September 28, 2017
SOLANO COUNTY, CA (September 28, 2017) – The Solano County Board of Supervisors will consider entering into an intergovernmental agreement with the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation to receive $1 million in new funding to be used for the benefit of Solano County residents by promoting healthy outcomes and helping families in need at their meeting on Tuesday, October 3 at the Solano County Administration Center, 675 Texas Street in Fairfield.
If approved, everyone is invited to join Board Chair John Vasquez and Yocha Dehe Tribal Chairman Leland Kinter and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation Tribal Council at a partnership celebration commencement ceremony on Thursday, October 5 at the County Administration Center Texas Street Plaza courtyard starting at 10:30 a.m.
The partnership celebration will highlight the Solano County programs and services that would receive additional funding, including the County’s Mobile Food Pharmacy, partnering with the Food Bank of Contra Costa and Solano County, First 5 Solano and VibeSolano. The celebration will also feature the County’s Mobile Medical and Dental Clinic vans. In addition to exploring the mobile clinics, everyone is invited to enjoy free food samples, free flu shots, free health and dental screenings and a chance to ride (and enjoy) a tasty treat from the Public Health blender bike.
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation is a sovereign Native American government recognized by the United States whose ancestral territory extends across what is known today as Solano County. For nearly 15 years, the Tribe has supported a variety of nonprofit initiatives in Solano County ranging from youth sports and activities, fire and life safety to tribal language revitalization. As part of the Tribe’s continued commitment, this contribution of funds would serve to expand and support existing resources to Solano communities in need.
“We are truly honored to be presented with a partnership opportunity that has the potential to benefit so many people,” says John Vasquez, District Four Supervisor and Chair of the Board. “Again, I want to thank them for their generous donation which will go to support the health, safety and well-being of some of our most vulnerable residents.”
The proposed partnership opportunity between Solano County and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation began in late 2016 when the tribal leaders met with then Chairwoman and District One Supervisor Erin Hannigan. Supervisor Hannigan and the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation have developed a meaningful and mutually beneficial ongoing relationship, giving the tribe an opportunity to partner with local jurisdictions where it holds ancestral territory – all while benefiting the residents of Solano County.
“We realized early on in our partnership that we share many similar goals and desired outcomes,” Hannigan says. “Our shared priorities, include providing healthcare, housing, education, counseling, food and shelter services for children, low-income families and the homeless – are all more successfully achieved when working together, and have a much greater impact in the communities where we live.”
The Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation, owners and operators of Cache Creek Casino Resort, has a long history of working closely with its neighbors to promote and advance the needs of the broader community.
“Sharing with family and neighbors is at the heart of our tribal culture, and we are proud and honored to be able to partner in these important projects with Solano County,” said Leland Kinter, Tribal Chairman of the Yocha Dehe Wintun Nation. “When we asked for and received from the Governor the opportunity to use credits from our casino payments to the state directly for local projects within our Tribe’s historic territory, this is exactly the kind of work we had in mind. These programs will deliver valuable services – from education to nutrition to health services — straight to the people who need them.”
As part of the intergovernmental agreement, Solano County programs, including VibeSolano, the Mobile Food Pharmacy, and a series of basic needs and safety-net services, would each share a portion of the one-million-dollar revenue agreement, including:
$400,000 to the VibeSolano Campaign and Initiatives
Designed as a multi-pronged public health campaign, VibeSolano works to prevent and reduce chronic disease by increasing access to healthy choices, places and messaging. Programs include increasing access to free water bottle filling stations, increasing the number of safer, smoke-free places to live and play, healthier food and beverage options at local convenience stores and more walkable neighborhoods.
$400,000 to the Mobile Food Pharmacy
The “We’re all Family” Mobile Food Pharmacy project will bring healthy and nutritious food to low-income, food-insecure patients served by the Solano County Family Health Services Medical Clinics who are affected with or at-risk of chronic disease. Patients will receive a prescription for fresh produce, including fruits, vegetables and recipes that they can pick up from the Mobile Food Pharmacy at Family Health Services Primary Care and Mobile Medical Clinics.
$200,000 for Basic Needs and Safety-Net Services Support
First 5 Solano will provide for the immediate basic needs of families in crisis so families can focus on stabilizing and strengthening themselves to avoid crisis situations in the future. These basic needs and safety-net services will be provided through existing partnerships with Family Resource Centers located in every city throughout Solano County.
Everyone is invited to attend the partnership celebration commencement ceremony on October 5. No need to RSVP, simply show up. For more information on County programs and services, visit www.SolanoCounty.com and www.VibeSolano.com.