A Cotati woman describes a fragmented system of mental health care that at times treated her with dignity while at others like a criminal or animal. A Santa Rosa mother decries a system of services that abandons all but the wealthy and very poor.
Children & Families
Incarcerating parents can have a major mental health impact on the children left behind and lead to risky behaviors, even as those kids become adults.
Kemberly Mahiri shows me one of the hundreds of thank you cards she and other counselors for Sonoma County's Teen Parent Program have received. “It just chokes me up every single time,” Mahiri tells me.
For many unhoused people living on San Francisco streets, maintaining good physical health is fairly low on a long daily to-do list. Basic survival — finding water, food, and shelter — can occupy much of one’s day and energy.
For nearly a year, the former competitors have gathered daily to share information on patients and staffing.
This story was produced as part of a larger project led by Monica Vaughan, a participant in the 2019 California Fellowship.
Other stories in this series include:
Oceano Dunes stays open to off-roading. But California still says big changes must be made
Live updates: Will off-roaders be banned from O
When stories make bold claims about life expectancies chopped by decades or rates of chronic diseases skyrocketing for those with higher scores, they can create heightened anxiety without a real solution.
Do you live or work on the Mesa? Did you know the air quality is sometimes unhealthy? It can trigger a persistent cough, asthma attacks, and even lung disease after prolonged exposure.
Ultimately, I had no data for my data project. So, under the advice of data guru Paul Overberg of The Wall Street Journal, I created my own.
Five practical takeaways from reporting on how communities are tackling persistent disparities in infant mortality, in the midst of newsroom downsizing and shifting beats.