Stand Down Serves Veterans

Led by Fifth District County Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, Santa Barbara County hosted its fourth annual Veteran Stand Down event on Saturday, October 17, 2015 at the Santa Maria Fairpark, to connect homeless and unemployed veterans with an array of services in one location.

Over 500 local veterans and their families attended, including over 100 homeless veterans. Free transportation to the Fairpark was provided from seven locations countywide. Services were offered by nearly 100 public and private agencies, aided by about 300 volunteers and 150 active-duty military personnel.

Veterans Administration staff screened arrivals for veteran status, and explained VA benefits. A uniformed active-duty Airman then joined each veteran to literally walk him or her through the vast array of services available. The military escort system is unique to Stand Down, establishing a supportive environment that promotes a sense of belonging, acceptance, camaraderie and respect. The escort can also carry any goods acquired during the visit, which is especially helpful for veterans who are frail, elderly or disabled.

Services available at Stand Down included:

• Basic necessities including two meals, showers, clothing, boots and shoes
• Supplies such as personal hygiene products, backpacks, can openers, and nonperishable food
• Medical services including flu shots, medical exams from the VA, and dental services from the Community Health Clinics
• Counseling for mental health, substance abuse, post-traumatic stress disorder, intervention, and employment
• Employment and training referrals
• Screenings for public benefit programs, gift cards for food, grants for rent deposits, and bus tokens for follow-up appointments in the community
• Services for female veterans only including women’s preventive health services; mending, alterations and career wear; massages and makeovers; and job coaching and resume help
• Pet services including vaccinations and microchipping

Participating County agencies included the Departments of Social Services, Public Health, Probation, and Alcohol, Drug & Mental Health Services; as well as the Public Defender, Superior Court, DA Victim Witness, Child Support Services, and County Veteran's Services Office.

Stand Down represents the culmination of a year’s worth of planning by dozens of partners, supported in part by outreach from the Central Coast Collaborative on Homelessness, aid from the Federal Homeless Veteran Reintegration Grant, and the passion of local volunteers eager to give back to the veterans that have served our country. DSS looks forward to participating in Stand Down once again in 2016.

A November to remember youth who need families

Over 100,000 children and youth nationwide are in foster care and waiting to be adopted into permanent families, including over 2000 in California and over 100 in Santa Barbara County. November is National Adoption Month, and we are observing the occasion with two public events. 

On November 3 in Santa Barbara, the County Board of Supervisors will pass a resolution highlighting the need for families to adopt children from foster care, and honoring families that do so—and the many individuals and organizations that support them along the way. A local family which has adopted one child from foster care, and is in the process of adopting another, will address the Board. 

On November 18, Adoption Day will take place at Santa Maria Juvenile Court. The Court will finalize the adoption of at least seven local foster children into stable, permanent, loving homes, just in time for Thanksgiving. Festivities will follow, with food, children’s activities, gifts, and free portraits for the new forever families. (The actual adoption proceedings are closed events.) Communities across the United States hold similar Adoption Day events in November to help create and celebrate new families for foster children. (National Adoption Day is officially the Saturday before Thanksgiving, but ours is one of the many communities that schedule the event on a weekday instead.)

“Children enter foster care through no fault of their own, as a result of abuse, neglect, or abandonment,” explained Devin Drake, the deputy director overseeing Child Welfare Services (CWS) for the Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services (DSS). CWS works with the family and the courts to establish a safe environment in the home of origin, but if this proves impossible, then a new permanent home must be sought. “Adoption is the highest level of permanence,” he said, “offering love, nurturing and guidance through childhood and beyond.” 

For more information on Child Welfare Services, foster care or adoption, please visit www.AdoptSBC.com, or call the Department of Social Services at 1-866-899-2649.

2-1-1 Helpline Relaunched

Community leaders at a news conference announcing the return of 211 Helpline service. From left: Fran Forman of Community Action Commission, Santa Barbara County Supervisor Salud Carbajal, Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schnieder, Healthy Lompoc Coalition director Ashely Costa, Public Health Dept director Dr. Takahashi Wada, and Goleta Mayor Paula Perotte.  

The 2-1-1 Helpline service--a fast, free way to find local health and human services--has been re-launched after a two-year transformation. County residents can dial 211 to get connected to health care, child care, domestic abuse support, counseling and much more. The service is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, in 150 languages.

