Capitola Road Project

Announcements

Cabrillo College Bond Measure R: Cabrillo College was seeking endorsements for Bond Measure R which will provide funding to build a new science building with additional lab space and renovate their existing library.

Santa Cruz Community Health Rebranding: Santa Cruz Community Health Centers rebranded to Santa Cruz Community Health to encompass the full spectrum of clinics they manage and services they provide.

1500 Capitola Road Project in Live Oak

At the February 13th HIP Council meeting, Leslie Conner, Executive Director at Santa Cruz Community Health; Laura Marcus, CEO at Dientes Community Dental; and Betsy Wilson, Director of Special Projects at MidPen Housing Corporation presented the 1500 Capitola Road Project.

This 1500 Capitola Road Project is on a 3.6-acre campus and will include 57 units of affordable housing, 10 of which will support the people experiencing mental health disorders. The campus will also include a new Santa Cruz Community Health clinic which will expand pediatric and complex care services, increased case management and behavioral health services, and the addition of a pharmacy and optometry services. In addition, it will include a new Dientes clinic which will have two general dentists and a pediatric dentist. These new facilities are expected to generate 60+ new health care and administrative jobs while enhancing economic growth and opportunity in the Live Oak area.

Project leads expect to break ground on the clinic in 2020, to open the clinic and break ground on housing in 2021, and to open housing in 2022.

Improving Conversations in Serious Illness and End of Life

Catherine Sonquist Forest, MD, MPH, and Cathy Conway, CMO at Hospice of Santa Cruz County, presented on the Words That Work training that provides physicians with appropriate language to discuss end-of-life options with their patients. The training serves to fulfill three learning objectives:

1. Describe the elements of crucial conversations at the end of life, including social determinants of health.

2. Use non-directive questioning to engage patients in patient-centered end of life care.

3. Understand the steps required by CA End of Life Option Act for a person requesting aid in dying.

The goal is to improve conversations between patients and healthcare providers regarding terminal illness. By training healthcare teams on “words that work” and on the resources available to them, Santa Cruz County residents can choose exceptional care that matches their goals, values, and preferences.