September 07, 2023
By Brittinae Phillips
I still remember the awkward silence that filled the room when I first asked my father about relationships. It's a silence that many of us might be familiar with. As students gear up for another school year amidst the flurry of preparations, topics that often remain shrouded in silence are healthy relationships and sex.
Growing up, my mother was the primary source of information on relationships and sex, which is still a common trend. We had in-depth conversations on birth control, consent, and respect between partners. However, when I began having sexual relationships, my mother's disappointment made further discussions challenging. My father took a less active role in all these discussions, though he did his best. I wish I could have openly discussed more about sex, relationships, and love with both parents growing up, especially my father. Having a male perspective may have given me a different outlook on relationships and provided insight into how some guys think.
Many parents express discomfort discussing sex and relationships, often hoping their kids abstain from both until adulthood. Yet the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Youth Risk Behavior Survey data reveals that 34% of Black high school students have engaged in sexual activities. It may be tempting to avoid these “awkward” conversations before they return to schools and campuses, but as kids’ most trusted resource, parents should be committed to sharing their values while understanding that their kids will make their own choices.
Recently, there has been growing recognition of the importance of fathers being more actively engaged in open, supportive discussions that build strong bonds with their children, particularly their daughters. Through my work with parents and teens, I know that father figures who don’t shy away from talks about relationships, periods, and birth control build stronger ties with their daughters.
According to Ohio State University research (2018), young women who reported healthy relationships with their fathers were less likely to become clinically depressed, anxious, develop eating disorders, or be dissatisfied with their appearance. Here are a few ways to normalize questions, concerns, and curiosities about sex and relationships.
Dad and Daughter Dynamics
Offer a male perspective. When your daughter asks questions about flirting, affection, or desire, topics she is definitely talking about with her peers, dads should give honest advice without judgment. Remember, this is a test of trust – your daughter wants to know that she can rely on you rather than you reacting to her behavior.
Build her confidence. Dads who get defensive or overprotective about their daughters’ relationships could eat away at any confidence-building efforts from both parents. Instead of resorting to threats like “If he hurts you, I’ll hurt him!”, help your daughter set boundaries and explore her feelings for someone while letting her know you will always support her.
Be appropriately transparent about your own relationship. Dads can talk all day about how a man should treat a woman, but daughters often choose partners based on what’s modeled by their parents. Be sure your daughter sees and hears your care and affection toward your partner.
While maintaining an open dialogue with both parents is crucial, having a father figure can positively influence a daughter's self-esteem and perspective on healthy relationships, including sexual behavior. However, it's essential to remember that you're not alone in navigating these topics. Healthy families can come in various forms, from single parents to same-sex couples, grandparents, or other guardians. The key is the willingness of any parent or guardian to engage in conversations about sex and relationships, as this plays a pivotal role in nurturing a well-informed, confident, and healthy adult.
Reach out to your local health department or family physician to answer your questions or concerns. You can also access a wealth of free, fact-based information on various topics by visiting https://www.plannedparenthood.org/learn/parents
Brittinae Phillips is the Community Education Manager for Planned Parenthood Los Angeles’
Black Health Initiative, managing community outreach and education for parents, college students, and youth.
September 07, 2023
By Dan Cusick
Wells Fargo Fraud & Claims Executive
According to recent Federal Trade Commission data, U.S. consumers reported a more than 30 percent increase in monetary losses due to fraud and scams in 2022 compared to the previous year. Scammers continue to find new twists on old tricks.
Among the most common scams today are imposter scams in which fraudsters convince their victims to send wire transfers under false pretenses. The scammer pretends to be from a government agency, tech support firm, bank or other legitimate and trusted company then tricks their victim into sharing personal information and/or sending money.
While not the only method, wire transfers have emerged as a common method used by “bad actors” in their schemes to request and receive funds from victims. A wire transfer is an immediate form of payment – it’s like handing someone cash. Scammers are using wires in their scams because they know once the victim authorizes and sends a wire payment, funds are usually transferred quickly and are rarely recoverable. Wire payments are often used for larger transactions, such as home purchases.
