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Dear Dana,
I am lucky that I live on a corner down the street from an elementary school. This past week is the last week of school. Each day, a different grade of students has walked by my window going on a field trip someplace. It has been fun to see these children - energetic, eager, and loved by the adults with them - as they walk by. It is a nice end-of-school year ritual, that softens the fact that I won’t hear their laughter and screams on their playground for the next 10 weeks.
I hope you get the opportunity this summer to relax a bit, spend time with friends and family and reflect. We all need this to stay healthy and joyful as we work to improve the outcomes for children, youth, and families in our community.
In partnership,
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Dana Bunnett, Executive Director
Kids in Common
P.S. Save the Date for the 2025 Children's Summit - Thursday, April 24, 2025!
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In This Issue
- News from Kids in Common
- Children Now
- In-Play Activity Guide
- Education & Learning Opportunities
- Resources for Professionals
- Resources for Children and Families
- KidPower
- Volunteer Opportunities
- The Beat Within
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Our Mission
Kids in Common challenges leaders to put children first. By fostering cross-sector, data-driven partnerships, Kids in Common drives policies, investments, and practices centered on children’s needs and successes.
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Check out the New and Improved Data Dashboard!
At the Children’s Summit, we released the new 2024 SCC Children’s Data Book. Check it out here!
We also have a new and improved Data Dashboard available here.
This new dashboard is user-friendly, and provides you with data broken down (when available) by race, ethnicity, geography, and highlights data about children with disabilities. This can be a valuable support to the work you are doing to meet community needs, write grants and more.
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In-Play’s Activity Guide Available!
Summer is just around the corner! We are excited to share a time-saving way to find local and affordable summer programs for your kids. Click scc.inplay.org for a FREE and searchable list of programs.
InPlay is a nonprofit working with the County of Santa Clara and the Santa Clara County Office of Education to offer you a free online search service with hundreds of local and affordable or free after-school and summer camp programs. The guide lists both weekly activities and one-time events.
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Update on The Children’s Movement Campaign to Protect Kids in Foster Care
This month, through The Children’s Movement of California, over 1,000 organizations sent this letter to Governor Newsom’s desk, urging him to protect the Family Urgent Response System (FURS) in the state budget. FURS is a 24/7, statewide helpline for any situation where kids in foster care or their caregivers feel they need help, and has been critical in keeping foster families together, reducing foster home changes by 16% in just 3 years.
Unfortunately, Governor Newsom did not reverse course in his May Revise budget proposal, and FURS is still set to be eliminated. The Children’s Movement is planning to continue fighting and putting pressure on the Governor and Legislature to preserve FURS until the final budget is signed. To help and join a network of over 5,400 organizations fighting for kids to be prioritized in the policymaking process, please sign up here.
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EDUCATION & LEARNING OPPORTUNITIES | |
RESOURCES FOR PROFESSIONALS/WORKERS | |
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SCC Youth Advisory Council Expo
This is the time where the council members get to shine and showcase the work they have done over the last year. They have worked so hard to utilize their voices in the community for positive changes, and we would love for you all to join us in recognizing the work they have done and continue to do. Register by June 5.
Tuesday, June 18th, 2024
4:30pm to 6:30pm
Sobrato Center for Nonprofits
1400 Parkmoor Ave, San Jose, CA 95126
Presented by Fresh lifelines for Youth YAC and SCC Juvenile Probation Department
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RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES | |
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WANDA - A financial training and matched savings program for single moms
WANDA is accepting applications now through August 15, or until all spots are filled. The program begins September 14.
WANDA has rebranded this year, but our program has not changed. We continue to offer:
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One year of online classes in financial literacy, personal development, and career development
- A generous matched savings program with 2:1 match on savings up to $2000
- A supportive cohort of success-seeking peers
- Extra opportunities to learn and grow through a network of mentors, instructors, and partner organizations.
If you have any clients who are striving single mothers looking to work toward greater financial self-sufficiency and personal empowerment, please pass along this information.
