April 2019

The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced the release of the California Community Reinvestment Grants (CalCRG) program Draft Grant Solicitation for public review and comment on February 15, 2019. Included in the draft was a timeline with the release of the FDear California Community Reinvestment Grants Program Interested Parties: The Governor’s Office of Business and Economic Development (GO-Biz) announced the release of the California Community...

Gov. Gavin Newsom is shifting control of the Juvenile Justice Division to the California Health and Human Services Agency, away from the Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, with the goal to better identify and address early childhood trauma to prevent future incarceration. This same rationale should be extended to the exploding problem of homelessness. California employs a one-size-fits-all policy for homelessness known as “housing first.” But as we have learned through our work at...

A child’s early years are a time of exceptional growth, and ones that can be profoundly affected by traumatic experiences. Research has firmly disproven the idea that infants and toddlers are “too young” to be affected by such experiences, leading to an increased awareness of the need for trauma-informed services for children. Early childhood education and care (ECEC) programs have the potential to play a central role in identifying and addressing the effects of trauma, with lifelong...

California’s new surgeon general made Sacramento the first stop on her statewide listening tour, and after Tuesday’s event, Dr. Nadine Burke Harris told The Bee that capital residents are powerfully grappling with the long-term impact childhood trauma has on their families and neighborhoods. Burke Harris said many of the 100 Sacramento-area residents she met with asked her to find ways to bring training, resources and support to families, educators, nonprofits and other community-based...

When Christopher Gonzalez first entered John Marshall High School in Los Angeles, he noticed that students generally kept to themselves and their own cliques. “It was like a line you didn’t cross,” said Gonzalez, now a senior. The climate began to change more than a year ago: More greetings are exchanged in hallways. Virtually no one sits alone at lunchtime. Students from various cross sections of the school — gamers, artists, dancers, jocks and others — gather together in a small grassy...

California Surgeon General Dr. Nadine Burke Harris yesterday launched a statewide listening tour at Fruit Ridge Community Collaborative (FRCC) in Sacramento to raise awareness about the link between Adverse Childhood Experiences, toxic stress and serious health conditions. “As California’s first Surgeon General, one of my top priorities is to raise awareness that Adverse Childhood Experiences, like emotional abuse or witnessing domestic violence, can increase the risk of major health...

According to several recent surveys, around one in five — or about 400,000 — California community college students has experienced homelessness in the last year. Thousands more are at risk of becoming homeless. Calling that number “shocking, alarming and tragic,” Assemblyman Marc Berman, D-Palo Alto, on Tuesday outlined a new bill — AB 302 — that would force community colleges to allow homeless students to sleep inside their vehicles in campus parking lots overnight. “Shame on us if we turn...

Congress is considering giving a $750 million bump in help to comprehensive programs to help the homeless, with agreement from both Democrats and Republicans that it’s an innovative approach to a persistent issue. The bill, introduced last week by California Democrats Sen. Dianne Feinstein and Rep. Ted Lieu, would give the grant money to localities, such as local governments and nonprofits, who could then dole the money out to programs that provided housing, mental health services, substance...

Gov. Gavin Newsom Wednesday appointed Mark Ghaly, a practicing pediatrician and director of health and social impact at the Los Angeles County Department of Health Services, to head the California Health and Human Services Agency. As HHSA secretary, Ghaly, 44, of South Pasadena, will help lead the administration's efforts to advance the governor's health care agenda, including proposals to lower prescription drug costs, provide coverage to young undocumented adults through Medi-Cal, and help...

April is here and it’s officially Child Abuse Prevention Month! We are so excited to see what amazing things are planned throughout the month to celebrate children and families! Tell us about your CAP Month activities and share photos by emailing OCAP@dss.ca.gov , and we will highlight them on our website at the end of April! Reminder: Throughout the month of April, we ask that everyone wear blue, take photos, and post to Facebook, Twitter and Instagram with #PassthePinwheel , #WearBlue4Kids...

Are you lacking work-life balance, feeling burnt out, suffering from staff turnover and need a positive boost? If this is you, then don’t miss this FREE one-time event, occurring on April 10th! The Office of Child Abuse Prevention is excited to present the full day workshop “ A Healthier, Happier You: Manage Stress, Prevent Burnout & Live a Resilient Life ” with Dr. Susan Biali Haas, renowned author, life coach, and medical doctor. Dr. Biali Haas will share the story of how she overcame...

Join us! Offered April 9th or May 7th in Sacramento California! Addressing Social and Emotional Learning by using research-based, behavior-focused strategies for staff, students & families, building resilience in our schools and communities. Anxiety and depression in students is running rampant. Workplace stress for educators and staff as well as rising litigation costs for schools are also top concerns for communities across the country. How can we reduce tension and improve how staff,...