On Monday, Gov. Gavin Newsom met virtually with education leaders, parents and students to highlight the state’s community schools strategy, an effort to ensure that students and families in local communities can get the resources they need at their school to thrive in the classroom.
Community schools partner with education, county and nonprofit entities to provide integrated health, mental health and social services alongside high-quality, supportive instruction, with a strong focus on community, family and student engagement.
Research and data have shown that community schools can result in lower rates of absenteeism, better grades and test scores, higher enrollment in college prep classes, and higher graduation rates.
“Supporting students outside of the classroom is essential to helping our kids achieve, and community schools provide those resources for local communities to bolster support services. This strategy is the nation’s most ambitious proposal to improve student learning, health, and well-being – full-service schools centered on the lived realities of students and families that deliver whatever students need to help them thrive in the classroom,” said Gov. Newsom.
“The traditional school year may be coming to a close for many students, but our work on community schools is just beginning,” said CTA President E. Toby Boyd. “Educators know it will take resources, support and a community effort to create schools that disrupt poverty. It is going to require meaningful educator, community and parent engagement to give all students the schools they deserve with a robust curriculum, support services and a commitment to shared leadership.”
Last year, California invested $3 billion to expand and strengthen the implementation and use of the community school model to schools in communities with high levels of poverty.
This investment supports a whole-child framework for school transformation to guide local educational agencies in planning and implementing other recent state investments in universal nutrition, before/after school and summer school enrichment and care, universal transitional kindergarten, behavioral health supports, and other similar initiatives.
As part of this $3 billion investment, the State Board of Education and Department of Education last month announced the awardees for $649 million in community school grants. Additionally, the Alameda County Office of Education was awarded $12 million to lead the state’s community schools technical assistance infrastructure to support the implementation of the grants.
The Governor’s May Revision budget proposal includes an additional $1.5 billion to expand access to the community schools grants to every eligible local educational agency that opts to apply on behalf of its high-need schools.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The latest report from the Lake County Association of Realtors shows the number of sales over the last month down slightly while inventory is rising.
For the period of April 23 to May 23, the total number of homes sold through the multiple listing service was 101, compared to 117 the previous month and 68 sales the month before that.
These include traditionally built “stick-built” houses as well as manufactured homes on land.
There were eight sales of mobile homes in parks, compared to seven the previous month, and 32 bare land (lots and acreage) sales, compared with 31 the month before.
Total percentage of homes bought for all cash was 23%, compared to 36% the previous month, while 43% were financed by Fannie Mae or Freddie Mac (“conventional loans”) compared to 32% last month. Another 15% were financed by FHA, compared to 20% the previous month.
There are 325 stick-built and manufactured homes on land currently on the market, compared to 281 the previous month and 197 the month before that. Inventory is rising.
If the rate of sales stays the same at 101 homes sold per month, there are currently 3.1 months of inventory on the market at the moment. That means that if no new homes are brought to the market for sale, in 3.1 months all of these homes would be sold and there would be none available.
Less than 6 months of inventory is generally considered to be a “sellers’ market” while more than 6 months of inventory is often called a “buyers’ market.”
The month previous there were 2.4 months of inventory, so the number of homes on the market is definitely increasing, the association reported.
The median time on the market last month was 23 days, up from 14 days the previous month. The median price of a single family home in Lake County over the last 30 days was $359,000.
Twenty five percent of homes sold with a seller concession to the buyer for closing costs; the average amount of seller credit to buyer was $8,219.
What's up for June? A planetary breakup, prime viewing for a well-known star cluster, and the constellation Lyra.
The gathering of four naked-eye planets we've been enjoying in the morning sky for the past few months — including several close conjunctions, is beginning to break up.
Over the next few months, Saturn, Mars, Jupiter and Venus will appear increasingly spread out across the morning sky — so much so that Venus and Saturn will make their exits as morning objects for most observers by September.
Look for this increasingly spaced out planetary precession in June, and note that the crescent moon jumps into the lineup on the morning of the 23rd.
June is an excellent time to observe one of the best-known globular star clusters — M13, also known as the Hercules Cluster. Globular clusters are spherical collections of stars, tightly packed together in their centers. M13 itself contains several hundred thousand stars.