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Santa Clara County Reception with Champions for our Kids
Please join Senator Dave Cortese, Board of Supervisors President Susan Ellenberg, Supervisor Cindy Chavez, County Superintendent Dr. Mary Ann Dewan, First 5 Santa Clara Executive Director Jennifer Kelleher Cloyd and others to support SupplyBank.org’s programs for homeless and low-income children and families throughout the County. Details are available through the link below. Complimentary tickets available for community stakeholders. Contact: Events@SupplyBank.org
Saturday, June 8, 2024 at 4PM
Santa Clara Convention Center
Register here
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SCFHP Health Career Scholarship Program
Santa Clara Family Health Plan (SCFHP) is proud to announce that our 25th Anniversary Health Career Scholarship Program is now accepting applications. In all that we do, we put our members first. We actively engage, listen to, and focus on the welfare of our members. Partnering with providers and organizations, we strive for a fair and just community where everyone has access to opportunities to be healthy. SCFHP is honored to invest in our members to become the future health care workforce in Santa Clara County and to work in partnership with us toward our vision of Health for All. (SCC Community Colleges and SJSU.)
SCFHP Medi-Cal members enrolled in qualifying health care degree/certification programs may apply for up to $5,000 per year
Applications are now being accepted for Fall 2024 enrollees. Feel free to share this opportunity with people who could benefit from it. Visit scfhp.com/scholarship for more information.
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Upcoming Trainings for Youth to Become Certified Mental Health First Aiders
In this 3-session virtual training youth will learn about reducing mental health stigma, allow teens to recognize mental health challenges in their friends and peers, and teach them how to find a trusting adult to help them or their peers when they need it!
This training is being offered my PPMM Education staff free of charge for youth in our territory and in partnership with The National Council on Mental Wellbeing and the Lady Gaga, Born this Way Foundation.
Questions: email us at edservices@ppmarmonte.org
Register Here!
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Disaster-Related Crisis Counseling in Your Community
BeWellLine, funded by CalMHSA/CalHope. It is completely free at no cost, ever.
Available now to individuals in the Santa Clara County area in English, Spanish and Vietnamese.
Offering:
- crisis support
- peer counseling
- presentations to highlight our services
- disaster preparedness presentations
- support groups
Access the services, including the new website, warmline, chatline, and behavioral health services, by visiting: http://sbsc.bewellline.com/
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Introducing Two New Innovative Apps to Support Youth Mental Health
the California Department of Health Care Services recently launched the Behavioral Health Virtual Services Platform. The platform includes two new apps - BrightLife Kids for children ages 0-12, and Soluna for youth and young adults ages 13-25, offering a range of digital tools, resources, and virtual services. These apps provide equitable and timely behavioral health support to all families in California, free of charge.
Learn more about how these apps can support the emotional health and well-being of your family at www.calhope.org.
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Entrenamiento de Defensoría de PADRES POR EL CAMBIO
Es una capacitación GRATUITA para que los padres de hijos de cualquier edad con necesidades especiales adquieran habilidades y estrategias de defensa, y mas.
A partir de septiembre de 2024
Disponible en línea, y en persona en el Centro de Recursos Familiares SOMOS Mayfair
Para preguntas envíe un email a beverly@php.com, Enlace para más información y registro, por favor regístrese antes del 16 de junio. Los participantes reciben un estipendio de $125 dls, solo para los residentes del Condado de Santa Clara y San Mateo.
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Second Harvest of Silicon Valley makes it easy to find fresh, free, nutritious food near you.
Search for free groceries or ready-to-eat meals and customize by location and schedule. Visit shfb.org/get-food to get started.
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Kidpower Online Community Workshops
Learn skills to protect and empower yourself, your family, and your community! We currently offer Familypower Workshops - online workshops for young people together with their adults, Parentpower Workshops - for parents and other caring adults, Fullpower/Teenpower Workshops - for adults and teens ages 13+, and self paced courses on our new Online Learning Center. Topics include: Boundary Skills, Intro to Physical Self-Defense, Online Safety, and Bullying Prevention.
A variety of online workshops are available at various times in the coming months. Keep an eye on our Community Workshops page for updates - or email us at safety@kidpower.org or call (800) 467-6997 ext. 0#. Scholarship funding is available!
Classes fill up quickly, so let us know right away if you're interested!
Familypower: Boundary Skills for kids 7-12 with their adults
Boundary skills help people of all ages have more fun and fewer problems with people – including friends and family members!
Scholarship assistance is available.
