Santa Cruz County Local Crisis & Personal Support News Articles and Digest

Health Seniors Crisis & Personal Support

We Must Take Better Care of Our Home-Based Child Care Providers

04/09/2024
These professionals provide essential services, but their pay and working conditions do not reflect their value, and their health suffers.

From Times Publishing Group...

Families & Children Health Crisis & Personal Support County of Santa Cruz

Live Oak Children’s Crisis Center Construction Begins

03/12/2024
The County of Santa Cruz is remodeling the two story office building at 5300 Soquel Avenue in Live Oak with conference rooms, family spaces and other amenities for youth in crisis and expand the Health Services Agency’s substance use disorder and mental health services.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Public Safety Health Crisis & Personal Support

Santa Cruz County Makes Plans for Opioid Settlement Funds

03/08/2024
Santa Cruz County officials are making plans for the millions of dollars allotted to the county as part of the settlement of various lawsuits against opioid manufacturers and distributors in 2019 and 2021.

From CapPublicRadio...

COVID-19 Health Crisis & Personal Support

Antidepressant Prescriptions to Young People Surged During the Pandemic

02/27/2024
The monthly rate of antidepressants being dispensed to young people increased about 64% more quickly during the coronavirus pandemic, according to a study in the journal Pediatrics.

From California Healthline...

Health Crisis & Personal Support State of California

California Hospitals, Advocates Seek Stable Funding to Retain Behavioral Health Navigators

02/26/2024
Health providers and addiction experts warn the funding structure is unstable for a California initiative that steers patients with substance use disorder into long-term treatment.

From Santa Cruz Local...

Crisis & Personal Support County of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz County Needle Exchange Grows as Lawsuit Shutters Volunteer Exchange

02/22/2024
Image for display with article titled Santa Cruz County Needle Exchange Grows as Lawsuit Shutters Volunteer Exchange

Three months after a court ruling shuttered a needle exchange mainly run by volunteers in Santa Cruz County, the county’s Health Services Agency has more than doubled its clean syringe distribution and run a mobile needle-exchange program in Santa Cruz.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Homelessness Community Service & Support Crisis & Personal Support County of Santa Cruz

Santa Cruz Sobering Center Reopens After Hiatus

02/04/2024
After halting services for about four years, a sobering center that county leaders say is a critical boon to the community, local health care providers and law enforcement is back online in Santa Cruz.

From Los Angeles Times...

Health Elections & Politics Crisis & Personal Support State of California

Your Guide to Proposition 1: Newsom’s Overhaul of California’s Mental Health System

01/31/2024
Gov. Gavin Newsom crafted the measure to reform California’s mental health system, including a $6.4-billion bond for new facilities.

From CalMatters...

Health Crisis & Personal Support

Bill Would Let Therapists and Social Workers Decide When to Confine Mentally Ill Californians

01/29/2024
A pending bill would extend the so-called 5150 confinement authority to county-designated psychiatrists, psychologists, clinical social workers, licensed marriage and family therapists, and clinical counselors.

From CalMatters...

Health Crisis & Personal Support

Gavin Newsom Raised Millions for His Mental Health Ballot Measure. His Opponents Have $1,000

01/28/2024
The March ballot measure would raise billions for mental health care, but some clinics fear it would strip them of revenue they need for services they provide today.

From California Healthline...

Health Crisis & Personal Support

988-Hotline Counselors Air Concerns: More Training Needed to Juggle Calls

01/23/2024
In the year and a half since its launch, 988—the country’s easy-to-remember suicide and crisis hotline—has received about 8.1 million calls, texts, and chats. Curiosity is growing about the people taking those calls.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Health Crisis & Personal Support

California Panel Holds Up Studies on Psychedelics. Some Researchers Want It Gone

01/19/2024
At the Pacific Neuroscience Institute in Santa Monica, scientists are eager to explore whether a psychedelic chemical found in a toad could help people with depression. But research has been put on hold by the state.

From Voice of San Diego...

Business, Economy & Jobs Education Families & Children Health Crisis & Personal Support

San Diego County Schools Face Post-Pandemic Funding Woes

01/04/2024
San Diego Unified School District has received more than $700 million in federal and state relief funds since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, with these funds ending, some schools could be facing serious deficits.

From Voice of San Diego...

Health Elections & Politics Crisis & Personal Support

San Diego County Lacking Behavioral Health Beds

01/03/2024
County leaders in San Diego are gearing up for a March bond measure that could help provide more behavioral health beds. More beds are needed for areas like mental health and detox.

From CalMatters...

Crisis & Personal Support Crime & Justice Government

He Says He Was Abused in ICE Detention Even Though He is a Legal Resident of California. Now He’s Suing for $1 Million

12/21/2023
The 33-year old Mexican-born man—who from toddler age has been a permanent legal resident of California—has reported abuse, unsanitary conditions and threats of force-feeding before his release from immigration detention in April.

From CalMatters...

Families & Children Homelessness Housing Community Service & Support Crisis & Personal Support Government

Domestic Violence Shelters Play a Key Role in Fighting Homelessness. Now They Face Deep Funding Cuts

12/19/2023
Federal funding for domestic violence shelters and housing programs is declining. Advocates want the state to step in, but with a record projected deficit new spending is unlikely.

From KSQD...

Health Crisis & Personal Support

Janus Opens New Peri-Natal Center

12/01/2023
Image for display with article titled Janus Opens New Peri-Natal Center

Janus has been the go-to recovery center in Santa Cruz County for the past 30 years. Board chair Edison Jensen, and CEO Amber Williams talk about ways to support recovery during the holidays and share news about the new center for women and their children.

From Santa Cruz Sentinel...

Crisis & Personal Support Crime & Justice

Sacramento Court Orders State to Revoke Harm Reduction Coalition Permit

11/21/2023
A Sacramento judge has ordered local syringe exchange program Harm Reduction Coalition to cease state-authorized syringe operations in Santa Cruz County. The ruling is the latest in a lengthy legal saga between plaintiff Grant Park Neighborhood Association Advocates and the state’s Department of Public Health.

From New York Times...

Public Safety Crisis & Personal Support Government

Why It’s Taken So Long for the Golden Gate Bridge to Get a Protective Barrier

11/14/2023
Workers are in the final stages of a long, $217 million project: Install a protective barrier at the Golden Gate Bridge. Roughly 2,000 people have died by suicide jumping from the bridge since it opened in 1937.

From CalMatters...

Business, Economy & Jobs Health Homelessness Elections & Politics Crisis & Personal Support Government

Newsom Taking New Approach to California’s 10,000 Homeless Veterans

11/05/2023
California’s population of homeless veterans has plateaued despite billions of dollars in state spending to create housing for former service members. Now, Gov. Gavin Newsom wants to shift resources to focus on veterans with serious mental health conditions.

Santa Cruz County Local News: Crisis & Personal Support