November 8, 1995
Dear Community Leader:
Knowing of your interest in improving the quality of life of women in San Diego County I would like to take this opportunity to update you regarding several programs I have been working on that I think you will find interesting and informative. These programs involve health, women and children's issues.
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
Since taking office in January 1993, 1 have been working hard to make San Diego County safe for women and children. That means stopping a growing national problem, domestic violence. In doing so, I have worked to expand county resources and support programs to provide services to help break the cycle of family violence. In addition, I proclaimed October as "Domestic Violence Awareness" Month in San Diego County.
Women's shelters in San Diego County have struggled over the years to keep their doors open because of lack of a permanent funding stream. I am pleased to announce that under my direction we have put in place a permanent funding source for women's shelters. This will assure ongoing and expanded services for women and children fleeing violence.
In addition, I became aware of a pilot program that is being conducted at the La Jolla Scripps Hospital. This program takes the new state domestic violence reporting law one step further by not waiting for physical signs to appear, but by directing physicians to ask women if they have been physically abused. This initial screening has shown that just by asking a simple question, domestic violence cases are uncovered where they might have gone unnoticed.
Under my direction, the County's Emergency Medical Systems is now developing this program for use in the County's eighteen community clinics and fourteen hospitals we contract with.
E-COLI
In December 1992, a 6-year-old Carlsbad girl died after eating a hamburger infected with the E. coli bacteria. The same illness in the Pacific Northwest killed four children and made more
than 500 people ill. As you may know, children and seniors are particularly vulnerable to this disease.
At the time of the Pacific Northwest 1993 epidemic, I learned that California did not have a reporting law for E. coli. This caused delays in the reporting of the illness and therefore caused major delays in alerting the public. I worked hard to make this disease a reportable illness through the California State Health Department.
I moved the process along and enlisted the help of Assemblyman Howard Kaloogian to sponsor E. coli legislation. This legislation went before the California State Assembly Health Committee where I testified in support and the committee passed this bill 16-0. Reporting laws governing E. coli became law on May 1, 1995.
BREAST CANCER AWARENESS
At a recent Board of Supervisors meeting, I announced that the month of October be proclaimed "Breast Cancer Awareness Month" in San Diego County. In addition, I am currently an honorary member of the Susan G. Koman Breast Cancer Foundation. This organization was established in 1982 and is nationally recognized with 58 chapter cities. I am proud of the Koman Foundation's efforts to get the message out to women regarding education, services, research, screening and treatment for breast cancer.
Let me conclude by saying I also remain a staunch supporter of choice for women and you can count on me to stand firm in my convictions.
Thank you for the opportunity to share with you an update on these very important issues. If I can be of assistance to issues that concern you, please do not hesitate to contact my office at 531-5533.
Sincerely,
