JANUARY 2017
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Bold Steps for Children Newsletter



Happy New Year! I hope you all had a wonderful holiday season with friends and family.

This is my favorite time of year because preparations are underway for the 10th Annual Santa Clara County Children's Summit. This year, the Children's Summit will be held on Friday, February 24, from 7:30am - 2:15pm at Microsoft in Mountain View. Our theme is "The Fierce Opportunity of Now," and we have two dynamic keynote speakers: James Shelton, President of the Chan Zuckerberg Education Initiative, and Tia Martinez from Forward Change Consulting, a leader in work to end the school-to-prison pipeline. We also have an amazing set of educational workshops. Join us and l earn new information that will help you in your work with children and youth, and reconnect you with others who care deeply about children.

To get more details and register for this year's Children's Summit, please visit https://childrenssummit2017.eventbrite.com. Also, please reach out to me at dbunnett@kidsincommon.org if you need financial support to attend.

I look forward to seeing you at the Summit!

Warm wishes,
Dana Bunnett, Director
Kids in Common 
In This Issue
Mission
Kids in Common wants every child safe, healthy, successful in learning,
and successful in life!
Kids in Common advocates for policies, partnerships, and investments that improve children's lives in Santa Clara County.
The cornerstone of our work is
the Children's Agenda, a county-wide initiative working to create measurable, positive changes for Santa Clara County children and families.
FEATURESfeature
Family Homelessness Prevention
Request for Proposals

Destination: Home is awarding up to $3.3 million over approximately 27 months (through June 2019) to be used for the services described in the RFP. Destination: Home is seeking a provider(s) to implement a new Homelessness Prevention system for families that are at-risk of being homeless. The funded agency would be working in partnership with designated staff from the County of Santa Clara Office of Supportive Housing, existing Emergency Assistance Networks, CALWORKS and local school districts to provide resources that prevent families from entering into homelessness. The funded agency should demonstrate capacity and ability to provide prevention services to qualifying families in Santa Clara County, targeting the cities of Mountain View, San Jose, Santa Clara, Campbell, Gilroy, Morgan Hill, Los Gatos, and Sunnyvale.
For More Information: You can review the Homelessness Prevention RFP by clicking here.
Proposals are due by Tuesday, January 31, 2017 at 5:00pm PST. 
 
destinationhomessc.org  


Photo Project Captures the
Real Lives of "Super Parents"

Earlier this year, ten California families with medically complex children allowed Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer, Deanne Fitzmaurice, into their lives for a day. The result, produced by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, is a photographic journey through the constant demands and joyful moments of family life.
Individual photo essays: You can view the family stories by
clicking here.
CNN coverage: You can view the CNN story by clicking here. 
 
www.lpfch.org   
 
   
COMMUNITY EVENTSevents 
WEBINAR: Grants to Expand School Breakfast
On January 16, 2017, the California Department of Education will kick off a grant application process for new school breakfast funds. These competitive grants are open to all applicants and will prioritize high-poverty schools implementing or expanding after-the-bell breakfast. Find out how you can access these important grant funds! Join us for two upcoming webinars hosted by California Food Policy Advocates, and learn about key dates and critical steps for the grant application process, get suggestions about writing a successful grant application, hear about the challenges and successes of implementing after-the-bell breakfast with grant funds, and have your questions answered by the staff who will review and score the grant applications.
Dates: Thursday, January 12, 2017, and Thursday, February 9, 2017
Time: 2:00pm
For More Information: You can register by clicking here. You can read an overview of the grants by clicking here. If you have questions, send email to Tia Shimada at tia@cfpa.net or call (510) 433-1122, ext. 109.

Mentor Tutor Connection Volunteer Information Open House
Mentor Tutor Connection, a 501(c)(3) charitable organization, needs Mentors for High School students and Tutors for K- 8 students in Los Altos and Mountain View schools. Becoming a mentor or tutor will add joy to your life and help our local youth along the way to a brighter future! Come learn more. There is no obligation to sign up as a volunteer. Bring a friend!
Date: Wednesday, January 18, 2017
Time: 12:00 - 1:00pm (lunch included)
Location: El Camino YMCA, 2400 Grant Road, Mountain View, CA
For More Information: You can register online by clicking here. For questions, send email to programs@mentortutorconnection.org.

Juvenile Justice Beyond the Bench Conference
The Juvenile Justice Beyond the Bench Conference is hosted by the Santa Clara County Superior Court. Conference programs include Slowing the School to Juvenile Justice Pipeline, Social-Emotional Learning, and Social Media, Safety, and the Law. Guest speakers are Angela Irvine, PhD, ShaKenya Edison, and Angela Alvarado.
Date: Friday, January 27, 2017
Time: 8:00am - 4:30pm
Location: The Westin San Jose, 302 South Market Street, San Jose CA
For More Information: You can view the flyer by clicking here. You can register by clicking here. For questions, send email to Benjamin Rada at brada@scscourt.org, or call (408) 882-2709.

