Santa Clara County officials are leading the way on a new state initiative to provide Medi-Cal benefits to people incarcerated in county lockups as they prepare to reenter society, part of an effort to improve health outcomes in underserved communities.

The new program, known as the Justice-Involved Reentry Initiative, is one part of the state’s push to better streamline and integrate Medi-Cal with other social and health services across California. Through the reentry program, people in jails and youth correctional facilities can now enroll in Medi-Cal 90 days before their release.

All counties in California must implement the program by October 2025, but Santa Clara County, along with Inyo and Yuba counties, were among the first to gain approval from the state to begin the work.

During the 90-day period, county health agencies, which oversee care for incarcerated people, can work with those preparing for reentry to develop plans for uninterrupted medical care and mental health support.

“This means that gains that were made while in custody through mental health services, drug addiction treatment and support for chronic health conditions will not be lost when people leave custody,” county Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg said during a news conference on Tuesday, to mark the county enrolling more than 100 people in the program.

“In short, this initiative will make these residents healthier and our entire community safer.”

Ellenberg said about 70% of people in county correctional facilities, a disproportionate number of whom are people of color, are struggling with chronic health issues, mental illness or substance-use disorders.

“Very often, the triggering behavior or action that lands them in custody was one of those health-related issues or social determinants of health,” she said in an interview. “So being able to address those while they’re in custody is really significant, but only will have a lasting effect if we continue it.”

Program participants are also offered case management support for up to one year after their release to help navigate the complex web of available government, private market and nonprofit-provided services.

“The medical system, behavioral health systems, as well as connecting them to other services like housing, food, transportation, other things that you need, the fundamentals to be able to manage your health well,” Michelle de la Calle, director of system integration for Santa Clara Valley Healthcare, said in an interview.

Dr. Clifford Wang, the interim director of custody health services for the county, said people leaving county facilities would be given a supply of their medications in hand, as well as any needed medical equipment, such as walkers, canes or wheelchairs.

“Once you leave custody, you’re thinking about, ‘where am I going to live, where am I going to get my next meal,’ and you may not pick up your prescriptions,” Wang said. “So it’s a bridge, and it’s lessening the burden on them. One less thing they might have to worry about when they get out in the immediate sense.”

People who are trying to rebuild their lives face many challenges “including housing instability, homelessness and barriers to gainful employment,” said Ky Le, a deputy county executive.

Le said this latest initiative will augment the work the county has already done to provide reentry resource centers, employment programs and peer counseling services.

Ellenberg said she’s happy Santa Clara County is “at the vanguard again” for programs and initiatives that help “build a carceral system that is as least traumatizing as possible, as most rehabilitative as possible.”

“I look forward to learning about the lives that will be improved as a result of this program,” she said.

Santa Clara, California

Courtesy of Santa Clara

Located in the southern Bay Area near San Jose, Santa Clara is a sunny and social option for active retirees who want a vibrant senior life. As part of Silicon Valley, it’s also a great location for those who have adult children living and working nearby at tech giants like Apple and Google.

The city is bustling with a lively cultural scene, so for seniors who appreciate the fine arts, there’s always something to do. There’s an Art & Wine Festival and the Triton Museum of Art, which has been displaying works by local artists for 59 years.

Those who like to stay fit can explore trails in the nearby Santa Cruz Mountains, soaking up the rays year-round thanks to the region’s warm summers and mild winters. Or they can explore the 3,000-square-foot fitness facility at the senior center, which offers workout classes and a swimming pool. For shoreside activities, residents are only an hour’s drive away from Waddell Beach and Panther Beach.

Health care is easily accessible in the area, home to Kaiser Permanente Santa Clara Medical Center and near Stanford Health Care, which is renowned for its innovation and research in cancer care, cardiovascular medicine, and neurosciences, to name a few. Retirees can also get assistance from Heart of the Valley, a volunteer group in Santa Clara that helps seniors maintain their independence.

Town Information

Sources: Caring.com, ATTOM, Sharecare, America's Health Rankings

On Aug. 30, The Weekly submitted the following questions to city clerk candidates — Bob O’Keefe, Paul Tacci, Steve Kelly and Poornima Gopi. Candidates had until Sept. 13 to reply. Below are the answers The Weekly received from the candidates. Answers are presented verbatim.

What do you believe the most important role of the city clerk is and how do you expect to fulfill it?

O’Keefe: The City Clerk is the department head and sets policy for the City Clerk’s office. The City Clerk is mandated by law to perform all the duties listed in section 903 of the Santa Clara City Charter. A primary duty of the City Clerk is that of the City’s Elections Official, having charge of all municipal elections, including enforcement of election ordinances. To fulfill my duties, I will work collaboratively with the entire City Council, City Manager, City Attorney, Assistant City Clerk and staff to ensure the finest professional services are available to the public.

