New Low Income Health Program, Path2Health, will close the coverage gap for many

Sacramento, Calif. (December 21, 2011) – The County Medical Services Program (CMSP) Governing Board announced today that the Board will expand health care coverage to an additional 30,000 low income adults living in 34 mostly rural counties beginning January 1, 2012 under Path2Health – a new Low Income Health Program. This coverage expansion will increase the number of low income adults served by Governing Board programs to nearly 90,000 by the end of 2013. The coverage expansion is made possible by the State of California’s Federal Medicaid “Bridge to Reform” Waiver. The Governing Board was just notified that Path2Health was approved by the federal government.

“The federal waiver makes it possible to bring the benefits of federal health reform early to many of California’s rural communities,” said Lee Kemper, Executive Director of the CMSP Governing Board.
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By Francisco Castro, Los Angeles y Noticias 10:25 AM, Oct. 28, 2011

A student from Bell High School is recovering at the hospital after attempting suicide. Reason: “the constant bullying” the student suffered, said Hop Tarrant, a counselor with Gay and Straight Alliance (GSA), a school-based group the student belonged to.

Apparently the student had been transferred to this school because he had been the victim of the same bullying and intimidation in his old school.

October is National Bullying Prevention Month and the case of the Bell student shows the reality faced by students across the country, where appearance, sexual orientation, religion or ethnic origin can make anyone a target of intimidation, harassment, threats and even aggression by other students. It’s known as “bullying,” and “bullies”.
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WASHINGTON — (BUSINESS WIRE) — More than 400 of the record 901 biotechnology medicines in development today are being created by biopharmaceutical companies with major operations in California, a new report shows.

Companies with headquarters there account for 201 of the new-generation drugs.

The report, compiled by the Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), finds that California’s biopharmaceutical companies have embraced a variety of new techniques as they develop 92 biotechnology-derived vaccines to both prevent and treat disease, 193 monoclonal antibody treatments, 33 recombinant proteins and other medicines made from cells and genes.
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Bullying Prevention Expert Offers Solutions to Reduce Bullying and Build Safe Communities

–(BUSINESS WIRE)–PeaceBuilders:

WHO:
Michelle Molina, President and CEO of bullying prevention program PeaceBuilders, is available for interviews for October 2011 National Bullying Prevention Month. Michelle brings more than a decade of experience with school-aged children through her past service as a teacher and school administrator. The PeaceBuilders program is a science-based, violence prevention curriculum and professional development program that creates peaceful learning environments to approximately 1,300 schools and youth support providers in 42 states across the nation. Every day, half a million California youth start the day by reciting the PeaceBuilders pledge. It is endorsed by the White House, U.S. Departments of Education and Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention and the Centers for Disease Control.
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More than 1,500 jobs added in August

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Despite reports that the California job market has screeched to a halt, jobs in travel and tourism continue to grow – providing billions of dollars and a million jobs to the state. During August, the leisure and hospitality industry gained 1,500 jobs while the state’s unemployment rate increased to 12.1 percent.

“California’s economy is ever changing and businesses across all sectors have been experiencing challenges,” said Caroline Beteta, President and CEO of Visit California. “The fact that the travel and tourism industry is holding strong despite a general economic downturn demonstrates that the state is a premier domestic and international destination. People come here seeking the California experience.”
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Bullying more threatening than illegal drugs, sex and gangs

Long Beach, Calif. (September 7, 2011) – Despite recent efforts by legislators and school districts to ensure students are protected from bullies, an online survey conducted by Harris Interactive on behalf of PeaceBuilders found that parents and children worry more about the dangers of bullies than illegal drug use and believe there should be more resources available to students who experience bullying in schools.
 
“It seems like there is no way to stop bullies,” said Tessa McClintock a seventh grader from Long Beach. “When kids join Facebook parents are mostly worried about online predators but what happens more often than not is that we are bullied by other kids. They tell us at school to ‘tell an adult’ about bullying, but if we do that it can get even worse. Maybe teachers don’t know what to do either.”
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SACRAMENTO, Calif. (August 31, 2011) – Perry Communications Group, Inc. (PCG) is pleased to announce the addition of Yadira Beas to the team as an account coordinator.
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Bills Will Reduce Bullying and Build Safe Communities

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Recent cases of bullying and an alarming increase in related suicides have prompted California legislators to introduce bills that will protect children from bullying behavior. PeaceBuilders – a bullying prevention program shown to reduce violence and aggressive behavior while increasing positive, peaceful behavior – has been working with legislators in support of bullying prevention policies.

“We know that children have had irreversible emotional harm caused by bullying,” said Michelle Molina, PeaceBuilders’ President and CEO. “These bills will take bullying out of the shadows and prevent children from falling victim of these harmful situations. We know that the children in schools that use PeaceBuilders feel safer and report fewer incidents of bullying and other violent behavior, allowing them to focus on learning.”

PeaceBuilders supports legislation that will strengthen California’s current laws and implement new ones to ensure that schools are safe environments where students can learn. The three bills are:
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New law addresses rising popularity and misuse of social media

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Michelle Molina, President of PeaceBuilders, Inc., which serves nearly a half a million children in California, released the following statement in response to Governor Jerry Brown’s signing of AB 746, Cyber Bullying Prevention bill. The bill was authored by Assemblymember Nora Campos (D-San Jose).

“PeaceBuilders applauds Governor Jerry Brown signing AB 746 (Campos) into California law which will allow for teachers and administrators to suspend students who bully electronically, such as through social media.

“We know that children have had irreversible emotional harm – and in some cases even committed suicide – as a result of cyber bullying. This is a step in the right direction. The nature of bullying has changed and is no longer confined to the school yard. Children are bullied online where parents and teachers often do not see it until it is too late. This bill will bring bullying out of the shadows and ensure children have the safe learning environments they deserve.”

For further information about Michelle Molina or PeaceBuilders, please contact Julia Spiess at Julia@perrycom.com or (916) 658-0144.

PeaceBuilders is a science based, research validated inclusive school-climate program that creates peaceful learning environments. Founded in 1992 the program has been implemented in thousands of schools nationwide. The PeaceBuilders goal is simple, yet momentous – to ensure all schools will become peaceful learning environments where everyone learns, acquires and practices the skills to ensure positive and respectful behaviors in order for all students to achieve academic, as well as personal and interpersonal success. For more information on PeaceBuilders and PeacePartners, please visit www.peacebuilders.com.

SACRAMENTO, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE) The Nehemiah Community Foundation today announced it has received its first five-figure charitable contribution from individual donors in support of the Nehemiah Emerging Leaders Program (NELP). The gift came from Sacramento civic leaders Kimberly C. (“Kim”) Oxholm and Carl (“Tobey”) Oxholm III.

NELP offers leadership training customized to the specific challenges faced by culturally diverse leaders. Fellows will graduate ready to put their talents to work in the public and private sectors, acting as catalysts for positive change in the Sacramento community.
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