Sunday, June 9, 10-11am
For More Information: https://www.kidpower.org/workshops/
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Childcare and Early Education Resources
Families searching for programs can visit enrollsantaclara.org to find local child care and preschool programs, or to find school enrollment resources to learn how to enroll in preschool, TK and kindergarten in Santa Clara County schools.
Read more about transitional kindergarten here.
For additional information, or if you have questions, please contact Veronica Garza at vgarza@sccoe.org.
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Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline - Dial 988
The Behavioral Health Services Department (BHSD) is continuing its efforts to raise community awareness of 988 through its widespread media campaign. The newest campaign ads are now on air and promote 988 as the three-digit phone number to call or text the Crisis and Suicide Prevention Lifeline (CSPL).
These ads encourage folks to reach out to 988 if they’re in crisis, but also if they just need to talk. Key messages are:
- 988 gives access to free, anonymous, compassionate support, 24/7;
- The Lifeline is for everyone – insurance is not needed; and
- Skilled counselors are ready to listen without judgment.
Visit this webpage with information on 988, how it works, and other services for help
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Santa Clara County Juvenile Justice Commission is Recruiting
The JJC is looking for people who are interested in improving the future for youth in the child welfare and juvenile justice systems. The JJC:
- Is a state mandated commission
- Provides oversite of the county’s execution of juvenile law
- Is composed of volunteers
- Conducts inspections of government facilities that house children and youth
- Interacts closely with key leadership of system partners in shaping policy
For more detail and access to the JJC application form go to http://scscourt.org/court_divisions/juvenile/jjc/jjc_home.shtml
Reach out to the JJC at SCCJJC@gmail.com
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Child Advocates of Silicon Valley recruits, trains and supports CASA Volunteers to ensure every foster child in the Santa Clara County foster care system has a mentor and advocate to help them navigate the system and a voice reporting directly to the Court. Working with children in foster care can be tough and demanding but it's also very impactful and can change the life trajectory of a child.
For More Information: To sign up for a volunteer info session, click here.
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The Beat Within (TBW) is a national magazine of writing and artwork by and for incarcerated youth and their communities. Volunteers lead writing workshops in juvenile hall, serve as youth mentors, and edit portions of the magazine on a weekly basis.
How to Get Involved:
· Attend a one-time NEW Volunteer Orientation Zoom meeting
· Volunteers must be 21 or older, pass a background check, and get fingerprinted
· Make a six-month commitment to volunteering, 3-5 hours per week
Location: Santa Clara County Juvenile Hall and James Ranch
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To learn more: Email Volunteer Coordinator, Alyssa Maanao
WRITINGS FROM SANTA CLARA COUNTY JUVENILE HALL:
Hardworking People
“Once social change begins, it cannot be reversed. You cannot un-educate the person that has learned to read. You cannot humiliate the person who feels pride. You cannot oppress the people who are not afraid anymore.” -Cesar Chavez
I agree with these strong words one hundred percent because Cesar Chavez comes from struggle and so do I, so I know what he means by this. It sucks to be treated differently or looked at like you don’t belong.
Cesar Chavez stood up for my kind and let it be known that we shouldn’t be treated any different. He starved himself for several days to prove a point. He was spit at, treated poorly and still strived for a cause, the Spanish-Mexican-Latino cause. Same thing with Dolores Huerta — she stood by Cesar as well in the United Farm Worker community so her hard work and speeches she made do not go unrecognized.
Nowadays our kind continue to work hard, strive, and no matter what stay down until it’s our time to come up. Because, trust me, the world needs Mexican and Latinos in it for our huge buildings and houses you see out in the world. We are hardworking!
-Oscar, Santa Clara
Advice for New Parents
My best advice for soon-to-be parents is be ready for what changes your life will go through.
Something I wish I would’ve known before creating my beautiful young baby boy is that it comes with a lot of sleepless nights. Another thing I wish I would’ve known is how hard it is when they get ill or sick.
Having a baby is one of the most beautiful moments of my life. And I wouldn’t have asked God for a more beautiful baby boy or more beautiful moment. The best way to show your child love and affection is simply giving them your time and effort. While being locked up, I miss out on important moments with my new family.
Better decisions lead to a better life. Do better for your soon-to-be family or current family. All this time I spend locked up is time I could be out with my son. Learn from other’s mistakes. I love you, son!
-David, Santa Clara
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