Reporters’ notebook

The California Endowment and the Health Equity Award Planning Committee named the San Mateo County Health System a winner of the Exemplary Health Equity Practice award.

The Advancing Healthy Equity Awards: Highlighting Health Equity Practice in California Public Health Departments showcased the work of nine health departments that go above and beyond the traditional scope of public health. SMCHS received the award primarily for “Get Healthy San Mateo County,” which is a city, county, community, school, hospital and health system collaborative that uses policy change to prevent disease and ensure everyone has equitable opportunities to live a long, healthy life.

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The American Red Cross of Bay Area presented the Clara Barton Honor Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership to Colleen Sasso of Daly City. The Clara Barton Award for Meritorious Volunteer Leadership recognizes a volunteer for service in a series of leadership positions held over a period of years, enabling the American Red Cross to provide valuable service to the community. Sasso maintains leadership roles in client casework and health services along with being an Red Cross instructor.

Other outstanding local volunteers honored at the recent Red Cross Volunteer Awards and Recognition Event in San Mateo County include: Administration and Support Award: Larry Max of San Mateo; Community Engagement Award: Julie Lynn of San Mateo; Disaster Cycle Services, Outstanding Support: Carmelitta Gumpfer of Daly City; Disaster Cycle Services, Exceptional Response: Deborah Don of South San Francisco; Disaster Cycle Services, Exceptional Leadership: Robert Mougeot of San Carlos; Disaster Cycle Services, Extraordinary Commitment and Dedication: Keith Hoffman of Redwood City; Good Neighbor and Partnership Award: Christy Adonis, Redwood City Fire Department Emergency Preparedness Coordinator; New Volunteer of the Year: Winston Butts of Redwood City; Volunteer of the Year: Diane Wilson of South San Francisco; Volunteer Supervisor Award: Eric Leong of San Mateo; and Youth Services Award: Jonathan Ho of Daly City.

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The San Mateo County Controller’s Office was honored for a 17th straight year with the highest recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting.

The Government Finance Officers Association awarded its Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting to the County’s FY 2015-16 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, or CAFR. The CAFR contains information on the county’s assets, liabilities, revenues and expenditures in conformity with the Government Accounting Standards Board, or GASB. The GASB establishes accounting and reporting standards for governments to provide accurate, consistent and transparent financial information.

The CAFR highlights economic and demographic trends in addition to detailing the county’s $1.6 billion in governmentwide revenues and $1.36 billion in total expenditures. Organizations use the CAFR to assess the county’s financial health and performance.

The CAFR is available on the Controller’s Office website at controller.smcgov.org/2016-cafr.

The Reporters’ Notebook is a weekly collection of facts culled from the notebooks of the Daily Journal staff. It appears in the weekend edition.