June 26, 2012 - Pediatric Vision Group Mental Health Mixer and Directory Release

The Health Improvement Partnership (HIP) and the Pediatric Vision Group (PVG) hosted an evening mixer at the Museum of Art and History in downtown Santa Cruz. Enjoying an unseasonably warm evening, sipping local wine, and eating one-of-a-kind hors d'oeuvre, over 70 pediatric primary care and mental health providers gathered to discuss ways to improve the delivery and coordination of pediatric care. The event was the second of its kind and was an idea of PVG, a HIP-sponsored coalition of local pediatric providers who work together toward a more collaborative, integrated and inclusive system of pediatric care in Santa Cruz County. This year, providers were able to pick up a copy of the new Pediatric Mental Health Directory that lists local family therapists, psychologists, psychiatrists, and clinical social workers who see children. The purpose of this directory is to provide greater awareness of the wide array of local pediatric mental health providers and their specialties and foster relationships between the pediatric medical and mental health communities in Santa Cruz County.

Over $2,500 was raised for Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County, which received the proceeds from this mixer through donations from attendees and generous sponsorships from the Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH), Lucile Packard Children's Hospital (LPCH), Physicians Medical Group of Santa Cruz County (PMG), New Leaf Community Markets and Costco Wholesale.

December 8, 2011 - Palo Alto Medical Foundation/Sutter Santa Cruz Physicians Raised over $6,000 for Healthy Kids

Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center (SMSC) and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Santa Cruz (PAMF Santa Cruz) recently presented a check in the amount of $6,467.25 to Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County, a health insurance program for uninsured and underinsured children in Santa Cruz County. The proceeds come from a golf tournament conducted annually by doctors and employees. Organizing the effort is a labor of love for George Mendoza, an SMSC employee who has served as volunteer tournament director for many years. PAMF Santa Cruz and SMSC are the single largest individual donors for Healthy Kids, giving over $1 million dollars since 2002.

July 26, 2011 - Pediatric Vision Group Mental Health Mixer and Directory

In an effort to improve the integration of mental health services into pediatric primary care, the Pediatric Vision Group (PVG) held a Pediatric Mental Health Mixer on July 26, 2011 at the Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County. This mixer was attended by more than 80 local pediatric physical and mental health care providers who had chance to meet and develop collaborative relationships. Attendees mingled and enjoyed appetizers and local Bargetto wine on the beautiful rooftop terrace at the Community Foundation.

PVG has also been working on creating a new pediatric mental health directory to aid physicians in referring their patients to a mental health specialist. A draft of this directory was available for review at the mixer. The directory will include contact information, philosophical approach and specialty areas for each provider. It is designed to be a tool to help pediatricians develop relationships with mental health providers on behalf of their patients.

The Pediatric Mental Health Mixer was a fundraiser for Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County. The mixer was generously sponsored by American Medical Response (AMR), Central California Alliance for Health, Lucile Packard Children's Hospital, Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Sutter Santa Cruz, and Physicians Medical Group of Santa Cruz County. These sponsorships and donations from attendees helped raise over $6,000 for the Healthy Kids program which will provide health coverage to 1,500 local children. The Healthy Kids program ensures access to comprehensive medical, dental, vision and mental health services for low-income children.

May 8, 2011 - CCHI Champions for Children 2011 Award

On May 8, 2011, the California Children's Health Initiatives (CCHI) recognized The Palo Alto Medical Foundation-Santa Cruz Region and Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center in Santa Cruz as Champions for Children 2011. CCHI is the statewide organization of Healthy Kids programs working to ensure access to care for California children and their families.

Santa Cruz PAMF and Sutter have distinguished themselves by the enormous investment they've made in covering local children. Since 2003, when these organizations began sponsoring the costs of premiums for the Healthy Families program, to today when they are a cornerstone funder of the Healthy Kids program, PAMF/Sutter has invested over $1.4 million dollars to ensure access to care for all Santa Cruz County children. This leadership donation has helped Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County cover over 17,000 children since we launched in 2004.

