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Welcome New Board Members!

Welcome New Board Members!

Vesper Society is delighted to welcome three new leaders who join our board of directors this year: Kate Lawler, Yammilette Rodriguez, and Michael Ward. They share Vesper’s belief in the simple idea that a just society begins when everyone is well and respected as a human being. We look forward to working with them to find long-term solutions that improve the health and well-being of overlooked communities. Kate Lawler is a women’s health advocate working with survivors of domestic violence in Chicago. Kate has also worked with young adults in Buenos Aires through the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Yammilette Rodriguez is dedicated to strengthening youth leadership in the Central Valley and nationally trains organizations and communities on youth-adult partnerships. In 2012 Yami was named Hispanic Leader of the Year by State Assemblyman Henry Perea. Michael Ward recently changed careers after 22 years practicing employment law. Michael oversees administrative duties for a Bay Area agency to uplift under-served individuals and their families by doing whatever it takes. These remarkable individuals reflect our commitment to our values of service, justice, and partnership. With their compassion and expertise on our board, we are one step closer to realizing the potential for healthy communities to thrive and prosper. Learn more about board... Read More

Clinic by the Bay

Clinic by the Bay

Vesper Society knows that improving the health of individuals improves the well-being of a community. So when Clinic by the Bay sought to add chronic disease services to their offerings in 2013, Vesper supported the effort. Clinic by the Bay’s mission is to understand and serve, with dignity and respect, the health and wellness needs of working uninsured adults. Every aspect of care at Clinic by the Bay is provided by dedicated volunteers with the support of a small team of staff who oversee clinic operations. The clinic, which does not receive government funding and does not accept insurance, is 100% supported by private foundations, business and individual gifts, plus in-kind contributions of professional services and supplies. With a ‘Culture of Caring,’ patient appointments are 45 minutes, allowing more time to develop relationships with providers. Each new patient visit includes integrated medical, mental health, and dental screenings—a truly innovative approach for a community clinic setting. After the implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the expansion of Medicaid in California, Clinic by the Bay had room for more patients and was able to expand its service area to include all of San Francisco and San Mateo Counties. In 2018, Vesper Society began supporting Clinic by the Bay’s behavioral health screening and access program which aims to significantly expand the number of patients who receive behavioral health screening and trauma-informed counseling. Funding also supports efforts to conduct outreach in the community to other providers and to schools in the area who will partner with Clinic to provide internship opportunities to counselors in training. Like Vesper Society, Clinic by the Bay believes in the inherent worthiness and dignity of each person and is committed to showing kindness, respect, and patience in their approach. Together, Vesper Society and Clinic by the Bay... Read More

FACES for the Future

FACES for the Future

Vesper Society is committed to improving the well-being of youth. So, we link arms with leaders and organizations creating long-term solutions in their communities. FACES for the Future at St. Rose Hospital in Hayward, CA, was founded in 2007 as a two-year program to motivate and prepare underrepresented youth for careers in the health industry. Partnering with the Eden Area Regional Occupations Program in Hayward, FACES provides high school students with unique opportunities to learn from healthcare professionals in various hospital settings and explore career options in the health professions. Students benefit from academic enrichment opportunities, including individualized tutoring and college preparation activities, leadership training, and multi-faceted psychosocial support services, including one-on-one case management. The program also assists FACES alumni with job and internship placements, academic and career guidance, and ongoing life coaching. One of the program activities supported by Vesper Society was a retreat in December 2017. Students of the FACES for the Future-Hayward program had the opportunity to attend an overnight retreat in San Francisco. The retreat, offered in partnership with St. Rose Hospital Foundation, Vesper Society, San Francisco State University, and Vision Quilt, taught the students about public health issues and to develop their skills as advocates for their own communities. Activities included a visit by students to San Francisco State University (SFSU) where they were welcomed by Dr. Leticia Marquez-Magana, Professor of Cell and Molecular Biology, and Director of the Health Equity Research Laboratory. Dr. Marquez-Magana taught them about the field of Public Health and got them thinking about the reality of health disparities and social determinants of health. The students completed exercises to understand how they can influence the decisions made at their own schools. They gained familiarity with the college campus and had an opportunity to participate in a mentoring session with SFSU... Read More

Asian Health Services

Asian Health Services

Every day, Vesper Society links arms with leaders in overlooked communities that want to create a healthy future and helps them devise ways to do it. Established in 1974, Asian Health Services (AHS) provides comprehensive health care to low-income Asian immigrant and refugee adults and youth in Alameda County. They provide mental health services in primary care clinics, with the support of mental health therapy and/or case management. Faced with the imminent closure of a decades-old mental health program that served many low-income Asian/Pacific Islander (API) immigrants and refugee youth and adults, the Alameda County Health Care Agency reached out to Asian Health Services in 2016. Committed to serving those with mental health care needs in a culturally and linguistically competent manner, AHS heeded the call, understanding how important it was to continue these specialty mental health services for over 400 patients. With this additional service, AHS broadened its continuum of mental health services to treat low, moderate and severe mental health clients. AHS providers soon faced challenges in treating patients within the framework of their existing program. First, some patients had more urgent needs: their daily functioning level was low, they had difficulty complying with treatment plans, and/or they had negative responses to their prescribed medications. Second, some patients had lessening needs: daily functioning levels had improved, and a primary care center was sufficient to meet their needs. But they didn’t want to stop serving these patient groups – who both needed continued psychiatric medication management and minimal mental health/case management support to sustain a higher level of daily functioning. With support from Vesper Society, AHS was able to set up additional services for these two groups, so they can navigate the continuum of care more smoothly. Vesper also supports the new AHS Tele-Psychiatry Program, which aims to mitigate provider... Read More

First 5 Humboldt ACES/Resilience Project

First 5 Humboldt ACES/Resilience Project

Vesper Society is committed to finding long-term solutions that help leaders and organizations in rural areas improve the well-being of their children and communities. In November 1998, California voters passed Proposition 10, the “Children and Families Act of 1998” initiative. The act instituted a tax on cigarettes and other tobacco products to provide funding for early childhood development programs. Revenues generated from the tobacco tax must be used to enhance the early growth experiences of children, enabling them to be more successful in school and ultimately to give them an equal opportunity to succeed in life. When voters passed Proposition 10, they launched a new model of responsive public agencies. In each of the 58 counties, the First 5 Commission was formed—made up of local community leaders, experts, and advocates. Complementing First 5’s efforts, the California Children and Families Foundation (CCFF), a nonprofit public benefit corporation, conducts regional and statewide projects that assist county commissions and the children and families they serve. With support from Vesper Society, CCFF funds First 5 Humboldt ACES/Resilience Project. Adverse childhood experiences (ACES)— stressful traumatic experiences and household dysfunction—are one of the greatest public health crises facing Humboldt County.  Growing up with family members with substance abuse disorders, witnessing domestic violence, child abuse, and neglect are some examples of ACES. Research shows that when children are exposed to chronic stressful events, their ability to cope diminishes and this can lead to substance abuse and behavioral problems. First 5 Humboldt understands that prevention is critical. Children must have a healthy beginning supported by adults who understand and care about them in order to develop into happy, healthy, contributing adults. First 5 Humboldt uses resilience science to inform the work they do on behalf of children and families. Vesper Society is honored to support these important long-term solutions that... Read More

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