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Bold Steps for Children Newsletter
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I wanted to alert you to Trump Administration proposed changes to the "public charge" rule that will hurt immigrant families and children. Because this issue is so important to so many members of our community, I want to ask you to please send your comments to the administration about the proposed changes. There is more information below and in the "Feature" section about this.
Submit comments by December 10th. Better yet, do it now. Thanks!
The term "public charge" is used to describe a non-citizen who the federal government determines is likely to primarily depend on the government for subsistence, and if so determined may deny that person entry into the U.S. or a green card. Under current policy, "public charge" covers non-citizens who are primarily reliant on cash benefit programs such as CalWORKS or General Assistance. The Trump Administration's proposal would expand the definition to include non-citizens who use Medicaid/Medi-Cal, CalFresh, and housing assistance programs, such as Section 8 or public housing. You can get more information about the proposed changes by
clicking here.
County Counsel has stated that this proposed public charge rule, if adopted as a final rule,
"will undercut efforts to provide benefits and services that ensure the health and well-being of all County residents, including immigrants. The County provides and administers a wide range of essential safety-net programs, benefits, and services that could be hampered by the proposed rule, including public medical treatment and services, government-subsidized health insurance, housing assistance, mental health and substance abuse services, and general social assistance."
In partnership,
Dana Bunnett, Director
Kids in Common
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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.
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FEATURE
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Oppose Policies That Separate Children and Families
Proposed Rule Harms California Children
The Trump Administration published a proposed rule change that jeopardizes the health and well-being of California's children. The U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services published the proposed change to the "public charge," which would drastically and harmfully alter a rule that has been part of federal immigration law for decades. If the "public charge" rule is finalized in its proposed form, this would mark a significant and harmful departure from long standing immigration policy.
The proposed rule could penalize families in their immigration proceedings if they use critical public benefits, such as Medicaid or food stamps. It would make immigrant families afraid to seek programs that support their basic needs. Nearly half of California's children live in immigrant families, meaning that this rule would do deep harm to families that make up the very fabric of California. It will force families to choose between providing basic needs for their children and keeping their families together.
The public has until December 10, 2018, to tell the government why this rule is harmful to children and families by submitting comments through an official notice-and-comment period. Can you submit a comment opposing this rule? Any member of the public -- concerned individuals, students, teachers, business leaders, etc. -- can submit comments, so please submit your own comments and share this campaign with your networks. The campaign is part of a national effort, the Protecting Immigrant Families Campaign, to ensure that more than 100,000 individual comments are submitted opposing the rule change.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
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ACEs Network of Santa Clara County Community Meeting
This meeting is free and open to community providers. Join us to network, learn about best practices, and support initiatives to educate community. We are looking to partner with organizations to offer screening events using the film Resilience:
The Biology of Stress and the Science of Hope.
Date: Tuesday, December 11, 2018
Time: 9:00 - 11:00am
Location: FIRST 5 Santa Clara County, 1st Floor Community Room, 4000 Moorpark Avenue, San Jose, CA
For More Information: Visit the website by
clicking here, or contact Angelica Diaz, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, at
angelica.diaz01@phd.sccgov.org.
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NEWS, REPORTS, AND TRAINING
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NEW!
New Tool on Children's Well-Being
The latest edition of the California County Scorecard of Children's Well-Being is an interactive tool that provides a comprehensive snapshot of how children are faring in each of the 58 counties, over time, and by race and ethnicity. The tool's indicators cut across four domains of education, child welfare, health, and early childhood. This data provides valuable insight on children well-being, and can help drive informed local decision-making. You can access the tool by clicking here.
NEW!
Family-to-Family Health Information Centers: Pathways to Partnerships
Parents of children with special health care needs often look for support and guidance from other experienced parents who have navigated the same path. But where to find such a parent? Family-to-Family Health Information Centers may provide an answer. The latest featured story from the Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health explains how these centers have made a difference in the lives of families. You can read the story by
clicking here.
School Climate Data from Kidsdata
When school climate is positive, students are more likely to succeed academically and engage in healthy behaviors. However, student groups experience school climate differently. Gaps exist by race/ethnicity, as well as parent education level and sexual orientation. Check out the latest data about school climate on Kidsdata.org as part of their new suite of data on youth in schools by clicking here.