Globular clusters are also extremely old. The stars in M13 are thought to be around 12 billion years old, which is approaching the age of the universe itself. Our home galaxy, the Milky Way, is known to have about 150 globular clusters. They orbit outside the galaxy's disk, traveling tens of thousands of light-years above and below its spiral arms and most of its stars.
Now, the Hercules Cluster is best observed with a telescope, and larger telescopes will allow you to see more of the cluster's stars. But you can also find it with a pair of binoculars, where it'll look like a hazy little spot.
Find M13 in the constellation Hercules, which is high in the east in the first couple of hours after dark in June.
First look for the bright stars Vega and Arcturus.
Then find the four stars that comprise "the Keystone," which is the pattern making up the central part of Hercules.
You'll find M13 about a third of the way between the two stars on the western, or leading, side of the Keystone.
So check out the Great Globular Cluster in Hercules, M13, in June, and find yourself staring at an ancient gathering of stars that soars high above the Milky Way.
Finally in June, a quick introduction to one of the smaller constellations that's home to one of the brightest stars.
That's the constellation Lyra. It represents a lyre, or harp, played by the musician Orpheus in Greek mythology.
In Arab cultures, as well as ancient Egypt and India, Lyra was seen as an eagle. And the Inca of South America saw it as a llama.
Find Lyra by looking for Vega, which is the westernmost of the three bright stars in the Summer Triangle.
In the Northern Hemisphere, you'll find it halfway up the eastern sky in the first couple of hours after dark in June.
Vega is by far the brightest star in Lyra. It's the fifth brightest star in the sky and the second brightest in the Northern Hemisphere, after Sirius.
A pair of binoculars will help you see the others stars in Lyra, which form a sort of parallelogram hanging beneath it.
It's sometimes described as looking a bit like a diamond ring, with Vega as the diamond.
And that's not the only ring in Lyra. It's also home to the famous Ring Nebula, where a star has blown off most of its outer layers, leaving behind a remnant star known as a white dwarf.
So let the bright star Vega lead you to Lyra, the harp constellation, in the June sky. And if you see it as an eagle, or a diamond ring, or a llama, well that's perfectly OK too ...
Preston Dyches works for NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County’s sheriff is asking the Board of Supervisors to consider what action to take in light of the Health Services Department informing him that it does not have money in its budget for the jail medical contract.
The board will meet beginning at 9 a.m. Tuesday, June 7, in the board chambers on the first floor of the Lake County Courthouse, 255 N. Forbes St., Lakeport.
The meeting ID is 950 3938 4477, pass code 605292. The meeting also can be accessed via one tap mobile at +16699006833,,95039384477#,,,,*605292#.
All interested members of the public that do not have internet access or a Mediacom cable subscription are encouraged to call 669-900-6833, and enter the Zoom meeting ID and pass code information above.
In an untimed item, Sheriff Brian Martin is asking the board to discuss the administration of the jail medical contract.
In his memo to the board, Martin said he has been notified by the Public Health director that the Health Department will no longer administer the contract for jail medical services after a recent contract extension was granted to the current provider.
“The jail medical services contract was implemented in 1995 at the request of Public Health Director Bob Erickson by Board action at a meeting on December 19, 1995 and the Health Services Department has served as the administrating agency ever since,” Martin said.
Martin said he recently was informed by the Health Services director that “there is no more funding in [their] budget to support this service.”
“Due to the numerous legal obligations of the County to provide medical services to incarcerated people, the specific medical knowledge required to craft a contract that will meet those needs, and the desire to have some level of oversight in the administration of the contract and services, the Sheriff is requesting Board direction to identify the appropriate department to perform this service,” the memo said.
The memo continues, “Should the Board decide that administration of the Jail Medical Contract become the responsibility of another department other than the Health Services Department, this drastic shift would also likely result in significant budget changes. Should the Board decide to assign the task to some other department, the Sheriff respectfully requests that the BOS direct staff to make whatever changes are needed to the budget.”
The full agenda follows.
CONSENT AGENDA
5.1: Adopt proclamation designating the month of June 2022 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
5.2: Approve letter of support for Lakeshore Boulevard Safe Routes to School Active Transportation Program grant application.
