SUPPORTING SYSTEMS ... Santa Clara County recently released its Children's Budget for the fiscal year 2023 that, based on the adopted budget, amounts to $1.09 billion in spending for services to finance children, youth and family programs. "Year-over-year spending for the Children's Budget increased by 3.5% in FY 2022-2023, the equivalent of more than $40 million in additional funding for the fiscal year," the county's press release stated. The Children's Budget, which accounts for 10% of the county's total expenditures, will support programs established before the start of the pandemic and introduce new funding for services critically needed by children and families in the county. County Executive Jeff Smith acknowledged the long-term challenges of the pandemic while recognizing the commitment of the community to assist its children and youth. "The pandemic has tested our resolve in countless ways over the past two and a half years. I am proud to say that, throughout this experience, our determination to protect, uplift and promote the success of our children never wavered," he said in the budget preface. The budget will fund nine new services and programs, including the expansion of an Employee Childcare Assistance Pilot Program, the expansion of a Summer Camp and Enrichment Program, a Youth Drop-in Center in downtown San Jose and a program known as the Children's Roadmap to Recovery, which offers support services for children who lost a caregiver due to the pandemic.

FIELD RESEARCH ... East Palo Alto residents can expect a visit next week from San Mateo County Health teams conducting a study on climate-related challenges the community is facing and to help identify gaps in preparedness The survey will take place Oct. 17, 18 and 19 at randomly chosen addresses, which will receive door hangers in selected neighborhoods advising residents of the upcoming visit. The teams will ask questions on threats posed by mosquitoes, extreme heat, sea level rise, fires, air quality and emergency preparedness. The surveys will be conducted in English, Spanish or both languages. Team members will wear identifying badges. Residents will not be asked for personal information such as name, date of birth or immigration status, or to provide identification, county public health officials said in a statement. Public officials will use the results to develop preparedness plans for the community, allocate resources and better understand what issues are most important to East Palo Alto residents. "These types of surveys are critical to understanding needs in our community and to provide actionable change. We are looking forward to working with East Palo Alto residents to better understand the community's climate change and emergency preparedness needs," said Karen Pfister, the county health department's epidemiology program manager.