$150,000 Grant from Cal OES
Listos CA
The Center for Healthier Communities at Northridge Hospital Medical Center was recently awarded $150,000 from Cal OES to provide education and awareness on disasters.
“Listos” means “Ready” in Spanish, and Listos California is funded by the Governor’s Office of Emergency Services (Cal OES). It is on a mission to prepare Californians for wildfires, floods, earthquakes, droughts, heatwaves, and other disasters. Listos California engages a statewide network of community-based organizations and Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to boost resiliency and provide accessible and culturally appropriate disaster preparedness.
Data demonstrates that older adults, seniors, and their caregivers are at higher risk of disaster-related injuries and deaths. The team at Northridge Hospital’s Center for Healthier Communities (CHC) works alongside agencies that work directly with the older community in high disaster-risk cities. As a result of having been awarded funding from CAL OES, The Listos CA Northridge Team is able to work with different organizations that serve seniors, older adults and their caregivers.
Community Workshops
The CHC team goes into the community to meet seniors directly where they live, pray, and play. This can be a senior living community, a church community group, or a park senior center.
The CHC provides services in the communities of Chatsworth, Sunland, Tujunga, Canoga Park, Sun Valley, Sylmar, Lakeview Terrace, Porter Ranch, Granada Hills, and Simi Valley due to their proximity to the foothills and high risk of danger from brush fires. We are also available in other San Fernando Valley areas.
Home Bound Seniors
The CHC team also conducts in-home visits to seniors living independently. We provide disaster preparedness information, discuss the importance of having a plan, and give recovery education for home-bound seniors. After the visit, seniors receive a 3-day emergency kit, which includes a whistle, and fire extinguisher.
Why you should become a Volunteer
Volunteerism is the heart of the community; volunteering opportunities allow people in the community to share information with their peers and accomplish the readiness mission. Volunteers get the opportunity to become Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) certified and to gain more in-depth knowledge about emergency preparedness. In addition, volunteers will be able to conduct emergency preparedness training/workshops and provide outreach in their own community.
For more information on how to become a volunteer for this project, please contact Tere Morales at (818) 718-5939 or tere.morales@commonspirit.org.
Our Task Force
The Task Force is comprised of a multi-disciplinary team of senior-serving agencies and emergency disaster organizations, and health professionals. The LISTOS task force meets once a month (via Zoom) to collaborate, advocate, and bring new ideas, and resources to our older adult communities.
More Info
For more information on Listos CA, please contact Tere Morales at (818) 718-5939 or tere.morales@commonspirit.org.