Meow Meow Foundation

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Responses to Our COVID and Camps Advocacy Campaign

Doug Forbes

Please check back. We will add responses as they come to us.

Dear Mr. and Ms. Forbes:

Thank you for your inquiry to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) regarding Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19). Your message was forwarded to my office for response. 

CDC is closely monitoring the COVID-19 outbreak in collaboration with the World Health Organization (WHO), other federal agencies, and state and local public health partners. For further information on the history of the response and the current situation in the U.S. and abroad, please visitwww.cdc.gov/COVID-19.

Please see the links below for specific information from CDC and WHO:

For information relevant to parks and recreational facilities, including ongoing mitigation guidance and tools for prevention and support, please visit www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/community/parks-rec/index.html.

Again, thank you for your interest and for taking the initiative to contact CDC. We will continue to work with our partners to control and prevent spread of the outbreak.

We hope you find this information useful.

Sincerely,

Sandra Cashman, MS
Executive Secretary
Office of the Chief of Staff, CDC

Hi Doug and Elena,

Thank you for reaching out. We hope you are both doing well too.

Yes, we will share this information with the Governor. It is also helpful as we consider how schools and child care can meet increased demands when the state starts to "reopen".

Regarding the bill, Stuart, cc'd on this email, is monitoring it and shared that we are still trying to get a sense of what the legislative calendar will look like. As soon as the legislature starts having policy committee hearings, our team will touch base.

I've also reached out to our Department of Social Services director and legislative deputy who is tracking the bill so we can coordinate. 

We appreciate you keeping us all in the loop and we will be in touch.

Take good care,

Giannina Perez

Senior Policy Advisor Early Childhood, Governor Newsom

Hello Doug and Elena,

I do hope you are healthy and safe, as well. We are all still under the governor and state health officer’s stay at home order. We are not able to predict the course of COVID-19 at this point, and given the science thus far, I believe we will be in some form of restriction to limit the spread of the disease for many months going forward, until a vaccine and treatment are widely available, and other capabilities are mobilized (widespread testing and enhanced contact tracing with isolation and quarantine).

 I appreciate you reaching out to us.

 Respectfully,

Dr. Ying-Ying Goh, Director of Public Health, Pasadena, CA

Thank you Doug & Elena. Will engage Staff on summer camp plans.

Terry Tornek, Mayor of Pasadena, CA

Thank you for your email. I am so sorry about your daughter. I am aware of that tragic situation.

I am working closely with our local summer day camp organizers to ensure there plans are compliant with the Governor’s current Stay at Home orders. There will be no sleepover camps this summer in our county.

Thank you for all that you do, and for working to make our community a better place.

Dr. Gail Newel, Health Officer, County of Santa Cruz

Hi Doug,

This is a topic we are closely following, and Christine and I have been discussing. What was the response you received from the governor?

Thanks so much,

Carolyn Johnson, Anchor/Reporter NBC News Los Angeles

Hi, Doug and Elena,

Thank you for the update. I've filed your letter with the information we're keeping on the bill. Do you know what the status of the bill is? Will it be going forward this legislative session? 

Eileen Rendahl, Legislative Coordinator, American Academy of Pediatrics, California

Dear Doug,

Thanks for sending this, and apologies for being slow to reply. I hope that you are staying well – such crazy times we’re in right now.

The article on swim safety, scheduled to run toward the end of next month, will look at the issue through the lens of what’s happening right now (including families sheltering at home, and uncertainty and delay in traditional summer options like camps). 

One of the aspects we talked about when we spoke was that the water certification of the counselors had taken place only a couple of weeks before the camp opened. Given the uncertainty of whether/when camps will be opening this summer, my sense is that this has the potential to lead to more rushed hiring and/or water safety certification, and I was curious what your thoughts were about this.

Lisa Lewis, freelance reporter, The New York Times

Thank you for reaching out.  I am a mother of a 7 and 9 year old – and lived in LA before moving to Marin County.  Thank you for sharing Roxie’s story – you nurtured a beautiful girl and spirit.  She is a gift.  I look forward to supporting  SB 955 as it move forward.  Take care of your Selves and each other.

Dr. Lisa Santora, Deputy Public Health Officer, County of Marin

Hi Elena

Thank you for your kind words and thoughtful considerations. Yes, the canceling of our camp experience on all six properties was a difficult decision. However, as you stated in your email, we were guided by the safety of our members and staff. Thank you for letting us know about your assistance on a Gold Award project.  The Girl Scouts who go for Gold are so impressive. I’m looking forward to healthier times and wish you and Doug well.

Yours In Girl Scouting,

Theresa Edy-Kiene, CEO, Girl Scouts of Greater Los Angeles