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Bold Steps for Children Newsletter
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I have found that listening to podcasts while commuting is a great way to learn new information or think about current events. One podcast that I recently enjoyed from On the Media is "This Is America," which dispels some of the myths that continue to obscure our understanding of poverty. You can check out this podcast by
clicking here.
Keep doing good work, and have a wonderful month!
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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FEATURES
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Sign On for Home Visiting Supports
Urge Leaders to Fund Critical Programs for Babies and Families
Over the next couple of weeks, state leaders will make critical decisions about state budget investments around voluntary evidence-based home visiting for families in poverty. Join local First 5's and other early childhood leaders in urging state policymakers to invest more in California babies and their families! Join with hundreds of other organizations in signing on to urge our state leaders to fund critical home visiting supports for babies and families living in poverty.
The deadline to sign on is May 30! If you'd like to get more information and sign on, you can fill out
this form on behalf of your organization.
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Got Data?
Kidsdata Can Help!
Kidsdata makes it easy for anyone to raise the visibility of and take action on key issues affecting children. Kidsdata helps you assess community needs, set priorities, track progress, make program or policy decisions, and prepare grant proposals and reports. Lori Turk-Bicakci, PhD, Senior Manager of Data and Research at Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, and Stacy Clinton, Senior Digital Communications Manager of Programs and Partnerships at Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health, will show you how to find data and create figures using kidsdata.org and how to communicate effectively about data to support change.
Date: Wednesday, June 6, 2018
Time: 1:00 - 2:30pm
Location: Santa Clara County Office of Education, Morgan Hill Room, 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA
For More Information: You can register by
clicking here.
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COMMUNITY EVENTS
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A Racial and Health Equity Framework to Achieve Equitable Outcomes for Children and Families
To achieve equity and justice for all, we must focus on policy and institutional strategies that are driving the production of structural inequities that lead to negative outcomes for children and their families particularly for those most vulnerable and children of color, in addition to improving services and programs.This interactive session presented by Dr. Analilia Garcia, Santa Clara County Public Health Department, will examine structural and institutional racism across systems through a racial and health equity framework and the application of racial equity tools to achieve equitable outcomes for children and families.
Date: Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Time: 9:00am - 12:00pm
Location: Santa Clara County Office of Education, Oak Grove Room, 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA
For More Information: You can register by
clicking here.
Improving Results in Reengagement Education: Lessons from Opportunity Works
Joe Herrity, Director of Opportunity Youth Partnership, will discuss the lessons learned through three years of Opportunity Works implementation, a federal Social Innovation Fund project targeting improved results in reengagement education. This pilot allowed the Opportunity Youth Partnership to introduce Jobs for the Future's Back on Track framework to Santa Clara County. Session will include data from our quasi-experimental analysis on the impact of personalized guidance and support on outcomes.
Date: Friday, June 29, 2018
Time: 10:00 - 11:30am
Location: Santa Clara County Office of Education, Oak Grove Room, 1290 Ridder Park Drive, San Jose, CA
For More Information: For more details or to register, please send email to Dana at
dbunnett@kidsincommon.org.
Come learn and practice Kidpower's internationally-recognized intervention, advocacy, and social safety strategies and skills so you can protect and empower people of all ages and abilities in your organization, school, agency, or family. Join us for our annual Summer Institute, a hands-on 3-day training, and learn side-by-side with adult leaders from around the world how to use Kidpower's People Safety strategies and skills in your personal and professional activities.
Dates: Monday, August 6, 2018 - Wednesday, August 8, 2018
Time: 9:00am - 5:00pm each day
Location: Albany, California (near Berkeley and San Francisco)
For More Information: You can get more details by
clicking here. You can register by
clicking here.