When it comes to protecting yourself against all imposter scams, vigilance and awareness are your best defense. Stay aware to stay secure.
Tip 1: Trust and verify – verify before you trust who is contacting you and who you are sending money to.
• If you receive an unexpected text, email, or voice message requesting a payment, do not reply, click links, or call phone numbers included in that communication.
Tip 2: Don’t trust caller ID - scammers are able to “spoof” phone numbers to make it appear as if the call is coming from a trusted entity, like your bank or utility company.
• Contact the person or organization directly, using verified contact information. If it’s your bank, you can use the number on the back of your debit or credit card.
Tip 3: Don’t share personal information - never give out passwords, PIN numbers (personal identification number), or access codes.
• Your bank won’t call and ask you to share your one-time access codes, PIN numbers, passwords, or your full social security number. If you provide a scammer that information you may be giving them access to your accounts.
Tip 4: Don’t be pressured or rushed into making a transaction or wire payment. If you’re being pressured to send money immediately, it’s most likely a scam.
• Remember: Your financial institution won’t ask you to send a wire payment in order to verify an account, receive a refund, or to prevent suspected fraud.
• If you are planning to wire funds – for instance to complete a real estate or home purchase -- and get a last-minute email asking you to send it to a new or unexpected account, contact the trusted recipient directly first to make sure they changed the instructions and not a scammer. Other examples that should raise a red flag include:
• If you get a call asking you to wire funds for an urgent investment—pause, think twice, and research the company and individual asking you to make the investment.
• If you get a frantic call from family member saying they are in distress or in a crisis situation and need immediate financial assistance via a wire transfer -- do not wire funds to a random account. Disconnect the call and talk to other family members first to verify if the story is true.
Remember, when in doubt, wait to send it out!
For more information on spotting and avoiding scams, visit the Wells Fargo Security Center.
August 17, 2023
LAWT News Service
Having enough food to eat, money to pay the bills, and a safe place to call home is essential for good health. After years of work to understand and address the social factors that affect peoples’ health, Kaiser Permanente has launched its Community Support Hub to help members and non-members meet their social needs.
The hub consists of a free, self-service, online resource directory and other forms of assistance. It enables Kaiser Permanente health care providers to proactively screen patients for social needs and connect those who need support to community-based resources and government assistance programs.
Kaiser Permanente serves about 4.9 million members in Southern California.
The Kaiser Permanente Community Support Hub is accessible anytime for anyone seeking help with basic needs — including people who don’t receive their health care from Kaiser Permanente — to explore and connect with social services and assistance programs in their communities. A call center and referral assistance resource also make specialists available who are trained to match people with the appropriate services.
“Many people need more than high-quality medical care to stay healthy, which is why we’re continuing to support our members beyond clinical walls to seamlessly connect them to the community resources they need to live healthy, thriving lives,” said John Yamamoto, vice president of Community Health and Government Relations at Kaiser Permanente Southern California.
“We’re immensely excited to launch the Community Support Hub that expands our ability to address the social health needs of our members and patients.”
In 2022, Kaiser Permanente screened two million of its members for social health needs — asking, for example, if they needed help paying rent, accessing healthy food, or securing other essentials that lead to good health. The organization then connected more than 170,000 of those members to community-based resources. Kaiser Permanente will continue to expand that support through the hub, with the goal of serving every member who wants social needs assistance within the next few years.
The Community Support Hub also enables proactive outreach via email, telephone and text to prompt social needs screenings and connections to resources, as well as follow-up to ensure peoples’ needs are being met.
Growing evidence supports the fact that social needs are a key factor in a person’s ability to become or stay healthy.
In 2020, Kaiser Permanente surveyed more than 10,000 members to learn whether they were struggling to meet their basic needs. At the time, 63% had at least one social risk factor — such as financial strain or food insecurity — that impacted their health. In 2022 Kaiser Permanente re-surveyed those same 10,000 people and found that 68% had at least one social need, and nearly 20% had more than three. Financial strain, lack of social connection, food insecurity, and housing instability were the most common concerns.
Additionally, respondents with any social need were six times more likely to report fair or poor mental/emotional health and three times more likely to report fair or poor physical health.