5.3: Approve Amendment No. 2 to the agreement between county of Lake and Willow Glen Care Center to increase the contract maximum to $360,000 for fiscal year 2021-22 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.4: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Hardeep Singh, MD to perform mental health medical director responsibilities on behalf of Lake County Behavioral Health Services in the amount of $270,000 for fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.5: Approve participation agreement between county of Lake and the California Mental Health Services Authority for the Behavioral Health Quality Improvement Program in the amount of $102,270.00 for fiscal years 2021-22, 2022-23 and 2023-24 and authorize the Behavioral Health director to sign.
5.6: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Crisis Support Services of Alameda County for after hours crisis support services for fiscal years 2022-23, 2023-24 and 2024-25 in the amount of $252,000 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.7: Approve participation agreement between the county of Lake and the California Mental Health Services Authority for the Semi-Statewide Enterprise Health Record for fiscal years 2022-23 through 2028-29 in the amount of $1,459,594.00 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.8: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Crestwood Behavioral Health for Adult Residential Support Services and specialty mental health services in the amount of $3,600,000.00 for fys 2022-23, 2023-24, and 2024-25 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.9: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Hardeep Singh, MD for substance use disorder treatment medical director responsibilities on behalf of Lake County Behavioral Health Services in the amount of $124,800 for fiscal year 2022-23 and authorize the board chair to sign.
5.10: Approve Board of Supervisors minutes for April 19, 2022, May 23, 2022, and May 24, 2022.
5.11: Adopt resolution authorizing the 2022-2023 grant project — Lake County Victim Witness Assistance Program and authorize the chair to sign the certification of co
5.12: Appoint staff services analyst, senior, Lorraine “Rainy” Grafton to serve as Interim Health Services Program manager effective June 1, 2022 per Lake County Personnel Rule 1604.7, Section F.
5.13: Approve the third amendment to the agreement between the county of Lake and Management Connections for temporary staffing support services to update the compensation rate table and authorize the board chair to sign the amendment.
5.14: Approve agreement between the county of Lake and the Lake County Office of Education for probation family services, for the period of July 1, 2022 through June 30, 2023 for an amount not to exceed $75,000 and authorize the chair to sign.
5.15: Approve the destruction of documents by the sheriff's department.
5.16: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Redwood Community Services Inc. for the provision of SB163 wraparound services in the Amount of $864,000, from July 1, 2021 to August 31, 2022, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.17: Approve contract between the county of Lake and Lake Family Resource Center for Cal-Learn Services in the amount of $50,000 Per Fiscal Year from July 1, 2021 to June 30, 2024, and authorize the chair to sign.
5.18: Approve request to waive 900 hour limit for extra-help water resources ramp monitors Wayne Moore, Tom Pinkston, Donald Purdy, and ramp monitor coordinators Edwin Scotton and Robert Valdez.
5.19: Approve agreement between county of Lake and Clean Lakes Inc. for the aquatic vegetation management program for fiscal year 2021-2022.
5.20: Adopt resolution authorizing the county of Lake Water Resources deputy director to (a) accept and execute the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service National Water Quality Initiative (NRCS NWQI) Planning Grant and Agreement Award for $50,000, (b) Waive the formal bidding process, pursuant to Lake County Code Section 38.2, as it is not in the public interest due to the unique nature of the goods and services, and (c) approve and sign the service agreement with California Rural Water Agency to fulfill the NRCS NWQI grant deliverables.
TIMED ITEMS
9:05 a.m.: Pet of the Week.
6.3, 9:07 a.m.: Presentation of proclamation designating the month of June 2022 as LGBTQ+ Pride Month.
6.4, 9:15 a.m.: Hearing on account and proposed assessment for 7137 E State Highway 20, Lucerne.
6.5, 9:30 a.m.: Public hearing on account and proposal assessment for 13204 Second St., Clearlake Oaks.
6.6, 10 a.m.: Public Hearing regarding AB481, California Government Code 7070-7075, Military Equipment use presentation and adoption of sheriff's office military equipment use policy.
6.7, 10:45 a.m.: Public hearing, consideration of resolution approving resolutions and capital fire facility and equipment plans submitted by Lake County fire agencies and updating the Lake County Capital Fire Facility and Equipment Plan.
