October Update

Wetzel Awards logo with images of two women

The Healthcare Foundation of Northern Sonoma County will recognize two very impactful Cloverdale women next month in Healdsburg.

Alexander Valley Healthcare CEO, Debbie Howell will receive the Wetzel Community Leadership Award, and La Familia Sana ED, Jade Weymouth, will receive the Spirit of Wetzel Award! The ceremony will take place on November 7th at Dry Creek Kitchen. 

Both Jade and Debbie are celebrated for their passion for improving our city’s and region’s health and well-being.

Read more here

three women sitting at Alexander Valley table outside

Debbie Howell, Jody Kane, Integrated Behavioral Health Case Manager,  and Angelica Contreras, Lead Medical Assistant represented Alexander Valley Healthcare at “Connection is Prevention” in the Cloverdale plaza.

September was Suicide Prevention month and in Sonoma County we have a higher-than-average suicide rate. The North County Community Based Organizations together with Sonoma County Behavioral Health Division and Life Worth Living: Sonoma’s Suicide Prevention Alliance joined efforts on September 21st from 10 am to 1:00 pm on the Cloverdale Plaza. These events were being held throughout the County to promote mental well-being through meaningful connections and contribute to a compassionate community that values and supports everyone.
#SoCoDHS

Dr. Ronald Brown, a distinguished Allergy and Immunology Specialist, joined our practice earlier this year and sees patients on Wednesdays. If allergies are interfering with your day-to-day activities, or you or anyone in your family suffers from asthma or eczema, food allergies or hives, call our office to make an appointment and let Dr. Brown put you on a pathway to recovery! (707) 894-4229

Ronald Brown
Alexandra Caldeira

Through our new partnership with On the Margins, AVH is pleased to welcome Alexandra Caldeira (She, Her, Ella) a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and a Doctoral intern pursuing her PsyD at the California Institute of Integral Studies. Born in Caracas, Venezuela and raised in a beautifully diverse community in the East Bay, Alexandra has integrated her life experiences into promoting social and disability justice and creating a world where every life is respected and celebrated.  She also believes in an affirming and strengths-based approach that is rooted in honoring each person’s culture, uniqueness and their pursuit of personal liberation.  As a mother herself, Alexandra is passionate about maternal mental health and hopes to support caregivers through prenatal emotional support, Postpartum Depression and post-breastfeeding depression and anxiety. Alexandra Caldeira offers services in English (fluent), Español (fluent) and Português (conversational). Alexandria will be seeing patients on Fridays at our Tarman Medical Center. 

Alexandra is the first of several new providers who will join the AVH care team in the coming weeks. We look forward to introducing them to you in the next newsletter!

"What will Proposition 35 do for California" flyer

This August, Alexander Valley Healthcare (AVH) proudly celebrated 30 years of unwavering commitment to our community. Established in 1994 in Cloverdale as Coppertower Family Medical Center, AVH began with a mission to provide essential medical and dental care to Medicare and Medicaid patients who were often overlooked by local providers.

A decade later, with the departure of the last private practice physician in Cloverdale, AVH became the sole medical provider for the entire region between Healdsburg and Ukiah, solidifying our role as a vital healthcare resource for the community.

In 2013, AVH achieved a significant milestone by becoming a Federally Qualified Health Center (FQHC). This designation not only provided annual federal grant funding but also increased Medi-Cal and Medicare reimbursement rates, enabling us to expand our services. With these resources, AVH was able to address the evolving needs of our community by adding mental health providers and substance use counseling to our range of care.

For the past 30 years, the dedicated staff and providers at AVH have been committed to delivering exceptional patient care. As we reflect on our history, we are excited to continue this legacy of service for the next 30 years and beyond.

Alexander Valley Healthcare gratefully accepts your donations to support our ongoing work, or towards our Capital Campaign to build the new Health & Wellness Center.