Getting Down to Facts II Report
This report is the second in the Getting Down to Facts project by Stanford University and Policy Analysis for California Education (PACE). The report provides an in-depth analysis of the current status of PreK-12 education in California. Over one hundred researchers from the nation's leading academic institutions focused on four aspects of California education - student success, governance systems, personnel issues, and school finance. You can review the report at gettingdowntofacts.com. These studies resulted in 36 technical reports that span these four areas. Nineteen research briefs synthesize the main findings from the technical reports for a broader readership. A summary report captures the salient findings from across the entire project.
Annie E. Casey Foundation Young Parents Policy Report
At seven percent, California is just under the national average (10 percent) of youth ages 18 to 24 who are also young parents, according to Opening Doors for Young Parents, the latest KIDS COUNT® policy report released by Children Now and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The fifty-state report illuminates the most common obstacles young adult parents face, including incomplete education, lack of access to quality child care, and financial insecurity, as well as the policy recommendations to address these challenges. You can review the report by clicking here.
New Data on Youth in Schools
Kidsdata.org believes the educational environment is one of the core foundations that shape children and is crucial to ensuring optimal health. That's why we're providing access to over 270 indicators across more than a dozen topics from the viewpoint of California's students and school staff. Check out new and updated indicators, such as Cultural or Racial/Ethnic Tension at School, Cyberbullying, and Schools Providing Adequate Counseling and Support Services for Students. You can review this new data by visiting the Kidsdata website at kidsdata.org/YouthInSchools.
The Children's Movement
There are nearly
200 organizations in Santa Clara County, and over
2,900 across the state, in The Children's Movement - is yours? The Children's Movement is a network of businesses, nonprofits, and organizations across California that want kids to be prioritized in the policy-making process. Our goal is simply to connect organizations that care about kids - members do not have any obligations. If you join, we add you to our "pro-kid" list, and then share relevant updates. We also invite Movement members to join us when we run campaigns on critical issues, but these are always optional. Join us! You can send email to
info@childrennow.org, or join here:
https://www.childrennow.org/themovement/.
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2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book
California has moved up slightly on the national ladder for children's well-being, from 37th place in 2017 to 36th in 2018, according to the
2018 KIDS COUNT Data Book released by Children Now and the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The Data Book uses 16 indicators to rank each state across four domains as an assessment of child well-being: health, education, economic well-being, and family and community. You can review the 2018 Data Book by
clicking here. You can see California's state profile by
clicking here.
FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Releases New Strategic Plan and Community Impact Report
FIRST 5 has released their new
FY 2018-2023 Strategic Plan and
FY 2015/16 and FY 2016/17 Community Impact Report.
The new strategic plan maintains the strategic direction the FIRST 5 Santa Clara County Commission established in 2006, builds on the successes of past and current investments, and stays true to FIRST 5's vision of being a catalyst for ensuring that the developmental needs of children prenatal through age 5 are a priority in all sectors of the community.
The community impact report provides in-depth information about the investments FIRST 5 has made over the past two fiscal years and the positive, measurable outcomes those investments have had in supporting the healthy development of children prenatal through age five and enriching the lives of their families and communities. You can go to the FIRST 5 website and review these documents by clicking here.
2018 California Children's Report Card
Children Now's bi-annual publication grades the state on its ability to support better outcomes for children, from birth to age 26, from our early childhood to our higher ed systems. This year's grades range from an A on Health Insurance to a D in several areas -- Academic Outcomes, Child Abuse and Neglect Prevention, and Youth Justice. You can review the
2018 California Children's Report Card by
clicking here. If you have any questions, send email to Maria Mejia, Communications and Outreach Assistant, at
mmejia@childrennow.org.
Local Control Funding Formula and Advocating for Early Childhood Funding
California's school funding law, the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), gives school districts flexibility-and an unprecedented opportunity -- to spend district dollars on early childhood education. It also provides parents, community members, and early childhood champions a chance to weigh in on how districts spend their resources. To help local advocates garner much needed funding for early childhood programming, Children Now created these helpful resources:
Step-by-Step Guide: You can review a step-by-step guide to help contact local district leaders and encourage them to fund early childhood programming in their local school districts by
clicking here.
Sample Letter: You can read the sample letter that Children Now created for local advocates to use in encouraging their district board members to adopt a resolution that identifies your district as a preschool-12 district by
clicking here.
Sample Resolution: You can review Children Now's sample resolution by
clicking here.