6.8, 11:15 a.m.: Presentation by the Lake County Museum curator on the status of the Lake County Museums.
UNTIMED ITEMS
7.2: Sitting as the Lake County Air Quality Management District Board of Directors, consideration of appointment to the LCAQMD Hearing Board Pursuant to Health and Safety Code.
7.3: Consideration of the following Advisory Board Appointments: Western Region Town Hall, Middletown Cemetery Board and Lower Lake Cemetery Board.
7.4: Consideration of Task Force/Ad Hoc Committee to Add Article 73 to Chapter 21 of Lake County Zoning Ordinance to address commercial cannabis permitting activities and enforcement.
7.5: Consideration of agreement between the county of Lake and SCS Field Services for annual landfill gas collection system operations, monitoring, maintenance and reporting services.
7.6: Discussion and consideration of administration of the jail medical contract.
CLOSED SESSION
8.1: Public employee evaluation: Health Services Director Jonathan Portney.
8.2: Public employee evaluation: Public Health Officer Dr. Erik McLaughlin.
8.3: Conference with legal counsel: Existing litigation pursuant to Gov. Code sec. 54956.9 (d)(1) — FERC Project No. 77, Potter Valley Hydroelectric Project.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Registrar of Voters Office has released the latest round of campaign financial reporting documents for candidates in county races in the June primary.
The documents for the races for assessor-recorder, district attorney, treasurer-tax collector and Middletown Unified School District Board can be found here, and are searchable by the candidates’ names.
The latest reporting covers the period of April 24 through May 21, and includes year-to-date totals.
Based on the latest reporting, six of the eight candidates in those four races have raised a total of $105,744.91 for the calendar year through May 21.
Two candidates — Paul Flores, who is running against Patrick Sullivan for treasurer-tax collector, and Bryan Pullman, who is running against Charise Reynolds for a seat on the Middletown Unified School Board — submitted no documents and so reported no fundraising.
Of that total amount of funding raised, $44,750, or 42%, was in the form of personal loans the candidates made to their own campaigns.
The candidate with the largest amount of total contributions is district attorney candidate Anthony Farrington. He also has the largest amount of loans given to himself, totaling $25,000.
Outside of loans, his top five monetary contributors for the reporting period were Christopher Shaul, Hayward, $500; George Monaco, Lakeport, $500; Debra Watson Heckert, Lakeport, $250; Chris Modrzejewski, Los Angeles, $250; and James R. Kemp, Kelseyville, $250.
Incumbent District Attorney Susan Krones, who Farrington is seeking to unseat, has raised $23,267, lending herself $6,000.
Her top six monetary contributors for the reporting period were Maryann Schmid, Kelseyville, $2,500; Julianne Carter, Hidden Valley Lake, $1,500; Lake County Democratic Central Committee, $1,000; Angela Carter, Hidden Valley Lake, $500; and Mike McGuire for State Senate 2022, Santa Rosa, $500.
Incumbent Assessor-Recorder Richard Ford has funded his campaign entirely with loans, totaling $3,500. No other contributions were reported.
His challenger, Hannah Faith Lee, has raised $13,178.30, of which she lent herself $5,000.
Outside of the loans, she had two contributors of funds for the campaign period: Maryann Schmid, Kelseyville, $1,000; and Eryck Lee, Clearlake, $776.20.
In the treasurer-tax collector’s race, Sullivan has raised $16,876.95 so far this year, lending himself $4,500.
His top five monetary contributors for the reporting period were the California Real Estate PAC, Los Angeles, $500; Sissa Nelson Harris, Clearlake, $100; Loy Linebarger, San Francisco, $100; Terrence McHugh, San Francisco, $100; and Michael Murphy, San Bruno, $100.
For the Middletown Unified School Board, Reynolds has raised $4,272.66 for the year to date, including $750 in loans to herself.
Her three monetary contributors for the reporting period were the Lake County Democratic Central Committee, $500; Nara Dahlbacka, Oakland, $250; and Katherine Welch, Boston, Massachusetts, $250.
For all of the candidates, campaign flyers and mailings — including postage and printing — and advertising accounted for their largest expenses.
