On October 2, 2013, Los Nietos School District Superintendent, Jonathan Vasquez, hosted an interagency community health meeting comprised of local and county agencies to hear about the successful partnership between the Los Nietos School District and PIH Health. Although attendees were either existing partners with Los Nietos School District or PIH Health, the agencies were being asked to partner in the joint (Los Nietos School District/PIH Health) collaboration known as the Healthy Los Nietos Project. The Healthy Los Nietos Partnership was created to provide health support services to the students, parents, and staff in the Los Nietos Community. Working collaboratively with PIH Health, support services under the Healthy Los Nietos Project have included health screenings, parent, student, and staff health education, and systemic changes in the nutrition services department. The infrastructure of the Healthy Los Nietos partnership has grown to the point that other organizations are now being invited to become partners in an effort to further provide needed services to the students and families in the Los Nietos Community.
Among some of the guests in attendance to hear Superintendent Vasquez present on the Los Nietos School District and the Healthy Los Nietos Project were: Andrea Avila, Field Deputy for LA County Supervisor Don Knabe; Lindsey Lastra, LA County Department of Public Health Educator; Ed Ramirez, Community Services Supervisor for the City of Santa Fe Springs; Ed Carlson, Director of Operations, Think Together; Maribel Contreras, Pacific Clinics Counseling Team Supervisor; Christina Cuevas, Director of Children’s Programs for the Salvation Army Transitional Living Center; Amy Catt, Interfaith Food Center; John Guzman, Chairman for Los Nietos More Advocates for Safe Homes (MASH); and Franco Reyes, from the American Diabetes Association. Also in attendance were representatives from PIH Health: Kim Romig, PIH Family Medicine Residency Program; Ricardo Lopez, PIH Community Healthy Educator; Brigida Davila, PIH Health Outpatient diabetes educator; Vanessa Ivie, PIH Director of Community Health Education; Dr. Virag Shah, Director of PIH Health Residency Program; Dr. Ingrid Patsch, Associate Program Director of the Family Residency Program; Drew Sones, PIH Health Board; and Ray Schmidt, PIH Health Community Benefits Committee.
All attendees were impressed by PIH Health and the Los Nietos School District’s efforts to increase health education and awareness in the Los Nietos School District Community. Los Nietos Principals Becky Speh, Marla Duncan, Octavio Perez, Shannon Brann Zelaya, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Jacqueline Cardenas, were in attendance to hear the attendees express their interest in joining the Los Nietos and PIH Health Partnership.
Among some of the guests in attendance to hear Superintendent Vasquez present on the Los Nietos School District and the Healthy Los Nietos Project were: Andrea Avila, Field Deputy for LA County Supervisor Don Knabe; Lindsey Lastra, LA County Department of Public Health Educator; Ed Ramirez, Community Services Supervisor for the City of Santa Fe Springs; Ed Carlson, Director of Operations, Think Together; Maribel Contreras, Pacific Clinics Counseling Team Supervisor; Christina Cuevas, Director of Children’s Programs for the Salvation Army Transitional Living Center; Amy Catt, Interfaith Food Center; John Guzman, Chairman for Los Nietos More Advocates for Safe Homes (MASH); and Franco Reyes, from the American Diabetes Association. Also in attendance were representatives from PIH Health: Kim Romig, PIH Family Medicine Residency Program; Ricardo Lopez, PIH Community Healthy Educator; Brigida Davila, PIH Health Outpatient diabetes educator; Vanessa Ivie, PIH Director of Community Health Education; Dr. Virag Shah, Director of PIH Health Residency Program; Dr. Ingrid Patsch, Associate Program Director of the Family Residency Program; Drew Sones, PIH Health Board; and Ray Schmidt, PIH Health Community Benefits Committee.
All attendees were impressed by PIH Health and the Los Nietos School District’s efforts to increase health education and awareness in the Los Nietos School District Community. Los Nietos Principals Becky Speh, Marla Duncan, Octavio Perez, Shannon Brann Zelaya, and Director of Curriculum and Instruction, Jacqueline Cardenas, were in attendance to hear the attendees express their interest in joining the Los Nietos and PIH Health Partnership.