“Even when members have their basic needs met, unexpected hardships, such as an illness or job loss, make it challenging to live a safe, secure, healthy life,” said Dr. Ramin Davidoff, executive medical director for the Southern California and Hawaii Permanente Medical Groups.
“There are many social factors that can affect the health of our members, and that’s why it’s so critical to ensure they get connected to the resources they need.”
August 17, 2023
LAWT News Service
Back to school is near and as families gather essentials for the new year, heat preparedness must remain top of mind. Ensuring the safety of our children during extreme heat events is critical to their well-being and educational success. It is crucial that we all—parents, caregivers, and educators—work together to accomplish this task.
Children are one of the groups at greatest risk of heat illness, including kids with disabilities or those with chronic health conditions like asthma or diabetes, so it is important to take extra precautions to protect them during extreme heat. California's Heat Ready CA campaign encourages California residents to be proactive in safeguarding children from the effects of rising temperatures and raises awareness about the dangers of extreme heat, especially within heat-vulnerable communities like our Black and African American communities.
"As a doctor and mother, I understand how vital it is that we prioritize our children's safety during extreme heat. Their bodies are more sensitive to high temperatures, and simple steps can make a big difference in preventing heat-related issues,” said Dr. Sharon K. Okonkwo-Holmes, a family practice physician with Kaiser Permanente Southern California, and an instructor at Kaiser Permanente Bernard J. Tyson School of Medicine in Pasadena.
“Heat Ready CA offers simple yet essential tips and resources for parents and caregivers to create a safer environment for children as they head back to school, allowing them to focus on learning and play without worry."
Heat Ready CA is demonstrating its dedication to promoting community health and safety by sharing five tips for parents and guardians to implement and help protect children during extreme heat as they return to school.
1. Apply Sunscreen and Drink Water: Shield children's skin from harmful UV rays and prevent heat rashes and sunburns by applying sunscreen with an SPF of 15 or higher. Encourage children to stay hydrated, and not wait until they’re thirsty. Kids should avoid consuming beverages with caffeine or high amounts of sugar to prevent becoming further dehydrated.
2. Dress for the Heat: Keep kids cool and comfy by dressing them in light-colored, lightweight, loose-fitting, and breathable clothes. Children do not sweat like adults do, reducing their ability to cool down on their own. Teachers and yard duties should help by paying special attention to their face and body language.
3. Limit Outdoor Activities: Consider talking to your child's teacher about minimizing outdoor activities and encourage kids to play indoors or in shaded areas during extreme heat, especially between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. Children will need frequent breaks to rest and cool off throughout the day.
4. Educate Kids on Heat Safety: Teach children how to spot symptoms of heat illness and encourage them to seek help if they or their friends experience heavy sweating, muscle cramps, weakness, headaches, dizziness, nausea, vomiting or dizziness.
5. Plan Errands with Children in Mind: Never leave children alone in a parked car—even for a quick errand! Temperatures can rise almost 20 degrees in 10 minutes, even with a window cracked open or when temperatures feel milder outside.
As we gear up for the new school year, let's confidently handle hot weather and shield our children from the worst effects of extreme heat by remembering and applying these tips. We can create a nurturing and protective environment for our youth by proactively educating them about the dangers of extreme heat and teaching them how to stay safer. For more information about heat safety for vulnerable populations and resources, or to create an extreme heat plan, go to HeatReadyCA.com.
About Heat Ready CA
Heat Ready CA is a multi-ethnic public education campaign led by the Office of Community Partnerships and Strategic Communications. It aims to educate Californians about the potential dangers of extreme heat, how to stay safer and what to do if they suspect they are experiencing heat illness. The campaign engages media, meteorologists, and influencers, collaborating with trusted, community-based organizations and statewide partners to reach vulnerable populations. With agency partners including the California Office of Emergency Services, CalEPA, and the California Department of Public Health, Heat Ready CA is part of the state's comprehensive commitment to ensuring Californians' safety during the summer and supporting at-risk communities during extreme heat events. For more tips and resources, please visit HeatReadyCA.com or CuidateDelCalorCA.com.