In recent years, San Joaquin County has had a higher rate of domestic violence calls for assistance than the rest of the state. A reporter sets out to tell the stories behind the statistics.
While scores of public agencies are working to develop resources and programs to address childhood trauma and toxic stress in their communities, San Joaquin County in California has been turning itself into a model for how to address the issue.
My fellowship project entitled "Combating Diabetes"was published on Sunday, Feb. 20, 2011, in The Record, the daily that serves San Joaquin County. The following Saturday, 330 people showed up for the county's first ever Community Diabetes Summit. The full project was cut out of the newspaper, put on a poster board and posted at the front door of the hotel ballroom where the summit was held. Speakers throughout the daylong summit referred to the project numerous times, even quoting directly from it.
People living with diabetes in San Joaquin County may have cause for concern: The county ranks worst in the state for deaths caused by diabetes. Medical officials say the lack of education and resources are to blame.
This year's California Health Journalism Fellows are pursuing stories important to communities. They're investigating air quality, the on-the-ground effects of health care reform and children's health, and asking important questions about how neighborhoods can be healthier. Here's a quick rundown of some of their projects, with links to their own blog posts so you can learn more, comment and offer ideas.
The Islamic Center of Stockton California's health care access project seeks to increase access to health care services through health education, enrollment in Medi-Cal and Healthy Families and transportation to health care appointments for low-income Muslims in San Joaquin County.
Dr. Karen Furst is the health officer for San Joaquin County. In this state-appointed role, she works closely with San Joaquin County Public Health Services to protect the health of county residents.
Harold A. Peterson is CEO of Community Hospice, a hospice serving terminally ill patients and their families in Stanislaus County and south San Joaquin County. As a nonprofit organization founded in 1979 by community members committed to the concept of \"death with dignity,\" the hospice provides care to anyone, regardless of ability to pay.
