County Health and Human Services Lists Programs for Youth, Elderly That Are Unfunded as of Today as a Result of the ‘Big, Beautiful Bill’ | Lost Coast Outpost

Press
release from the Humboldt County Department of Health and Human
Services:

Effective
Oct. 1, $250,000 of federal funds will be eliminated from Humboldt
County Public Health’s CalFresh Healthy Living budget which funds
programs and outreach to improve the health and nutrition of children
and vulnerable members of our community. 

The
Humboldt County Department of Health & Human Services’ (DHHS)
Public Health Branch funding loss comes as a result of the passing of
HR 1, also known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act,” eliminating
SNAP-Ed funding which has been used locally to pay for nutrition and
physical activity education in schools and the community. That
includes the Safe Routes to Schools program and the “Rethink Your
Drink” educational program where young people learn about
alternatives to sodas and other sugary drinks which are both known
contributors to obesity. The cut will also eliminate funds for falls
prevention classes for senior citizens. 

Alice
Birney Elementary School Principal Kristin Sobilo said her school has
been partnering with Public Health on programs for years, and she’s
seen the positive impacts they’ve made. 

“The
loss of funding for Public Health programs is a significant setback
for our students and families,” Sobilo said. “Without this
support— encouraging our kids to walk safely to school, learning
about nutritious food and drink choices and staying active daily—we
risk losing a vital component of our efforts to promote lifelong
healthy habits and prevent chronic diseases from an early age.”

Area
1 Agency on Aging (A1AA) Director Maggie Kraft said this loss of
funding will impact her agency’s contract with Public Health staff
who teach falls prevention classes for local seniors. 

With
the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimating that one in
four older adults falls each year and one in 10 leads to serious
injury, Kraft said Public Health’s partnership has been crucial in
providing falls prevention classes at no cost for older adults in
Humboldt County, helping them maintain their independence and
reducing the risk of injury. 

“The
loss of this funding means these vital classes will no longer be
available, creating a gap in support that our seniors rely on for
their health and safety,” she said. “Falls prevention is not just
about avoiding injury—it’s about preserving quality of life.”

Kraft
said A1AA receives about $12,000 a year in Older Americans Act Title
III-D health promotion funding that supports their SAIL (Stay Active
and Independent for Life) classes. “The loss of funds means we will
be back to only SAIL classes in Humboldt.”

Humboldt
County Second District Supervisor Michelle Bushnell said the county
relies on a mix of state and federal funding for programs that
support vulnerable populations, including older adults and children.
“Losing funding that helps support upstream programs has negative
impacts on our community as a whole. Prevention programs are far more
effective than trying to fix problems after they occur because they
address issues at their root. These programs help our residents make
healthy choices, avoid crisis and reduce harm, ultimately making
Humboldt County more resilient.”

In
addition to the elimination of these Public Health-administered
programs, portions of this funding have historically been distributed
to the following community partners throughout the county that have
helped provide health and nutrition education to their participants,
students, clients and members, including:

• 
  Eureka
  City Schools

• 
  Redwood
  Community Action Agency

• 
  Humboldt
  Senior Resource Center

• 
  Open
  Door Community Health Centers 

• 
  K’ima:w
  Medical Center

• 
  Southern
  Humboldt Community Healthcare District

• 
  CalPoly
  Humboldt

• 
  Alder
  Bay Assisted Living

• 
  Comunidad
  Unida del Norte de Arcata (CUNA)

• 
  Making Headway for Brain Injury Recovery 

• 
  Jefferson
  Community Center and Park

• 
  A1AA

• 
  Humboldt
  County Association of Governments.