Second Harvest Food Bank: Food Connection Application Assistance Partners
Did you know that households you serve may be missing out on needed benefits and free food? Increase the support you provide to your clients by becoming a Food Connection Application Assistance Partner. Help community members you serve to enroll in CalFresh and free grocery programs. We will train and support you! Together we can create the hunger-free community we all want to see. The 6-hour training is offered monthly and is held at Second Harvest Food Bank, 750 Curtner Avenue, San Jose, CA. The date and time are flexible. For more information, contact Jaime Rios by sending email to
jrios@shfb.org, or calling (408) 266-8866, ext. 419.
Starting Now Policy Vision
Despite mounting research in brain science, economics, and social science pointing to the importance of investing in the early years, California has yet to make significant investments in a comprehensive system for infants and toddlers in the state, leaving an alarming number of children behind. This lack of foresight puts our state's economic and civic future at risk. Children Now published a report,
Starting Now: A Policy Vision for Supporting the Healthy Growth and Development of Every California Baby, which provides California's leaders with a policy road map for supporting our youngest children from the very start. You can read the report by
clicking here.
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.
Second Step Program: 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 visiting the new Second Step website at
www.secondstep.org.
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.
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
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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.
To learn about the program, visit the EPIC web page by
clicking here
.
For additional professional development opportunities and resources,
visit the Inclusion Collaborative website by
clicking here
.
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COMMUNITY RESOURCES
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DECEMBER CLASS! 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 Workshop: 4-hour Kidpower On Your Own for 9-12 year-olds with their adults, which will be held in Palo Alto on Saturday, December 8, from 9:00am - 1:00pm. Families practice personal safety skills together for handling every day emotional and physical safety problems and self-defense skills for stopping emergencies with focus on the transition to more independence for older kids.
For More Information: You can register for this workshop by clicking here. You can see the public workshop schedule by clicking here. For questions, call (800) 467-6997, ext. 0#, or send email to safety@kidpower.org.
Stanford Children's Health - Pediatric Weight Control Program
A proven way to restore a child's health! Based on almost 20 years of Stanford's research, the Pediatric Weight Control Program for overweight children and teens has a success rate of over 80% in restoring and maintaining a lifetime of healthy weight. Parents lose weight too! Early intervention is the best way to ensure a child's success. Fall class options for groups in English are Mondays from 4:30 - 6:00pm, and 6:00 - 7:30pm. Class options for groups in Spanish are Wednesdays at 6:00pm. Classes will run every week for six months in Menlo Park, CA. No referral needed!
For More Information: If this sounds like a good fit, call (650) 724-5611, or send email to pediatricweightcontrol@stanfordchildrens.org to reserve a space.
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 info booth and get CalFresh tokens to spend at the market. For every CalFresh dollar you spend at participating farmers' markets, you will get a dollar-for-dollar match FREE up to $10 per day to spend on fruits and vegetables through the Market Match incentive program.
For More Information: Find a list of all farmers' markets in the County, along with those that accept CalFresh and participate in Market Match by clicking here. For additional details and instructions, you can visit the website by clicking here.
Sunday Friends
Please refer your clients to the program! At Sunday Friends, very low-income families engage in hands-on learning activities, create gifts for children in hospitals and for nursing home residents, and prepare and serve healthy meals. They attend classes on financial literacy, parenting effectiveness, English literacy, health, nutrition, violence prevention, computer skills, and STEM education. Through their participation, family members earn "tickets," the currency of Sunday Friends, redeemable for essential goods such as diapers, laundry detergent, personal hygiene items, school supplies, and more. Sunday Friends meets on the 2nd, 3rd, 4th Sunday of each month from 10:45am - 4:30pm at Santee Elementary School (2nd Sunday), Jeanne R. Meadows Elementary School (3rd Sunday), Lowell Elementary School (4th Sunday) -- all in San Jose!
Medical-Legal Partnership Serves Transgender Youth
The Medical-Legal Partnership at Valley Medical Center serves transgender youth up to age 25 in petitioning for legal name and gender ID changes. Youth who are interested in a free and confidential meeting with an attorney can come to the attorney office at VMC Downtown, 777 E. Santa Clara Street, 2nd Floor MLP Office, San Jose, CA. Hours are from 2:00 - 5:00pm on Wednesdays.
For More Information: Call or text message the MLP intake line at (408) 350-7260.
