The Advocate Update

December 2nd, 2020

Urgent Need for Local Foster Families to Support Children Exposed to COVID-19

COVID-19 cases in our community have reached an all-time high and our children in foster care urgently need help. Unfortunately, we have an immediate need to find local families able to provide short and long term care to foster children who have been potentially exposed to COVID-19.

While we have several families committed to supporting our kids, many of them do not have the means necessary to allow a COVID-exposed child or youth to safely isolate according to Public Health guidelines. Recently, children have had to move from their foster home due to the foster home being exposed to COVID-19, with the possibility that the child also tested positive for COVID-19.

Please share this message far and wide. We know there are families out there able to help us through this crisis. They just need to know we are looking for them!

Please visit our website for more details

Santa Cruz Gives!

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported our effort to drive awareness and donations via Santa Cruz Gives. We appreciate all the sharing of our link to friends and family to boost the number of donors on the leaderboard. The program runs through the month of December, so please continue to encourage friends and families to donate whatever they can, even $10 is greatly appreciated! As the higher number of donors really helps us gain more visibility on the site, we appreciate you reaching out to your networks.

Click here to view and share our SantaCruzGives page

Roxy Greenspan, our Earlychildhood Specialist/ Advocate Supervisor gave our "for advocates" page a fresh new look. Check the video below for a quick virtual tour!

Click here to visit our website

We are excited to announce that our new Annual Impact Report is ready! Come check it out!

Click below to view the Joint Press Release:

PVUSD, PVFT and CSEA PVUSD to Continue School Year TK- 12 Distance Learning through March 1, 2021

Is your CASA child or youth having a hard time engaging while we shelter in place? With the help of advocates, CASA put together a list of resources and activities for you to share with resource parents or try out on your own. We're contstantly updating it so check back often and let us know if there are other resources not yet stated in our list !

Supporting Children Returning to Remote Learning

Kids in Santa Cruz County are going back to school in the most difficult time of their lives. The impact of COVID-19 and the wildfires are causing severe detriment to the education of the youth of our community. But there is a lot our advocates can do. Visit our website by clicking "Learn More" to see how you can help support children during remote learning.

Learn More

COVID-19 Resources and Information

COE Communication to Families: Santa Cruz COE Superintendents shared a letter regarding school implications as the county moves to purple - widespread - tier
Click here to view the letter

The Santa Cruz County Office of Education has a webpage dedicated as a resource for families and school administrators regarding the Coronavirus (COVID-19). This is a live page, so updates and school closure information will be posted on this page periodically. Visit them at https://santacruzcoe.org/superintendent/health-and-wellness/coronavirus/ to learn more about everything from to wifi and free lunch locations.

CONTINUING EDUCATION

Continuing Education Google Calendar

Check out our brand new Google calendar full of continuing education and development opportunities. Our CASA supervisors are regularly updating it, so check back often for newly added webinars and events.

Click here to view the calendar

Helping Young Children Cope with Trauma and Stress

Join Stacy Dalton, Texas Trainer and Certified Family Life Educator, to learn new how to help kids through stress and trauma.
Stress and trauma can have devastating consequences on children, especially if it is for a prolonged period of time. It's important to learn to recognize the symptoms of stress and trauma so adults can provide children with the support they need. This workshop explores the latest brain research, types and causes of stress and trauma , and the importance of relationships.

Date: December 10th, 2020

Time: 4:30pm - 6:30pm

Click Here to Register

Improving Educational Outcomes: Educational Rights Holder Appointment and Responsibilities

Every child needs an active and engaged educational rights holder (ERH) to make education decisions from where a child should attend school, to which special education services they might receive, to addressing school discipline, to planning for graduation. In California, children in foster care must have an educational rights holder appointed by the court to assume this role, unless their biological parents have retained those rights. The Judicial Council of California recently updated the ERH forms to make them more clear, comprehensive, and easily utilized. This webinar will focus on the importance of an active ERH, and how to ensure they are appointed for each child. Join us for a discussion of the new forms and how they can play a role in ensuring that child welfare, probation, local education agencies, and ERHs can work collaboratively to support the child’s education.

Date: December 10, 2020

Time: 10am- 12pm

Click here to Learn More and Register

Pre-recorded Webinars and Articles

CORE Coffee Chat: Digital Equity and Distance Learning

(Hosted by Nicole Young--90 minutes):
● English: https://youtu.be/-CRk_BF-imE
● Spanish: https://youtu.be/sQSumkIHPVk

Distance Learning and Broadband Discussion with FCC Commissioner Jessica Rosenworcel
(Hosted by Congressman Jimmy Panetta--46 minutes): https://youtu.be/p9GfVT45zeQ

Engaging Parents and Students from Diverse Populations in the Context of Distance Learning Webinar

(Institute of Education Sciences--45 minutes) https://ies.ed.gov/ncee/edlabs/regions/west/Events/Details/362

Adjusting Your Child’s IEP or 504 Plan for Distance Learning

(ADDitude By Susan Yellin, ESQ.): https://www.additudemag.com/iep-504-plan-distance-learning/

EVENTS

Santa Cops Help Bring the Magic of the Holidays to Children in Need
Donations Needed for Santa Cop & Friends Event

Santa Cops & Friends will host a festive holiday drive-through on the 300 block of Church Street to observe social distancing rules. As selected families pull up to the Santa Cruz Civic Auditorium, SCPD Santa Cops deliver toys, warm clothes, gift cards, and family necessities to children referred to our program.

Eligible applicants must be 5-13 years of age, reside in the City of Santa Cruz, and family has an economic or social hardship. Such as losing a job, homelessness, military deployment, or illness.

Click here for everything you need to know

APPLICATIONS
The application deadline to nominate a youth is December 4, 2020
E-mail the application to SantaCops@cityofsantacruz.com

The Universality of Story
KPJR Book Club's Holiday Special with Best Selling Author Steve Pemberton

Steve Pemberton’s story is about defying seemingly insurmountable odds to become a trail-blazing corporate executive, enlightened diversity leader, visionary youth advocate and acclaimed speaker. His best-selling memoir, A Chance in the World: An Orphan Boy, a Mysterious Past, and How He Found a Place Called Home, recounts his triumphant life journey and drive to become a man of resilience, determination and vision.

Hear Steve read from his book and prepare to connect directly with Steve (@istevepemberton) during KPJR Book Club's Holiday Special Twitter Townhall. Tweet your questions about the book using #KPJRBookClub anytime during the 1-hour event and receive real-time answers directly from Steve.

When: Friday, December 18th
Where: Twitter Townhall Q&A
Time: 5pm - 6pm PT

Join the TwitterTownHall on 12/18 @ 5pm

...AND JUST A FRIENDLY REMINDER

813 Freedom Blvd | Watsonville, CA | 95076 US

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