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Regional Access Project Foundation Newsletter

September 2015

In This Issue

CEO's Message

Get Tested CV!

Desert Fast Pitch

Coachella Valley Youth Leadership

Technical Assistance Program

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Featured Article

The Regional Access Project Foundation is a Proud Partner for Community Health

For the past three months, RAP has proudly served alongside more than 75 partners--under the leadership of the Desert Aids Project--in "Get Tested Coachella Valley."

The local public health campaign is designed to end the spread of HIV in our community.

The groundbreaking three-year effort has just reached its halfway point and is making significant progress.

"No one agency can accomplish this challenge alone - so we greatly appreciate the participation of RAP," says Marissa Willman, Community Liaison for Get Tested Coachella Valley. "Your voice is helping to raise awareness, break down stigma and create a healthier community."

The rate of HIV in the Coachella Valley is more than double the national rate, but more than half of all residents have never been tested. This puts everyone at greater risk.

Get Tested Coachella Valley's mission is to dramatically reduce the spread of HIV by making HIV testing a part of routine healthcare. When people who have HIV take the appropriate medications, they become 96% less infectious.

The campaign provides free and confidential HIV testing at dozens of community tests sites and provides a mobile clinic at dozens of community events. Click here for a list of free testing locations.

Each of us can help in this effort by getting a free and confidential HIV test and by encouraging family and friends to get tested, too. Knowledge is power ... so know your status!

Visit the Campaign's Website and "Like" the campaign on Facebook.

Let's Get Tested, Coachella Valley!

Desert Fast Pitch: Two Local Organizations in the Spotlight

Last quarter RAP spotlighted two semifinalist organizations, About Families and Alzheimer's Association, who are participating in this year's Desert Fast Pitch. We have two more in the spotlight this quarter: Angel View and Christopher's Clubhouse. These nonprofits are two of six remaining organizations competing in the Desert Fast Pitch event paired with RAP Foundation's Communications Conference on October 21.

All of the semifinalist organizations' respective representatives received training in telling their "story" in a 3-minute pitch. They learned to highlight their organization's mission, goals and need for funding in a more engaging and compelling manner. They benefitted from training they received from National Communications expert Andy Goodman, founder of The Goodman Center and coaching and mentoring from local experts in the communications field.

Angel View, Inc.

Patti Park, Executive Director

Mission: Helping children and adults with disabilities reach their maximum potential.

To assist the broadest possible spectrum of clients with disabilities, a wide range of services are offered:

24-hour residential nursing care in 19 group homes
Therapeutic Day Programs for adults with developmental disabilities
Outreach program for local children with disabilities

Four primary components:

-Free resources and referrals, and assistance completing forms and accessing services;

-Mileage reimbursement for "medical miles" traveled accessing specialty pediatric care;

-Mini-grants for medical equipment, supplies and services not covered by Medi-Cal or other sources;

-Activity sponsorships for programs that accept children with disabilities, some examples are. UCP Skills Builders, AYSO VIP league (soccer for kids with special needs).

Christopher's Clubhouse

Mika Moulton, Founder/Executive Director

Mission: Christopher's Clubhouse is dedicated to providing educational programs in order to empower children, teens, and women with the skills to avoid exploitation, and to spreading the Light of Hope that all children and families can be safe from predatory crimes.

Family Safety Camp, a program designed for 6-12 year old children that provides practical and realistic life skills.

Teen Groups In Focus (TGIF), a program designed specifically for teens ages 13-19 that helps them focus on their own personal safety including resistance to abduction, dating bill of rights, social networking, safety and more.
RAD for Women Basic Physical Defense-A program of realistic self-defense tactics and techniques for teen girls and women of all abilities.
Internet Safety Seminars for Families-Parents and children learn, share and become informed of the value of internet safety.
Free Fingerprinting and IDs for Children. State of the art equipment provides parents with a picture, all 10 fingerprints, and a CD video of the child for safe keeping.

To register for RAP's Conference and Fast Pitch, Click here

The RAP Foundation continues to support Coachella Valley Youth Leadership Mentoring Project

A couple of years ago, a few dedicated adult community leaders in the eastern Coachella Valley started a project called "healing circles". They utilized the Joven Noble Curriculum (Noble Youth) to work on strengthening young boys' lives. The goals included improving the boys' school attendance, grades, discipline and their emotional well-being. The program recruited adult mentors (former teachers, principals, pastors, coaches, and business leaders) in the community to volunteer and guide young boys to make good choices.

