Our County, Our Kids

Have you ever considered becoming a foster parent? Our new "Our County, Our Kids" program can help inspire and inform you! For more information, visit www.OurCountyOurKids.org. You may also want to check out the article about it in the Lompoc Record.

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.

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.

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.

Adoption Day coming up November 19!

• Santa Barbara County Child Welfare Services and the Santa Maria Juvenile Court will celebrate National Adoption Day on November 19, 2014.

• The Honorable Arthur A. Garcia will formalize 10 adoptions of local foster children as part of a nationwide celebration of adoption and adoptive families.

New: Intensive Therapeutic Foster Care program

Santa Barbara County's new Intensive Therapeutic Foster Care Program (ITFC) enables us to place more children with mental health or emotional challenges with local foster families, rather than in out-of-town institutional settings. Foster families participating in ITFC receive specialized training, stipends, and professional support to meet the mental health, emotional, behavioral, medical and social needs of these children.

Reminder: Hot cars can be deadly to children

In a May 16 press release, our CWS branch reminded parents and caregivers that leaving children unattended in a vehicle, even for a few minutes, can result in death or injury to the child. Senate Bill 255, also known as Kaitlyn’s Law, was enacted in California in 2001, making it illegal to leave children unattended in a motor vehicle.

Board Recognizes National Foster Care Month

The Santa Barbara County Board of Supervisors has recognized May as National Foster Care Month. In a resolution passed unanimously at their May 6 meeting, the Board celebrated foster parents for giving their time, love, and commitment to children in foster care and their families.

Child Abuse Prevention Month Focuses on Neglect

Our prevention poster...click it to enlarge!

How can we prevent child abuse and neglect? Every April is Child Abuse Prevention Month, when we help communities answer that question by sharing activities and information to build awareness and knowledge. 

Backpacks for Foster Children 2012 Succeeds



The Backpacks for Foster Children project was back this year and very successful, providing back-to-school backpacks and supplies for about 200 children and youth served by the county’s foster care system. 

Adoption Day 2012

November is National Adoption Month. In celebration, Child Welfare Services will be hosting its annual Adoption Day at the Santa Maria Juvenile Court on Wednesday November 28, where 26 children will be adopted by 12 families. The festivities will include food, activities for the children, gifts, complimentary family portraits for the new forever families, and of course smiles, laughs and tears of joy. These twelve relative and non-relative care providers will agree to provide the children the safe, stable, loving and permanent homes they so need and deserve.

Family Fun Day & Health Fair

Over 60 health care providers and community organizations, including DSS, helped bring a fun and impactful day of health and wellness to the heart of Santa Barbara’s Westside community at the Family Fun Day & Health Fair on September 22, 2012. 

Gifts, Party Brighten Holiday for Foster Children

The holidays can be a difficult time for foster children who are living away from their birth families. Our annual gift drive and holiday party made the holidays a little brighter for those children.

19 Children Adopted in One Day

Stuffed animals, tears of joy, and snapshot-taking aunties abounded at a festive gathering at the Santa Maria juvenile courthouse November 30, as 19 children exited foster care and were welcomed to the hope, love and care of adoptive homes. The event was part of National Adoption Month, a nationwide event that encourages people to become adoptive parents. 

Packed Up, Ready to Learn

WCBN members surround DSS Deputy Director Delfino Neira with good vibes...and backpacks.

Imagine being a kid on your first day back at school, and not having a backpack or school supplies…maybe because you don’t have parents looking out for you. Thanks in part to a local nonprofit’s donation of 48 spiffy new backpacks and school supplies, youth in our foster care system didn’t find themselves short of those school tools when the school year began.