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Kelly: The City Clerk and Assistant City Clerk oversee city elections. I expect to take the City Clerk required training provided by the State of California upon my successful election.

Tacci: The most important role of the city clerk is upholding ethics and ensuring free and fair elections. I will fulfill this by maintaining transparency in all electoral processes and providing residents with easy access to public records. My focus will also be on modernizing the office, making records more accessible online, and creating more opportunities for residents to engage with city hall. Ensuring accountability and upholding integrity are at the heart of my commitment to serving the community.

Gopi: To me, the most important role of the city clerk is being fair and transparent. Making information readily available to the public is a part of this. I want to make meeting schedules and agendas available for the public ahead of time. I also want to provide better means for the public to engage in the meetings and provide comments. We should leverage technology to increase the participation in these meetings and to ensure that the city is following the Brown act.

What would you do differently from the current city clerk?

O’Keefe: I will be fully engaged as City Clerk, I will attend all City Council meetings when appropriate. I will have set business hours in the City Clerks office allowing the public and staff to engage directly with me. I would develop a new and innovative city wide program on voter awareness and education focused towards new voters, soon to be voters and voters of all ages, highlighting general election information and our city municipal elections. This program would be available to all, especially the local school districts, non profit organizations, and Santa Clara Youth and Senior Centers.

Kelly: I will take the position seriously by taking advantage of City Clerk training to grow with the position. I would further attend meetings with other City Clerks around the Bay Area.

Tacci: I believe the City Clerk’s office can benefit from increased accessibility, and I am committed to being available to the public in meaningful ways. I will prioritize public engagement by offering user-friendly digital tools that provide instant access to records and meeting agendas. Additionally, I am open to scheduling town halls on an as-needed basis to gather input from residents and create opportunities for open dialogue. By proactively sharing more information about the city’s operations, I aim to foster a transparent and responsive government that serves the needs of our community.

Gopi: From what I know, the current city clerk is only responsible for administering elections. I intend on being more involved in the other roles of the city clerk, especially being the liaison between the public and the city council and bringing more awareness to the public and increasing their interaction with the council. I plan to create more public forums to create awareness and increase participation in city council meetings. I would like to design programs to give young adults more ways to interact with the city and see first-hand how the local government operates.

What are your qualifications for this position? Do you have city clerk certification and/or training? If not, would you pursue specialized certifications?

O’Keefe: I am a lifelong Santa Clara resident. I am retired from the California Highway Patrol with over 30 years of public service with many years experience in an executive management and leadership roll. I am a prior City Clerk candidate, If elected I would seek the City Clerk certification (Certified Municipal Clerk) and have already inquired into initiating the process.

Kelly: I have received a Bachelor of Science degree with a Concentration in Finance from SJSU. I have completed two 4-year terms on the Santa Clara Planning Commission. During this time, I attended 3 National Training Conferences and 2 State Conferences for the benefit of all Santa Clara Residents. I also possess a willingness to learn and grow into the position. I am committed to taking necessary training and completing specialized City Clerk Certifications provided by the State of California.

Tacci: My experience as a successful business leader has equipped me with strong organizational and leadership skills, particularly in delegation, follow-up, listening, and driving action. These strengths will allow me to manage the City Clerk’s office effectively and ensure the needs of the community are met. I’ve always believed that success in any role comes from understanding what needs to be done and taking decisive action while staying accountable to those you serve.

Gopi: I am a technology professional, and this is my first time pursuing a public office. I do not have any official training for the role, but I have training and experience in leadership and being customer-centric in identifying and solving problems. I will obtain the certifications required for municipal clerks if I am elected. I am a person with a strong community sense, and I have created multiple communities that I still work with actively. I am excited to put my skills in community building and leadership to make things better for the residents of Santa Clara.

What, if anything, will you do to increase transparency to city hall?

O’Keefe: At all times I will conduct myself in a lawful, transparent, and professional manner with high moral values and ethical standards, I will expect no less of any other elected official or city employee. As City Clerk, I will ensure that all of the duties required of the City Clerks Office are thoroughly completed with the highest level of public service and as soon as legally possible, all records will be made available for public review in a timely and efficient manner.

Kelly: First, I will follow City Protocols releasing information after speaking to the city lead attorney. I will not politicize information. I will also ask the Santa City Council to authorize an ethics advisor for future elections to provide a forum to resolve issues between candidates.

Tacci: I will introduce more proactive disclosure of city documents, meeting minutes, and financial reports. My goal is to make information easily accessible online, reducing the need for cumbersome requests and minimizing paper waste. By embracing digital tools and solutions, we can streamline processes while contributing to environmental sustainability. Regular community engagement will also help maintain transparency and ensure accountability.