HIP Conference 2017 - Healthy Innovative Practices: Creating Health Through Innovation
The Healthy Innovative Practices Conference, a partnership between the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and Kaiser Permanente, will focus on new, "hip" innovative ways to live a healthy life by focusing on new technology and inventions around healthy food, physical activity, and health equity. This conference will feature keynote speaker, Lt. Commander Dr. Rashid Njai, (PhD, MPH), a Lieutenant Commander in the US Public Health Service (USPHS) Commissioned Corps and Health Scientist at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). He will share his experience with cross-sector collaboration to address social determinants of health. Featured sessions will include: Institute for the Future - Food Futures Lab; DataKind - Using Data to Improve Health; and Innovative Practices in Health Panel Featuring SOMOS Mayfair, Microsoft, and Youth Speaks.
Date: Thursday, March 2, 2017
Time: 8:00am - 12:30pm
Location: Microsoft Training Center, 1065 La Avenida, Building One, Mountain View, CA
For More Information: Space is limited and pre-registration is required! You can register now by clicking here. Attendance is limited to two people per organization. All registrants will be sent a confirmation email with a finalized conference agenda and directions to the event. If you have questions, send email to the Center for Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at PICH@phd.sccgov.org, or call (408) 793-2700.

Middle School March Madness Basketball Tournament - Alum Rock Union School District
This tournament is a positive family activity with a college-going theme, featuring 16 teams (8 boys' teams and 8 girls' teams) and college information tables, with free admission to all games. A limited number of team slots are available.
Dates & Times: Friday, March 3, 2017, 4:00 - 8:00pm;
Saturday, March 4, 2017, 10:00am - 6:00pm;
Sunday, March 5, 2017, 9:00am - 7:00pm.
Location: W. C. Overfelt High School, 1835 Cunningham Road, San Jose, CA
For More Information: Send email to Esau Herrera, Tournament Director, at EsauLawyer@gmail.com. You can also check out the flyer by clicking here.
Project Cornerstone's 2017 Asset Champions Breakfast
The 2017 Asset Champions Breakfast will celebrate the 2017 Asset Champions chosen from nominees from across Silicon Valley. Project Cornerstone will also announce the results of the recent Countywide Developmental Assets Survey Data that includes data from youth in over 200 schools in Silicon Valley. And we have a special keynote address by Ruby Bridges, Civil Rights Icon. Please join community members, business leaders, school staff, Project Cornerstone volunteers, and local political leaders for this wonderful event. Early bird tickets go on sale starting November 1, 2016.
Date: Friday, March 24, 2017
Time: 7:00 - 9:00am
Location: Santa Clara Convention Center, 5001 Great America Parkway, Santa Clara, CA
For More Information: Visit www.projectcornerstone.org.

HIP Conference 2.0 - Healthy Innovation for the Future Generation
This second part of the HIP Conference celebrates National Nutrition Month and is a partnership between the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and Kaiser Permanente. The conference features special keynote speaker, Dr. Susan Lynch, an Associate Professor of Medicine at the University of California San Francisco, Director of the Microbiome Research Core, and acting Associate Director of the Microbiome in Inflammatory Disease Program. Dr. Lynch will present her human microbiota research and its connection to a healthy lifestyle. Other featured speakers will include Carol Danaher, MPH, RDN - Early Childhood Feeding Practices, and Jennifer Gacutan-Galang, MPH - Nutrition Education for School Age Children.
Date: Thursday, March 30, 2017
Time: 8:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Sobrato Center for Non Profits, 1400 Parkmoor Avenue, Cupertino Room A, San Jose, CA
For More Information: You can register now by clicking here. If you have questions, send email to the Center for Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention at PICH@phd.sccgov.org, or call (408) 793-2700.
NEWS, REPORTS, AND TRAININGnews
NEW! Barriers to Child Care for Foster Families 
Children Now developed a brief, Meeting the Child Care Needs of Foster Families - A Policy Roadmap, to inform policymakers about the barriers that foster families face when trying to access child care. This is part of Children Now's effort to enhance access to child care for California's most vulnerable children and to work with allies in 2017 to build a bridge to child care for foster children in California. You can read the brief by clicking here. You can read more about building a bridge to child care for foster children by clicking here.

NEW! Local Control Funding Formula Budget Accountability 
As part of our implementation efforts around the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), Children Now is developing a number of "LCFF Toolkits" to support local advocates and school district leaders. The first toolkit is designed to aid and encourage districts to be as transparent as possible about how they are allocating funds in their district budgets.  

NEW! Oral Health News
Children Now, in partnership with UCLA School of Dentistry and First 5 LA, released a brief earlier this month that details opportunities to expand dental care access for kids by providing additional support to Federally Qualified Health Centers. You can review the brief, Strengthening Dental Care for Children Utilizing California's Federally Qualified Health Centers, by clicking here. You can review the news coverage on New American Media by clicking here. 

Scholarships for Dreamers!  
TheDream.US, the largest college access and success organization for DREAMers, is offering scholarships of up to $25,000 to Bay Area high school and community college graduates looking to attend one of our Bay Area Partner Colleges: Sonoma State, California State University East Bay, San Francisco State, San Jose State, University of California Santa Cruz, and University of California Merced. DREAMers who meet DACA eligibility criteria or have applied for TPS status may apply. Interested students should visit www.thedream.us, email TheDream.US@applyISTS.com, or call 1-(855) 670-ISTS (4787) and ask for the TheDream.US National Scholarship Program. You can check out the information sheet by clicking here. The deadline is March 8, 2017.

