January 5, 2016 - News Brief
Petaluma Valley Hospital's future up for discussion

The Petaluma Health Care District will carve out time from its public meeting tonight to discuss the future operation of Petaluma Valley Hospital, which is owned by the district but is operated through a lease with St. Joseph Health in Sonoma County. That lease expires in January 2017.

The 7 p.m. forum is one of several special sessions aimed at creating an opportunity for public to help craft the criteria used to select the future operator of the hospital, said Ramona Faith, CEO of the Petaluma Health Care District. “The feedback from the public helps the board shape our evaluation criteria, so we can best serve the community and identify the best hospital operator moving forward,” Faith said.

To read more visit this link >>  

December 31, 2015
Drought, housing crisis top Petaluma new stories in 2015

Events of the past year in Petaluma seem to set the stage for a busy 2016. While next year promises to be monumental with a major election, several large transportation projects coming online and potentially drought busting rains, 2015 passed relatively routinely, although with plenty of stories to keep Petaluma on its toes.

For most of the year, the city and the region were parched by a record drought that was only slightly eased by late fall rains. A housing crisis also gripped the Bay Area, and Petaluma leaders struggled to come up with solutions to the problem.

To read more visit this link >>  

December 31, 2015
Important Petaluma issues in 2016

If you thought this past year was exciting for local news, just wait until 2016 starts to gather steam. Once the holiday hangover wears off, 2016 should be an extremely busy year for local issues with the potential to shape Petaluma.

The year also offers Petalumans plenty of opportunity to stay engaged and weigh in on the issues, while we will do our best to keep readers informed

To read more visit this link >>  

December 18, 2015
Helping generations of Petaluma students

The Petaluma Educational Foundation (PEF) has a few goals for 2016. They’d like to expand their partnerships with local businesses. They’d like to receive more donations of high-quality furniture and designer-label clothing at their Alphabet Soup Thrift Store on Western Ave. And, perhaps most ambitiously, they’d like every single person in Petaluma to donate something, no matter how small.

To read more visit this link >>  

December 10, 2015
Mentor Me volunteers help at-risk youth in Petaluma

The guidance and company of a caring adult can make a world of difference in the life of a child, and since 2001, Petaluma-based Mentor Me has worked hard to provide at-risk youth in the community with mentors.

"January is National Mentoring Month and really our greatest need now is for mentors," said Mentor Me's Executive Director, Deborah Dalton.

To read more visit this link >>  

December 3, 2015
Petaluma hospital bids coming into focus

The board of directors for the Petaluma Health Care District on Tuesday held the first of four public meetings to solicit input as they narrow down their criteria for selecting a leading candidate to operate Petaluma Valley Hospital, a recommendation that will go to the ballot for final approval sometime next year.

After the absence of public comment on the topic, the board called on residents to lend their thoughts in future meetings before adoption of the decision-making framework on Jan. 19. 

To read more visit this link >>  

December 2, 2015
Cardiac rehab program opens to low-income residents in Sonoma County

While working in a Mexico City bakery a half-century ago, Vicente Tlatilpa earned the name “Atómico” for his lightning speed moving tray after tray of Mexican bread. His talents as a street brawler eventually landed him in the Lucha Libre wrestling circuit, where he adopted the masked identity of Rayo Atómico — the Atomic Ray.

It took a recent surgical procedure for his clogged arteries to slow down the 75-year-old Windsor retiree. But with the help of a well-known cardiac rehabilitation program in Sonoma County, Tlatilpa is close to resuming the active lifestyle that’s always been part of his identity.

To read more visit this link >>  

December 1, 2015
Sonoma County preschoolers go hands-on with veggies

With a $94,580 federal grant, North Bay Children’s Center, a nonprofit operator of six Sonoma County preschools, has bolstered its nutrition education curriculum with a program built on local farms and gardening, designed to foster healthier eating habits and a greater understanding of where fresh food comes from.

The center is partnering in the effort with Community Child Care Council of Sonoma County, or 4Cs, and Community Alliance with Family Farmers. The grant pays for garden supplies at 15 Sonoma County preschools, monthly produce deliveries from local farmers that include materials about the farmer and farming process, and related teaching activities and supplies.

To read more visit this link >>  

November 11, 2015
Sonoma County gets grant to fight childhood trauma impacts

Sonoma County was selected as one of 14 communities across the country to take part in a project to expand its innovative work in addressing adverse childhood experiences. It's an opporunity to exapnd local solutions to prevent traumatic childhood experiences that are linked to poor health outcomes later in life, according to county health officials.

To read more visit this link >>  

November 10, 2015 - Press Release
Petaluma Health Care District Seeks Public Input on Priorities for Selection of Petaluma Valley Hospital Operator

PHCD announced it closed the window for submission of new proposals from potential operators of Petaluma Valley Hospital (PVH) on October 20. Now in a 60-day quiet phase as the responding operators complete their due diligence and refine their bids, PHCD is, again, reaching out to the Southern Sonoma County community for input on prioritizing the service offerings and final selection criteria that will inform PHCD in its discussions and negotiations regarding the future operations of PVH.