Gopi: I would like to make city council meetings more accessible to the public. A lot of people don’t even realize that there are meetings happening, or how to participate. So, creating that awareness is at the top of my list. I also think that having the option to attend meetings virtually will help with increasing the public participation. We should use more technology like online comment platforms and mobile apps to improve transparency and accessibility for all, including multilingual support which is very important for our community.

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Here are our recommendations for Tuesday’s election. Click on the links to read the full editorials. (If you have trouble reaching the individual articles on our mobile app, click here.)

District 12 – Lateefah Simon

District 16 – Sam Liccardo

District 3 – Christopher Cabaldon

District 5 – Jerry McNerney

District 7 – Jesse Arreguín

District 9 – Tim Grayson

District 26 – Patrick Ahrens

BART Dist. 5 – Melissa Hernandez

BART Dist. 7 – Dana Lang

Recall of District Attorney Pamela Price – Yes

County supervisor Dist. 5 – John Bauters

Berkeley mayor – Adena Ishii

Berkeley City Council Dist. 2 – Terry Taplin

Berkeley City Council Dist. 3 – Deborah Matthews

Berkeley City Council Dist. 5 – Todd Andrew

Berkeley City Council Dist. 6 – Brent Blackaby

Fremont Mayor – Raj Salwan

Fremont City Council Dist. 1 – Teresa Keng

Fremont City Council Dist. 5 – Yajing Zhang

Fremont City Council Dist. 6 – Raymond Liu

Hayward City Council – Angela Andrews, Francisco Zermeño, Dan Goldstein and Ray Bonilla

Oakland city attorney – Ryan Richardson

Oakland recall of Mayor Sheng Thao – yes

Oakland City Council at-large – LeRonne Armstrong

Oakland City Council Dist. 1 – Len Raphael

Oakland City Council Dist. 3 – Warren Logan

Oakland City Council Dist. 5 – Erin Armstrong

Oakland City Council Dist. 7 – Iris Merriouns

County supervisor Dist. 5 – Shanelle Scales-Preston

Antioch mayor – Ron Bernal

Antioch City Council, Dist. 2 – Louie Rocha

Antioch City Council, Dist. 3 – Don Freitas

Concord City Council, Dist. 2 – Carlyn Obringer

Concord City Council, Dist. 4 – Pablo Benavente

San Ramon mayor – Mark Armstrong

San Ramon City Council, Dist. 1 – Vasanth Shetty

County supervisor Dist. 2 – Madison Nguyen

County supervisor Dist. 5 – Margaret Abe-Koga

Superior Court judge – Jay Boyarsky

San Jose City Council Dist. 2 – Joe Lopez

San Jose City Council Dist. 6 – Michael Mulcahy

San Jose City Council Dist. 10 – Arjun Batra

Santa Clara City Council Dist. 1 – Harbir Bhatia

Santa Clara City Council Dist. 4 – Kevin Park

Santa Clara City Council Dist. 5 – Suds Jain

Santa Clara City Council Dist. 6 – No endorsement

Santa Clara Valley Water Dist. 2 – Shiloh Ballard

Sunnyvale mayor – Larry Klein

Sunnyvale City Council Dist. 2 – Alysa Cisneros

Sunnyvale City Council Dist. 6 – Eileen Le

Statewide

2 – State school bonds – No

3 – Same-sex marriage – Yes

4 – California climate bond – No Pro/Con

5 – Lowering bond vote requirement – No Pro/Con

6 – Inmate work refusal – No

32 – Minimum wage – Yes Pro/Con

33 – Rent control – No

34 – ‘Landlords’ revenge’ – No

35 – Medi-Cal funding – No Pro/Con

36 – Drug treatment, theft crimes – Yes Pro/Con

Alameda County

M – Fremont Unified school bond and tax – No

N – New Haven Unified school bond and tax – Yes

Q – San Lorenzo Unified school bond and tax – No

JJ – Dublin term limits – No

K1 – Hayward sales tax extension – No

PP – Pleasanton sales tax – Yes

Contra Costa County

G – El Cerrito sales tax permanent extension – No

H – Lafayette sales tax – Yes

I – Pinole permanent sales tax increase – No

N – San Ramon sales tax – Yes

P – Pittsburg Unified school bond and tax – Yes

Q – San Ramon Valley School District parcel tax – Yes

Santa Clara County

C – Gilroy sales tax – No

E – Sunnyvale bond and tax – Yes

I – Santa Clara bond and tax – Yes

J – Milpitas sales tax – Yes

K – Campbell permanent sales tax increase – No

N – East Side High School District parcel tax – Yes

Q – Milpitas Unified School District parcel tax – Yes

R – San Jose Unified school bond and tax – No

Z – Cupertino Union school bond and tax – Yes

Originally Published: September 13, 2024 at 10:30 AM PST