Latino-Latina Role Model Conference
Thinking about college? About career choices? Not sure what you want to do?? Then this conference is for you! Join us for the 28th Annual Latino-Latina Role Model Conference. This inspirational family event is designed to instill a college-going mindset in our students, who will get to meet and talk with doctors, lawyers, engineers, teachers, probation officers, police, business executives, and other professionals. Free registration, breakfast burritos, lunch, bottled water, and raffle.
Date: Saturday, October 13, 2018
Time: 8:30am - 2:30pm
Location: Overfelt High School, 1835 Cunningham Avenue, San Jose, CA
For More Information: Check out the website by
clicking here. For questions and to register, send email to Esau Herrera at
EsauLawyer@gmail.com.
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NEWS, REPORTS, AND TRAINING
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NEW!
Support Science Education for CA Students
Over the last few years, California has made progress toward improving science education by adopting updated standards, a new science framework, and a corresponding assessment. However, there isn't a placeholder in the state school accountability dashboard for the assessment results. Therefore, it's not clear that science education is a key priority for districts. Add your organization's support by
clicking here and signing the letter to tell the State Board of Education to send a clear signal that science education is a priority for our students.
New Data on Child and Family Poverty on Kidsdata.org
Poverty and inequitable distribution of resources are fundamental impediments to healthy and well children. Poverty can alter children's developmental trajectories in cognitive, socio-emotional, and physical health. Addressing poverty among all children must be a key part of programs and policies that aim to maximize health and well-being. Learn more on kidsdata.org about poverty among California's children by
clicking here.
Foundation Grants Build on Prior Work to Create Better Systems
The Lucile Packard Foundation for Children's Health recently awarded four grants. Improving pediatric hospital discharge practices and easing the transition of youth with special health care needs to adult health care are the goals of two of the four grants. Read about the grants by
clicking here.
The Children's Movement
There are nearly 150 organizations in Santa Clara County, and over 2,200 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. If you join, we simply 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 email Children Now at info@childrennow.org, or join here: https://www.childrennow.org/themovement/.
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.
Social-Emotional Learning Webinar
In partnership with the Center for Reaching & Teaching the Whole Child, San Jose State University, and the California Commission on Teacher Credentialing, Children Now led a webinar on January 19th to highlight the importance of Social-Emotional Learning. You can find the recording of this webinar on how the new California Teaching Performance Expectations align with Social-Emotional Learning and Culturally Responsive Teaching by clicking here.
Help for First-Year Teachers in Trouble
One in 10 teachers will leave the classroom by the end of their first year, and teachers are particularly vulnerable in October and November. Ellen Moir, CEO of the New Teacher Center, which runs mentor programs in roughly 200 districts nationwide, has decades of anecdotes to show that October hits hard. She even has a name for this time of year: The Disillusionment Phase. First-year teachers who have someone they see as a mentor are more likely to stick it out. To help first-year teachers, veteran teacher Roxanna Elden has developed a free "disillusionment power pack." You can get the power pack by clicking here. Teachers who sign up receive a month of motivating emails sent every few days from Elden, an English teacher at Hialeah High School near Miami who has been teaching for more than a decade. Know an educator who has hit a slump and want to help? You can read more by clicking here.
Kidsdata.org Now Provides Data on Health Status of Children
Health status during childhood sets young people on a path toward good or poor health in adulthood. Kidsdata.org's new topic, Health Status, offers self- and parent-reported data on whether a child's health status is fair/poor, good, or excellent/very good. The data are available overall, by race/ethnicity, and by family income level for California and for counties. In California, children's health status has improved overall and for each race/ethnicity for which we have data since 2001. You can check out Health Status by
clicking here.
2017 KIDS COUNT Data Book
Children Now partnered with the Annie E. Casey Foundation on the annual release of the KIDS COUNT Data Book. There was good news for California in kids' health: we moved up in rank from 11th to 9th in the nation. However, the state came in 46th out of 50 in kids' economic well-being and 37th in overall child well-being. Read the full report by clicking here.
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.