Snapshots of the candidates’ contributions and expenses year to date are published below.
ASSESSOR-RECORDER’S RACE
Richard Ford
Total contributions received, year to date: $3,500 Monetary contributions, year to date: $0 Loans (from self): $3,500 Nonmonetary contributions: $0 Total expenditures: $3,101.30
Hannah Faith Lee
Total contributions received, year to date: $13,178.30 Monetary contributions, year to date: $6,525.72 Loans (from self): $5,000 Nonmonetary contributions: $1,652.58 Total expenditures: $10,661.85
DISTRICT ATTORNEY’S RACE
Anthony Farrington
Total contributions received, year to date: $44,650 Monetary contributions, year to date: $16,900 Loans (from self): $25,000 Nonmonetary contributions: $2,750 Total expenditures: $39,134.87
Susan Krones
Total contributions received, year to date: $23,267 Monetary contributions, year to date: $17,267 Loans (from self): $6,000 Nonmonetary contributions: $0 Total expenditures: $15,846
TREASURER-TAX COLLECTOR’S RACE
Paul Flores
No documents filed.
Patrick Sullivan
Total contributions received, year to date: $16,876.95 Monetary contributions, year to date: $12,047 Loans (from self): $4,500 Nonmonetary contributions: $329.95 Total expenditures: $11,463.25
MIDDLETOWN UNIFIED SCHOOL DISTRICT BOARD
Bryan Pullman
No documents filed.
Charise Reynolds
Total contributions received, year to date: $4,272.66 Monetary contributions, year to date: $2,748.01 Loans (from self): $750 Nonmonetary contributions: $774.65 Total expenditures: $3,573.45
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Library's annual Summer Reading Challenge begins Saturday, June 4. This year the theme is to “Read beyond the Beaten Path.”
By signing up for summer reading with the library, children, teens and adults can win various prizes, including stickers, small toys, a Kindle Fire tablet or local business gift cards.
Participating in the library program is a great way for everyone to challenge themselves to read more.
For students, reading over summer break can prevent learning loss and help them start the next school year out on the right page. Reading for fun is a great way to build vocabulary and literacy skills.
The library has programs for pre-K, kids, teens, and adults. Children who can't quite read on their own can still sign up and parents can record the books that they read together.
Starting on June 4 residents can register on the Library's summer reading website. Registration is open at any time until summer reading ends on Aug. 6.
Anyone who wants to sign up can head to the library website at http://library.lakecountyca.gov and click “Summer Reading.”
Residents can also sign up in person by visiting their local branch. On the first day of Summer Reading, Saturday, June 4, at 10 a.m., each library is hosting a Super Sign Up event with crafts and fun games.
Once registered, participants can start reading books and get points by logging their reading, either online or by visiting the library. All reading counts as long as it’s from the library, including eBooks, print books, audiobooks, magazines and comics.
The library offers prizes to make summer reading more fun. For adults and teens there will be a prize drawing at the end of the program. The more points participants earn the greater chance they have to win. The Friends of the Lake County Library, a community nonprofit membership organization, provides all the prizes.
Once participants read enough to earn 1,000 points the Friends of the Lake County Library will donate a book to the library in their name. The book will have their name inside commemorating their reading achievement and they will be the first person to check it out.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lakeport City Council will discuss calling an election regarding the South Lakeport annexation and consider approving a private financing plan for water system improvements.
The council will meet at 6 p.m. Tuesday, June 7, in the council chambers at Lakeport City Hall, 225 Park St.
The council chambers will be open to the public for the meeting. Masks are highly encouraged where 6-foot distancing cannot be maintained.
If you cannot attend in person, and would like to speak on an agenda item, you can access the Zoom meeting remotely at this link or join by phone by calling toll-free 669-900-9128 or 346-248-7799.
The webinar ID is 973 6820 1787, access code is 477973; the audio pin will be shown after joining the webinar. Those phoning in without using the web link will be in “listen mode” only and will not be able to participate or comment.
Comments can be submitted by email to This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. To give the city clerk adequate time to print out comments for consideration at the meeting, please submit written comments before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, June 7.