Children Now's 2016-2017 California County Scorecard of Children's Well-Being  
On November 15, Children Now released their County Scorecard, an interactive online data tool that provides snapshots of children's well-being in each of California's counties. The Scorecard, along with the accompanying informational videos, illuminates children's issues by region so that local leaders can prioritize - and work together to improve - children's health, education, welfare, and economic well-being. You can review the Scorecard and related resources by clicking here.  

New Grant Opportunity for Schools and Communities to Improve School Climate
Children Now, Public Counsel, and PolicyLink led advocacy efforts to secure funding for a new grant program, administered by the State Department of Education, to help local school districts to improve school climate and mitigate the school-to-prison pipeline. Grant funds are to support the planning, implementation, and evaluation of evidence-based, non-punitive programs and practices to keep the state's most vulnerable pupils in school. You can get more information by clicking here . 

Resources for Health Coverage Enrollment 
California has made tremendous progress in providing all kids with health coverage, regardless of their immigration status. This reflects our state's values of opportunity and inclusion. For Medi-Cal's 50th anniversary last month, Children Now created informational materials to help enroll the remaining uninsured kids and to recognize the federal, state, and local initiatives and policy reforms that have helped us get this far. You can get Children Now's new enrollment poster (available for free in English, Spanish, and Chinese) and health coverage timeline by clicking here. 

When a Sibling Goes to Prison
On any given day, 54,000 juvenile offenders are not living with their families because they are instead in one of the 696 youth-detention facilities across the United States. In an average year, 17,800 of them "are just awaiting their turn in court," according to the Campaign for Youth Justice. But those are just the youth in the juvenile-justice system. You can read the article in The Atlantic by clicking here.

Archived Webinar: Care Planning for Children with Special Health Care Needs 
In this November 9 webinar, two experts discuss their approaches to creating and implementing effective, family-centered plans of care for children with special health care needs. The speakers also provide guides for use by families and health care practitioners. The webinar was sponsored by the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health. You can see the recording and presentation slides by clicking here.   
   
2016 Truancy Report Released 
The Attorney General's In School + On Track 2016 report was recently released; you can view the press conference by clicking here . The 4th edition of this annual report raises awareness about the critical importance of elementary school attendance. You can review the report by clicking here .
 
Health4AllKids - Medi-Cal Enrollment Update 
The Health4AllKids law to expand health coverage to all income-eligible children in the state regardless of their immigration status took effect in May 2016. Since then, over 133,000 undocumented children have newly enrolled in comprehensive Medi-Cal health coverage. For more information, see Children Now's infographic by clicking here. You can also send email to Isabel French, Communications Manager, at ifrench@childrennow.org, and visit the Children Now website at www.childrennow.org.    

Understanding Bullying and Cyberbullying 
Did you know that over 28% of students aged 12-18 have reported being bullied, and over 43% have witnessed or experienced cyberbullying online? In response to this issue, OnlineSchools.org has created a new resource for bullying and cyberbullying in schools. You can review this resource by clicking here. 
   
Poverty and Child Health in the United States
Almost half of young children in the United States live in poverty or near poverty. The American Academy of Pediatrics is committed to reducing and ultimately eliminating child poverty in the United States. Poverty and related social determinants of health can lead to adverse health outcomes in childhood and across the life course, negatively affecting physical health, socio-emotional development, and educational achievement. You can read this first ever AAP policy statement on poverty by clicking here.  
 
Kids Make Strides in Health Coverage But Over 1.5 Million Suffer Trauma  
The 2016 California Children's Report Card has just been released, providing a close look at the current status of California kids. It assigns a letter grade ("A" though "F") to each of 31 areas key to children's well-being, including early learning, health, and K-12 education, to help state leaders make informed policy choices and make kids our top priority. The Report Card shines a spotlight on areas where California is not doing enough for kids.  Unfortunately, in the area of childhood trauma the state received a Report Card grade of "D-", the report's lowest grade. California kids fared better in areas where lawmakers have focused attention and resources, such as preschool (B-) and health insurance (A-). In 2016, we want our state leaders to give kids all the support they need to grow up healthy and succeed! You can read the Report Card by clicking here. 
   
Respect 360 eTraining 
If you were unable to attend The Respect Institute's recent in-person trainings in Silicon Valley, no worries! You can get trained online to implement the Respect 360 Toolkit and/or Journal Program at your own pace by  clicking here. You can also send email to Jessica Baker at jessica@therespectinstitute.org with questions or to inquire about partial scholarships. 

Social and Emotional Learning and School Climate Resources 
There has been a lot of attention recently on the importance of developing healthy school climates and fostering social and emotional learning in schools. If you are interested in resources for strengthening relationships, increasing student engagement, improving school climate, integrating SEL into professional development, or bridging Restorative Practices and Trauma-Informed approaches within your schools or organizations, visit the Scoop.it! page by clicking here.   
 
ONLINE TRAINING: Helping Parents to Feed Well so Children Can Eat Well 
Parent educators can improve their knowledge of how child development influences child eating, learn how to help parents teach their child to be a healthy eater, and learn how to support parents in having enjoyable family mealtimes. You can view the four 30-minute videos created by Childhood Feeding Collaborative of Santa Clara County by clicking here. For more Information, send email to Carol Danaher at carol.danaher@phd.sccgov.org , or call (408) 793-2708. 
 
