San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department

04/02/2025

04/02/2025

04/01/2025

Early Warning System siren growl tests will be conducted Tuesday and Wednesday, April 1st and 2nd. No action by the public is necessary. Should you hear a steady siren at any other time, turn to a local radio or television station for emergency information and instructions. https://www.prepareslo.org/en/alert-and-notification-systems.aspx

04/01/2025

This summer, 14-17 year olds in SLO County can participate in farm-based workshops at City Farm SLO to build skills for healthy, successful futures. 🌱

Students will meet Monday through Thursday for two weeks. Educational workshops address many topics including health and wellness, leadership and team development, and career and college readiness.

At the end of the program, students earn $200 for their participation. After graduating from YEP, students also have the opportunity to apply for a paid farming internship at City Farm SLO. 🙌

Learn more and apply by April 30: www.cityfarmslo.org/yep

03/30/2025

Safe drives save lives. 🚴‍♂️🚶‍♀️🚗 When we set out on the road, we all want to get to our destination safely, whether we are walking, cycling or driving. That’s why we're bringing the Safe Drives Save Lives campaign to streets and schools countywide, with support from the California Office of Traffic Safety, through the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.

The campaign began with banners at three high-traffic locations in San Luis Obispo and then moved to Oceano Elementary, where a special event at pick-up time brought education to parents and free bike helmets to kids who need them. It will continue to schools and other locations countywide. “It’s about encouraging safe driving habits to guard against the tragic crashes we all want to avoid,” said Francine Levin, the Public Health Department injury prevention program manager.

Why safe drives matter:
⚠️ 80% of fatal crashes involve a pedestrian or cyclist.
⚠️ Most severe crashes happen on roads where speeds exceed 35 mph, making slower, attentive driving essential.
⚠️ Speeding just 5-10 mph over the limit greatly increases crash severity.

Thank you for choosing to slow down and drive safely—these regular choices behind the wheel truly saves lives ❤️

03/28/2025

Interested in a career in mental health? California is offering two new opportunities for high school students to get real-world experience through:

✨Youth Mental Health Academy✨

A 14-month program through the California Department of Public Health (CDPH) where students gain valuable knowledge and experience through paid training, summer internships, and support from mentors working in the industry. Learn more about the program, see eligibility criteria, and apply online by March 31, 2025, at childmind.org/youth-mental-health-academy.

✨The Youth Co-Lab✨

Are you a young person between the ages of 14 and 25 years old who wants to make a meaningful impact on the mental health and emotional well-being of children, youth, and families in California? The California Department of Public Health (CDPH) is currently recruiting youth to join a paid advisory group to help reimagine mental health services and reduce stigma in California. Participants are asked to commit 8 hours per month. Applications accepted year-round at kaipartners.com/child-youth-co-lab-page.

03/25/2025

Chick season is here—a good time to learn the latest on bird flu to protect you and your flock:

🐓 Avian flu (bird flu) has been spreading from wild birds to cattle and poultry flocks in California.

⚠️ As of March 2025, 70 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu, including 38 in California (with no human cases in SLO County).

🧼 If you have close contact with birds, be aware and take precautions to protect yourself and your animals, such as washing your hands and keeping work boots outside the home. It’s safest that children under five, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems do not handle birds.

🐦 Do not touch sick or dead birds. Report dead wild birds to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife: 916-358-2790. Report sick or dead poultry to the California Department of Food & Agriculture, Tulare District Office: 559-685-3500.

Want to learn more about keeping your family and your flock safe? Check out CDC's guidance on healthy flocks at https://www.cdc.gov/healthy-pets/about/backyard-poultry.html.

03/25/2025

An update on bird flu:

Avian flu (bird flu) has been spreading from wild birds to cattle, poultry flocks, and cats in California. As of March 2025, 70 people in the U.S. have been infected with bird flu (with no human cases in SLO County). People who have close contact with birds, dairy cattle or raw dairy products should be aware and take precautions.

For most people, the risk of bird flu is low at this time. Just remember:

🥛 Do not consume raw milk or other raw dairy products, and cook your eggs and meat thoroughly. Pasteurized milk is safe.

🐈 Do not feed your pets raw pet food or raw milk products. Keep your pets away from birds when possible.

🐦 Do not touch sick or dead birds. Report dead wild birds to the California Department of Fish & Wildlife: 916-358-2790. Report sick or dead poultry to the California Department of Food & Agriculture, Tulare District Office: 559-685-3500.

⚠️ Children under five, adults over 65, and people with weakened immune systems are at higher risk of contracting bird flu and should avoid handling birds, including backyard poultry.

To learn more about bird flu in California and how to stay safe – including tips for people who work with animals – see the California Dept of Public Health’s bird flu hub: https://www.cdph.ca.gov/Programs/CID/DCDC/pages/Bird-Flu.aspx.

