February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

February is National Children’s Dental Health Month

Developing good habits at an early age and scheduling regular dental visits helps children to get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums.

Why is dental health important for kids?

Did you know that 42% of children from the age 2 to 11 have had dental caries or cavities in their primary or baby teeth?

AND … did you know that tooth decay is the most common chronic childhood disease? That’s why promoting childrens dental health to families is important to the Marin City Health and Wellness Dental Team. Developing good dental health habits at an early age, including scheduling regular dental visits, helps children get a good start on a lifetime of healthy teeth and gums. 


They can avoid many of the problems that result from poor oral health, including gum disease and tooth decay.


Here’s how to keep cavities away:


  1. Start good oral habits early. Teach kids to brush at least twice a day with fluoride toothpaste and to floss regularly.
  2. Get enough fluoride. Regular use of fluoride toughens the enamel, making it harder for acid to penetrate teeth.
  3. Limit or avoid sweet and sticky foods and drinks.

Things You Can Do to Help Your Child:


  • Brush your child’s teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day.
  • If your child is younger than 3 years, brush with a smear of fluoride toothpaste.
  • If your child is age 3 to 6 years, brush with a rice-size amount of fluoride toothpaste.
  • Young children will want to brush their own teeth, but they need help until their hand skills are better. Brush children’s teeth or help children brush their teeth until they are about 7 or 8 years old.
  • Be a role model for oral health! Brush your teeth with fluoride toothpaste twice a day (in the morning and at bedtime) and floss once a day.
  • Serve healthy meals and snacks like fruits, vegetables, low-fat milk and milk products, whole-grain products, meat, fish, chicken, eggs, and beans.
  • Limit the number of snacks your child has in a day.
  • Do not give your child food for rewards.
  • Take your child to the dentist for a check-up by their first birthday and keep taking them.
  • If your child has not gone to the dentist take them.

Make a dental appointment today…. we look forward to seeing you!

Filed under: Marin City Clinic, SF Bayview Hunters Point

May is Mental Health Awareness Month

Coming Together for the Mental Health and Wellness of Our Community

Mental Health Awareness Month is a national movement that aims to raise awareness and provide support to individuals living with mental illness. During this time, community members promote mental health as a crucial component of overall wellness and advocate for integrated care, funding for mental health services, and the implementation of policies that further protect and support individuals living with mental illnesses and disorders.


This year, the National Alliance on Mental Illness declared “Together for Mental Health” as the theme for 2022’s Mental Health Awareness Month. With the number of Americans living with mental illnesses increasing, this year’s theme encourages the public to stand together to advocate for mental health and improved access to mental health services.


Mental illnesses are among some of the most common health conditions in the United States and can affect people of all ages. According to the CDC, one in four people experience mental illness, with more than 50% of the entire population being diagnosed with a mental illness or disorder in their lifetime. Unfortunately, many of these individuals do not receive the necessary medical support to help manage symptoms because of underfunding or personally deciding not to seek any medical assistance due to the stigma associated with mental illness. Therefore, it is important to bring the issue of mental health into the public view to raise awareness, dismantle the stigma, and advocate for an improved mental health care system.


In Marin County, 26% of adults in Marin report needing help with mental, emotional, or substance abuse problems. 29% of Latinx, 19% of Asian, and Black/African-American seventh graders reported feeling chronic sadness or hopelessness feelings in the past 12 months.* Marin City Clinic offers a number of programs to help address these statistics including: Individual and family therapy, child/adolescent psychiatry, depression, anxiety, trauma, grief, substance use disorders, and more.


As a community, let’s bring our voices together to raise awareness and advocate for mental health services during National Mental Awareness Month. May those who struggle with mental illnesses be reminded of the support and resources available as we stand together with the rest of the nation throughout this month.


(*2019 Healthy Marin County)

Filed under: Marin City Clinic

[Video] New Health Center Update!

Marin City Clinic is excited to share an update on the progress of our new health center at 100 Phillips Drive in Marin City.

The new health center will provide comprehensive health care services to all communities in Marin County including primary medical care, dental care, behavioral health services, substance abuse services, chiropractic care and more. 


The new facility also provides more clinical space than the current location occupied by the organization at 630 Drake Avenue with over $2.4 Million in retrofitting, including the addition of 15 exam rooms for medical, dental and behavioral health care services to accommodate the clinic’s approximately 3000 patients. The new space will also be fitted for updated emergency management systems, including a power generator and updated HVAC system.


The new health center is slated to open later this year. Check back for more updates.


Filed under: Marin City ClinicTagged with: ,

COVID-19 Omicron Variant: What you need to know.

Notice:

The information below was distributed directly from the Center for Disease Control website here: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html. If you believe you may have been exposed to COVID-19 you can call Marin City Health and Wellness Center for information on getting tested at 415-339-8813.

 

What We Know about Omicron

 

CDC is working with state and local public health officials to monitor the spread of Omicron. As of December 20, 2021, Omicron has been detected in most states and territories and is rapidly increasing the proportion of COVID-19 cases it is causing.