Child Abuse Prevention Resources for Schools
Please share this important information with parents, teachers, and school administrators about Kidpower's abuse, bullying, abduction, and other violence prevention resources for schools. You can check out this resource by clicking here.  

WEBINAR: Social and Emotional Learning 
Supported by music and videos, take-home activities, and stories kids relate to, the developmentally appropriate Second Step lessons have helped teachers instill social-emotional skills in their students for over 20 years. Interested in putting the Second Step program to work for your students? Attend one of the sessions from Committee for Children to hear directly from their experts. You can see a list of live webinars and register by clicking here.
  
FIRST 5 Obesity Prevention Efforts 
The California State Association of Counties (CSAC) profiled FIRST 5 Santa Clara County's efforts to prevent early childhood obesity. Through a blog post and video, CSAC highlights how FIRST 5 programs are making healthy habits fun! You can read the blog by clicking here; you can watch the YouTube video by clicking here.
 
School Discipline Consensus Report 
Released by the Council of State Governments Justice Center, this report presents a comprehensive set of consensus-based and field-driven recommendations to improve conditions for learning for all students and educators, better support students with behavioral needs, improve police-school partnerships, and keep students out of the juvenile justice system for minor offenses. You can read the report by clicking here .
 
COMMUNITY RESOURCESresources 
Stanford Pediatric Weight Control Program
Concerned about a child's weight? Based on nearly 20 years of Stanford's research, the Pediatric Weight Control Program  has a success rate of over 80% in helping children and teens achieve age-appropriate weight reduction. Parents lose weight too! Classes begin January 2017 at 4100 Bohannon Drive, Menlo Park, CA. To hear more about our program from past participants, watch this video by clicking here. 
For More Information: Visit weightcontrol.stanfordchildrens.org , or call (650) 725-4424. We look forward to hearing from you!
 
FEBRUARY CLASSES! Personal Safety Workshops   
Kidpower's Public Workshops for ages 3 years to adults offer personal safety skills training that is relevant to the ages and life situations of the students. These dynamic, upbeat workshops teach skills such as boundary setting, advocacy, stranger safety, safety with words (spoken or online), help-seeking, and de-escalation. There are multiple workshops for different child age groups coming soon. Classes fill-up quickly, so let Kidpower know right away if you're interested!  
Featured Workshops:
* K idpower Safety Workshop for ages 5-8 with their adults, which will be held in Palo Alto on Sunday, February 5, from 9:00 - 11:00pm. Protect your child from harm and gain valuable tools for building better relationships. 
* Kidpower Safety and Self-Defense Workshop for ages 6-12 with their adults, which will be held in Palo Alto on Saturday, February 11, from 9:00am - 1:00pm. Older children together with their adults practice personal safety skills for handling every day emotional and physical safety problems and self-defense skills for stopping emergencies.
For More Information: You can see the public workshop schedule and register by  clicking here. For questions, call (800) 467-6997 Ext. 1#, or send email to  safety@kidpower.org.

Financial Aid Season Is Here! Support the 2016 Cash for College Campaign
Starting on October 1, 2016, through the March 2, 2017 Cal Grant deadline, students and families can attend FREE Cash for College workshops throughout San Jose/Silicon Valley to learn about financial aid options and get help completing their 2017-2018 financial aid applications: the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) or California Dream Act (CADAA) and Chafee for Foster Youth applications. Bilingual assistance is available in Spanish and Vietnamese.
For More Information: For a list of workshop dates, see the Cash for College flyer by clicking here, or visit the website at www.cash4college.csac.ca.gov.

Silicon Valley Medical-Legal Partnership Expands Hours, Locations, and Eligibility
The Silicon Valley Medical-Legal Partnership provides free legal services to children and youth up to age 21 to address legal issues that affect health. Legal issues that can be addressed include accessing special education services in school, guardianships, substandard housing, school expulsions or suspensions, emancipation, custody and paternity questions for teen parents, immigration questions for people up to age 21, and more. Children and youth are eligible for this program if they are patients of Santa Clara Valley Medical Center, including all clinics.
Locations:
(1) VHC Bascom - 750 S. Bascom Avenue, Suite 230, San Jose, CA; Mondays from 4:00 - 7:00pm.
(2) VHC Downtown - 777 E. Santa Clara Street, 2nd Floor, San Jose, CA; Wednesdays from 2:00 - 5:00pm. 
(3) VHC Gilroy - 7475 Camino Arroyo, 2nd Floor, Gilroy, CA; 2nd and 4th Thursdays from 2:00 - 4:00pm. 
For More Information: Families may call the intake coordinator at (408) 350-7260 to speak with the intake coordinator, who is bilingual in Spanish. Families may also ask their medical provider at SCVMC to make a referral to the program. Visit the legal assistance website by clicking here.   
   
FREE Workshops to Prepare for the DMV Driver License Written Exam!
The Licencias.us project provides culturally sensitive instruction in Spanish to motivate and prepare adult undocumented immigrants to secure a California Driver License as they continue on the road towards citizenship. The class is conducted in Spanish only, and participants must be 18 years of age or older to attend. A Social Security Card is not required to get a DMV license.  
For More Information: Visit www.Licencias.US for the most current schedule of classes, which run September - November 2016. You can also register by sending a text message to 408-800-4458 with your name, cellphone number, and workshop dates that you will attend.
 
