Aspiranet Offices Receiv HPRP Funding

Congratulations to Aspiranet Visalia and Fresno offices on being awarded with funding from the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP)! These much needed funds will be used to help serve youth who previously would not have qualified for the Transitional House Program (THP) Plus. http://www.aspiranet.org/thp

In February, Congress passed a nearly $800 billion economic recovery package that included $1.5 billion for the Homelessness Prevention and Rapid Re-Housing Program (HPRP). The Federal Government, through the Housing of Urban Development (HUD), has begun to distribute portions of this stimulus package aimed at providing support funding around critical issues like homelessness.

Get your motor running!

Aspiranet, Robert Hall Winery to host motorcycle run in support of foster care, November 8

(CENTRAL COAST, CA) Aspiranet, one of California’s largest nonprofit adoption and foster care support organizations, and Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles are teaming up to host a Black Vest Affair Motorcycle Run from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday, November 8, 2009.

All proceeds from the event will directly benefit the Central Coast Chapter of Aspiranet.

“Not your normal run-of-the-mill charity event, this gathering of horsepower promises to be an escape from the daily grind for folks while benefitting foster children in the Aspiranet program,” said Deborah Masullo, owner of Doughboys Pizza and a member of the Aspiranet Central Coast Impact Council. “What could be better than pairing a leisurely motorcycle ride through the wine country of California’s Central Coast with good food, friends, and the road less traveled – all to raise hope for foster children?”

The charity ride starts up at 1800 Grand Avenue in Grover Beach, ending at Robert Hall Winery in Paso Robles, just in time to feast on a lunch prepared by Catering by Chef Charlie with live music and prize giveaways.

Ticket holders will have an opportunity to enter drawings to win a trip for two to Las Vegas, cooking classes from Catering by Chef Charlie, and other donated raffle prizes.

Sponsors include Robert Hall Winery, Catering by Chef Charlie, Rontal, Doughboys Pizza, It’s Your Party, and Toby Bellocchi of Tobyco Builders.

Headquartered in South San Francisco, the Central Coast Chapter of Aspiranet is at 200 South 13th Street, Suite 101, Grover Beach. For more information call 805.473.8760 or visit www.aspiranet.org.

To ride the wind:
$40 per person: includes ride, lunch, souvenir shirt, and raffle ticket
$30 per person: includes passenger or non-rider participation, and lunch

Advance purchase tickets only.
To purchase tickets, visit www.aspiranet.org/blackvest or call 805.473.8760.

Aspiranet Interview contacts:
Art Chaparro, Director of Development Aspiranet
714.788.3507
achaparro@aspiranet.org

Deborah Masullo, Impact Council
Aspiranet Central Coast
805.473.8760
dmasullo@charter.net

Media Contacts:
Consortium Media Services
805.654.1564
PR@consortium-media.com
Tina Vervoorn, ext. 117
Melissa Healy, ext. 116

Aspiranet hosts Andrus Family Fund West Coast Grant Recipients Conference Sept. 23-24

Aspiranet, one of the largest nonprofit adoption and foster care support organizations in California, serving thousands of foster children and families, will host an educational conference in South San Francisco Sept. 23-24, 2009, featuring non-profit organizations from the Western United States working with emancipating foster youth and community based groups.

Sponsored by the Andrus Family Fund, the conference will bring together similar agencies in a shared learning environment, specifically addressing the William Bridges Transitions Framework adapted by Aspiranet and other non-profits working with teens in foster care and recently emancipated teens.

