News & Press Room

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.

Santa Barbara Employers Salute National Work and Family Month — October, 2008

The Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce, First 5 Santa Barbara County, Santa Barbara City, and the Downtown Santa Barbara Employer Child Care Partnership have joined together to proclaim October as Work and Family Month in Santa Barbara and invite all local employers to participate. "I believe that Human Beings have no more important work than caring for their children. And by that, I mean all of the world's children. The Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce is committed to helping with the important work of the Downtown Santa Barbara Employer Child Care Partnership in their role of helping our children and encourages all employers to join the Partnership's efforts to support Santa Barbara's Work and Family Month" stated Steve Cushman, President of Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce.

 

National Work and Family Month encourages all employers to pause during the month of October to communicate and celebrate progress on creating healthier work environments. To make the most of October Work and Family Month, all Santa Barbara employers are encouraged to take part in local recognition of work-life balance. Over the past two years, the Downtown Santa Barbara Employer Child Care Partnership, a group of local downtown employers, has dedicated tremendous efforts to supporting child care and the balance of work and family in Santa Barbara. The champion efforts of the Partnership inspired the collective proclamation of Work and Family month in Santa Barbara.

 

The Downtown Santa Barbara Employer Child Care Partnership is recognizing all employers who participate in October's Work and Family as model employers and wants to know exactly how each employer is saluting Work and Family Month. Partaking in Work and Family month makes employees proud and increases visibility as an employer of choice for potential employees.

 

Participating in Santa Barbara's Work and Family Month is easy! Go to http://www.countyofsb.org/ceo/ece/survey/WorkAndFamily.asp for a downloadable resolution for employer use, a template to collect and publicize current work-life balance programs and policies, instructions regarding the collection of testimonials, quotes and photos from employees on how they successfully manage child care and work-life challenges, as well as additional work-life resources.

 

For more information about getting involved in Santa Barbara?s Work and Family Month and obtaining copies of the Resolution template, Work-Life Self audit and other Work and Family Month resources, or to get involved in the Downtown Santa Barbara Employer Child Care Partnership, contact Holly Goldberg at hgold@countyofsb.org, 884-8062 or go to http://www.countyofsb.org/ceo/ece/survey/WorkAndFamily.asp.

Government Relations Council — October 23, 2008

The meeting you won't want to miss! ( If you missed it, listen here! )

 

Gear up for this months meeting on local measures and state propositions.
Measure A (transportation and sales tax),

1A (high speed rail), 3 (kids hospital bonds), 8 (sex and marriage), and 10 (alternative fuels),
Measure H and I (parcel tax for schools),

Prop 4 (abortion), 5 (drug rehab), 7 (renewable energy), 11 (redistricting),
G (utility tax),
Prop 2 (animals), 6 (law enforcement), 9 (victims), and 12 (vets bond) will all be discussed in an exciting panel discussion.

Speakers: Robert Egenolf, Les Carroll, and Steve Cushman will be our panelists. Measures will be presented highlighting for and against arguments. Limited questions will be accepted as well. More information on our prestigious panelists will follow.
Please RSVP to Vanessa Patterson at (805) 453-8031 or

Email: vanessa_lynn_patterson@yahoo.com

Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce
Endorses School Board Candidates — October, 2008

The Santa Barbara Region Chamber of Commerce Board of Directors announced the endorsement of candidates Ed Heron and Charlotte Ware for election to the Santa Barbara School Board. The Chamber Board voted unanimously to endorse the two candidates.

"Of the six candidates running for the three open school board seats, we felt that Mr. Heron and Mrs. Ware are the two best qualified people to represent the interest of the business community," said Steve Cushman, chamber president.

Ed Heron has been both the Realtor of the year and the Businessperson of the year for the Chamber. He has had a distinguished 42-year career in local real estate. He is a dedicated volunteer and philanthropist. He cares about education and our community.

Charlotte Ware is willing and ready to use her engineering experience, passion for education, concern for students, and respect for teachers and staff on the Santa Barbara School Board. It is her priority that each student receives a quality education in a safe and respectful environment.

FREE BREAKFAST SEMINAR
HOSTED BY BUYNAK LAW FIRM ON THURSDAY — October 9, 2008

IN SOLVANG

What Every Employer Must Know Should You Be Paying Your Key Employees Overtime Solvang, California

Lana Clark, resident attorney in the Buynak Law Firm's new Santa Ynez Valley office in Solvang at 433 Alisal Road, Suite C, has announced the Firm's next free business breakfast seminar on Thursday, October 9, 2008, from 8:00-9:00 a.m..

BizBuzz — September 10, 2008

"Helping Nonprofits Do Their Good Work Better"

Free First-Time Home Buyers Conference: — September 13, 2008

You may qualify for BELOW RATE FINANCING if you attend a seminar for First-Time Home Buyers on Saturday September 13th at Cottage Hospital, Conference Room C & D, at 8:30a.m.

This is an educational seminar designed for those who have not gone through the process of buying a home within the past 3 years.  We will have information on what to look for in a Realtor who will soon be representing you in a sale, the process of purchasing, what a short sale is as opposed to an REO, different lending programs available today and one you may qualify for by attending the seminar written at 5.95%, which is below today's market rate. 

For more details call and reserve your seat today, space is limited. Call  Elaine Abercrombie at 683-7353. www.villagesite.com