Freshest Cargo Mobile Farmers' Market
The Freshest Cargo Mobile Farmers' Market is a "farmers' market on wheels" that addresses issues related to lack of access to fresh, locally-grown produce in food desert communities in the Bay Area. We source produce directly from local farmers to sell at sites across the Bay Area. We keep prices low and offer the Market Match incentive, which matches CalFresh spending at our market up to $20 a day, to spend on fresh produce! You can get the updated route schedule by clicking here.
For More Information: Visit www.FreshApproach.org. 
    
UnBEETable Quality at Your Local Farmers' Market - CalFresh EBT Welcome!
Most Santa Clara County farmers' markets now accept CalFresh/EBT cards. You can swipe your EBT card at the market info booth and get CalFresh tokens to spend at the market. For every CalFresh dollar you spend at participating farmers' markets, you will receive a dollar-for-dollar match FREE up to $10 to spend on fruits and vegetables through the Market Match incentive program. Market Match makes farmers' market produce more affordable for families.
For More Information: You can view a list of all farmers' markets in the County, along with those that accept CalFresh and participate in Market Match, by clicking here.
   
Better Health Pharmacy 
Better Health Pharmacy offers free medications to any patient in need. The pharmacy targets patients who cannot afford their medications, including those who 1) have insurance but cannot afford the co-pays or deductibles, or 2) do not have insurance. The pharmacy is a new initiative of the Santa Clara County Public Health Department, and is open Mondays, Tuesdays, and Wednesdays from 4:00 - 8:00pm, and on Saturdays from 9:00am -1:00pm.  
Location: 725 East Santa Clara Street, Suite #202, San Jose, CA 
For More Information:  You can access the full inventory on the pharmacy website at BetterHealthRx.org, or by calling (408) 794-0564.
Catch Up on the Latest SJUSD News!   
San Jose Unified School District Trustee, Susan Ellenberg, publishes a quarterly newsletter to keep constituents and stakeholders abreast of important district news, as well as her thoughts on current issues related to education and equity.  
For More Information: You can read the most recent edition by clicking here.  
 
CalFresh Application Assistance: Same Day Service  
Community members now have faster access to CalFresh Benefits at 5 locations (listed below) around Santa Clara County! Eligibility workers are stationed at 6 Emergency Assistance Network Agencies (EANs) alongside Food Bank representatives to assist people with CalFresh. In 1-2 days, community members can be screened, apply for CalFresh and have their County interview. If approved, a client could pick up their EBT card on the same day at the Social Services Agency or the next business day at the EAN agency.  
Locations: 
(1) InnVision, Palo Alto - 33 Encina Avenue, Palo Alto, CA; Wednesdays, 9:00am - 4:00pm; drop-ins only.
(2) St. Joseph's Family Center - 7950 Church Street, Gilroy, CA; Mondays, 9:00am - 4:00pm; for an appointment, call (408) 842-6662.
(3) Sunnyvale Community Services - 725 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, CA; Mondays, 9:00am - 4:00pm; for an appointment, call (408) 738- 4321.
(4) Community Services Agency of Mt. View & Los Altos - 204 Stierlin Road, Mountain View, CA; 1st and 4th Thursdays, 9:00am - 4:00pm; for an appointment, call (650) 968-0836.
(5) West Valley Community Services - 10104 Vista Drive, Cupertino, CA; 1st and 3rd Tuesdays, 10:00am - 7:00pm; for more information, call (408) 255-8065.
(6) Salvation Army - 359 N. 4th Street, San Jose, CA; Thursdays, 8:00am - 3:00pm; for an appointment, call Food Connection at 1-800-984-3663.
English as a Second Language Classes 
These ESL classes are offered at no charge. If you are 18 years or older, you can join the classes to learn reading, spelling, and literacy. The classes are open entry, so you can start at anytime.
Dates and Times: Mondays and Wednesdays from 9:00 - 11:30am and/or Tuesdays and Thursdays from 5:00 - 7:30pm
Location: 749 Story Road, Suite 10, San Jose, CA 
For More Information: Call (408) 213-0961.
 
Calling All Youth-Based Program Agencies
Pacific Housing, Inc. is looking for partnerships with youth-based program agencies to provide services for residents of affordable housing in East San Jose. 
For More Information:  Visit www.pacifichousing.org . Send email to mmaldonado@pacifichousing.org or call (916) 638-5200, x205. 
 
Join The Children's Movement    
Children Now is the leading nonpartisan, umbrella research, policy development, and advocacy organization dedicated to promoting children's health, education, and child well-being in California and creating national policies that support child development. Children Now also leads The Children's Movement of California, a grassroots network of more than 1,300 business, education, parent, civil rights, and faith-based, community and multi-ethnic organizations, as well as thousands of individuals, working together to make children a priority in public policy-making.
For More Information: Visit www.childrennow.org. Main office: 1404 Franklin Street, #700, Oakland, CA 94612; (510) 763-2444.
 
