Executive Director's August 2024 Message

It feels like I barely got to say hello to summer and now it’s already August, which means back-to-school time for many of our members who are parents. As you prepare your children to return to school, please consider scheduling an annual eye exam for your entire family. August is Children’s Eye Health and Safety Month, and the timing is not a coincidence. Approximately one in four children need corrective lenses to read the whiteboard at school. Your child’s ability to learn could be impacted. Getting an eye exam and corrective lenses is just as important as getting them the school supplies to help them succeed in school.

August is also National Immunization Awareness Month. COVID may have taken center stage these past few years when we talk about vaccines, but there is a schedule of vaccines that have protected our community from some very debilitating illnesses. Please talk to your doctor and your child’s pediatrician to make sure your family is up to date on their vaccinations.

For those of you who have been putting off a summer vacation, it’s not too late. There’s still plenty of sunshine left, especially since we live in the Golden State. Try and carve out some quality time to spend with your loved ones so you can have lasting memories. Just remember to lather up on sunscreen and protect your skin from harmful UV rays when you’re enjoying the sunny outdoors.

I just got back from a beautiful baby shower for my niece and from visiting my long-time friend in Portland, Oregon, where we got to explore the World Forestry Center. There was this incredible photography exhibit called Tree People by Finnish photographers Ritva Kovalainen and Sanni Seppo, showing the relationship people have with trees. It brought back fond memories of when my friends and I tried a literal forest bath made of cedar enzymes near Sonoma County. We should all seize the moment to make fond memories.

Be well,

Abbie Yant, RN MA