 or visit the following website: http://bit.ly/3pGPkGw.
- Applications will be accepted through April 2, 2021.
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Through It All: Riverside County Social Workers Knock on Doors of Clients’ Hearts to Help
When Dale Vassalli visits the homes of his adult clients, the Riverside County social worker knows he’s knocking on more than just their doors.
“I love bringing joy, hope, and safety to people who may not have had enough of it in their lives,” says Vassalli, one of more than a thousand social workers serving at-risk adults and children in the county’s Department of Public Social Services (DPSS). “I love that we, as social workers, shine a light into the darkest places.”
March is national Social Worker Appreciation Month. The theme “Social Workers are Essential” embodies the heroic contributions social workers have made to improving the health of children, the elderly and disabled during the times of pandemic, racial unrest, and economic uncertainty.
“Many problems that existed in our community before the pandemic worsened as the vulnerable and at-risk were forced into isolation,” says Supervisor Washington. “Throughout the pandemic, social workers have acted as lifelines for at-risk children and adults. Their services have been essential and will continue to be essential as we recover from the pandemic.”
Tara Cannon, a social worker in Children’s Services, had just finished chemotherapy for cancer when the pandemic hit early last year. Cannon works with some of the county’s toughest foster youth—dual placements; kids between the ages of 13 and 18 who are in both foster care and the probation system.
One young man on her caseload had been in at least 16 different placements unsuccessfully. Finding him a new home was proving to be a challenge. He was failing high school and heading for jail. After a heart-to-heart talk with the young man, Cannon reached out to a former coach and the coach agreed to give the youth a home – and a new start.
Today, Cannon has been invited and plans to attend several of her young client’s milestones, including high school graduation this Spring. While he attends college, the young man will continue to gain skills and receive support from social workers and peers in the Transitional Age Youth Program through DPSS.
“It’s one thing to show up at a youth’s home. It’s another thing to say ‘I am in this fight with you. I am in your corner,’” says Cannon, who earned a master’s degree, and entered social services only after she’d seen her own son through college.
“When a teen knows you care for them and that you are fighting for them,” Cannon says, “they often come around.”
Vassalli, the social worker who serves adult clients and Cannon agree that it is gratifying to see those they are helping making strides in their progress.
“I love knowing that I helped make the world a better place for someone,” Vassalli says. “I love seeing the confidence in my clients as they begin to reach their potential and live more fulfilling lives.”
To learn more about Riverside County social workers and how they serve our communities visit www.dpss.co.riverside.ca.us/
Dale Vasalli, a Riverside County social worker
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