10 Steps to a Healthier You! 
A FREE, three-class series for parents and caregivers about implementing a positive, healthy lifestyle into home environments. Classes are for residents of Santa Clara County, and are held at various dates, times, and locations throughout Santa Clara County year-round.
For More Information: To sign up for the free three-class series or to host the free classes at your site, call Healthier Kids Foundation at (855) 344-6347. You can get more details about the program by clicking here.  
 
Eastside Elite Basketball League
If you want a basketball program for your child, this program offers both non-competitive and competitive programs. The Co-Ed Non-Competitive League is for 6 - 9 year olds with little or no basketball experience who would benefit from participation in a structured program with a focus on skills development, basketball fundamentals, and structured game time. The Eastside Elite Competitive Basketball League is for 10 - 16 year olds with emphasis placed on good sportsmanship and skills development.
For More Information: For program details and fees, call Eric or Rhonda at (408) 794-1060.
 
FOR EDUCATORS: Embrace the Core Website and Communications Toolkit 
The Embrace the Core website and Communications Toolkit are designed to help educators cut through the noise and communicate to parents about California's Common Core State Standards in their classrooms. Teachers, principals, district leaders, after-school program administrators, and anyone else who regularly fields questions from parents can use the posters, sample letters to parents, talking points, and various other resources to drive those conversations.
For More Information: Visit the website at www.embracethecore.org. You can get to the toolkit by clicking here. If you have questions, send email to Neha Singh Gohil, Silicon Valley Community Foundation, at nsgohil@siliconvalleycf.org.   
 
Good. To Go. Is in San Jose!
Good. To Go. (G2G) is a community-based marketing campaign aimed at increasing San Jose residents' purchase of "fun, fast, and fresh" items such as fresh produce and kid-friendly 'grab n go' snacks at participating G2G outlets: Healthy Corner Stores, Fresh Cart mobile produce vendors, and PCFMA farmers' markets. To find G2G locations in San Jose, visit our online interactive map by  clicking here . To stay up to date on events, new products, and program updates, be sure to "Like" our  G2G Facebook page .
For More Information:  To learn how to spread the word about G2G within your network and become a G2G brand ambassador, please contact Misha Taherbhai at  mishat@healthtrust.org or call (408) 513-8716. 
 
New Teacher Intern Credential Program: Education Preparation for Inclusive Classrooms 
In Fall 2014, the Inclusion Collaborative started an education specialist credential program focusing on inclusion: Preliminary Early Childhood Special Education, Preliminary Moderate/Severe Special Education, and a Clear Education Specialist Induction Program. Classes are held in the evenings and occasionally on Saturdays. These are alternative pathways to acquiring a teaching credential, allowing students to earn their credentials while interning with a school district. Education Preparation for Inclusive Classrooms (EPIC) accepts new students every two years, so if you are interested in one of the three programs, plan to apply for Fall 2018. 
For More Information: To learn about the program, see the FAQ page by clicking here. For additional professional development opportunities and resources, visit the Inclusion Collaborative website by clicking here.
 
FREE Kids' Vision and Dental Screenings
Healthier Kids Foundation FocusFirst and DentalFirst programs are conducting FREE (donor-funded) vision and dental screenings for children ages 6 months - 18 years old. Vision screenings are performed with a high-optic digital camera, and dental screenings are performed by a licensed dentist, Monday through Friday, at your school, church, daycare center, community center, after-school program, or community-based organization. For dental screenings, all children will receive a FREE toothbrush, toothpaste, and floss. Healthier Kids Foundation staff will help parents with any follow-up as needed.
For More Information: This program is done on a first-come, first-serve basis. Schedule your screenings by calling Sunny Ochoa at (408) 564-5114, Ext. 206, or send email to  sunny@hkidsf.org.
 
GED Preparation Classes  
These classes target older youth, ages 17 - 24 years. An assessment of a student's basic skill level will determine placement. Classes include both lecture and computer-based learning. The GED program is open-entry/open-exit during the school year. 
Date: Monday through Friday 
Time: 8:30am - 11:40pm
Location: 749 Story Road, Suite 10, San Jose, CA
For More Information: Contact Mariah Artley at (408) 213-0961, Ext. 27, or Caroline Sailor at Ext. 30.  
 
FutureArtsNow! 
This program hosts weekly Open Dance Sessions at the Edenvale Community Center for $3/session. Youth and young adults are invited to come and hone their Hip Hop dance skills during our weekly sessions inside the Edenvale Dance Studio/Gym.  
Date: Every Wednesday and Thursday  
Time: 8:00 - 10:00pm 
Location: Edenvale Community Center, 330 Branham Lane, San Jose, CA  
For More Information:  Call Demone Carter, Program Director, at (408) 320-5022; send email to  futureartsnow@gmail.com ; or visit www.futureartsnow.org .
 
Youth Facing Expulsion 
If you know of youth facing expulsion, Legal Advocates for Children and Youth may be able to connect you with a free lawyer to represent your child in a school expulsion hearing.  
For More Information:  Call (408) 280-2416.

Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) Dollars
Looking for resources to help advocate for Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF) dollars to support early learning and development? Children Now can help! 
For More Information: Check out Children Now's new campaign with resources by  clicking here. Sign up for The Children's Movement of California to receive more talking points, tips, and tools that will be released over the coming weeks and months by  clicking here.

