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CHAC E-News

May 2014

 

 

I am so excited that next Tuesday, May 6th, Silicon Valley Community Foundation is hosting its first-ever 'day of giving' called Silicon Valley Gives. SVCF will raise money for nonprofits online through Razoo.comSee the article about it below. Your support is so needed. We have received a total of $58,500 in matching gifts from generous donors, so you can double your donation through Silicon Valley Gives! I know I intend to give my year's pledge then.


Recently, a 13-year-old girl came into therapy very depressed. She moved here from another state where she had lived for several years with her father and grandparents while her mother attended graduate school in the Bay Area. After begging her mom to let her move here and live with her, the mom agreed.


It became apparent very soon that she was anxious, depressed, tearful, uncommunicative and unable to focus. Her teachers were concerned and said she "spaced out" most of the time. She began seeing a CHAC counselor, and in therapy it became clear that she was traumatized. She couldn't talk about what happened for some time. However, as the therapeutic bond and trust developed between the girl and her CHAC counselor she was able to open up and share her story. 

She said her father was very abusive toward her grandparents, and if she intervened he would hit her and rage at her. As she shared the whole story her healing began. The police were notified, and the father was removed from the home. She said she had felt guilty that she could not stop the abuse, so it helped to know her grandparents were now safe. With time she felt less fearful, and less depressed. She was a courageous, strong, and resilient young girl.

Any form of violence, humiliation, devaluation can lead to depression, suicidal ideation, anxiety, and even hopelessness in some cases. This is where CHAC comes in. Our therapists provide empathetic, 

psychological support and the best evidence-based therapeutic practices to help make a major positive difference in the lives of children and youth. 


This is also where you come in! It's with your support and caring that we have the ability to support and care for the children, youth and families we serve.

Gratefully,  

 Monique's signature

Monique Kane, M.A., M.F.T.  

Executive Director

 

Help us Match $58,500 for CHAC!


On Tuesday, May 6, 2014, Silicon Valley Community Foundation is hosting the first-ever 24-hour day of online giving to benefit nonprofit organizations in our region, an event aimed at inspiring and uniting our local community to support philanthropic causes.

 
SVCF will be raising money for local nonprofits through a single online donation platform, Razoo.com. Silicon Valley Gives day provides a great way to connect donors to the charitable causes they care about most and encourage them to take action.

 

We know you care about CHAC and the services we provide to local children and families, and we hope that you will take part in Silicon Valley Gives. Thanks to generous donors, CHAC has received a dollar-for-dollar up to $58,500 match on all gifts made through Silicon Valley Gives!  If you're planning on giving a gift this year, SVGives is the best opportunity to maximize your donation for CHAC.

 

How to give:

  • Or, visit the link and schedule your donation for May 6th now!       
  • Give at one of several giving locations throughout the Bay Area on May 6th.  CHAC volunteers will be at the Whole Foods donation location in Los Altos.     
  • Don't forget to help us spread the word by telling your friends and family about SVGives and CHAC.      
  • There are additional opportunities to win hourly matches and prizes for CHAC throughout the day on May 6th.  To learn more about SVGives go to SVGives.Razoo.com

CHAC's Bilingual Program

 

Did you know that according to the U.S. Census Bureau, California has the largest Latino population of any state, and in Mountain View Latinos make up about 20% of the population? CHAC always strives to meet the needs of the community, and we are pleased to provide bilingual counseling services to the large community of Latinos in the area. 

 

CHAC's Bilingual program is focused on providing services that are culturally competent both on-campus and in-house. These services include counseling and psychotherapy for children, youth, adults, and families, ongoing no-cost parenting classes, and a Latino/Spanish focused training program for MFT and PhD students in clinical psychology.

 

On the 33 K-12 schools we serve, CHAC does it's best to provide bilingual counselors to the schools most in need of Spanish-speaking services.  While most students speak English, having a counselor that speaks Spanish and that understands their family's culture can help them communicate their feelings.  "When I was an intern on a middle school campus, I asked students if they wanted to speak in English or Spanish," said CHAC counselor Carmen Roman.  "Most often they would start in English but usually end up switching to Spanish. Their home language is Spanish so when we would start talking about emotions they were able to open up more if we were speaking in Spanish," she said. Read More 

Developmental Asset for May: Youth Programs

 

kids playing soccer

Youth programs-which include sports, scouting, recreation, camps, after-school programs, and religious programs-can provide fulfilling experiences that help young people develop new skills and master challenges. They also provide a safe place for youth outside of school where they can be in contact with caring non-parent adults.

Research shows that the developmental asset of participation in youth programs results in increased self-esteem; better development of life skills, leadership skills, and public speaking abilities; fewer psychosocial problems such as loneliness, shyness, and hopelessness; decreased risk behaviors; and more thriving indicators.

Nearly half of the youth in Santa Clara County don't participate in youth programs. In Project Cornerstone's 2011 survey, 56% of 4th-6th graders and 60% of 7th-12th graders reported that they participate in youth programs three or more hours each week. To help raise awareness of the importance of this developmental asset, April is Youth Programs month in Silicon Valley. Below are some tips to help the youth in your life develop this asset:  

 

  • Make sure that your children are participating in positive, asset-building youth programs that they enjoy. If they're not, help them find new programs that meet their interests. 
  • When your younger children join a new program, help them with introductions to their peers. They'll feel more comfortable and confident when they know the other participants. 
  • While participating in sports can be positive for young people, the intense competition that can occur in sports programs typically is not. Make sure that coaches balance the competitive aspect of sports with the development of positive skills like leadership, teamwork, and good sportsmanship. 
  • Youth programs can provide excellent volunteer opportunities! If you have a skill or talent to share, offering it in a youth program is a great way to make a difference.
Information provided by Project Cornerstone's Asset-a-Month program. For more information and more tips on how to help youth develop this asset, visit www.projectcornerstone.org.  

  

In This Issue
Help us Match $58,500 for CHAC on May 6th
CHAC's Bilingual Program
Developmental Asset for April: Service to Others

About CHAC 

CHAC: Community Health Awareness Council

CHAC exists to provide alternatives to destructive behavior and to help create healthy lives for children, teens and families of Mountain View, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Sunnyvale and the surrounding communities.   

 


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