In October, the Coachella Valley Youth Leadership Mentoring Project, 100% funded by RAP, will start to recruit boys ages 13-17 from Coachella Valley Unified School District to participate in the program. It will start with 35 students. The program will provide intensive mentoring to improve educational performance and to help the boys heal from previous or current emotional trauma affecting their lives. They will participate in one-on- one and group sharing sessions in addition to experiencing educational field trips.

The RAP Foundation is currently working with the Ophelia Project, a girls mentoring project, to explore if it can incorporate a boys program into its organization. We are proud to join forces with the Ophelia Project to better the lives of young people throughout the CoachellaValley.

Link to Valley Voice

A Message from RAP CEO

We've had an interesting and busy summer here at the Regional Access Project Foundation. Historically the Board of Directors has taken a break during the month of August, but this year there was so much on the table that we had to keep the meetings coming in late July, August and early September. I want to thank Board members and volunteers for not complaining. Too much.

2015 State of Nonprofits in Riverside County

We are excited about the 2015 State of Nonprofits in Riverside County, which will focus on the contributions made by nonprofits to Riverside County. I want to thank all of the organizations throughout the county that assisted RAP with disseminating the survey used in developing the report. The Caster Family Center for Nonprofit and Philanthropic Research is working diligently to prepare and then present the report on October 21st at the Annual Communications Conference

In order to encourage participation in completing the survey (and because we like to have fun) we decided to give away five prizes to survey respondents. Thank you to the Caster Center for conducting the drawing for the prizes last week.

The winner of an Apple watch is Donna Burkett of The Coachella Valley Rescue Mission, and the lucky recipient of a Kindle Reader is Jennifer O'Farrell of Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Inland Empire. Cynthia Oma Gran with Soroptomist House of Hope, Janice Bielman with Riverside Meals on Wheels, and Anita Marlowe with the DCEAC all won movie passes.

Grants

We know there is great anticipation of the next Mental Health Initiative Request for Proposal (RFP), which will be aimed at Juvenile Intervention. The Board of Directors approved the new RFP at the September 30 Board meeting. We will send out an email blast and provide information on our website about the RFP and pertinent dates and deadlines.

I want to thank Crystal Salcido, the Coachella Valley Economic Partnership Health Career Connection summer intern for her work in the development of a mental health mobile application aimed at youth.

Technical Assistance Program (TAP)

Congratulations to the 13 graduates of the Nonprofit Management Certificate Program RAP continues to sponsor in a partnership with the University of Riverside, Palm Desert Campus.

The dedicated students completed the 35- week program culminating in a graduation ceremony July 10. We are proud to continue to support this program as a way to increase organizations' capacity-building efforts.

Desert Connect

The RAP Board approved a partnership with the Ophelia Project which will allow them to take over the Coachella Valley Youth Leadership project. This boys mentoring program will be led by Trinidad Arredondo, who is transitioning from his RAP staff position to this new role and also preparing for his first recruitment class this fall. Although I am sad to lose Trini, I know that he is looking forward to making this program a success and we at RAP are all excited for him in his new position.

Collaboration

RAP is proud to be a member of an emerging Collective Impact Initiative along with several key local organizations. The details of this exciting collaborative work will be shared in the very near future. This collaborative will be embarking on a needs assessment of community issues to help us better identify the challenges faced by families in their struggle to achieve financial stability. A great deal of time and resources have been poured into the formation of this Initiative and we look forward to engaging the greater community in this growing movement.

Sincerely,

Leticia De Lara, CEO

TAP Plans New Certificate Program and Workshops This Fall

RAP'S Technical Assistance Program (TAP) is pleased to have sponsored for the fifth year the UCR Extension Nonprofit Management certificate program.

We have received very positive feedback from the participants in this program and are looking forward to the next class starting on October 23. A total of 15 individuals working for local nonprofits who meet the requirements to receive a scholarship will be selected. If you or someone you know is interested in receiving a scholarship please call TAP Manager Amalia Coyt at 760-469-4476.

That's not all: Other training opportunities in the form of workshops and webinars will be hosted by the TAP program very soon. For more information on these upcoming opportunities, look for the training calendar coming out this beautiful first full month of autumn, distributed through our email blast and posted on RAP's website, www.regionalaccessproject.org

If you would like to be added to our contact list in order to receive any upcoming events from TAP and other agencies announcing their events, contact Amalia and we will add you to the contact list.