CalFresh (Food Stamps) Outreach and Application Assistance  
Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties can do pre-screening, answer questions, and help clients complete applications for CalFresh benefits. Application assistance can be arranged for weekdays, weekends, and evenings at community locations throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. 
For More Information: Call Second Harvest's Food Connection, 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, at (800) 984-3663, or visit www.shfb.org/getfood.  
 
Free Food for Low-Income Families 
Free food resources are available to low-income families through Second Harvest Food Bank of Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. Our region's Family Harvest, Produce Mobile, Pantries and Prepared Meal programs can accept more participants. Food distributions and meal programs are available weekdays and on weekends at community locations throughout Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties. 
For More Information: Call Second Harvest's Food Connection, 8:00am - 5:00pm, Monday through Friday, at (800) 984-3663, or visit www.shfb.org/getfood . 

For All of Our MFCCs and Other Professionals Under the Board of Behavioral Sciences 
Kidpower is now certified as a Continuing Education Provider under the California State Board of Behavioral Sciences! 
For More Information: Visit  www.kidpower.org.

Kaiser Permanente Child Health Program
Did you know that Kaiser Permanente in California insures low-income children who are not eligible for Medi-Cal or Covered California through its Child Health Program? With all of the confusion surrounding the Affordable Care Act (ACA), many mixed status and immigrant families do not know that the program is an option for their child. The Child Health Program is pleased to offer a quality option in California that gives children the healthcare they need for just $0, $10, or $20 per child, per month, for up to three children, depending on the family's income. Additional children are covered at no extra premium. There are also no co-pays (no charge) for services at Kaiser Permanente facilities.
For More Information: Send email to Maury Rosas at  maurice.o.rosas@kp.org. You can also get additional details, including eligibility guidelines and how to apply, by  clicking here. 
 
PARENT PROJECT 
This 12-week program, which offers classes throughout Santa Clara County, is specifically designed for parents with difficult or out-of-control adolescents. Parents learn specific prevention and intervention strategies for destructive behaviors.
For More Information: Visit www.ParentProject.com; call (408) 808-3794; or send email to  parentproject@da.sccgov.org.

Silicon Valley Kids Climate Club 
This club offers children (and adults) important lessons about conserving energy and water, recycling trash, and finding new food sources.  Supervisor Dave Cortese started the Kids Climate Club to introduce children in 3rd through 12th grades to simple tips they can use to help protect the environment. 
For More Information: If you would like Supervisor Cortese to give a presentation to your school or youth group, call  (408) 299-3050, or send email to  dave.cortese@bos.sccgov.org .
 
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIESvolunteer
UPDATED! Yes We Can...Read!
Become a reading mentor for two Kindergarten or 1st grade students today at Dorsa and San Antonio Elementary Schools in East San Jose. There are mentoring sessions available Monday through Friday, between 8:30am - 1:30pm. Your commitment of just one hour per week will improve their reading readiness, increase their confidence and self-esteem, and instill in them a love of learning.
For More Information: If you are interested in the program or would like to receive more information, email the Family Literacy Coordinator, Keishla Echevarría, at kechevarria@gfsfamilyservices.org or call (408) 347-7892, ext. 305.  

The New Leaders Council of Silicon Valley 
The New Leaders Council (NLC) of Silicon Valley is currently recruiting up and coming young professionals to apply and participate in their flagship Fellowship Institute. The Institute is a nationally recognized leadership training program where early career professionals find the training, skills, and network they need to make a meaningful impact in their communities. The application season for the 2017 NLC Institute is now open. As we head into our seventh year, NLC Silicon Valley Chapter is looking for the best and brightest young progressive leaders our dynamic region has to offer. Our ideal candidate is someone in their early 20s to mid 30s who displays strong progressive values, a commitment to the local community, and a willingness to be a team player.
For More Information: You can apply by clicking here. You can nominate an emerging leader by clicking here.  

Be Part of the Santa Clara County Youth Task Force 
You can be a voice for the children and youth of Santa Clara County! Make a difference by applying for and joining the Santa Clara County Youth Task Force (YTF), which is composed of young people, ages 14 - 18, and is the official youth-led commission for the County of Santa Clara. The YTF strives to improve children's lives by reviewing and analyzing policies and programs that impact children and youth, providing informed advice to local policy-makers and supporting community service activities throughout the county. If you are a high school-aged youth who resides and goes to school in Santa Clara County, you can fill out an application and be appointed by your Board of Supervisors Representative. YTF members are non-paid volunteers, and the time commitment is approximately 15 - 20 hours per month.
For More Information: If you want to be an important voice to policymakers and decision-makers in Santa Clara County, apply for YTF by clicking here.  
 
Make a Difference...BE A MENTOR 
There are two great mentoring programs in the East Side Union High School District. See how you can be part of these game-changing opportunities for our students, especially those who deal with some very challenging circumstances.
(1) Bright Futures' mentors support highly challenged freshmen at Yerba Buena High School and WC Overfelt High School to set and achieve meaningful goals for their future. Join them on a journey of self-discovery!  
For More Information: Call (408) 218-3963, or send email to mentor@BrightFuturesSJ.org. Visit   www.BrightFuturesSJ.org.
(2) iMentor pairs juniors and seniors at James Lick High School with college-graduate mentors to help them successfully make the leap from high school to college. The time commitment is just one email per week and one two-hour in-person meeting per month. If you have time for one Happy Hour a month, you have time to be a mentor! You can sign up for an orientation/training by clicking here.
For More Information: Send email to Nate at nfalkner@iMentor.org. Visit www.iMentor.org. 