On Tuesday, the council will consider a resolution calling for a special municipal election to be held on the proposed South Lakeport Annexation Area on Nov. 8 for the purpose of seeking confirmation from the voters in the annexation area.
Due to receiving protests on the proposed annexation last month, state law requires an election to be called.
In other business, council members will discuss approval of a resolution authorizing the financing through a bank of water system improvements totaling $5.845 million.
The council voted last month to approve the proposal for the financing, necessary to complete the water system improvements identified in an August 2021 rate study.
In other business, the council will hold a budget workshop to review the fiscal year 2022-23 budget, and consider authorizing the city manager to execute an agreement for administrative services and direct the finance director to transfer an initial deposit of $600,000 to the city’s pension trust accounts.
Council members also will consider a resolution authorizing the city manager to sign the statement of assurances and submit an application for the State Community Development Block Grant, receive a report from the police chief on 2021 crime statistics, approve the acceptance of a surplus ambulance from the Lakeport Fire Protection District, award a construction contract to Pavement Coatings Company for the 2022 Microsurface Project, meet new employees Bethany Moss and Nanette Mariani, and the Lakeport Police Department will present a citizen commendation to Larry Richardson.
On the consent agenda — items usually accepted as a slate on one vote — are ordinances; minutes of the regular council meeting on May 17; adoption of a resolution authorizing continued remote teleconference meetings of the Lakeport City Council and its legislative bodies pursuant to Government Code section 54953(e); adoption of the ordinance amending Chapter 8.16 of the Lakeport Municipal Code to establish edible food recovery regulations and revise existing solid waste regulations; adoption of the proposed resolution approving the city of Lakeport SB 1 Project List for fiscal year 2022-23 and direct staff to submit to the California Transportation Commission; authorization to cancel the regular meeting on July 5.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
Tammy Chang, University of Michigan and Jonathan Todres, Georgia State University
As the COVID-19 pandemic extends into a third year, experts have gained a much better understanding of its consequences for the health and development of children and adolescents.
We are a law professor who focuses on children’s rights and well-being and a practicing family physician who researches adolescent health. We and other researchers have found that over the past two years, governments have missed opportunities to better understand and address what young people have been going through as they navigate the pandemic.
A better understanding of the pandemic’s effects on young people is essential to developing policy responses that can address the breadth of harms children and adolescents are experiencing.
The pandemic’s impacts on children
Research has found that, on average, K-12 students fell behind by about five months in mathematics and four months in reading during the 2020-2021 school year compared with students before the pandemic. Many students lost the equivalent of half a year or more of learning, with students in low-income and majority-Black schools being hit hardest. This learning loss puts many students at risk of not finishing high school, and it jeopardizes their chances of attending college, all of which has adverse consequences for lifetime earning potential.
The pandemic has also adversely affected children’s mental health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that 37% of high schoolers reported poor mental health and 44% reported that they “persistently felt sad or hopeless” during the pandemic. Other research, including a recent surgeon general’s advisory on young people’s mental health, has found higher rates of depression, anxiety, loneliness and other social-emotional issues among children since the pandemic.
Basic needs including food and housing have also been put at risk by the pandemic. Job losses, disruptions in school-based meal programs and other adverse impacts on families led to an increase in the number of families experiencing food insecurity, putting children at risk of being unable to get adequate nutrition for healthy development.
In addition, millions of children and their families have experienced housing insecurity. The Eviction Lab, which tracks evictions in six states and 31 U.S. cities, reports that more than 939,000 evictions have occurred since March 2020. Even when families can stave off eviction, housing insecurity adversely affects children’s educational progress and well-being.
Policymakers frequently dismiss young people as too immature to participate in the “serious business” of policymaking. This attitude has persisted during the pandemic: Young people have seldom been consulted on public health policy changes that affect them directly, from schools to transportation to public parks.
For example, most decisions regarding moves to virtual schooling and back to in-person learning were made without input from children – the very population most affected by these decisions.
This failure to engage young people stems largely from the conventional view that children and adolescents are “becomings,” not “beings” – that is, because they are developing, they lack maturity to make important decisions and thus should be “seen and not heard.”
