December 2018

The holidays can be a difficult time for justice-involved youth and their families when they can’t celebrate at home. But San Diego County Probation strives to keep families together at these times. “It’s part of trying to facilitate engagement with the families. The kids need the support and interactions with their families, so they can be better and do better,” said Supervising Probation Officer Tyra Myles, who works with youth at the Girls Rehabilitation Facility, which is part of the...

“It is very rewarding to see members build confidence and a support network free of stigma, and advocate for themselves for both their mental health and in their personal lives,” said Kelly Villa, Program Manager at Mariposa Clubhouse. “I also enjoy that they have ownership over the activities offered at the Clubhouse by providing suggestions and helping the program run smoothly by volunteering in various roles. I am always impressed with how committed members are to our program and to their...

"We've seen a lot of smiles today, lot of children who are very happy, seen some families who are coming crying, saying we didn't think we were going to have a Thanksgiving this year," Smith said. He said the church screens families to make sure they're in need. The goal, he said, is to feed everyone who needs it in the area within a few years. "We've been so overlooked and neglected over the years, so now we're trying to take matters into our own hands," he said. To read more of Claire...

Mindfulness usually begins as an individual practice, but when the practice of mindfulness is shared between members of a group, each member is likely to receive additional benefits. When people come together to work towards a common goal or project, they can experience strengthened relationships and gain a better understanding of the power of interconnectedness. A Reason to Survive (ARTS) understands the value of interconnectedness to support creative and effective community building. On...

Emergency officials and law enforcement officers are increasingly responding to calls about people with dementia in crisis. The degenerative brain disease can cause disruptive or sometimes violent behaviors. Now, a new San Diego County-led Alzheimer’s Response Team , serving East County, is stepping in to steer people to appropriate services, instead of emergency rooms or jails. The team is so effective it could expand to other regions, said County Supervisor Dianne Jacob, who gathered with...