Be an Educational Surrogate for Foster Youth 
Would you like to help students in foster placement, but are unsure how to help? The Santa Clara County Office of Education Foster Youth Services Coordinating Program is recruiting volunteer Educational Surrogates, and providing all necessary training.
For More Information: If interested, please contact Shannon McIntosh, SCCOE Foster Youth Services Liaison at (408) 453-6998, or send email to Shannon_McIntosh@sccoe.org.

The Beat Within Is Seeking Volunteer Facilitators  
Since 1996, The Beat Within has been committed to its mission to provide incarcerated youth in the juvenile justice system and beyond with a one-of-a-kind forum where they can write about the things that matter to them, explore how they have lost connection with those things they value, and consider how they might re-connect to positive situations in their lives through the power of the written word and visual art. Volunteer facilitators are needed to support this transformative work inside Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall every Thursday evening from 7:00 - 9:00pm.
For More Information: Send email to the Program Director, Lisa Lavaysse, at llava@thebeatwithin.org.
 
Be a Child Advocate!  
Child Advocates of Silicon Valley is recruiting volunteer Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs) to work one-on-one with foster children and be a mentor and their voice as they navigate the dependency system. We train and support our CASAs as they work to support foster children.
For More Information: To learn more and sign up for an introductory session, visit www.bemyadvocate.org. 
 
Volunteer to Become a Certified Car Seat Technician 
In the Bay Area, 4 out of 5 car seats are installed incorrectly. ACCESS (a service of the Good Samaritan Hospital Auxiliary) hosts free car seat fitting inspections. Join ACCESS in our efforts to ensure infants and children are safe in their vehicles. Training is provided at Good Samaritan Hospital, 2425 Samaritan Drive, San Jose, CA.
For More Information: Call Shannon Hickok at (408) 559-2395, or send email to shannon.hickok@hcahealthcare.com. You can also visit the ACCESS website by  clicking here.
 
Join the LPC Council of Santa Clara County 
The Local Early Education Planning Council (LPC) of Santa Clara County is seeking individuals who are interested in applying for membership to the Council. Funded by the California Department of Education and housed at the Santa Clara County Office of Education, the mission of the LPC is to assess, represent, and promote the early care and education needs of children and families in the community. Applicants must work or live in Santa Clara County, and exhibit a strong commitment to advocating for increased quality childcare services; an ability to make information-based decisions; and excellent leadership skills.
For More Information:  If you are interested in submitting an application, send email to Michael Garcia at  michael_garcia@sccoe.org , or call  (408) 453-6649.
 
Volunteer with Junior Achievement 
Inspire students at local elementary schools with Junior Achievement! Junior Achievement prepares youth for economic success through a short series of age-appropriate lessons about entrepreneurship, financial literacy, and work readiness. You can volunteer to work in schools and teach these lessons (the teacher will be in the classroom to provide support.) The dates, times, and locations are flexible, including any school or after-school program (i.e. public, private, charter, etc.) There is a one-hour mandatory training.
For More Information: Send email to Amanda Lopez, District Manager, Silicon Valley, at alopez@janorcal.org , or call (408) 217-7906.

Be a Mentor for Elementary School Children  
Collaborative Community Program (CCP) is seeking mentors for children at Washington Elementary School in downtown San Jose. Mentors meet with children in Kindergarten through 5th grade on Thursdays from 3:30 - 5:00pm at the Biblioteca Latinoamericana Branch Library.
For More Information: Send email to Rochelle at CCPSantaClara@gmail.com , or call 
(408) 634-2125. You can also visit the  Collaborative Community Program  Facebook page. 
 
COLUMN: THE BEAT WITHINthebeatwithin 
The Beat Within is a San Francisco-based non-profit that has been committed since 1996 to providing incarcerated youth inside Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall with a weekly writing and conversation workshop every Thursday evening. Below is another piece written by an incarcerated youth that was featured in their award-winning publication, The Beat Within.  
 
Where Home is...
Being in here we all miss the feelings of home, and that may be different for all of us. For some, home may be a place and for others it may be a person or group of people.
For me, it's a mixture. It's Earl Grey tea with a splash of 2% milk in the morning. It's my mother fighting with me over trivial matters. It's my two best friends. It's waking up next to the girl I love. It's everything that makes me feel comfortable. Everything familiar.
Now I must say that after being in here over a month, it feels like home in here. The staff feel more and more like friends and family every day.
Today a feeling of sadness overwhelmed me when I woke up, and talking to my unit's staff made me feel better.
 I am home now. I hate waking up, knowing this is now my home.
-Anon, Santa Clara

To find out more about The Beat Within, please see  The Beat Within Facebook page, or visit www.thebeatwithin.org. To find out more about getting involved in their weekly workshops inside juvenile hall or to get a subscription to their magazine, send email to Lisa Lavaysse at llava@thebeatwithin.org.

Kids in Common
(408) 795-3771
info@kidsincommon.org
http://www.kidsincommon.org