CalFresh Application Assistance: Same Day Service
Community members now have faster access to CalFresh Benefits at 6 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) LifeMoves, Palo Alto
Where: 33 Encina Avenue, Palo Alto, CA
When: Wednesdays, 9:00am - 1:00pm
(2) Community Services Agency of Mountain View and Los Altos
Contact: (650) 968-0836
Where: 204 Stierlin Road, Mountain View, CA
When: 1st Tuesday and 3rd Thursday of the month, 9:00am - 4:00pm (closed 12:00 - 1:00pm for lunch)
(3) Sunnyvale Community Services
Contact: (408) 738-4321
Where: 725 Kifer Road, Sunnyvale, CA
When: Mondays, 9:00am - 4:00pm (closed 11:30am - 1:00pm for lunch)
(4) West Valley Community Services
Contact: (408) 255-8033
Where: 10104 Vista Drive, Cupertino, CA
When: 1st Thursday and 3rd Tuesday of the month, 9:00am - 4:00pm (closed 12:00 - 1:00pm for lunch)
(5) St. Joseph's Family Center
Contact: (408) 842-6662
Where: 7950 Church Street, Gilroy, CA
When: 1st, 2nd, and 4th Mondays of the month, 9:00am - 4:00pm (closed 12:00 - 1:00pm for lunch)
(6) Salvation Army
Contact: (408) 282-1165 x3210
Where: 359 N. 4th Street, San Jose, CA
When: Wednesdays, 8:00am - 3:00pm (closed 12:00 - 1:00pm for lunch)
InPlay: Find Affordable After-School and Summer Camp Programs
The City of San Jose and Santa Clara County Office of Education are sponsoring a service from InPlay that helps families to find local and affordable after-school and summer camp programs. All San Jose out-of-school programs are listed on ONE searchable site, including city-funded and 200+ other non-profit and for-profit programs.
For More Information: You can check out the InPlay website for San Jose by clicking here.
Spaces for Good: Find Office and Event Space for Your Nonprofit
Spaces for Good is a free online tool that supports Bay Area nonprofits in offering and finding available office, co-working, event, and program space. If you're a nonprofit, broker, or agent, list your available space at www.spacesforgood.org.
For More Information: Visit the website at www.spacesforgood.org, or send email to jtownsend@ncclf.org.
Tips for Parenting Young Children in Recovery
From Prevention Partnership International, these six booklets are available to help parents of young children who are dealing with substance use disorders. Topics include: Strengthening Attachment, Communicating with Young Children, Helping Children Express Their Feelings, Disciplining with Love & Respect, Showing Your Love, and Playing with Young Children. You can find the order form for the booklets on page 3 of the PPI Summer newsletter by clicking here
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For More Information: For questions, please contact Rosemary Tisch by sending email to
rstisch@gmail.com or calling (408) 406-0467.
Black Infant Health Program: Helping Women Develop Life Skills and Social Support
Black Infant Health (BIH) Program aims to improve health among African-American mothers and babies in Santa Clara County. The BIH program empowers and supports pregnant African-American women to make healthy choices within a culturally-affirming environment. BIH services consists of a group-based approach along with complementary client-centered case management to help women develop life skills, learn stress reduction, and build social supports. Services also include support from a dedicated Maternal Public Health Nurse. All BIH services are provided at no cost to participate, and women can enter the program at 30 weeks or less within their pregnancy. Both afternoon and evening group session options are available.
For More Information: Call (408) 937-2270, or visit the BIH website at www.SCCBIH.org.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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
.
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: To find a class in your area, visit
www.ParentProject.com; call (408) 808-3794; or send email to
ParentProject@dao.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.
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VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
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UPDATED! Make a Difference...BE A MENTOR!
See how you can be part of this extraordinary opportunity to positively impact the life of a child or young person in our community. Santa Clara County's South Bay Mentoring Coalition and its 11 member organizations listed below are looking for volunteers to mentor a child or young person. Training is provided. Flexible schedules are offered. We invite you to get involved. Volunteer as a mentor today!
- Alum Rock Counseling Center: This program delivers a full complement of behavioral health services to youth, their families, and individuals in SCC. The Ocala Mentoring Program provides intervention and support to high-risk students empowering them to avoid risky behaviors through life skills class, case management and mentoring, and other support services. For more information, call (408) 910-0446, or visit www.alumrockcc.org.
- Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bay Area: BBBS provides adult mentors for at-risk youth, ages 6-16 years of age. Matches occur within the community and are professionally supported by BBBSBA staff. For more information, call (415) 503-3609, or visit www.bbbsba.org.
