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• Leslie Conner

We are very pleased to welcome Leslie Conner, who took the helm as Executive Director on August 29, 2011.

• Promotores de Salud

Whether they are helping a distraught family get their utilities turned back on, urging a fellow resident at the local homeless shelter to go for a free blood test, or advocating for more after-school programs for teens in their neighborhood, the Santa Cruz Women’s Health Center promotores de salud serve as a vital link to members of their communities by helping them navigate the often-complex health and social services systems.

• Amy Peeler

We launch our “Spotlight” series with Amy Peeler, our former Executive Director who left in late August to take the position of Chief of Clinical Services at the Santa Cruz County Health Services Agency.

Reach Out and Read ® Program

The Santa Cruz Women's Health Center is proud to participate in the Reach Out and Read ® Program. Here's how it works. In the exam room, medical providers trained in the developmental strategies of early literacy encourage parents to read aloud to their young children, and offer age-appropriate tips. The pediatric primary care provider gives every child between the ages of six months and five years a new, developmentally appropriate children’s book to take home and keep. By building on the unique relationship between parents and medical providers, Reach Out and Read helps families and communities encourage early literacy skills so children enter school prepared for success in reading.

The Women’s Health Center has approximately 500 pediatric patients between the ages of six months and five years. This program allows us to give an average of two books per child per year at an annual cost of about $2,000. It’s easy to help:

Spread the word by inviting others to join the cause and donate.

Help children grow up healthy and with a love of reading!

Video: Invisible Health Care in Santa Cruz County

Please watch the video above to earn more about the need for services like those provided by the Santa Cruz Women's Health Center. “Invisible Health Care” is a short film about the Safety Net Coalition of Santa Cruz County (SNCC). We are a member of the SNCC, which works to improve health status and access for Santa Cruz County residents who receive care through publicly-funded programs such as Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, and for the uninsured.

Clinic leaders work together through the SNCC to develop solutions to address common challenges, coordinate care, share expertise and best practices and improve quality of care. The Coalition is committed to working collaboratively to achieve comprehensive accessible health care and improved outcomes for everyone in the County.

Updated September 29, 2011