Child Welfare Heroes of Imperial Valley

Happy Birthday to Norma Ruiz, CASA Supervisor at Imperial County CASA!

This is just the beginning of something so wonderful for our former foster youth!

She was born the youngest of eight children. Her mother died when she was two years old. Four of her siblings died by the time she was eight. When she was a chi...ld she contracted tuberculosis which would cause a lifelong bend in her back, and a limp. She spent her childhood severely insecure, thinking she was ugly. Her father died suddenly while she was in college. However she was determined to educate herself. She entered medical school but due to her poor health, only got through the first year. She sank into a severe depressive state at the age of 27. But a year later, with the inheritance of her father and the help of a friend, she renovated an old mansion in Chicago. That rundown house, previously owned by Charles Hull became the first comprehensive women and children's shelter in the United States. At its peak in the early 1900's, Hull House became the center for research into poverty, child welfare, immigration, and a fount of advocacy for the underprivileged. She became one of the first people to see that most urban prostitution was the result of trafficking, nearly a century before the modern sex trafficking movement. She worked alongside reformers to form the first juvenile court. She emphasized early education and care for developing children. She would win the Nobel Peace Prize in 1931, the first American woman to be awarded the honor. Her name was Jane Addams, and she was America's first social worker. #happyworldsocialworkersday. See more

Nothing like kids to put things into perspective. https://onevoicechildrenschoir.com/ https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=XB6yjGVuzVo... [A friend from Switzerland sent this video to me. Unfortunately, I cannot take credit for any of the success it is now having. I hope you enjoy!]

Special announcement!

This is awesome!

DATE: December 17, 2020 IMPERIAL COUNTY RECEIVES FIRST SHIPMENT OF COVID-19 VACCINE Imperial County Health Public Health officials announced today that Imp...erial County has received its first shipment of COVID-19 vaccine. The shipment contains 975 doses of the Pfizer vaccine. Additional shipments are expected in the coming weeks. The first supply of vaccine will go to people in Phase1a per California Department of Public Health allocation guidelines for COVID-19 vaccine. Phase 1a includes high-risk workers in healthcare settings, first responders and patients and staff of long-term care facilities. Distribution of vaccine will begin as early as this week. Of the initial shipment, 475 doses will be allocated to El Centro Regional Medical Center and 330 to Pioneers Memorial Hospital District. The remainder will be reserved for local Emergency Medical Technicians (EMTs), paramedics and public health department vaccinators. State officials estimate that vaccines for the general public could be available as early as Spring 2021. The COVID-19 vaccine is an important step towards eliminating the surge of COVID-19 and regaining a sense of normalcy in our community, said Dr. Stephen Munday, Imperial County Health Officer. While it will be a little while longer before we have enough vaccine available to vaccinate the general public, it’s not too early for everyone who will be eligible to receive the vaccine to begin making plans to get it once it becomes available to them. The Public Health Department continues to work closely with healthcare providers and other local partners to prepare for future phases of distribution. For information general information about COVID-19 vaccine, please visit https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/. ******* El Condado de Imperial Recibe el Primer Envió de Vacuna COVID-19 Los funcionarios de Salud Pública del Condado de Imperial Health anunciaron hoy que el Condado de Imperial recibió su primer envío de la vacuna COVID-19. El envío contiene 975 dosis de la vacuna Pfizer. Se esperan envíos adicionales en las próximas semanas. El primer suministro de vacuna irá a las personas en la Fase 1a según las pautas de asignación del Departamento de Salud Pública de California para la vacuna COVID-19. La fase 1a incluye a trabajadores de alto riesgo en entornos de atención médica, personal de primeros auxilios y pacientes y personal de centros de atención a largo plazo. La distribución de la vacuna comenzará a partir de esta semana. Del envío inicial, 475 dosis se asignarán a El Centro Regional Medical Center y 330 al Pioneers Memorial Hospital District. El resto se reservará para los técnicos de emergencias médicas (EMT), los paramédicos y personal de vacunación del Departamento de Salud Pública. Los funcionarios estatales deducen que la vacuna para el público en general podría estar disponibles a partir de la primavera de 2021. La vacuna COVID-19 es un paso importante para eliminar el aumento de COVID-19 y recuperar el sentido de normalidad en nuestra comunidad, dijo el Dr. Stephen Munday, Oficial de Salud del Condado de Imperial. "Todavía falta un poco más antes de que tengamos suficientes vacunas disponibles para vacunar al público en general, pero se recomienda que a todos a los que serán elegibles para recibir la vacuna, que ya comiencen a hacer planes para recibirla una vez que esté disponible para ellos." El Departamento de Salud Pública continúa trabajando en estrecha colaboración con los proveedores de atención médica y otros socios locales para prepararse para las futuras fases de distribución. Para obtener información general sobre la vacuna COVID-19, visite https://covid19.ca.gov/vaccines/.

We must do our part to keep ourselves, our loved ones, and our community safe. Wear a face mask. Don’t gather. Stay home. Physically distance. Find out the regional ICU bed capacity by visiting, https://covid19.ca.gov/stay-home-except-for-essential-needs/

The passing of Tim Blankenship is a profound loss to our child welfare community. A true advocate for families and children in need, his light fell far in the Valley.