(Sharing 6/8/2026) Biweekly CHW Message- Grant and Award Opportunities

Quick Takes for June

• Half of Bexar County keeps a gun at home. Young people easily find household firearms, leading to teen suicides and fatal accidents. This Gun Violence Awareness Month, encourage parents to store guns locked, unloaded and separate from ammunition and to use Bexar Responsibly's play date safety checklist. Safe storage is especially important in vehicles, where guns are routinely stolen.

• June means Men's Health Month. Health Confianza explains what checkups are recommended for men here.

• It's also Alzheimer's and Brain Awareness Month.  African Americans, American Indians and Alaska Natives have the highest rates of dementia, and risk factors may differ for women and men (Alzheimers.gov). Healthy habits can lower risk: English | Spanish | Arabic (AARP).

• This PTSD Awareness Month, know that Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder is treatable. More than half of people who use Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT), Prolonged Exposure (PE) and/or Eye Movement Desensitization & Reprocessing (EMDR) will recover in three months. (Recovery means the person no longer has enough symptoms to meet criteria for PTSD, for example if symptoms are rare and manageable.) The PTSD Decision Aid helps people explore treatment options. Early intervention, within months of the traumatic event, reduces suffering.

Grant and Award Opportunities​

• $2,500 to $5,000 Weaver Award applications are now open, from Alamo Colleges, for projects by people who strengthen San Antonio's social fabric through community-building and trusting relationships -- sounds like CHWs to me! To understand the goals and rules, watch this 30-minute video. Due July 31.

• Win up to $8,000 for expanding a community garden to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, people living with paralysis and other physical disabilities, or older adults. Apply by Aug. 26 to the Cultivating Connected Communities Prize Challenge.

• The Bexar County Department of Public Health is requesting proposals from qualified organizations to provide Community Health Worker services, care coordination, intake, referral navigation, and related support services as part of the Bexar County System of Care initiative funded through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration Children’s Mental Health Initiative Grant (SM-23-013). Up to $325,833/year for two years. Pre-submission meeting today, June 8, 9 AM. Meeting link and RFP here.

Infectious Diseases in the News

• New World Screwworm: Last week, this flesh-eating maggot (fly larva) was found in two calves in Zavala County, about 100 miles outside of San Antonio. This painful infection can also affect pets and occasionally, humans. For an excellent rundown, see Everything You Need to Know about New World Screwworm (Migrant Clinicians Network) (español). The risk to the general public is very low. But if the New World Screwworm did show up in Bexar County, the people at highest risk would be those who: work with livestock, recently traveled through areas containing New World Screwworm, sleep outdoors in the daytime, or spend time outdoors in the daytime and have open wounds or scrapes, no matter how small. (Even a tiny insect bite can attract the flies and should be covered with a bandage.) Texas is quarantining animals in parts of Zavala and Uvalde counties, while ramping up production of sterile male flies. 

• Ebola: No known cases in the U.S. at this time. Public health is monitoring the outbreak in the Democratic Republic of Congo and Uganda and working with local partners on preparedness. 

• Since my last update, the U.S. added 78 measles cases for a total of 2,030 in 2026, with 0 deaths. Mexico has had 6,388 cases and 14 deaths this year. Vaccination remains the most effective protection. Vaccine programs for uninsured adults and uninsured/underinsured children are explained here. 

• Texas respiratory virus levels are Very Low.  Data dashboards: CDC | Metro Health | DSHS | TexWEB wastewater | Walgreens Respiratory Illness Index | National wastewater 

Navigation Resources of the Week

·                     June 27 is National HIV Testing Day. Bean & Chisme explain how easy testing is. FREE home tests for HIV, chlamydia, gonorrhea and syphilis are available at TestforTexas.org. 

·                     Happy Pride Month! Find LGBT+ friendly health care providers in the OutCare directory and the no-cost Pride Community Clinic. For welcoming cancer care and support groups, check out the Cancer Network.