Local nonprofit and political leaders gathered on the County Courthouse steps on July 31, 2015 to celebrate the revitalized service, now operated by the Community Action Commission (CAC). Fran Forman, executive director of CAC, kicked off the event. "All of us know to dial 911 in an emergency," she said, "but we want people to know where to turn for non-emergency services too."

By dialing 211, residents are connected to a trained operator who can help them find health care, child care, domestic abuse support, counseling, food, shelter, substance abuse prevention and treatment, aging and hospice service, and many other services for parents, seniors, veterans and others. The service is also available by calling 800-400-1572, or over a TTY text telephone at 805-919-1148, or on the self-service website at www.211santabarbaracounty.org. 

Locals join leaders planning for aging population

Panelists at the White House Conference on Aging in Washington D.C.

The White House Conference on Aging was held July 13, 2015, bringing together older Americans, caregivers, government officials, members of the public, business leaders, and community leaders to discuss a vision for aging in the next decade. The event offered an opportunity to plan for the acceleration of the demographic shift that began in 2011, as members of the baby boom generation began to reach retirement age.

The event was live-streamed to "watch party" events in Santa Barbara, Santa Maria, San Luis Obispo, and other cities nationwide. Residents could participate for the entire day or several hours, and share in the conversation with local colleagues. Representatives from the offices of Congresswoman Lois Capps, County Supervisor Salud Carbajal, and State Senators Das Williams and Hannah-Beth Jackson joined the local forums for discussions about local needs and priorities, continuing conversations that began at the Public Forum in January.

Some 30 individuals attended in Santa Barbara, 10 in Santa Maria and six in San Luis Obispo. Issues raised at the local debriefs were varied. Santa Barbara attendees suggested better financial, social, and human services support for caregivers. Santa Maria attendees suggested reauthorization of the Older Americans Act to support aging in place, and budgeting human services funds for current and emerging senior needs. San Luis Obispo attendees suggested expanding congregate health facilities to serve those who now fall through the cracks, revising health and social services rules to expand eligibility and benefit amounts, and closing the digital divide for seniors.

The local watch parties were sponsored by agencies including Santa Barbara and San Luis Obispo County Departments of Social Services, the Santa Barbara Foundation, and the Area Agency on Aging.

No child should go hungry this summer.

Summertime shouldn't be hungry time for children. Did you know that there are places all around the county where kids can get free meals this summer? Here are three great resources to keep children fed and happy. Tell a friend!

1. Food finder tool
To find the kids summer meal site nearest to you, use the Summer Meal Site Finder at  www.fns.usda.gov/summerfoodrocks . Click on the “Find Sites” drop down, enter your address, and you’ll see a list of sites near your location. Click any site to see its details, like dates and times.

Click to enlarge

.2. Food at school
School districts offer free lunch to children during summer months. Check out these flyers showing the locations in North County, Mid County, and South County. Some sites also offer breakfast, supper, or morning or afternoon snack—you can find details for each site here. 

3. Picnic in the Park
The Foodbank's Picnic in the Park program offers free lunches to children all summer long, Monday through Friday. There are no income requirements, sign-ups or registration process. See these flyers showing the locations in North County and South County. Or, find a nearby site by texting SUMMERFOOD to 877-877. (You can also print this flyer to share that text number with others.)

Youth Impact Awards Winners Announced and Celebrated

Youth Impact Victory Award winner Adela Lopez accepts a certificate of recognition from Blanca Figueroa, District Representative for Congresswoman Lois Capps. Looking on are Joyce Howerton, District Representative for State Senator Hannah-Beth Jackson, and Doug Coleman, Field Representative for State Assemblymember Katcho Achadjian. 

Each year the KIDS Network – a countywide umbrella organization including members from public agencies, the courts, law enforcement, education, community-based organizations, school-linked programs and parent groups – honors people ages 10-18 who have had a significant positive impact on their communities in Santa Barbara County.

Two types of awards were given this year: a Victory Award to a winner who has overcome adversity and hardship to help others, and a Champion Award to a winner whose long-standing or time-intensive service has helped others overcome adversity and hardship.

This year's top winners are Adela Lopez and Christopher Wagonhurst.