Learn more at: http://bit.ly/VM8jZ

2009 Children, Youth and Elders Art Contest

The Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC), Center for Families, Children & the Courts (CFCC) is pleased to announce the 2009 Children, Youth and Elders Art Contest. All children, youth, and adults with experience in California’s foster care system are encouraged to participate. This year’s theme is A Lifetime of Love: The Importance of Friends, Family, and Belonging. Selected art submissions will be published in a 2010 calendar to be disseminated during Adoption and Permanency Month (November 2009). Art works will also be published in Co-Investment Partnership, Judicial Council, AOC, and CFCC printed materials. Submission Deadline: October 15, 2009. Learn more: http://bit.ly/c4kL9

Legislative Session Ends: Child Welfare Cuts Retained

CA legislature did not act to overturn the Governor’s line item veto of $124 million in child welfare funding that includes money for THP-Plus housing program for emancipating foster youth and the Kinship Support Services Program, as well as for county child welfare caseworkers. CA Alliance

Laughter and Limits Workshop for Dads

Fathers, expectant fathers, and grandfathers are invited to this Hand in Hand parenting workshop to learn about setting limits with children and explore how play can build relationships. Saturday, Sept. 12, in Palo Alto. http://bit.ly/YjSPk

THP Youth Protest at Capitol Building

Aspiranet Transitional Housing Program (THP) youth are in Sacramento at the state capitol protesting against California State foster care budget cuts. An interview with Aspiranet THP youth to appear on Spanish channel Univision tonight at 6:00 p.m. More about Aspiranet THP: http://bit.ly/kPsyp

Bill to Help Foster Youth Passes out of Both Houses

AB 665 (Torrico), the California Alliance sponsored bill that will help many foster youth find lifelong permanent connections, passed out of both houses and was sent to the Governor for signature last Thursday.

The bill will ensure that federal Adoption Incentive Funds awarded to California for increasing the number of youth adopted out of foster care are distributed to counties to promote legal permanency outcomes such as adoption, reunification or guardianship for foster youth ages nine or older. These funds are to be used for innovative and collaborative approaches including post adoption services to avert adoption disruptions, family-finding to locate relatives willing to make lifelong connections to youth, recruitment of adoptive parents who will make homes for entire sibling sets, removing barriers to adoption, and other services and supports.

Adoption Incentive Funds cannot be used to supplant existing programs and cannot be used in programs that receive federal matching funds. Directing this money to counties, therefore, creates no fiscal impact on the State General Fund.
CA Alliance

Medicating Young Minds

Free Class in Palo Alto Sponsored by Children's Health Council
Wednesday, Nov. 11, 2009

Does my child need psychiatric medication? What are the benefits, potential side effects and effects on long term development? Dr. Elliott recently authored Medicating Young Minds, a book for parents facing this difficult decision. He will address such disorders in children as autism, Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), depression and bipolar disorder. He has a particular interest with those patients of clarifying the role of medications in reducing common symptoms such as obsessive behaviors, anxiety, depression, inattention and self-injurious behaviors.

For more information: http://bit.ly/vkU7v

'Aged-out' foster youth at terrible risk

The phrase "at risk" gets tossed around a lot by educators and social workers. Nowhere is the buzzword more applicable - and more poignant - than in its description of foster youth who are "aging out" of the system at age 18… Schwarzenegger and legislators must work together to restore that $80 million for child welfare services. They should connect the dots, and recognize the much higher costs of the system's failings. San Francisco Chronicle, Read more: http://bit.ly/yu2HY

Autistic teens get tutored in making pals

An estimated 1 in 150 American children has some form of autism. There's no known cure. Some research suggests autistic kids who get help early can overcome some of their deficits. But the social skills they learn as a toddler may not be so useful to a teen. Autistic teens now have the opportunity to get tutored in making pals. Read more: http://bit.ly/QcNpG

One-Day Training Opportunity

Strategies is offering a one-day training which highlights five protective factors that help prevent child abuse and neglect while strengthening families and communities. Family strengthening is the new language to describe the field of family support. This evidence-based framework was developed by the Center for the Study of Social Policy based in Washington, D.C.

The Five Protective Factors model focuses on: Parental Resilience, Social Connections, Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development, Concrete Support in Times of Need, and Social and Emotional Competence of Children.

This training is for veteran and new family support workers as well as anyone in a position to nurture children and strengthen families.

Trainings in October and November in Blue Lake, Redding, and Madera. http://bit.ly/Ah4Ec

Job Announcement

Job Announcement: Receptionist at Aspiranet South San Francisco Headquarters. http://bit.ly/11s3yQ