·                     Caretakers of people with Alzheimer's and other dementias can find support at: Alzheimers Association | WellMed Caregiver SOS | Biggs Institute support groups | AACOG 

·                     NEW! City of San Antonio Older Adult Resource Guide and Sacrd.org Older Adult Resource Portal

·                     Find PTSD treatment: CPT providers | Certified EMDR therapists (some offer a sliding scale) |  STRONG STAR clinical trials

·                     Metro Health's Insulin Assistance Program is back, covering up to $100 per prescription. For more info, see the web page and attached flyer.

Upcoming Events & Opportunities

• FREE Mental Health First Aid training for community organizations is now available from Bexar County's Public Health Behavioral Health Division. Over two days, Bexar C.A.R.E. shows how to Connect, Assess Respond, and Engage with someone who could be having a mental health crisis.  Trainees will get Mental Health First Aid certified on Day 1, while Day 2 covers common mental health issues/deescalation and role playing. Call 210-335-0763 to schedule.

• Seminarios virtuales de Triple P en español estarán disponibles 16 Junio-30 Julio, 10 AM-11:30 AM, folleto adjunto. Regístrese

• June 9, 8 AM-1 PM, produce bags, clothing, XXL adult diapers, health class, mammogram bus and more at West Avenue Compassion, 10715 West Avenue (78213)

• June 9, 6 PM-8 PM, free feminine hygiene products at Empower House's Period Tea Party, 801 N. Olive St. (78202). Register

• June 10, 9 AM-3 PM, CommuniCare women's health mobile unit at Chapel Hill United Methodist Church, 4114 SW Loop 410 (78227), appointments preferred, call 210-233-7199

• June 10, 10 AM-11 AM, Passports to Public Health Webinar: Emergency Preparedness and Response, TEPHI. Info and registration

• June 10, 1 PM-2 PM, City rental assistance application portal opens (second Wednesday of each month)

• June 10, 4 PM-5 PM, Recognizing and reporting child abuse, online training from ChildSafe. Register

• June 11, 9 AM-2 PM, SNAP, Medicaid and other benefits enrollment by SA Food Bank at Vida, 3611 Jaguar Pkwy (78224). Info

• June 11, 9 AM-3 PM, CommuniCare women's health mobile unit at Westlawn United Methodist Church, 122 S. San Manuel (78237), appointments preferred, call 210-233-7199

• June 11, 4 PM-5 PM, plática comunitaria de promotores para fortalecer el acceso a servicios de salud, Migrant Clinicians Network. Regístrese

• June 11, 6 PM-7 PM, Stop the Bleed training by UH at Vida, 3611 Jaguar Parkway (78224). Register

• June 12, 9 AM-10 AM, United Way-JBSA food distribution to military and veteran families, 2320 Carswell (78236). JBSA access and registration required.

• June 13, 9 AM-1 PM, Top Ladies of Distinction health fair, Cross Roads Church, 8102 Midcrown, 78239. Flyer attached

• June 13, 11 AM-1 PM, Healthy Start Family Pep Rally for dads or dads to-be, featuring parenting resources and giveaways (car seats, baby gates), Las Palmas Library, 515 Castroville Rd. (78237). Flyer attached

• June 13, 1 PM-3 PM, City open house on Complete Streets. Will include how plans have changed based on community feedback, 600 Soledad (78205). Info

• June 16, 8 AM-1 PM, produce bags, clothing, diapers including XXL adult diapers, health class, women's health bus and more at West Avenue Compassion, 10715 West Avenue (78213)

• June 16, noon-1:15 PM, The Immunization Partnership's annual townhall brings together health workers and partners to learn from each other. Register

• June 16, 1 PM-2:30 PM, virtual Rentwise tenant rights and responsibilities session from City Neighborhood & Housing Services. Register

• June 17, 9 AM-3 PM, CommuniCare women's health mobile unit at the YWCA, 2318 Castroville Rd. (78237), appointments preferred, call 210-233-7199

• June 17, 11 AM-noon, webinar on My Health beyond Pregnancy: Supporting Patients and Caregivers Postpartum, UTHealth Houston School of Public Health. Register

• June 17, 6 PM-7 PM, online fentanyl awareness training from SACADA. Register.

