Redwood City – San Mateo County Supervisors today agreed to provide Planned Parenthood Mar Monte with nearly $400,000 to ensure women have access to high-quality, local reproductive health care.
The 5-0 vote puts dollars behind supervisors’ pledge of “unwavering support for women’s reproductive freedom.” The funds, from the local Measure K half-cent sales tax, will purchase an inventory control system and pay for staff training.
“The upgrades will afford Planned Parenthood Mar Monte with the ability to more efficiently serve patients and increase capacity,” said Board of Supervisors President Warren Slocum.
Planned Parenthood Mar Monte operates three clinics in San Mateo County that provide comprehensive sexual and reproductive health care, gender-affirming care, behavioral health and family medicine services. Together, the clinics serve about 13,000 San Mateo County residents a year.
At today’s meeting, supervisors also unanimously approved four additional local initiatives funded with the Measure K sales tax.
Dental Health
Supervisors allocated $190,000 to Sonrisas Dental Health to meet the countywide need for dental services by supporting increased dental screening for children, increased access to affordable dental care for older adults and increased access to dental services for those living on the coast.
Funds will also go toward the purchase of a van with supplies, equipment and a dental chair that will allow Sonrisas to bring dental care directly to patients.
The nonprofit operates clinics in San Mateo and Half Moon Bay that serve more than 7,200 low-income patients annually. Sonrisas also operates weekly pop-up clinic for farmworkers in La Honda in partnership with Puente de la Costa Sur.
Coastal Resilient Infrastructure Strategic Plan
With San Mateo County’s coast at risk from wildfires, storms and sea level rise, supervisors allocated $150,000 to support the Coastal Resilient Infrastructure Strategic Plan.
The goal is to analyze and evaluate coastal infrastructure – roads, evacuation routes, power supplies, water service and more – and identify areas that should be targeted to strengthen resiliency. The funds will secure the services of a grant writer who will seek federal, state and other funding sources.
Baby Bonus Program
This pilot program will provide a monthly unconditional payment of $300 for three years to 400 parents that currently receive Medi-Cal benefits, live in San Mateo County and meet other eligibility criteria.
Supervisors approved a $350,000 contribution to First 5 San Mateo County, which is partnering with local foundations and other institutions. The Baby Bonus Program is a demonstration project that aims to impact the health and well-being of newborn children into infancy and mothers in San Mateo County, and to gather data on the impacts of guaranteed income on health outcomes.
Ombudsman Services
This $100,000 grant will support the work of Ombudsman Services, which provides onsite monitoring and complaint investigation and resolution services to individuals residing in San Mateo County long-term care facilities.
Funds will go toward training and placement of field ombudsman staff and volunteers at facilities support responding to any issues or concerns raised by families or residents.
It is the only program in San Mateo County dedicated to advocating for the dignity and quality of life of people living in licensed residential care facilities for the elderly and skilled nursing facilities.
Measure K is a half-cent, voter-approved sales tax that provides local funds for local needs.
Michelle Durand
Chief Communications Officer
mdurand@smcgov.org