John F Kennedy Memorial Foundation

THE ORGANIZATION'S MISSION IS TO DEVELOP EDUCATION, HEALTHCARE AND OTHER SOCIALLY SIGNIFICANT PROGRAMS THAT ARE DEDICATED TO ENHANCING THE HEALTH AND WELLNESS OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN THE COACHELLA VALLEY REGION OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA.

DPSS DIFFERENTIAL RESPONSE PROGRAM (D.R.) THE D.R. PROGRAM IS FUNDED BY THE COUNTY OF RIVERSIDE, DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SOCIAL SERVICES (DPSS) AND IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED IN-HOME PARENT TRAINING PROGRAM CONSISTING OF 4 IN..HOME SESSIONS AND 4 POSITIVE INFLUENCE CHOICES (PIC) CLASSES. THE IN-HOME SESSIONS ARE TO ASSESS FAMILY NEEDS, ESTABLISH STRENGTH-BASED GOALS, LINK FAMILIES TO ANCILLARY SERVICES, AND PROVIDE FOLLOW UP. THE PIC CLASSES ARE AS FOLLOWS: (1) SOCIAL RELATIONSHIP/CONNECTIVITY/LIFE IMPROVEMENT; (2) PARENT AND CHILD/INFANT RELATIONSHIP SKILLS; (3) SAFETY; AND (4) COPING/STRESS MANAGEMENT.

REACH OUT AND READ THE REACH OUT AND READ PROGRAM IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED PROGRAM IN COLLABORATION WITH DR. RAMOS, PROMOTING EARLY LITERACY AND SCHOOL READINESS BY GIVING NEW, AGE-APPROPRIATE BOOKS TO YOUNG CHILDREN, AND ADVICE TO PARENTS ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF READING ALOUD TO THEIR CHILD.

THE OPHELIA PROJECT THE OPHELIA PROJECT IS A COMPREHENSIVE FIVE-YEAR TEAM-MENTORING PROGRAM, DEDICATED TO EMPOWERING DISADVANTAGED STUDENTS TO BECOME INDEPENDENT, SELF-SUFFICIENT, MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY. OPHELIA PROJECT SERVES TEEN GIRLS IN 8TH THROUGH 12TH GRADE WHO ARE FROM DISADVANTAGED SCHOOLS, LOW INCOME COMMUNITIES, OR CHALLENGED FAMILIES AS DETERMINED BY THEIR SCHOOL COUNSELORS. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES ENRICHMENT CURRICULUM DESIGNED TO INCREASE GPA AND GRADUATION RATES, IMPROVE ACADEMIC ACHIEVEMENT, ENCOURAGE COLLEGE PREPARATION AND CAREER READINESS, AND PROVIDES SCHOLARSHIPS FOR HIGHER EDUCATION. THE PROGRAM IS DELIVERED BY VOLUNTEER PROFESSIONAL WOMEN MENTORS TRAINED AND CERTIFIED IN THE OPHELIA PROJECT MODEL. OPHELIA PROJECT OPERATES 18 PROGRAMS IN 17 SCHOOLS ACROSS ALL 3 COACHELLA VALLEY SCHOOL DISTRICTS. LESSON PLANS ARE DESIGNED TO STRENGTHEN GIRLS "EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE WITH SESSION TOPICS FOCUSING ON SOCIAL EMOTIONAL HEALTH.

FIRST 5 RIVERSIDE PROGRAMS: FIRST 5 RIVERSIDE SAFECARE PROGRAM THE SAFECARE PROGRAM IS FOR FAMILIES EXPECTING A CHILD OR WHO HAVE A CHILD BETWEEN 0-5 YEARS OF AGE AND WAS FUNDED BY FIRST 5 RIVERSIDE. THE SAFECARE PROGRAM IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED IN-HOME PARENT TRAINING PROGRAM CONSISTING OF 18 TO 20 WEEKLY SESSIONS, 60 TO 90 MINUTES IN LENGTH. SAFECARE TARGETS RISK FACTORS FOR CHILD NEGLECT AND PHYSICAL ABUSE IN WHICH PARENTS ARE TAUGHT SKILLS IN THREE MODULE AREAS: (1) PARENT-CHILD/PARENT-INFANT INTERACTION, WITH A FOCUS ON HOW TO INTERACT IN A POSITIVE MANNER WITH THEIR CHILD, PLAN ACTIVITIES, AND RESPOND APPROPRIATELY TO CHALLENGING CHILD BEHAVIORS; (2) HOME SAFETY, WITH A FOCUS ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE HAZARDS IN THE HOME IN ORDER TO IMPROVE THE HOME ENVIRONMENT; AND (3) HEALTH, WITH A FOCUS ON HOW TO RECOGNIZE AND RESPOND TO SYMPTOMS OF ILLNESS AND INJURY, IN ADDITION TO KEEPING GOOD HEALTH RECORDS. THIS PROGRAM ENDED DECEMBER 31, 2023. FIRST 5 RIVERSIDE CALWORKS / HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA HOME VISITATION PROGRAM THE HEALTHY FAMILIES AMERICA PROGRAM, FUNDED BY FIRST 5 RIVERSIDE, IS FOR PARENTS WHO ARE CALWORKS RECIPIENTS THAT ARE EXPECTING A CHILD OR HAVE AN INFANT BETWEEN 0 TO 3 MONTHS OF AGE. THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS PROGRAM IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED IN-HOME PARENTING PROGRAM OFFERED OVER THE LONG-TERM, UNTIL THE CHILD TURNS 2 YEARS OLD. THE PROGRAM PROVIDES SUPPORT TO CALWORKS RECIPIENTS TO SUPPORT POSITIVE HEALTH, DEVELOPMENT, AND WELL-BEING OUTCOMES FOR FAMILIES, EXPANDING FUTURE EDUCATIONAL, ECONOMIC, AND FINANCIAL CAPABILITY OPPORTUNITIES, AND INCREASING THE LIKELIHOOD OF EXITING POVERTY. THE PROGRAM CONNECTS PARENTS WITH NECESSARY RESOURCES, IMPROVES PARENTING SKILLS AND HOUSEHOLD ORDER, AND ENSURES THAT CHILDREN HAVE SAFE AND NURTURING ENVIRONMENTS THAT ALLOWS FAMILIES TO THRIVE AND GROW. FIRST 5 COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM - THE COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM IS FACILITATED BY THE FOUNDATIONS COMMUNITY OUTREACH SPECIALIST (COS). THE COS SUPPORTS FAMILIES WITH YOUNG CHILDREN AGES 0 THROUGH 5, FROM BROADER POPULATION GROUPS BY INCREASING AND EXPANDING AVAILABLE RESOURCES. THE COS SUPPORTS FAMILY ACCESS BY LINKING FAMILIES TO EXISTING COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS AND RESOURCES, INCLUDING FIRST 5 RIVERSIDES FAMILY RESOURCE CENTERS. THE COS HELPS IDENTIFY RESOURCES FOR PARENTS, CAREGIVERS, AND OTHERS, AND CONNECTS THEM TO A WIDE RANGE OF SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, FROM RESPONDING TO FAMILIES IN CRISIS TO PROMOTING CHILDRENS HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND GENERAL WELL-BEING.