Elevating Policies to Support Children and Families
At the first-ever Aspen Forum on Children and Families in January 2017, Ascend released
Children and Families at the Center, a new report with recommendations and opportunities to move the needle for children and families. The report is a culmination of multiple strategy sessions and individual contributions from 200 diverse leaders and reflects the insights of a broad range of sectors. Central to the ideas and recommendations put forth is a set of guiding principles: set and track outcome goals for children and families, engage parents and families, embrace equity and inclusion, and leverage public-private partnerships. Accompanying the report are also three policy briefs on Career Pathways, Child Care and Early Childhood Development, and Family Health and Well-Being. You can review the report by
clicking here.
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.
New Data on Children with Special Health Care Needs
Kidsdata.org has just released a wide-ranging dataset on children with special health care needs in California counties and cities. The new datasets include local estimates covering demographics, insurance coverage, impact on families, and quality of care. You can read the blog post 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.
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.
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 visiting the new Second Step website at
www.secondstep.org.
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
.
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, see the FAQ 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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JUNE 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! Here's a list of April workshops:
* Kidpower Starting Strong Workshop for ages 3-5 with their adults, which will be held in Palo Alto on
Sunday, June 24, from 9:00 - 9:50am.
Through puppets and fun, interactive stories, learn how to introduce People Safety Skills and to continue to practice them in your daily life.
* Kidpower Safety Workshop for ages 5-8 with their adults, which will be held in Palo Alto on Sunday, June 24, from 10:30am - 12:30pm. Protect your child from harm and gain valuable tools for building better relationships.
For More Information: You can see the public workshop schedule and register by clicking here. For questions, call (800) 467-6997, ext. 0#, or send email to safety@kidpower.org.
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
.
For More Information: For questions, please contact Rosemary Tisch by sending email to
rstisch@gmail.com or calling (408) 406-0467.
Stanford Pediatric Weight Control Program
Concerned about a child's weight? Based on almost 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 are held at 4100 Bohannon Drive, Menlo Park, CA. To hear more about the program from past participants, watch a video by
clicking here.
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.
UnBEETable Quality at Your Local Farmers' Markets: 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.
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.
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.
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: 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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Bright Pathways Mentoring Program
Bright Pathways Mentoring Program is looking for mentors in Santa Clara County! The goal of the program is to build a support system for our youth to help them build resiliency and match them with a positive, caring adult role model. This program is on-going throughout the year; the requested time commitment is four hours per month for one year.
For More Information: Contact Adriana Diaz by phone at (818) 277-3361 (cell) or (408) 213-0961, ext. 36 (office), or send email to
Adriana at
aadiaz@conxion.org.
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 EchevarrÃa, at
kechevarria@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.
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.
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.
All I Want
I just want to get out, I don't find happiness in here.
Only time I had it was out there. I don't think it's fair, once I had it all and it changed in a few minutes.
Wish I could have done something differently. I don't deserve getting put away for years. Time is the only reason my family is broken.
Why the person I gave my heart to broke it. If only I was a DVD player to press rewind, I wouldn't ever have had my first sip that day. I wouldn't sit in my room and reminisce about our last kiss, the last moments of perfection. I'll experience it for a while and the regret of ever leaving my house.
If I never made that mistake I wouldn't be in this hole of hell I'm in. I feel myself if I would have known this was coming I would treasure everything to the fullest. But, I wanted to be a clown. How I'm stuck in a circus finding myself trapped in this maze.
I only ask for one more chance to correct myself. If I get that last opportunity. I swear I wouldn't jeopardize it and throw it in the flames anymore. I would take good care of it, all like a new born baby. I just want it back even the imperfections. I'll pay whatever price, but we all want things.
I got to earn it and I will hope God can hear me out and see I'm sincere. I don't want to be hurting and I know He can change it. All I got to do is be patient and let Him work his magic like He always does. Anything He wants in return, I won't question it ever again. Just give me back the only happiness I had.
-Dre, Santa Clara
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