However, we have learned through our own research and engagement with young people – as well as through other youth participation projects and reports – that this mindset is outdated and fails to recognize the knowledge young people’s lived experience offers. In our research and partnering with youths, we have found consistently that involving young people at all stages – from identifying issues to designing and implementing projects to developing policy recommendations – improves outcomes.
Research has found that listening to and engaging young people helps adults better understand the challenges children face. Giving young people meaningful opportunities to participate in decisions that affect their lives can lead to important insights about whether particular options will be effective and can help identify more promising solutions.
In addition, experience shows that involving youths in the development of policies and programs increases the likelihood of better buy-in from young people on the final decisions. In turn, buy-in helps improve outcomes.
For example, while children may not be experts on education theory, they are the only ones alive today who have ever navigated school during a global pandemic. Their lived experience offers expertise that can help inform and improve policies and outcomes.
Moreover, involving young people now will help them develop the skills they need to prepare for adulthood.
Listen, involve and create pathways
Our work suggests that there are various ways adults can partner with children on creating policies and programs during this pandemic, as well as in future public health crises. A few of these include:
– Parents, teachers, school administrators and community leaders can simply listen more often to children. This may best be done by “meeting them where they are,” which can include paying attention to what youths express on social media to connecting with them through text messages or asking them more often how they are doing. Adults can ask them what they’re concerned about or what they want to see happen, or create supportive in-person and virtual groups.
– Adults can actively involve young people in what is happening in their communities and engage them in responses to the pandemic in age-appropriate ways. There are good examples of children having an impact during the pandemic. With ideas originating from youths themselves, young people have taken on leadership roles in their communities, leveraging their skills to do everything from producing mask extenders for health care workers to starting a food delivery business to aid elderly community members.
– Schools, communities and policymakers can create permanent pathways for young people to participate in developing and implementing policies – and don’t have to wait for a pandemic to do it. In Colorado, the Growing Up Boulder initiative has successfully engaged young people on a breadth of policy issues including transportation, urban planning, housing and parks-related projects. Other cities, such as Minneapolis and San Francisco, have established youth commissions and congresses that provide ongoing ways for young people to have a say in their communities.
All three examples – from regular, informal check-ins with youths to official youth commissions – can enable policymakers, parents, teachers and other adults to learn from young people and partner with them to develop more effective responses to the pandemic or any other issue.
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — The Lake County Superior Court said that due to low COVID-19 transmission rates it plans to transition back to jury selection at the courthouse and in-person appearances in criminal cases.
Nearly one year ago Gov. Gavin Newsom and the California Department of Public Health removed all physical distancing limits.
For the last several months the cases rates and hospitalizations locally have remained relatively low and stable.
Accordingly, effective June 29, the Lake County Superior Court said jury selection will return to the Lakeport Courthouse at 255 N. Forbes St. in Lakeport.
Jury selection has been taking place for some time at the Lake County Fairgrounds in Lakeport.
In cooperation with the county of Lake, when possible the jury check-in and orientation process will occur in the Board of Supervisors chambers, court officials said.
Other changes include the end of remote proceedings in criminal cases.
Effective July 1, court officials said the remaining statewide emergency rules will be rescinded.
As a result, all criminal calendars except daily in-custody arraignments will return to in-person appearances.
The court continues to allow remote appearances in many family law and civil proceedings.
Additional information can be found on the court’s website.
KELSEYVILLE, Calif. — The Lake County Vet Connect will host a mobile veterans stand down on Thursday, June 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Kelseyville Presbyterian Church.
This free event brings together representatives of organizations in one location to offer valuable services and resources to the unique needs of military veterans.
In the military, “stand down” afforded battle-weary soldiers the opportunity to renew their spirit, enjoy warm meals, receive medical care and enjoy the comradery of friends in a safe environment.
Today “stand down” refers to a grassroots community-based event serving at-risk veterans.
The Lake County Vet Connect brings together representatives of organizations in one location to offer valuable services and resources to the unique needs of military veterans.
Services will include housing and homeless assistance, employment services, veterans benefits, medical insurance counseling, behavioral health support, education opportunities, emergency preparedness and supplies.
For more information contact Chris Taliaferro at 707-262-3111 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it., or Nikki Derr at 707-234-9950 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
LAKE COUNTY, Calif. — Lake County Animal Care and Control has a group of new adult dogs waiting for homes this week.
