The West Marin Community Resiliency Team, a partnership between the San Geronimo Valley Community Center and West Marin Community Services, is surveying residents to identify the health topics, services, and events most important to West Marin. 

“The feedback will help shape future health fairs, workshops, and outreach efforts so they’re better aligned with what the community actually wants and needs,” wrote Poko Giacomini, the S.G.V.C.C. community resources coordinator. 

The team is part of a broader county public health initiative formed in response to the Covid-19 pandemic. It focuses on emergency preparedness, overdose prevention, improving access to health care and resources, and increasing enrollment in Medi-Cal and CalFresh among newly eligible residents. 

Since its founding, the West Marin team has hosted annual health and wellness fairs offering free flu and Covid-19 shots, vision exams, health screenings, and other resources. Last year, 440 people attended four fairs in Bolinas, Tomales, San Geronimo, and Point Reyes Station. The valley fair drew the largest crowd, with 167 attendees, while the Bolinas fair administered the most vaccinations—to 30 uninsured residents. 

Despite those successes, a prevention and recovery forum featuring two speakers last May was attended by no one. 

“That got us thinking, was this event relavent to the community? Was it at the right location and time?” said Stefhanie Gallegos, the W.M.C.S. program director. 

The team pivoted to information gathering. “I think the answer is co-designing with the community so that they have input into what is important, what is of interest, and what format works,” she said. 

Now, the survey is being distributed through newsletters and other community channels while the team is coordinating community listening sessions. Already, W.M.C.S. has held Spanish-language sessions through its Abriendo Caminos program. 

The team remains focused on ensuring that people without health insurance, or those who might lose benefits under H.R. 1, can access services. It is also continuing its distribution of emergency overdose kits at weekly food pantries, and it’s hosting a community blood drive on Oct. 15 at the San Geronimo Valley Community Center. Residents can schedule an appointment or join monthly public West Marin C.R.T meetings by emailing [email protected]. 

To participate in the survey, visit https://www.westmarincommunityservices.org/west-marin-crt/ to find link in the June newsletter.