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. 

Veteran’s Stand Down A Huge Success

Led by Fifth District County Supervisor Steve Lavagnino, Santa Barbara County hosted its first-ever "Stand Down" event on Saturday, October 13th at the Santa Maria Fairpark to connect homeless and unemployed veterans with a wide array of services in one location.  A total of 192 veterans, including 74 homeless veterans and their families attended.    

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.

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.

DSS Employees Give Big to Charity

Students using Reading Plus software

DSS employees pledged $32,848 to local nonprofits this year through the annual United Way Charitable Giving Campaign—supporting programs right here in our own community to increase reading ability in children, improve access to health care, educate low-income families on financial planning, and more. The funds, donated by 154 DSS employees in a campaign ending October 28, represent a $2000 increase over last year’s total.

20th Annual Day of Caring

It was a Saturday in Santa Barbara, but these folks weren’t planning a day at the beach – instead, the team of 45 volunteers from the Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services got up early and got to work on community beautification projects.