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Ravenswood Family Health Network Dental Clinic
On February 12, 2026, community leaders, healthcare providers, and patients gathered to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of the Ravenswood Family Health Network Dental Clinic in Redwood City. This new clinic marks a significant milestone in strengthening the local healthcare safety net and improving access to comprehensive dental services for uninsured and underinsured individuals. The $6.5 million facility was made possible through a nearly $6 million investment by Sequoia Healthcare District, which also provided the lease for the facility. Spanning 5,186 square feet, the clinic features 11 dental chairs and can support five dentists, including four ADA-accessible treatment rooms to ensure inclusive care for patients with disabilities. Patient services include general and pediatric dentistry, helping children and adults maintain lifelong oral health. Gralyn Jacques, CEO of Ravenswood Family Health Network, emphasized the clinic's role in expanding access to quality healthcare, stating that the facility addresses a critical need and invests in the long-term well-being of their patients.
The Ravenswood Family Health Dental Clinic is part of a broader effort to expand healthcare services in the community and tackle disparities in access to care, especially during a time when changes to state and federal policies put more individuals and families at risk of losing healthcare access. With its modern design, ADA-accessible rooms, and enhanced provider capacity, the clinic is poised to serve as a cornerstone of oral health services for years to come. The expanded space and modern equipment will allow the clinic to serve up to 2,000 patients in its first year, reduce wait times, and provide a full spectrum of dental services under one roof. Dedicated pediatric dental services will support children's oral health from an early age, preventing long-term complications. Families can also join the Health Plan of San Mateo through on-site enrollment services. Pamela Kurtzman, CEO of Sequoia Healthcare District, expresses pride in the partnership, reflecting on the District's mission to ensure every resident has access to necessary care, regardless of income or circumstance. The clinic is now open and actively seeing patients.
Second Harvest of Silicon Valley Partnership
In response to the growing demand for food assistance in the community, Sequoia Healthcare District (SHD) bolstered its support by awarding a supplemental grant of $850,000 to Second Harvest of Silicon Valley this year. This funding enhanced the delivery infrastructure, complementing the $700,000 already provided for food purchases in fiscal year 2026. Each month, Second Harvest serves approximately 46,000 clients within SHD's service area, distributing around 12 million pounds of food to 57 partner agencies. This enhanced support was crucial as the number of SHD residents receiving food assistance has surged by 50% over the past two years, indicating a rise from over 30,000 to more than 46,000 individuals monthly. Our CEO, Pamela Kurtzman, has emphasized the importance of meeting residents' basic needs to maintain individual and family health, highlighting the ongoing focus on addressing health gaps due to evolving community needs.
The supplemental grant helped empower Second Harvest to support and improve the operational infrastructure required for the safe and consistent delivery of food across SHD’s service area, which includes Redwood City, Belmont, Foster City, Menlo Park, San Carlos, San Mateo, and Atherton. The grant was directed toward several key areas, including warehousing, refrigeration, and food safety systems; truck fleet operations for delivering over 3 million pounds of food quarterly; staff support for 57 partners and more than 100 distribution sites; and technology and client support through tools like the Food Locator Tool, a multilingual hotline, and CalFresh enrollment assistance. Additionally, it funded nutrition education and the coordination of client resources.
School Partner Stories
With support from the Sequoia Healthcare District, Belmont Redwood Shores School District developed a school counseling program aligned with the American School Counselor Association's gold standard, allowing over 1,100 students to receive social-emotional learning and crisis support. Las Lomitas Elementary School District led social-emotional learning (SEL) programming, passed a district-wide e-bike policy, and leveraged community partnerships for puberty education and mental health support. Menlo Park City School District utilized grant funding for nursing services and mental health staff and collaborated with neighboring districts to share resources and practices. Portola Valley School District focused on belonging and community connection, grouping students into "Ormondale Families" and celebrating core values through events like the Kindness Fair. Redwood City School District partnered with Friends for Youth to provide mentorship and community relationships, achieving a 90% program completion rate among underserved youth. San Carlos School District prioritized student well-being with a tiered mental health system, supporting 3,000 students through site counselors and collaboration with teachers and administrators. Sequoia Union High School District transformed student wellness into a district-wide system, supporting essential staff and community partnerships like One Life Counseling, resulting in declines in reported depression and stronger crisis response systems. Woodside Elementary School District used funding to support a dedicated school nurse and a full-time school counselor, advancing their Strategic Plan goals for the Whole Child and SEL.
