West Marin Community Response Team Newsletter
Public Health & Emergency Preparedness Updates
April 1, 2024

Dear Community,

As we move into the spring, we have a lot of exciting things happening locally and county-wide. So let's dive into it!

Let's start in the realm of overdose prevention, as this remains a big threat to our communities locally and county-wide. Dr. Matt Willis has a new video about Marin's recent spike in fentanyl overdoses emphasizing the critical nature of this issue. He also talks about an OD Free Marin 2024 Community Forum on April 10, 2024, from 6:30 PM to 8:00 PM. More details on this online forum are here and below. In West Marin, we've added another location to our 24-hour access boxes of Narcan, where you can now find Narcan 24 hours a day at the Olema Campground and five other locations, with more on the way! (see locations below). We are also excited to announce that we will have another tool available soon in our fight against overdoses. Starting in May, we will be able to provide fentanyl test strips to our West Marin Communities anywhere you can pick up Narcan! Want to know more about what a fentanyl test strip is? Learn more here.

Now let's venture into the realm of Mental Health. NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has symptoms of a mental health condition. You can join this group every Friday locally at the Health & Human Services location in Point Reyes Station from 12 - 1:30 PM, either in person or remotely. More details here. Want to become Mental Health First Aid Certified? This wonderful class is coming to West Marin in Spanish, on April 20th at Health & Human Services in Point Reyes Station. Please see the details below and here for this class and all county-wide classes!

Another very exciting service we are delighted to bring back to West Marin is the Clean Slate Program from the Public Defender's Office. Their services are many, and include dismissals of convictions, expungement of record, felony reduction, early termination of probation, many DMV services, and much more! They will be offering their services at the West Marin Community Services' food pantry, on April 25th from 12 - 4 PM. Here's More information in English and Spanish as well as below. You can also here a recent interview on KWMR about their upcoming visit to West Marin here.

Petaluma Health Center is providing a mobile health clinic for children at our Shoreline Unified Schools! This includes immunizations, urgent care, and more. They will be visiting 3 different schools in West Marin this month. Please see the details below. You can also get the flyers for each location in English and Spanish here.

Lastly, with all this rain we've had this winter, it will mean more vegetation growth this spring and summer. That can mean bigger fire risks for us out here. Fortunately, there are services like Chipper Days, sponsored by the Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority to help people safely dispose of those fire fuels. They provide curbside pick-up, disposal, and chipping of vegetation materials. Learn more and see how to register here.

Take care and stay safe,
The West Marin Community Response Team

NAMI Marin Family Support Group in Point Reyes Station

Is your loved one experiencing mental experiencing mental health challenges?

NAMI Family Support Group is a peer-led support group for any adult with a loved one who has symptoms of a mental health condition.

When: Every Friday from 12 PM - 1:30 PM
Where: West Marin Health and Human Services
16th Street Point Reyes Station CA
or online at namimarin.org/ptreyes

More details here
For more on their programs in Marin County, see details here or visit their website

Upcoming Mental Health First Aid Classes in West Marin

Mental Health First Aid for Adults teaches people how to recognize signs of mental health or substance use challenges, how to offer and provide initial help, and how to guide a person toward appropriate care if necessary. Topics covered include anxiety, depression, psychosis, and addictions. Classes are offered in both English and Spanish as well as classes geared towards youth and adults. Please see upcoming classes below:

The Marin Wildfire Chipper Day Program is back for 2024! ​

The Marin Wildfire Prevention Authority is proud to sponsor the Chipping Program! The program provides for the curbside pickup, chipping, and disposal of vegetation material from residential properties.​

Make a reservation to secure your pickup. Signups must be made NO LATER THAN the Friday before an upcoming event to guarantee a spot on the pickup list.

For more details and to make your reservation, go here

How to Save a Life from Opioid Overdose:
Using Narcan Spray!

Free Take-Home COVID Rapid Testing
West Marin