Supervisor Jake McGoldrick: Community Health Fair

Many of us take our health for granted. When we become ill, we simply go to our primary care physician. But what if it was not so easy for us? What if we did not know where to go for help or what services were available?  What if we were limited by language or mobility issues and could not reach those services? What if we simply had no access to affordable healthcare? These are the very problems facing hundreds of people in the Richmond District and thousands of people across the City.

Remarkably, on the other side of the issue of accessible quality health care is the ability of both government and community-based health care agencies to reach out to the communities they want to serve. Many of these agencies serve low- and middle-income clients. These health care agencies have the knowledge, experience and capacity to provide health care services to a significant portion of the San Francisco population. 

However, one of the many challenges these agencies face is the untapped capacity of their services. How do they bring their information and services to the very people who need it, especially to vulnerable and under-served populations? 

In June, Cho Quixhong, executive director of Compassionate Community Care, contacted me. Cho's organization provides home care and support for elderly seniors throughout San Francisco.

We discussed the difficulty faced by agencies trying to reach seniors because of the "Catch 22" nature of their situation; seniors did not know these services were available and the agency needed help connecting with an ever growing elderly population.

My conversation with Cho motivated me to provide a forum. I wanted a forum where Richmond residents would have an opportunity to connect with local health care agencies that serve them. I wanted a gathering place for people to learn about our community's resources and where residents could ask for information and services without the fear of language access. Thus, the idea of a community-based health fair was born. 

I discussed the idea with Assemblyman Leland Yee, who has a history of reaching out to diverse groups of people and connecting such groups with health services. I also felt the need for community-based organizations to help bridge this gap. We were joined by On Lok SeniorHealth, whose senior center at Geary Boulevard and Masonic Avenue provides a vital service to the frail low-income elderly in the Richmond District. On Lok SeniorHealth works in partnership with the Institute on Aging, another organization whose long history of commitment to the elderly in San Francisco is exemplary.

With this core team of sponsors, we enlisted more than 35 healthcare agencies that address the unique needs of a wide range of people, including children and teens, those with chronic diseases and those with Alzheimer's Disease. With an understanding of the cultural diversity within the Richmond, we invited agencies that provide multi-lingual services, including Cantonese and Russian. The San Francisco Newcomers program will be participating so the concerns of recent immigrants can be addressed.

The health fair's themes are improving access to health care services, serving a diverse population and promoting preventative health care. The fair will have blood pressure screening and other health assessment services.

The Richmond Community Health Fair will be held on Saturday, Sept. 18, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m., at the Star of the Sea Parish on Eighth Avenue, between Geary Boulevard and Clement Street. Admission is free. Cantonese and Russian translators are available. The premises are wheelchair accessible.

I sincerely urge you to attend the health fair to find out what health services are available for you and those you care for. There will be music, refreshments and children's activities. If you wish to find out more about this event, call my office at 554-7410.  See you at the fair!

Jake McGoldrick is a San Francisco supervisor representing District 1.