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UPDATE: Per Roots policy, smoking is not permitted on any of our properties. If you are interested in quitting smoking, book an appointment with one of our medical professionals at Roots.

 

Messages from the CEO

December 2017

Greetings Roots Family,

As we approach the close of the Open Enrollment period, I wanted to encourage all staff who have not enrolled to please take the time and enroll yourself in coverage.

This year we are pleased to offer the following, based on your valued feedback:

1- full dental benefits for each eligible employee

2- health (and vision) premium reimbursement up to $400/month

3- special one-time premium assistance for the first month you enroll in coverage (new sign-ups only)

All eligible staff should have received an email from PeopleKeep.com to register and enroll. Once you complete the registration process, you are given medical coverage options from which to choose your carrier and coverage levels. As you choose the coverage that works best for you, please note that Roots will reimburse you up to $400 of the monthly premium.

Roots is also offering a one-time payment to all new enrollees for the initial month to assist you in getting started. Once you choose your plan and determine your monthly amount, print the payment form showing the amount and submit to finance by 12/15/17 for payment. You will receive a check for this amount to use to cover the initial payment.

Once you make the payment and submit the paperwork on People Keep, Finance will be notified by People Keep to issue you a reimbursement. This reimbursement is included on the 15th pay check. This amount is then used to pay for the next month’s premium. Should you have any questions, please contact Roth Johnson, Director of Finance at roth@rootsclinic.org/510.777.1177 ext. 266.

I hope that these changes will enable each and every one of you to obtain the health coverage you deserve.

All my best,

November 2017

Dear Roots Family,

Our Annual Off-Site Event was a success!  It was great to have all sites come together and learn about our initiatives, discuss program needs and collectively create solution oriented resolutions.  I particularly enjoyed hearing each program’s theme song and judging your team skits.  As discussed in my slide show presentation, Roots has experienced exponential growth this past year.  I wanted to share a few thoughts regarding our growth and expansion.  

Roots Main clinic is now housed in a 1,400 square foot, remodeled space with four exam rooms.  The Empowerment Center will be moving to a customized space to better service our clients.  We have expanded our primary care & Navigation services to Peralta Colleges onsite at College of Alameda and Laney College, as well as staffing at the Student Health Clinic at Laney.  This Fall/Winter we are teaming with Covenant House and Dreamcatcher teen homeless shelters to provide a Drop-In teen clinic with expertise in trafficked and homeless youth.

Roots values our youth and we are proud to partner with MISSSEY (Motivating, Inspiring, Supporting & Serving Sexually Exploited Youth) and Teen Success, Inc. – This 18 month program of Roots Community Health Center for pregnant and parenting teen moms ages 14-19 (w/ children under 5) who have not yet graduated from school who would like to be mentored and supported on a track to college. The young women are invited to workshops once a week with childcare provided and also for additional one on one coaching with a mentor with shared experience.

I’m happy to announce that Roots Street Outreach services has been extended to five days per week, which enables us to reach a greater number of Oakland’s homeless encampments.  Roots STOMP Program received the prestigious $100,000 OPUS Award at Regis University last month.  Dr. Jason, Aquil, and myself, flew to Colorado to accept the OPUS Award.  It was an honor to be recognized amongst other organizations that are doing outstanding work, but we wished we were back in East Oakland celebrating with our Roots family.  Luckily, we had the opportunity to celebrate with staff at Roots Main Campus upon our return.  

Although you’ve familiarized yourself with many of these services I mentioned during Roots Annual Off-Site All Staff Meeting, it’s important that you understand how these partnerships align with our mission and values.  Care, empowerment, and navigation remains our top priority.

The work that we do for our community cannot be accomplished without your support.  We could not diligently, thoughtfully and wholeheartedly serve our community without you.  As we enter this holiday season, we have several things to be grateful for and I urge you to continue to approach Roots clients with a call to service.    I look forward to seeing you at the Roots End of Year Party!

Thank you for all that you do!

July 2017

2017 has been an incredible year so far! On a daily basis, each and every one of you is helping to change the odds for our East Oakland community and beyond. Your hard work and dedication to our mission is making it possible to realize our vision of Whole Health, especially for those who need it most.

Our much-anticipated expansion into San Jose has placed the spotlight on the Roots Whole Health Model like never before. This year, Roots has been selected for multiple esteemed awards as a result of the innovation, care and exemplary work of our organization. In June, I was honored to accept a commendation on behalf of all of us from the County of Santa Clara Board of Supervisors for our advocacy for the health and well being of the African/African Ancestry community throughout the Bay Area.

Our Oakland Street Team Outreach Medical Program (STOMP) also continues to capture large-scale attention. In May, our STOMP Medical Director, Jason Reinking, MD, was nominated for the prestigious OPUS Award. We hosted their 5-person award committee here for a full 3 days! And in June, Roots received the Jessie Curtis Award for our outreach to the homeless in the Bay Area. I continue to be amazed and humbled by the incredible work each of you is doing to make all of this possible. Even though the awards are great, it’s when I hear our patients, clients and partners complement our work and express their gratitude that really lets me know we are on the right track. I hear this gratitude on a regular basis and I am proud…you should be too!

In the weeks to come, Roots’ Oakland main campus will be expanding within our current building into a newly remodeled suite, which will include larger exam rooms and more space to accommodate our clinic’s growing needs. Our Clean360 soap-making enterprise also continues to flourish, and construction is in progress for our Clean360 Inglewood location which will serve as a store, factory and headquarters for our members in Southern California.

Roots family, I urge you to keep up the momentum that is resulting from your service to our communities, and continue to foster a stronger work environment. Utilize your coworkers and supervisors alike – we are all here with the same goal! Continue to hone your skills and prioritize your tasks in order to work more efficiently and serve our clients more effectively. And whenever you have ideas, or want additional training or skills development, please us know. It is the strength of each one of us that makes us so powerful together.

Summer is upon us and we have exciting events underway: Our Annual Neighborhood Empowerment Day tomorrow (June 8th), Roots Pediatrics Back To School event on August 12th and Roots Oakland barbeques the last Friday of every month. I look forward to seeing you all there!

Thank you for all that you do,