03/25/2025

🎉 It's here! The San Luis Obispo County Master Plan on Aging is now available for public review. This plan presents a strategic roadmap to improve the well-being of older adults, adults living with disabilities, their families, friends, and caregivers. It outlines key priorities to support our community, especially our rural, coastal, migrant, and monolingual residents:
🏠 Housing: Aging in Place with Safety and Dignity
🏥 Healthcare: Ensuring Access to Quality Care
🧑‍🤝‍🧑 Emotional Wellbeing Promoting Social Connectivity
🤝 Caregiving: Expanding Awareness and Options

Here is how you can get involved:

📖 Read the plan and share your input: slocounty.gov/LADAP
Public comments can be submitted online through March 28, 2025.

📅 Attend the public hearing on April 8, 2025 at the Board Chambers of the Katcho Achadjian Government Center, 1055 Monterey St., San Luis Obispo

💙 Your voice matters! Help shape the future of aging in San Luis Obispo County.

03/24/2025

Our Health Agency outreach team shared tuberculosis treatment information on local Spanish-language radio recently to chat about higher rates of tuberculosis (TB) illness in California compared to other U.S. states and that Public Health staff support people who have TB through low-cost and (potentially life-saving) treatment.

🔊 You can listen to the TB episode (Spanish-only) of En Confianza con Laura that aired on 92.9 FM Radio Ranchito at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9wRVOa2970

P.S. If you've ever been told you have latent TB, it's important to know that treating latent TB early protects you and your loved ones, and Public Health offers low-cost treatment and support. 💕 Call 805-781-5500 or visit www.slocounty.gov/TB to learn more.

03/23/2025

Families can now enroll in CAPSLO’s 2025-2026 Head Start programs for high quality, no-cost child care and early childhood education at locations across SLO county. The program also offers connections to health services, disability services, family support to promote well-being, and more. Families can benefit from the program through Early Head Start, Head Start, and Migrant and Seasonal Head Start. Learn more at www.CAPSLO.org/EECC. Call 1-888-315-6741 or email [email protected] to apply today! 🙌

En español:

Las familias ya pueden inscribirse en los programas Head Start 2025-2026 de CAPSLO para la alta calidad, el cuidado de niños del ninguno-costo y la educación de la niñez temprana en localizaciones a través del condado de SLO. El programa también ofrece conexiones a los servicios médicos, a los servicios de la inhabilidad, a la ayuda de la familia para promover bienestar, y más. Las familias pueden beneficiarse del programa a través de Early Head Start, Head Start, y Head Start Migrante y de temporada. Más información en www.CAPSLO.org/EECC. Llame al 1-888-315-6741 o envíe un correo electrónico a [email protected] para solicitar hoy mismo.

Community Action Partnership of San Luis Obispo County, Inc.

03/22/2025

It’s spring! 🌼 Wildflowers have started growing in Montaña de Oro State Park—here are some seen from the Point Buchon Trail. Wishing you a happy, healthy weekend, SLO County! Hope you can and enjoy the beauty around us sometime this weekend.

03/20/2025

On World Oral Health Day 🦷🦷, we want to remind everyone that good dental health is important to living a happy, healthy life 😁! Avoiding smoking, va**ng, and using ni****ne pouches can prevent tooth and oral diseases 🦠 like cavities, ulcers, gum disease, and cancer.

Visit Kick It California for more tools and resources on quitting ni****ne use.
🌐 kickitca.org
📞 English: 1-800-300-8086
📞 Spanish: 1-800-600-8191
✉️ “Quit va**ng” or “No vapear” to 66819
💬 kickitca.org/chat
📱 NoVape Mobile App

***coFreeSLO **ng

San Luis Obispo County Public Health Department Kick It California

03/20/2025

Our County Board of Supervisors recognized February 2025 as Children’s Dental Health Month with gratitude to the Public Health team and community partners who work each day to care for kids' health. "We know more and more that our oral health is connected to the rest of our bodies and is sometimes that first indicator,” said Supervisor Heather Moreno.

The board highlighted both the cost and capacity savings the program creates: preventative care happening in schools means more capacity for Medi-Cal dental offices to address cavities or other problems, and every dollar of state funding that fuels this effort could save 50 dollars on emergency dental care. 🙌

Dental hygienist Ana Garcia Brady joined County staff at the podium, reflecting on their partnership providing screenings and treatments together at elementary schools and WIC clinics. “... looking at their teeth and preventing pain from these kids and also reducing the times that they are missing school, because the parents have to miss work, and the kids have to miss school. As they get older ... we’re going to have a reduction in dental disease,” said Garcia Brady. ❤️

Watch the eight-minute spotlight at www.youtube.com/watch?v=medAdmBH8Zk

03/18/2025

03/18/2025

03/18/2025

03/14/2025

Hablamos de nuestros corazones: las actividades que nos gustan y que nos ayudan a mantenerlos sanos, lo que hay que saber sobre la tensión arterial y el colesterol, y cuándo es útil hablar con el médico. Además: descubre una receta fácil y cardiosaludable que nos encanta preparar en casa. ❤️👩‍🍳