At the June 23 rd County Board of Supervisor meeting, the supervisors unanimously voted on a resolution supporting the Black Lives Matter movement and reaffirming the County’s commitment to racial equity. The most important part of the Board meeting was how many people turned out to express their deep commitment to racial justice. There were speakers on the overall agenda, the budget, the resolution, the measure to extend the eviction moratorium and the vast majority specifically spoke about...

By SUSANNE RUST STAFF WRITER JUNE 27, 2020 MENLO PARK — As Bay Area communities adopt resolutions supporting the Black Lives Matter movement, one Silicon Valley county this week voted to stockpile its Sheriff’s Department with nearly $1 million in new Taser guns. On Wednesday, the San Mateo County Board of Supervisors approved a budget that includes the purchase of 310 new Tasers. The approval of the Taser purchase is coming under fire, in part because it occurred just minutes after the...

By Rachel R. Hardeman, Eduardo M. Medina, and Rhea W. Boyd, New England Journal of Medicine, June 10, 2020 In Minnesota, where black Americans account for 6% of the population but 14% of Covid-19 cases and 33% of Covid-19 deaths, George Floyd died at the hands of police. “Please — I can’t breathe.” He was a black man detained on suspicion of forgery, an alleged offense that was never litigated or even charged, but for which he received an extrajudicial death sentence. “Please — I can’t...

Sharing an offering from Islam Hassanein, a local therapist: I have been thinking about the mental health of the BIPOC community as we are seeing recent events of racism and police violence occurring, in addition to this national pandemic. I want to share this flyer with you all and ask to spread the word if you can: I am offering free short-term virtual therapy to Black, Indigenous, People of Color who are 18+ and live in California. Please share this with people you think may benefit.

Education leaders seek collaboration to build equitable support programs By Sierra Lopez Daily Journal correspondent Jun 29, 2020 Parents preparing for a return to the office following a broader county health order are now faced with weighing the benefits of enrolling their children in child care services against the existing financial burden of programs and potential exposure to COVID-19. “If there’s going to be a workforce recovery we need to solve this child care issue. [Employers]...

The child welfare system causes harm to Black children and we have known this for decades June 22, 2020 Alan Dettlaff and Kristen Weber Black children are over-surveilled , over-policed and over-removed by the child welfare system. Once involved in this system, the trauma and harm that results from foster care causes irreparable damage to Black children, and serve as a source of their ongoing and continued oppression. As a field, we have known this for decades. And now it is time to abolish...

By Rachel Becker June 16, 2020 Breanna Dixon doesn’t remember struggling to breathe when she overdosed, but her younger brother Joshua hasn’t forgotten the sound. At first, it sounded like heavy snoring coming from the TV room in the Dixon family home in Fontana, where the siblings were sheltering in place with their parents. It had been a month since the novel coronavirus forced California to a standstill , and Dixon, 28, was struggling. She had already overdosed twice before in the two...

Racism has a long and complicated history in the United States. Psychological research has shown that racism and racial discrimination—at both the interpersonal and systemic levels—are barriers to human development and psychological wellbeing. This page showcases research on racism, discrimination, and social justice to improve psychological outcomes for underrepresented communities. On This Page: Calls for Papers American Psychologist Special Issue APA Journals Article Spotlights Books...

Air pollution and heat exposure can lead to stillbirths and low birth rates, say researchers. AYANA BYRD JUN 24, 2020 11:45AM ET Pregnant people in the United States who are exposed to air pollution and heat exposure have significantly higher chances of having a pre-term birth, stillbirth, or a baby with low birth weight, according to a new study. Black people and those with asthma are particularly at risk. The report , “Association of Air Pollution and Heat Exposure With Preterm Birth, Low...

The San Mateo County Office of Education has compiled a catalogue of resources for educators and community members on antiracism and social justice. Access the resources here: https://www.smcoe.org/for-communities/antiracism-and-injustice-resources.html#lessons

Medi-Cal has just published new policy making family therapy a covered benefit for children and adults with mental health disorders and for children who are at risk for mental health disorders. This will be especially relevant for children with ACEs. Under the guidance of the California Department of Health Care Services, the Medi-Cal fee-for-service program aims to provide health care services to about 13 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries. The Medi-Cal fee-for-service program adjudicates both...

By KQED Science, KQED, June 14, 2020 The coronavirus pandemic and the recent killing of George Floyd have brought longstanding racial inequities into sharp focus. One of those disparities concerns the high rate of coronavirus transmission among people of color. To talk about the intersection of race and health, KQED's Brian Watt spoke last week with California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris, who is known for her pioneering work on the role that childhood stress and trauma play on...