Summer Newsletter
EXPANDING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES IN CLOVERDALE
Dear friends –
AVH is taking four important steps to try to address the mental health crisis we are facing in our region:
- Recognizing an increased need for Mental Health Services support for the severely and persistently mentally ill patients we see, I have been meeting regularly with the County of Sonoma Behavioral Health Division Director, Dr. Jan Cobaleda-Kegler to coordinate our efforts. I am pleased to announce that finally Mobile Crisis Services will be available in Cloverdale!
- To address the shortage of bi-lingual and bi-cultural behavioral health providers in our area, we will be contracting with Dr. Daniela Dominguez of On the Margins to provide both on site and telehealth services to our patients with mild to moderate mental health diagnoses.
- To support the families and children we serve, we are working with the County Mental Health Services for Youth and Families to provide psychiatric evaluations for children aged 5-12 with a child psychiatrist. AVH will coordinate the appointments with the County which can either be in person or through telehealth.
- Finally, we are recruiting a Psychologist, a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, and a Care Team Nurse to join our team of providers and help us care for the most vulnerable in our community. Click here to apply.
I know that many in our community, myself included, have been touched by friends or family members who struggle with mental health challenges. By building our team of mental health providers, and with coordinated partnerships and collaborations, we can work together to help our community.
Debbie
Deborah Howell
CEO
FOR MOBILE CRISIS SERVICES
CALL: 707-576-8181
GOOD FRIENDS & GOOD FOOD!
Ann Mackenzie and Jack Cortright hosted a gathering of friends and neighbors for a lamb roast in support of AVH and raised more than $10,000 towards the Capital Campaign for the new Health & Wellness Center! This warm and welcoming event truly took a village. Many thanks to all of those who pitched in to support this effort including wine donations from Kelley & Young, J. Rickards, Lavorgna Hart and Rodney Strong Vineyards, a lamb from Connie and Paul Mitterbach and the Lazy Me Ranch, and catering expertise from Ann Elston, Sandy and Andrew at The Beet and “Chef” Rand Derricco.
Most of all, we are grateful to Ann and Jack for their passion for this project to bring expanded healthcare to Cloverdale!
PROGRAM UPDATES
Preventative medicine is the way to improve overall health. Last fall, AVH received a grant from the Breast and Colorectal Cancer Screening Implementation Project (BCCSIP) to help us create a plan to deliver timely screenings. mitigate the devastating medical, emotional, and financial effects of BC and CRC, and reduce the health disparities for medically underserved, low-income patients. Under the leadership of QI Manager, Brianna Ketzer, we are seeing results! We are ordering more mammograms and regularly following up with patients to ensure they are screened. Additionally the rate of CRC screenings is improving. This combination of QI working closely with Medical staff, is leading to a healthier community!!
CAL FIRE AT AVH SITE
Fire season arrived early this year, but AVH was happy to provide Cal Fire a place to stage their operations at our new facility site as they successfully battled the Point Fire. When the new Alexander Valley Health and Wellness Center is completed, our large parking lot and spacious facility will be ready to serve as a hub for our community in times of emergency.
MEET OUR PROVIDERS
Dr. Ronald Brown – Allergy and Immunology Specialist
AVH is thrilled to welcome Dr. Ronald Brown, a distinguished Allergy and Immunology Specialist, to our medical team. Dr. Brown joins us with over 30 years of experience at Sutter Health in Davis and Kaiser in Vacaville.
Dr. Brown’s passion for this specialty began during his medical school rotations. “I enjoy being able to make people feel better,” he says. “As this is a symptom-driven specialty, you can really make an impact in improving a patient’s health and get them on a pathway to recovery.” His expertise encompasses a wide range of conditions, from asthma and eczema to food allergies and hives, caring for both children and adults.
Dr. Brown will be practicing one day a week at AVH, alternating between on-site and telehealth consultations. He loves working with the patients and providers at AVH, and doesn’t mind the drive from his home outside Santa Rosa where he enjoys bike riding and gardening in his free time.
Please join us in welcoming Dr. Brown to the AVH family!
Call for an appointment (707) 894-4229
With Gratitude
AVH would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to the family and friends of Karen Bosworth who made contributions to Alexander Valley Healthcare in her honor. Karen was a Board Member and a friend and she is deeply missed.