Youth Impact Awards: nominations now being accepted

Every year, KIDS Network presents the Youth Impact Awards, celebrating young people who have given their time, talent and energy to make a positive impact for individuals in Santa Barbara County...often while overcoming adversity in their own lives.

Nominations are now being accepted for the 2015 Youth Impact Awards. Please help us distribute the nomination form and/or the event flyer by sharing them with others and posting as appropriate...and if you know of a youth who fits the criteria, please take the time to nominate them! Nominees may be individuals or groups of young people, between the ages of 10 and 18, who reside and/or attend school in Santa Barbara County. The deadline to submit a nomination is April 30, 2015.

Winners receive a small monetary award, and winners and nominees alike are honored at the Youth Impact Awards Ceremony. We invite you to attend this ceremony, to be held Friday May 13 from 4:00 to 5:30pm in Shepard Hall at the Santa Maria Public Library, 421 South McClelland Street. The ceremony is free and open to the public, so we ask that you register online to ensure yourself a seat.

For more information about the Youth Impact Awards,please visit the event webpage at www.YouthImpactAwards.com.

Lompoc Senior Health Expo coming up May 15

People over 50 are invited to attend the Lompoc Senior Health & Fitness Expo on Friday May 15 from 9 a.m. to noon at the Dick DeWees Community & Senior Center, 1120 W. Ocean Ave.

• For your enjoyment, there will be a healthy lunch, door prizes, entertainment, and a cooking demo. For your health, there will be checks available for cholesterol and blood sugar (fasting required), blood pressure, bone density, skin cancer, and vision.
• For your information, community organizations including the Department of Social Services will answer questions and present information on topics such as community resources, Medicare, fraud & scam prevention, fall prevention, Alzheimer’s & dementia, diabetes, and advance directives.
• Free transportation is available. For information, call 805-875-8098, or download the flyer.

Child Abuse Prevention Month Focuses on Spanking

In the past year, multiple sports figures have been in the media spotlight for acts of violence. Where spousal abuse and/or assault are concerned, there is little debate. Yet when it comes to children, there is disagreement about what is considered acceptable adult behavior.

This April, the local Child Abuse Prevention Month campaign focuses on spanking and alternatives to violence against children.

Lompoc Job Fair

Need a job? The Santa Barbara County Workforce Investment Board is hosting its third annual job fair at the Dick DeWees Senior Center in Lompoc April 16 from 2 to 5 p.m. Meet and greet local employers who are looking for help. Many career hunting services will be available, including workshops, resume critiques, and training and career information. Dress for success, and bring a résumé. The Dick DeWees Senior Center is located at 1120 W. Ocean Ave. Call Jeyde Cardenas at 614-1210.

Child Abuse Prevention Academy: a big success

Full house: 150 attendees learning about child abuse prevention



Our 2015 Child Abuse Prevention Academy on February 27 was a big success…literally.

As the morning fog drifted outside, some 150 people packed into Santa Barbara City College’s East Campus Auditorium. A diverse crowd of students and professionals in education, health & human services, public safety, and other occupations, they partook in networking and light refreshments, and then occupied every last seat in the cavernous hall for the day’s presentations.

Barbara Finch of the Child Abuse Prevention Council kicked off the event, and then handed it over to the presenters: Yolanda Perez and Marianne Reagan of Child Welfare Services, and Teressa Rodriguez-Johnes of First 5. The presenters explained the mandated-reporter law, which requires people in certain occupations (including those represented in the room) to promptly report suspected child abuse or neglect to Child Welfare Services or law enforcement. Readily fielding audience questions, the presenters also explained in detail the role of Child Welfare Services, and the risk and protective factors for abuse and neglect, among other topics.

At lunchtime, the big hall cleared out as attendees completed their training evaluations, picked up their certificates of participation, said goodbye to friends old and new, and drifted off like the morning fog.

Slides and video of the presentations, as well as the results of the training evaluations, are available at the event webpage: www.capa-sb.com.

Local Public Forum on Aging held

County Supervisor Doreen Farr, Congresswoman Lois Capps,
and Phylene Wiggins of the Santa Barbara Foundation at the event. 

In preparation for the 2015 White House Conference on Aging, a Public Forum on Aging was held in Buellton on February 18 to gather public input from Santa Barbara County and San Luis Obispo County residents. Nearly 100 people attended the forum and 36 presented comment/testimony.