Every One. All Ways.
Public Health & Disaster Resources
The West Marin Community Response Team (CRT).
A collaboration lead by WMCS and San Geronimo Valley Community Center (SGVCC)
For regular up-to-date info on Public Health and Disaster Resources for West Marin, please subscribe to our Community Response Team newsletter.
About
As a rural area with sparse and spread-out populations, it is often difficult for state and county municipalities to address the needs of our community, this is where the West Marin Community Response Team (CRT) comes in.
Public health and disaster resources are new services offered by West Marin Community Services (WMCS) in a joint partnership with San Geronimo Valley Community Center (SGVCC). With the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, WMCS sought to fill this service gap in West Marin. Throughout 2020 and 2021 we supplied over 100 households with rental assistance who were experiencing a loss of income due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2021 to present day WMCS began onsite COVID-19 testing and vaccination services in cooperation with Marin County Health and Human Services.
Public Health
Now with the declining urgency of COVID-19, the West Marin CRT is able to focus on pandemic recovery efforts and a broader spectrum of community public health issues. The public health aspects focus on opioid overdose prevention, blood drives, health fairs, lifesaving skills classes, and connecting folks with Marin County health resources in partnership with many local agencies and healthcare providers.
Disaster Resources
The West Marin CRT, in partnership with local disaster councils, Community-Based Organizations (CBOs), KWMR radio, The Marin VOAD, Firesafe Marin, Marin Wildfire Prevention Agency, and many other local agencies, has focused on helping prepare our communities for the impacts of extreme weather, wildfires, earthquakes, flooding, drought, and other disasters. Recent efforts have focused on disaster alert signup campaigns, preparing go-bags, disaster communications, and focus groups concerning wildfires. WMCS Food Pantry, being the only food pantry open 5 days a week in Marin County, plays a central role in distributing food and supplies for displaced families and individuals during community disasters.
COVID-19 Take-Home Test Distribution
October 4, 2023 update: We are relieved to say that we have secured more COVID tests to continue our distribution efforts in West Marin! It is still uncertain if we will continue to receive more tests in the future. As our current supply may not be continuous, we ask that you follow these ground rules in receiving our free COVID-19 tests.
Our COVID Tests are for:
- Individuals or households who are under or uninsured
- Vulnerable residents
- Individuals who have had a recent exposure to COVID-19
- Those who are experiencing symptoms (although if you are sick, please send someone to pick up tests for the safety of our staff)
- Local Businesses or Agencies to provide for their employees, outbreak prevention
Free Naloxone (Narcan) Distribution
Naloxone (Narcan) is a medicine that rapidly reverses an opioid overdose. Naloxone can quickly restore normal breathing to a person if their breathing has slowed or stopped because of an opioid overdose. WMCS now offers free Narcan Kits to residents, businesses, and non-profits. This is an effective, easy-to-use life-saving medication to have on hand and WMCS is proud to offer this as a community resource for the public.
To obtain Narcan kits, please contact us or visit our Food Pantry on Mondays or Fridays from 11am – 12pm.
24-Hour Access Emergency Overdose Kits in West Marin
Inverness Post Office
12781 Sir Francis Drake Blvd, Inverness, CA 94937
Inverness Firehouse
50 Inverness Way, Inverness, CA 94937
West Marin Pharmacy
11 4th St, Point Reyes Station, CA 94956
Bolinas Community Center
14 Wharf Rd, Bolinas, CA 94924
What’s in the Emergency Overdose Boxes?
Narcan (Naloxone)
Naloxone (brand name NARCAN®) is a life-saving FDA-approved medication that is used to reverse the effects of overdoses from opioids such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone, and morphine.
Narcan is administered as a nasal spray version and comes 2 in a kit.