Dogs available for adoption this week include mixes of mountain cur, German shepherd, husky, pit bull, Rottweiler, shepherd and terrier.
Dogs that are adopted from Lake County Animal Care and Control are either neutered or spayed, microchipped and, if old enough, given a rabies shot and county license before being released to their new owner. License fees do not apply to residents of the cities of Lakeport or Clearlake.
The following dogs at the Lake County Animal Care and Control shelter have been cleared for adoption.
Call Lake County Animal Care and Control at 707-263-0278 or visit the shelter online for information on visiting or adopting.
‘Rooster’
“Rooster” is a 5-year-old male mountain cur with a brown brindle coat.
He is in kennel No. 4, ID No. LCAC-A-3384.
Male Rottweiler
This 2-year-old male Rottweiler has a short black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 6, ID No. LCAC-A-3471.
Male shepherd
This 2-year-old male shepherd mix has a short black and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 7, ID No. LCAC-A-3466.
Female shepherd mix
This 1-year-old female shepherd mix has a short gray brindle coat.
She is in kennel No. 19, LCAC-A-3342.
‘Willie’
“Willie” is a 1-year-old male pit bull terrier with a short brown and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 20, ID No. LCAC-A-3301.
Female shepherd mix
This young female shepherd mix has a white coat.
She is in kennel No. 23, ID No. LCAC-A-3472.
‘Topo’
“Topo” is a 1-year-old male Rottweiler with a short black and tan coat.
He is in kennel No. 25, ID No. LCAC-A-3469.
Female terrier mix
This 1-year-old female terrier mix has a short black and tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 26, ID No. LCAC-A-3439.
Female German shepherd mix
This 2-year-old female German shepherd mix has a short tan coat.
She is in kennel No. 32, ID No. LCAC-A-3491.
Male husky
This 2-year-old male husky has a gray and white coat.
He is in kennel No. 33, ID No. LCAC-A-3484.
Pit bull terrier
This young female pit bull terrier has a short black and white coat.
She is in kennel No. 34, ID No. LCAC-A-3353.
Email Elizabeth Larson at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Follow her on Twitter, @ERLarson, or Lake County News, @LakeCoNews.
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA — A Caltrans worker died Friday after being struck by a driver while working along Interstate 80 in Solano County.
The California Department of Transportation said it is mourning the death of Quandra McGadney, 51, of Vallejo, a landscape maintenance worker for the department.
McGadney was killed while working near Lagoon Valley Road on Interstate 80.
Just after 10 a.m. Friday, McGadney was struck by a hit-and-run driver on westbound I-80 near Vacaville. She succumbed to her injuries on-scene. The California Highway Patrol has arrested a suspect.
“Jennifer and I were saddened to learn of the death of Caltrans Maintenance Worker Quanda McGadney, a dedicated public servant to the state for more than 18 years. We extend our deepest sympathies to her family, friends and Caltrans colleagues for their loss,” Gov. Gavin Newsom said in a Friday evening statement.
McGadney had served the people of California for more than 18 years and joined Caltrans in 2018.
She is survived by her 9-year-old daughter, Nairobi, and her two sisters, Priscilla Stevenson and Candice McGadney.
“The loss of one of our own public servants in this tragic incident is being felt heavily within the Caltrans family today. Our thoughts and heartfelt support are focused on her family, friends and colleagues at this time,” said Caltrans Acting Director Steven Keck.
McGadney is the first Caltrans District 4 (Bay Area) employee to die on the job since 2017. She is the 37th in the history of District 4 and the 190th Caltrans worker to lose their life on the job since 1921.
“This tragedy is particularly painful, coming so close to our workers memorial service just a little over a month ago, and drives home how dangerous our work on California’s roadways can be,” said Keck. “Our focus on safety and the ‘Move Over’ law, and asking the public to increase their awareness of the people working on the highways on their behalf are part of our continued effort to eliminate these tragic incidents.”
To help Quanda’s family at this difficult time, a memorial fund is being established through the California Transportation Foundation.
In honor of McGadney, Capitol, and Capitol swing space, flags will be flown at half-staff.