Special thanks go to Dr. Larry deGhetaldi, whose leadership has ensured such generous support. Larry consistently advocates for Healthy Kids in policy forums and through meetings with state and federal legislators regarding health care reform, pointing to the program as a model for how to improve health and reduce costs. From the PAMF physicians' annual golf tournament, to advocacy within the wider PAMF network, Larry has been an unflagging supporter.

Such generosity is driven by Larry's belief that all children - regardless of circumstance - deserve access to health care so they can learn, grow, and thrive, and so his organization must share this award with him, another true Champion for Children.

September 17, 2010 - Palo Alto Medical Foundation/Sutter Santa Cruz Physicians Raised over $10,000 for Healthy Kids

Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center (SMSC) and the Palo Alto Medical Foundation Santa Cruz (PAMF Santa Cruz presented a check in the amount of $10,607 to Healthy Kids of Santa Cruz County, a health insurance program for uninsured and underinsured children in Santa Cruz County. The proceeds come from a golf tournament conducted annually by doctors and employees. Organizing the effort is a labor of love for George Mendoza, an SMSC employee who has served as volunteer tournament director for many years. PAMF Santa Cruz and SMSC are the single largest institutional donors for Healthy Kids, giving over $1.3 million dollars since 2002. Many thanks!

Advocacy of the Year Award - Thursday, March 11, 2010

2009 Healthy Kids Coalition celebration with Ezra Klein

In January, 2009, at Cabrillo College's Sesnon House, Healthy Kids hosted a celebration of local efforts to cover all Santa Cruz County children. Ezra Klein, Washington Post columnist, provided an irreverent presentation on the political prospects for national health care reform, noting that all eyes will be on the Senate in the coming year.

Alan McKay, co-chair of the Healthy Kids Steering Committee and HIP's Board president, also presented the 2009 Champion for Children award to Dr. Larry deGhetaldi and Ric Nichols of the Palo Alto Medical Foundation, Santa Cruz Region and Sutter Maternity and Surgery Center, for their leadership donations to the Healthy Kids program, giving over $1 million to Healthy Kids and Healthy Families programs to date.

Our audience also viewed the premiere of the Voices of Healthy Kids video, featuring the personal stories of children and families whose lives have been touched by Healthy Kids. Ezra Klein continues to be an excellent source of health care policy information, visit his on-line blog.

Palo Alto Medical Foundation / Sutter Santa Cruz Physicians Raised over $5,000 for Healthy Kids

September 18, 2009 - Watsonville, CA - Under blue skies and plenty of sunshine, about 60 Santa Cruz Medical Foundation physicians and their staff teed off for a good cause, raising $5,683 at their annual Healthy Kids benefit golf tournament.

The Santa Cruz Medical Foundation physicians have hosted the tournament for the last four years, collectively raising nearly $17,000 for Healthy Kids, a nonprofit health insurance program for local children.

This year's donation will provide five local children with medical and dental coverage for one year.
"Healthy Kids effectively links children to a primary care doctor by providing them with health insurance," said George Mendoza, a Sutter anesthesiology technician, who organizes the event each year. "My physician colleagues and I understand how critical it is for all children to have access to comprehensive health care services."

Studies show that insured children are more likely to receive essential preventive care, immunizations and routine check-ups, improving health and well-being and supporting success in school.

In addition to the golfing donations made by their physicians and staff, the Palo Alto Medical Foundation and Sutter Maternity & Surgery Center have donated over $1 million to support both the Healthy Kids and Healthy Families programs since 2006.

Healthy Kids was launched in 2004 by a coalition of local leaders including the United Way, Community Foundation of Santa Cruz County, Pajaro Valley Community Health Trust, and Dominican Hospital, First 5 Santa Cruz County and the County Health Department. The program has enrolled over 15,000 local children into Medi-Cal, Healthy Families, and the locally funded Healthy Kids Health Plan.
The tournament was held at the Spring Hills Country Club in Watsonville.