To read more visit this link >>  

November 2, 2015
20 in North Bay selected for Healthiest Companies Awards

The Business Journal is pleased to announce the 20 recipients of its fourth annual Healthiest Companies in the North Bay for 2015. 

The award highlights successful wellnes programs by employers and organizations, which can help offset employer healthcare costs and improve employee morale and productivity.  Such efforts can also help employers retain and recruit employees, according to health officials.  The Petaluma Health Care District was a reicpient of the award for the second year in a row.

To read more visit this link >>  

October 20, 2015 - Press Release
Petaluma Health Care District Moves Due Diligence Process Forward Announces Four Potential Operators at Petaluma Valley Hospital

PHCD announced that four responders to its formal Request for Proposal (RFP) will be invited to continue participating in the due-diligence and bid process to identify the operator for Petaluma Valley Hospital (PVH) when the lease with St. Joseph Health expires in 2017. The potential operators are St. Joseph Health, Sutter Health, Prime Healthcare Services and Strategic Global Management.

“Every decision we make here at PHCD and as a board stems from our steadfast commitment to advocate for and improve the health and well-being of Southern Sonoma County residents,” said PHCD CEO Ramona Faith.

To read more visit this link >>  

September 24, 2015 - News Brief
Multiple Bids for Petaluma Hospital

The Petaluma Health Care District, the public entity which owns Petaluma Valley Hospital, has received "multiple bids" from companies interested in leasing or even purchasing the hospital, said Ramona Faith, district CEO.

The transition would take place when a current, 20-year lease with St. Joseph Health expires in 2017.

To read more visit this link >>  

September 24, 2015 - Guest Commentary
Important Hospital Decision - Ramona Faith MS RN, PHCD CEO

The Argus-Courier's Sept. 17 editorial "Keeping city's hospital healthy," touched on just a few of the many challenges we face in today's health care landscape, including the rapidly rising costs of health care and hospital operations, national health care reform and the changing needs of the community. Another challenge we face at this time is communicating the complicated process associated with determining the future operator of Petaluma Valley Hospital

To read more visit this link >>  

September 11, 2015
PHCD Appoints Local Financial Advisor Joseph Stern to Board of Directors

PHCD proudly welcomes Member-at-Large Joseph Stern to its Board of Directors. Filling the seat recently vacated by Petaluma Health Center CEO Kathie Powell, Stern's appointment begins immediately and will run through the current term ending in Nov. 2016, at which point a general election will be held. Stern is a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Petaluma and has been a resident of the community for the past 14 years.

To read more visit this link >>  

September 9, 2015
Free or low-cost preschool in Petaluma

Are you looking for free or low-cost preschool in Petaluma? PHCD and members of our CHIPA Cradle to Career Work Group have put together a flyer to help families find affordable high-quality preschool in Petaluma.

Click here for a list of free or low-cost perschool options in Petaluma

En español

August 24, 2015
All Farmers' Market L.I.F.E. incentives increased to $20 for September!

In recognition of National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month and National Hunger Action Month, Petaluma Bounty is launching the "Growing Change" campaign for the month of September. Incentives at all Farmers' Markets participating in the L.I.F.E. (Local Incentive for Food and Economy) program will increase to $20 to help CalFresh/EBT users start the school year with healthy eating habits!

PHCD is proud to be a founding and ongoing sponsor of the L.I.F.E. program in Southern Sonoma County. To learn more about why we are committed to ensuring all residents have access to fresh fruits and vegetables, check out our latest blog post.

To read more visit this link >>  

August 20, 2015
Argus Courier - An Early Start to Education - Expanding Preschool Seen As Giving Kids a Boost

PHCD is convening leaders in education and public health to increase awareness of the critical impact of high quality early education on individual health, and the struggles residents face in accessing quality affordable care.

Ramona Faith, PHCD CEO, says "The research is telling us that kids who enter kindergarten ready to suceed are more likely to be able to read at third grade, graduate high school, go to college, get a job, get access to health care, stay out of jail."

To read more visit this link >>  

June 17, 2015 - Press Release
Petaluma Becomes First City in Sonoma County to Earn "HeartSafe Community" Designation

PHCD is pleased to announce that the Sonoma County Board of Supervisors and Petaluma City Council have designated Petaluma a HeartSafe Community, formally celebrating PHCD's efforts to address heart health education and provide life-saving CPR trainings to combat Sudden Cardiac Arrest (SCA) outside of hospital walls through its HeartSafe Community Initiative (HSC). Petaluma is Sonoma County's first city to receive the designation.

To read more visit this link >>  

May 13, 2015 - Press Release
Association of California Healthcare Districts Names Petaluma “Healthcare District of the Year”

Governing Association Touts PHCD’s Inspiring Community Health Initiatives in Bestowing Prestigious Award

PHCD is proud to announce that it has been honored as California's Healthcare District of the Year by the Association of California Healthcare Districts (ACHD). PHCD Board President Elece Hempel, Treasurer Jospehine Thornton, and CEO Ramona Faith attended ACHD's 63rd Annual Confrence in Monterey where they were presented with the award at a special dinner and ceremony on May 7. The award, given to just one out of 78 districts, seeks to recognize a District that has implemented programs or services that have yielded direct and measurable benefits on the health and well-being of its residents

To read more visit this link >>