- Boldly Me: Boldly Me mentors teach classes to children and adults who are struggling with accepting themselves and relating with their family and others because they feel different due to a birth condition, illness, medical treatment, or injury. Our three core programs focus on Self Esteem and Self Compassion, Building Financial Stability, and Physical Wellness and Recreation. For more information, call (408) 768-9257, or visit www.boldlyme.org.
- Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley: The Boys and Girls Clubs of Silicon Valley engages youth ages 6-14 in mentoring relationships with caring adults. They offer age-appropriate and diverse programs within five core area programs: Education and Career Development; Character and Leadership Development; Health and Life Skills; Sports, Fitness and Recreation; and Arts and Cultural Enrichment. For more information, call (408) 890-2916, or visit www.bgclub.org.
- Bright Futures: Bright Futures is a transformational mentoring and intervention program for at-risk high school students ages 14-24 in East San Jose. For more information, call (408) 213-0961 x23, or visit www.brightfuturessj.org.
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Bright Pathways Mentoring Program: Bright Pathway's goal is to build a support system for youth to help them build resiliency and match them with a positive, caring adult role model. For more information, call Adriana Diaz at her cell (818) 277-3361 or office (408) 213-0961 x36, or send an email to
aadiaz@conxion.org.
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Child Advocates of Silicon Valley: Child Advocates serves at-risk children (from birth to 21 years old) in the foster care system by providing a trained, dedicated volunteer to mentor and advocate for the child's best interest. For more information, call (408) 416-0400, or visit
www.BeMyAdvocate.org.
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Fresh Lifelines for Youth (FLY): FLY matches screened, trained, and committed adult mentors with youth between the ages of 14-18 who are on probation. FLY mentors help the youth have positive fun, develop new ambitions, and set goals. For more information, call the Match Manager, Shriel Deogracias, at (408) 444-1961, or visit
www.flyprogram.org.
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iMentor: This program matches high school students with a committed college-educated adult mentor to guide the young person on their journey to college graduation. For more information, call (415) 310-2815, or visit
www.iMentor.org.
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Southwest Key Youth Mentoring: This mentoring program pairs adult mentors with juvenile justice system-involved youth, ages 10-17, who are on probation or at-risk of probation. The goal is to establish long-lasting relationships with a positive impact. The program aspires to reduce juvenile delinquency, criminal activity and gang participation, improve academic performance and reduce drop-out rates for program participants. For more information, call (408) 213-0961 ext. 24, or visit
www.swkey.org/programs/mentoring.
- Youth Build: This program provides mentoring relationships with San Jose Conservation Corps & Charter School/YouthBuild AmeriCorps members, so youth can achieve overall success in educational and career goals. For more information, call (408) 459-6494, or visit www.youthbuild.org.
For More Information: To learn more about the South Bay Mentoring Coalition, check out the website at
www.southbaymentoring.org
.
Become a reading mentor for two Kindergarten or 1st grade students this 2018-2019 academic school year 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, math concept understanding, increase their confidence, 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 Yadirha Orozco, the Family Literacy Coordinator, at
yorozco@gfsfamilyservices.org
or call (408) 347-7892, ext. 305.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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COLUMN: THE BEAT WITHIN
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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 two pieces written by an incarcerated youth that was featured in their award-winning publication,
The Beat Within.
Struggle
I wish I didn't hit that lick and stay home. I should have just stayed in school and never did what I did because now I'm stuck in a cell with myself to blame.
I should've listened to my pops. All he wanted was for me to do better in life than being a jail cell. I got three brothers and a sister all younger. I haven't been the big brother I need to be to them.
I learned that the actions I make have an effect on the people around me. I learned not to be so selfish about myself. I got a little brother and sister to take care of since my mom's not around.
Only reason she came around is because I'm in a cell, but where were you when we were hungry with no food in the fridge? Where were you when we were down bad?
-Kg, Santa Clara
Institution
I'm missing you.
I wonder what you are doing, and what you are getting into.
I'm missing you.
I'm trying to get to you, but I'm in an institution.
I have to write to you. I have to keep it real.
I don't know when I'm coming home.
That's how I really feel.
It's probably getting to you bad, and you're probably shedding tears.
You're hearing rumors that Bandit got caught.
In tears I'm going to rip my heart out of my chest and put it in this envelope.
They've got me waiting in San Jose.
-Bandit, Santa Clara
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