• June 18, 9 AM-3 PM,  CommuniCare women's health mobile unit, SA Hope Center, 321 N General McMullen (78237), appointments preferred, call 210-233-7199

• June 18, 10 AM-3 PM, Latched Community Resource Day for people who are pregnant or have children under 3 years old, 950 Donaldson Ave (78228). Register

• June 18, noon-1 PM, Whole-Person Care During and After Pregnancy, Texas Oral Health Coalition, webinar. Register

• June 18, 2 PM-3 PM, Corazon Ministries mobile medical unit will offer wound care, glucose tests, STI testing, harm reduction services and more at the Central Library, 600 Soledad (78205). Info

• June 18, 3 PM-4 PM, Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) suicide prevention training online through the Prevention Resource Center. Register

• June 20, 8 AM-10 AM, Fatherhood & Mental Health Breakfast, from Healing Fathers, at Wild Barley, 8403 Broadway (78209). Register

• June 20, 11 AM-4 PM, Juneteenth health fair from the Theta Eta Chapter Nursing Sorority, Comanche Park #2, 2600 Rigsby Ave. (78222). Info and registration

• June 22, 9 AM-2 PM, free mammograms at Empower House, 200 Donaldson Ave. (78201). Register, call 210-704-4100 if uninsured

• June 23, 10 AM-11 AM, One Pill Kills strategies for conversations and overdose response, Institute for Trauma Informed Care, virtual. Register

• June 23, 6 PM-7:30 PM, NAMI suicide prevention to postvention training, virtual. Register

• June 24, 9 AM-2 PM, South Texas Family planning women's mobile health bus, 3803 Global Wy (78235), contact vds@ywcasa.org or 210-956-6943.

• June 24, 10 AM-3 PM, Latched Community Resource Day for people who are pregnant or have children under 3 years old, 8102 Midcrown (78239). Register

• June 24, 1 PM-2 PM, The Missing Ingredient in CHW Program Success, from the Center for Community Health Alignment, virtual. Register

• Each week, Westcare puts out a packed, magazine-format roundup of upcoming community events—read it by clicking here. 

• San Antonio Compassion posts flyers for resources and upcoming events here.

Logistics—How Do I Get…  

VACCINES 

• Uninsured? For recommended childhood vaccines and some adult vaccines, click the green buttons on this page for Texas Vaccines for Children and Adult Safety Net providers.

• Insured? Use a pharmacy--it's fast and no-cost to you. The American Pharmacists Association offers this pharmacy map -- filter by walk-in vaccine access, handicap accessibility, hours of operation and spoken languages. (No matter what the map says, it still helps to make an appointment.) 

• Homebound seniors: Medicare will pay a doctor or other care provider to give flu, COVID-19, Hepatitis B and pneumococcal vaccines in the home, more info here.

• Everyone is still eligible for COVID vaccines this year, and it is still covered by insurance. Hate the side effects? Look for the non-mRNA formulation (the "protein vaccine" here). 

  • No prescription is required at the major national pharmacy chains.

  • For those without health insurance, this is the best discount coupon I've found ($89 as of January 2026)--still pricey, but cheaper than the treatment pills. 

  • If you are unable to get the vaccine, remember the old standbys of clean air, frequent handwashing, masking, staying away from others who are sick (and also when you're sick). More info

TESTING

• The federal program for free home tests has ended. Some health insurers still cover these.

• How to Use Home COVID and Flu Tests:

  • Lab tests are preferred for people with symptoms. If you are unable to obtain a lab test, then repeat your home COVID test every 48 hours for a total of at least two tests.

  • If any result is positive, stay home and away from others for at least 24 hours—until your symptoms are getting better and you’ve haven’t had a fever for at least 24 hours (without taking fever reducers). What to Do If You Feel Sick (CDC)

• Before throwing out an expired home test, see if the expiration date was extended by checking the Expiration Date column of the FDA’s List of Authorized At-Home OTC COVID-19 Diagnostic Tests.

TREATMENT 

• Medications must start quickly (within 5 days of symptoms for COVID, within just 2-3 days for the flu)—so don’t delay getting a test and a diagnosis. 

• If you are at risk for complications and need antiviral pills: Low-cost online visits are available. Some people are eligible for co-pay assistance from the drug manufacturer. Learn more.