News & Press Room

Dealing with Employees Troubled due to Trauma

 

Overview

 

Santa Barbarans are moving into the recovery phase of the Tea Fire. Recovery is hardly a return to normal. Consider the ways we’ve been affected:

Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce Presents
Business Star Awards — 2008

Chamber Board announces Business Awards Santa Barbara, California

The Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced the winners of their quarterly Business Star Awards. The businesses and individuals were recognized for their outstanding contributions to the quality of life for Santa Barbara.

 

1. Business Woman. Susan Rodriguez, Executive Vice President, Brown and Brown Insurance Services. (Betty Hatch Award). This award is made to a chamber businesswoman, who through herc actions is a role model for the local community. Past winners have been: Renee Grubb, Karen Chakel, and Phyllis DePicciotto. Susan's drive and determination have enabled her to build one of the largest and most respected independent insurance intermediaries in the Region. She is a role model for her staff and for women in business. She and her company play an active role in supporting the Chamber and the non-profit community.

 

2. Innovator. Jim Dehlson, Chairman, Clipper Windpower. Representing Clipper is Vice President Ian Chuderay. This award is traditionally presented to an individual who has made a significant innovative contribution to positively impacting our world. Past winners include university chancellors, Nobel laureates, architects, researchers and inventors. Jim Dehlsen and his associates at Clipper Windpower have spent years developing technologies and services that provide practical solutions to the expansion of clean wind energy. Their work is a model for lessening the impact of energy production on global warming.

 

3. Community Collaboration. Citrix Online, Brett Caine, President. Representing Citrix is Vice President Laura McCormick. This award is made to a chamber business making a significant contribution to the quality of life and economic vitality of the Region. Past winners have been: Montecito Bank and Trust, Venoco, Santa Barbara Bank and Trust, Yardi Systems, and 50 others. Every month, more than 15,000 new customers start using Citrix Online's services to work from anywhere with anyone using their remote-connectivity tools to save time, get more done and connect to others around the world. Citrix Online is committed to meeting the needs of our community through programs that reflect the passions their employees have for making their communities a better place. Citrix employees have identified four broad areas as key targets for support: community social programs, educational initiatives, environmental efforts and the arts. Through their employees generous efforts, they have provided support in the form of corporate sponsorships, individual financial donations and many hours of personal time volunteered throughout the year.

 

4. Businessman. Jeff Bermant, President, Bermant Development Company. This award is made to a chamber businessman, who through his actions is a role model for the local community. Past winners have been: Ed Heron, John Indrieri, Michael Towbes and 50 others.For many years, Jeff and his company have played a leadership role in the development of "workforce" housing. He has been a champion for the non-profit community, taking on projects that no one else would attempt. He is a generous philanthropist both with his time and his money. His latest mental health association housing project exemplifies his strategic thinking and ability to overcome almost any obstacle.

 

For more information please contact Steve Cushman, at (805) 965-3023

Santa Barbara County and the Family Care Network Tackle Foster Family Crisis — 2008

 

Santa Barbara County is in a foster care crisis. In the last two years, the number of children in need of foster care has increased by a dramatic 585% according to the California Alliance of Child and Family Services. Right now, more than 400 children are separated from their families as a result of physical and mental illness, incarceration, abuse, neglect or abandonment, according to Rena Smith, a social worker with Family Care Network, Inc.
When the only stable and nurturing home available for children in need of foster care is many miles away in another community, children of Santa Barbara must leave their neighborhood, schools, supportive adults and peers—some of the only things that can bring comfort during such a difficult time. When there are no families in Santa Barbara to open their doors to them, it becomes extremely challenging to maintain sibling relationships and work towards reuniting with family. Imagine the difficulty of being moved away from everything that is familiar to you after being separated from your family simply because there are no families willing to share their homes living in your community.
Children throughout Santa Barbara County, particularly Southern Santa Barbara County, are in dire need of local families to provide safe and loving temporary homes. Foster children range in age from newborns to 18 years old, and can be placed with a foster family for as little as a few hours in emergency shelter or may stay for months, depending on the type of foster care needed.
The success of the Family Care Network has led the Santa Barbara Department of Social Services to request that the agency expand their foster care services into Southern Santa Barbara County, answering the need to end this foster care crisis. This expansion project was made possible by a grant from the Santa Barbara Community Foundation. However, achieving success with the children of Santa Barbara is dependent upon the willingness of local families to open
their homes to children in need.
The Family Care Network, a private, nonprofit, state-licensed foster family agency serving foster and high-needs children and families living on the Central Coast, delivers programs such as Therapeutic Foster Care, Emergency Shelter Care and Transitional Housing services that have already been proven successful in Northern Santa Barbara County as well as in San Luis Obispo County.
The Family Care Network certifies foster homes, matches children in need with foster families, and ensures all necessary support is given to the children, their foster parents and their families. The agency provides the most comprehensive training and support opportunities of any agency on the Central Coast and offers weekly contact with social workers, team support, and experienced foster parents to mentor and provide guidance. The Family Care Network also provides extensive training, including first aid, CPR, child development, specialized parenting, and more to thoroughly equip caring individuals with the tools needed to positively impact the lives of foster children.
Foster parents of the Family Care Network can be married or single, work full-time or stay at home, have children of their own or not and need to meet state licensing requirements. Excellent tax-exempt monetary compensation is provided to meet the needs of the child and family. All it takes is a compassionate heart, a willingness to impact our community for the better. One Family Care Network foster youth stated “I don't see how my life would've turned out if it hadn't been for [my foster parents]."
To learn more about how you can positively impact the life of a foster child in Santa Barbara County by becoming a foster parent, please contact the Family Care Network at (805) 781-3535 or visit fcni.org.