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CAPC Newsletter                                                  May 2020


Connections During Quarantine


Connections with our friends, families and communities are important to have while following the social distancing rule. How can you stay connected? Here are some ways;

Use your phone or tablet. Zoom, Skype, Facetime and Google Hangouts are useful for checking in with friends and family whether they're a short drive away or across the country! You can eat a meal together, play a game, watch a movie or catch up from the comfort of your own home. 

Join a virtual group. See if there are any online groups out there that share the same hobbies or interests as you. Parent support groups, book clubs, cooking groups and gardening groups are great options to search on Facebook. You can even create your own group if you can't find anything out there. 

Chalk art is a great idea for kids. Let your kids get creative on the sidewalk. Many people go on walks, leave a positive message or nice picture for people to look at while they're walking through the neighborhood.

Snail mail! Send some photos, letters, crafts or a handmade card to a family member to brighten up their day.

Keep up with a workout buddy. It might be a little tough to find the motivation to exercise alone, video chat with a partner to keep a routine going.

Plant a garden. Start with some seeds or sprouts and make a beautiful flower garden or a home grown vegetable garden. Take some progress pictures and share them with friends!


Our CAPC office will be closed for the time being. We will reopen when it is safe to do so. 

However, we are continually checking our emails and Facebook messages. If you need resources or help in anyway, please reach out. Stay safe during these challenging times!


Mental Health Matters!



Your mental health matters! Taking care of your mental health is important because it plays a role in many different aspects in your life. Your state of mental health affects your emotions, thoughts, relationships, and the ways you cope with stress. Failure to take care of your mental health can result in increased risk of getting sick, stress, changes in sleeping and eating habits, and more. A large percent of people will struggle with their mental health at some point in their life, don't forget there are many helpful resources!


The emotional well being   of your child is just as important as their physical health. Children handle stress and emotions differently than adults do, try to sit them down and let them talk about their feelings so they are able to express themselves. Children often bottle up their feeling because they don't fully know how to express their feelings, if they don't properly learn this could lead to behavioral problems. Teach kids at a young age that it's perfectly normal to have feelings, to show them and to talk about them!

Here are some tips for younger children:
1. Encourage kindness and helping others

2. Teach and reinforce positive behavior and decision making

3. Create a safe environment

4. Make sure your child has at least 2 trusted adults to talk to

5. Be a role model for positive behavior 

When it comes to teenagers, some good habits to develop are coping skills, resilience and good judgement skills. Teens tend to keep to themselves and stray away from their parents, make sure to let them know they can always talk to their parents or a trusted adult. 


 As a child or an adult, you can take care of yourself in small ways, here's how:

1. Find some ways that work for you to cope with stress, people handle situations differently.

2. Get a good amount of sleep. 8 hours of rest is ideal, try to minimize screen time and caffeine intake before bed.

3. Focus on your strengths. Think of the things you're good at and spend more time doing them.

4. Engage in physical activity. It's good for both mental and physical health. Don't force yourself to do activities you don't like, try walking, kayaking, yoga, biking, etc; incorporating a friend or two can make things more fun.

5. Do the things that make you happy, maybe some hobbies or activities you enjoy.

6. Talk to someone or write it down. Some people prefer talking to other people, others may like it write down their feelings on a piece of paper; shred it, burn it, toss it, it's up to you!
 
For more information about Mental Health Matters Month, click HERE.
Trauma-Informed Reading

Join us each month as we discover new books related to
 ACEs, Trauma-Informed Care and Resiliency. 


This month, we are sharing the book The Body Keeps the Score: Brain, Mind, and Body in the Healing of Trauma
By Bessel van der Kolk 

Throughout the life on an individual, a person will go through large amounts of stress and quite possibly a few traumatic events. Ranging from Veteran aftermath, drug and alcohol abuse, assault, violence, death and more. The more severe the event is, the more of an impact it will have on your mental and physical health, with the possibility of wiring your brain differently. The brain's wiring can be changed with the use of different treatments, techniques and therapies. 




We hope you'll share your thoughts and comments about this book with us. You can send us an email,  [email protected], or visit our Facebook page and leave a comment for us,  HERE.

Family Strengthening  
Mini-Grants Now Available!
 
We are excited to announce that funding is available for Family Strengthening mini-grant proposals for the 2019-20 fiscal year. Mini-grants will be awarded up to $2,000. Funding is provided by the Amador Child Abuse Prevention Council (ACAPC).
 
Grants are available for qualified organizations and agencies to provide Family Strengthening programs within the County of Amador.
 
Family Strengthening is the premise that children do well when families do well, and that
families do well when they live in supportive communities. Enhancing connections within
families, and between families, and the institutions that affect them, result in better outcomes
for children and their families.
 
Mini-Grant Application

Mini-Grant applications may be submitted to ACAPC at any time throughout the 2018-19 fiscal year, however grant reviews and awards will occur bi-monthly.

Do you want to learn more about ACEs*, Trauma-Informed-Care, Resiliency and Resilient Amador?

The Resilient Amador coalition can now bring to your group, place of work, organization, or business an informative presentation on all of these topics.  

  • What are ACEs? 
  • How does childhood trauma affect us as adults? 
  • What impact can you make in your community to have resilient children and families?

Give us a call to schedule a presentation:  (209) 257-1092.

Learn more here: Resilient Amador

*ACEs ~ Adverse Childhood Experiences

Upcoming Events
Click HERE for a full list of current events in Amador County.
 
 
Free Mandated Reporter Training  
The second Thursday of every month, from 10:00 - 11:30 am, 
the Child Abuse Prevention Council is holding free mandated reporter trainings. May 's meetings will be rescheduled.  Open to parents, teachers, the community, staff or colleagues needing a refresher course, or new staff with no previous training, give 
us a call, (209) 223-5921. For the flyer with all the information, click HERE.  

 
Join CAPC in creating a county-wide effort to recognize and address 
the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences(ACEs) in Amador County. 

Next Steering Committee meeting: Rescheduled, TBA , 3:00-5:oopm  
Here at our CAPC offices,  975 Broadway, Jackson.    
 
 
Next CAPC Meeting
CAPC meetings are the third Monday of every other month.

Monday,  Rescheduled, TBA , 10:30am-12:00pm
975 Broadway, Jackson,   (209) 223-5921,   [email protected]
 
 

Would you like to make a difference in the lives of children?

You can support the Child Abuse Prevention Councils efforts to keep our kids safe!
Print out the form HERE, and send it in with your donation today.


About CAPC

Our Vision
All children know how they are valued; all families receive the support, education and tools necessary to give every child a safe, healthy, and nurturing home; and a community that actively supports the health, safety, and education of its children.

Our Mission 
CAPC is committed to preventing all forms of child abuse in Amador County through community partnerships, free trainings, education, and family-centered events that value children, strengthen families, and engage communities. 
Investing in Our Youngest Children
First 5 Logo

Stay up to date on all the latest news and information for the youngest children in our county! Sign up for First 5 Amador's monthly e-newsletter  HERE!

Amador Community Resources

For a wallet sized version for yourself, your organization/agency, or your place of work,  give us a call - (209) 223-5921 (click HERE to print).

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