Healthy children and healthy families create a strong community.

There is not a single health care provider on the South Coast, aside from 911 services. Building strong prevention programs is the first and most vital step to creating healthy families and building a strong community. Nutrition and exercise classes, mental health counseling, flu clinics, and dental screenings are only the beginning.

Our five week Spanish language nutrition program taught healthy Mexican cooking and exercise to adults and children — 20 course graduates received organic food boxes for 12 weeks and exercise shoes. Spanish conversation and Mexican cooking classes in La Honda provided a rare opportunity for English and Spanish speakers to share conversation and healthy food.

Puente staffers provided mental counseling and support to more than 75 families and individuals, including the only counseling available to the La Honda Pescadero Unified School District. Puente organized flu clinics with the San Mateo County Health Department and dental screenings with our colleagues at Sonrisas Dental Clinic. Our partnership with SamCoast enabled us to provide transportation for more than 300 trips to health and other appointments in Half Moon Bay, Redwood City, San Mateo, and Palo Alto.

Puente staff and county partners enroll families and individuals in a variety of county, state and federal programs including MediCal, Health Families, Health Kids, ACE, Food Stamps, General Assistance, and WIC (Women Infant and Children Nutrition Program.

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