Learn about whether foster parenting is right for you at Explore Foster Parenting, a one-hour discussion held monthly, 6-7 p.m., at 2255 Challenger Way, Suite 100, Santa Rosa. Dates for 2019 talks are: Jan. 28, Feb. 25, March 25, April 22, May 20, June 24, July 22, Aug. 26, Sept. 23, Oct. 28, Nov. 25 and Dec. 16. For information and to reserve a seat, call (707) 565-4274. 

Starting Monday, Jan. 14, 2019, the Sonoma County Veterans Service Office (VSO), 3725 Westwind Blvd., Santa Rosa, will increase drop-in office hours to Monday−Thursday, 8-11 a.m. and 3-3:30 p.m. VSO phone hours are Monday-Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.

Improve your balance, flexibility and strength and get helpful tips to make your home safer by attending an eight-class series based on the nationally acclaimed program, A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls. 

Harmful falls are the #1 reason older adults and seniors end up at the emergency room. Don’t restrict your activities because of worries about falling on uneven ground or stairs.

Though some Sonoma County households saw their incomes rise in 2017, 60,000 low-income households – about 1/3 of county residents – couldn’t afford enough food to eat a healthy three meals a day, according to the latest Sonoma County Hunger Index report. 

Santa Rosa residents Kim and Scott Streeter were named California Foster Parents of the Year and Family, Youth and Children Division Social Worker Rose Eshe was named Social Worker of the Year by the California Department of Social Services on Sunday, October 7, 2018. The ceremony was held during the California State Foster Parent Association’s 42nd annual conference in Sacramento.

Starting Monday, September 24, 2018  the Sonoma County Veterans Service Office (VSO), 3725 Westwind Boulevard, Santa Rosa, will increase drop-in office hours to Monday − Thursday, 8 AM − 11 AM.

When someone is sick, it's natural to ask, "What can I do to help?" or "What can I do for you?" It feels good to fulfill someone's wishes. But if your loved one is so sick that he or she is unable to speak and you don't already know what he or she wants—that feels awful.

Harmful falls are the #1 reason older adults and seniors end up at the emergency room. Don’t restrict your activities because of worries about falling on uneven ground or stairs.

Help older adult increase their safety, balance, strength and confidence on their feet by training on August 27 as a volunteer coach with the nationally acclaimed program, A Matter of Balance: Managing Concerns about Falls.

A delightful mix of original art by Sonoma County residents age 60+ will be on display at the 2018 Senior Art Show from July 17-Septermber 6 at Finley Community Center, 2060 W. College Ave., Santa Rosa.

West County artist and community advocate Judith Eisen donated a painting inspired by Sonoma County’s landscape for the lobby of the Sonoma County Human Services Adult and Aging Division offices in Santa Rosa.

The Sonoma County Human Services Department has promoted two new division directors: Paul Dunaway is the new Adult and Aging Division Director and Felisa Pinson has been selected as the new Economic Assistance Division Director. 

The state of California transition to a new Electronic Benefit Transfer (EBT) vendor for the swipe machines requires a statewide, 24-hour EBT card program outage. The black-out period is scheduled from Saturday, June 23 at 11 p.m. until Sunday, June 24, at 11:00 p.m.

During National Pride Month, it’s important to remember the history of why we celebrate gains for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, questioning and intersex (LGBTQI) people. Many LGBTQI older adults grew up during a time when to love someone of the same gender was considered a crime, mental illness or a sin. LGBTQI people could be put in jail, fired from a job or put into a mental institution.

After the fire disaster in October, Sonoma County residents know it is wise to be prepared for a future flood, earthquake, or fire. There is potential for any of these.

Live in accord with your beliefs and values. Fulfill the goals that have meaning for you. Enjoy your favorite comforts: Isn’t that how you should get to live right up to your last breath. Even if a medical crisis means that you are unable to make decisions for yourself?

To help prepare and train Sonoma County residents for jobs in the construction industry after the October wildfires, the Sonoma County Workforce Development Board (WIB), in partnership with the Human Services Department Employment and Training Division, has received $3.25 million in emergency funds from the California Employment Development Department.

Falls are the #1 reason that Sonoma County seniors go to the emergency room. Fracturing a hip or spraining a wrist means a long rehabilitation, which can decrease seniors’ quality of life or even prevent them from living independently in their own homes. Yet falls don’t have to be accepted as a normal part of aging.