CDC has been collaborating with global public health and industry partners to learn about Omicron, as we continue to monitor its course. We don’t yet know how easily it spreads, the severity of illness it causes, or how well available vaccines and medications work against it.

Spread

The Omicron variant likely will spread more easily than the original SARS-CoV-2 virus and how easily Omicron spreads compared to Delta remains unknown. CDC expects that anyone with Omicron infection can spread the virus to others, even if they are vaccinated or don’t have symptoms.

Severe Illness

More data are needed to know if Omicron infections, and especially reinfections and breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated, cause more severe illness or death than infection with other variants.

Vaccines

Current vaccines are expected to protect against severe illness, hospitalizations, and deaths due to infection with the Omicron variant. However, breakthrough infections in people who are fully vaccinated are likely to occur. With other variants, like Delta, vaccines have remained effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death. The recent emergence of Omicron further emphasizes the importance of vaccination and boosters.

Watch for Symptoms

People with COVID-19 have had a wide range of symptoms reported – ranging from mild symptoms to severe illness. Symptoms may appear 2-14 days after exposure to the virus. Anyone can have mild to severe symptoms. People with these symptoms may have COVID-19:

  • Fever or chills
  • Cough
  • Shortness of breath or difficulty breathing
  • Fatigue
  • Muscle or body aches
  • Headache
  • New loss of taste or smell
  • Sore throat
  • Congestion or runny nose
  • Nausea or vomiting
  • Diarrhea

This list does not include all possible symptoms. CDC will continue to update this list as we learn more about COVID-19. Older adults and people who have severe underlying medical conditions like heart or lung disease or diabetes seem to be at higher risk for developing more serious complications from COVID-19 illness.

We have the Tools to Fight Omicron

Vaccines

Vaccines remain the best public health measure to protect people from COVID-19, slow transmission, and reduce the likelihood of new variants emerging.

  • COVID-19 vaccines are highly effective at preventing severe illness, hospitalizations, and death.
  • Scientists are currently investigating Omicron, including how protected fully vaccinated people will be against infection, hospitalization, and death.
  • CDC recommends that everyone 5 years and older protect themselves from COVID-19 by getting fully vaccinated.
  • CDC recommends that everyone ages 16 years and older get a booster shot after completing their primary COVID-19 vaccination series.  You are eligible for a booster at 5 months after completing Pfizer-BioNTech primary series, 6 months after completing Moderna primary series, and 2 months after the initial J&J/Janssen vaccine. Individuals ages 16-17 are only eligible for the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine.

Masks

Masks offer protection against all variants.

  • CDC continues to recommend wearing a mask in public indoor settings in areas of substantial or high community transmission, regardless of vaccination status.
  • CDC provides advice about masks for people who want to learn more about what type of mask is right for them depending on their circumstances.

Treatments

Scientists are working to determine how well existing treatments for COVID-19 work. Based on the changed genetic make-up of Omicron, some treatments are likely to remain effective while others may be less effective.

Testing

Tests can tell you if you are currently infected with COVID-19.

  • Two types of tests are used to test for current infection: nucleic acid amplification tests (NAATs) and antigen tests. NAAT and antigen tests can only tell you if you have a current infection.
  • Individuals can use the COVID-19 Viral Testing Tool to help determine what kind of test to seek.
    • Additional tests would be needed to determine if your infection was caused by Omicron.
    • Visit your state, tribal, local, or territorial health department’s website to look for the latest local information on testing.
  • Self-tests can be used at home or anywhere, are easy to use, and produce rapid results.
    • If your self-test has a positive result, stay home or isolate for 10 days, wear a mask if you have contact with others, and call your healthcare provider.
    • If you have any questions about your self-test result, call your healthcare provider or public health department.

Until we know more about the risk of Omicron, it is important to use all tools available to protect yourself and others.

 

 

Filed under: Marin City Clinic

[News Article] Marin City Health and Wellness Breaks Ground for New Health Center in Marin City

Marin City Health and Wellness Center, whose mission is to provide innovative health and wellness services to all, with the goal of African-American Health Equity celebrates the groundbreaking of its new health center at 100 Phillips Drive in Marin City. The new health center will provide comprehensive health care services to all communities in Marin County including primary medical care, dental care, behavioral health services, substance abuse services, chiropractic care and more.

 

Read full article at Marin City News.

Filed under: Events, Free services, Marin City Clinic, Media, Park Rx, Research, Seniors, SF Bayview Hunters Point, Youth programsTagged with: ,

[Video] How were Black people involved in the COVID vaccine development?

How were Black people and other people of color involved in the COVID vaccine development? Valerie Montgomery Rice, MD explains how Black scientists and researchers were involved in the COVID vaccine research.

 

Filed under: Free services, Marin City Clinic, Media, Research, Seniors, SF Bayview Hunters PointTagged with: , , ,