Valley Assistance Services, a Green Valley-based nonprofit, presented the scope of its community health and social services in Santa Cruz County and described a new telemedicine van and expanded transportation and volunteer programs that will serve rural residents.

Executive Director Christine Erickson and Associate Director Tony Bruno told the Board the nonprofit provides case management, rental and utility assistance, friendly visits and phone calls for seniors, volunteer-driven transportation for appointments and grocery shopping, and food-box and hot-meal delivery. Erickson said the organization serves a 2,700-square-mile area including portions of Santa Cruz County and has provided services in the county since 2014.

Erickson described a telemedicine van equipped with an internet booster, a wheelchair lift and a portable telemedicine kit that RNs can use to connect clients with clinicians in the vehicle or at a client’s home. “The van is equipped to go out into the world... The RN will then either assist a senior with a visit with a doctor and help explain after the doctor is done or provide other services that are necessary,” she said.

Valley Assistance Services also detailed volunteer transportation to Tucson for specialty appointments, a SNAP-can workforce-training program, financial-management education with a local credit union partner, and an active volunteer corps that drove more than 37,000 miles last year. Directors said most services are free to clients; one example noted a medically supervised medication-management visit with an RN may carry a small liability-related fee in limited circumstances.

Supervisors thanked the nonprofit and encouraged coordination with county communications to inform residents about available services. The presentation drew no formal vote; supervisors recommended the nonprofit work with county staff on outreach and referrals.

The nonprofit said it operates largely on grants and donations and continues to seek funding as demand for emergency assistance grows.