Sonoma County employers from all industries can meet qualified job seekers at four free job fairs hosted by Sonoma County Job Link and the Workforce Investment Board (WIB).

Though household incomes rose in 2016 for some Sonoma County families, more than 160,000 low-income households continued to be unable to afford the food needed to prepare three meals a day. For these residents, many of them children and seniors, going without lunch or missing breakfast is unavoidable even by those receiving help from local charitable and government nutrition programs.

To help residents think ahead about documenting their health care wishes, My Care My Plan: Speak Up, Sonoma County will host a free advance care planning workshop, Who Will Speak for You If You Can't Speak for Yourself?, on Tuesday, January 16, 1:30–3:30 p.m., at the Redwood Credit Union Community Room, 3033 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa.

To provide a financial boost for those affected by the Sonoma County fires, the Chronicle Season of Sharing Fund (SOS) is offering special assistance grants to low-income residents for up to $3000. 

To keep already distressed residents from going hungry, the Sonoma County Human Services Department Economic Assistance Division got approval for temporary Disaster CalFresh benefits from the U.S. Department of Agriculture (also known as Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or SNAP). The total additional food benefits gained for Sonoma County residents was $1,449,854.

Today, the City of Santa Rosa has lifted the access restriction to Journey’s End Mobile Home Park, located at 3575 Mendocino Avenue, now that the previously-found asbestos has been mitigated.

In preparation for anticipated rain this winter, people who live in burned areas, or downhill of burned areas, should be aware of increased

Covered California renewal and open enrollment periods have begun. Individuals and families can buy brand-name, private health insurance under the federal Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act, also known as Obamacare.

Older adults and their families are invited to register for a day of free activities at Spring Lake Regional Park and Spring Lake Village on Thursday, May 18,2017 9 a.m.–2:30 p.m.

My Care My Plan: Speak Up, Sonoma County is hosting local events as part of National Healthcare Decisions Day 2017 to inspire, educate, and empower the public and local healthcare providers about the importance of advance health care planning.

A second year of local programs to support lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) seniors, the LGBT Seniors Outreach Project, has begun offering training and events at three local senior centers, while also planning the spring launch of the LGBTQI Senior Information & Assistance Program to increase elders’ access to social services for healthy aging. (LGBTQI = lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and intersex)

The Sonoma County Department of Health Services (DHS) announces the start of an Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) & Resiliency Fellowship that will train 25 community members to serve our county as community educators.

The Sonoma County Human Services Department Adult and Aging Division is proud that the community initiative it supports to encourage advance care planning, My Care, My Plan: Speak Up Sonoma County, has been honored with an Aging Achievement Award by the National Association of Area Agencies on Aging (n4a).

Starting August 29, Sonoma County’s Economic Assistance Service Center will reduce call-in hours to peak times, from 9 a.m. – 3:30 p.m., while increasing the number of eligibility workers answering calls about Medi-Cal, CalFresh and General Assistance benefits. The changes are expected to cut the time callers are on hold before connecting with Service Center workers.

The 19^th Annual Sonoma County Senior Art Show, The Art of Aging, runs September 7, 2016 – October 20, 2016, at The Finley Center, Santa Rosa. 

Becoming a foster family is the first step to adopting a child. Relatives, family friends, single adults, gay couples and families of all types can foster and/or adopt children. There’s a special need in Sonoma County for Spanish-speaking / bilingual / bicultural foster-adoptive families, and those who can care for sibling groups and school-aged children and teens. Please call us at (707) 565-4274 or visit www.sonomafostercare.org.

Free presentation for seniors: Healthy Brain - Healthy Aging

Sonoma County is extending a “Code Blue” advisory in response to the National Weather Service’s Severe Weather Alert of extremely cold nights predicted through the morning of Tuesday, December 1, 2015.

Effective Tuesday, November 24, 2015, Sonoma County is issuing a “Code Blue” advisory in response to the National Weather Service’s Severe Weather Alert of extremely cold nights predicted for the next week.

Archstone Foundation awarded a $300,000 grant to the County of Sonoma Human Services Adult and Aging Division and Petaluma Health Center (PHC) to launch the Sonoma Care Collaborative Project, an evidenced-based program to screen and treat low-income seniors for depression where they receive primary health care services and during home visits at no cost to patients.