Yolo County Childrens Alliance

WORK TOGETHER TO IMPROVE THE LIVES OF CHILDREN, YOUTH, AND FAMILIES IN OUR COMMUNITIES.

FAMILY STRENGTHEN NETWORK - FAMILY STRENGTHENING IS AN EVIDENCE-BASED APPROACH THAT FOCUSES ON BUILDING ON AN INDIVIDUAL'S AND FAMILY'S STRENGTHS TO ENHANCE OVERALL POSITIVE OUTCOMES AND REDUCE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT. IT IS THE UNDERLYING APPROACH AND PHILOSOPHY OF ALL OUR WORK. THE WORK FOCUSES ON BUILDING FIVE PROTECTIVE FACTORS: PARENTAL RESILIENCE, SOCIAL CONNECTIONS, CONCRETE SUPPORTS, KNOWLEDGE OF PARENTING AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, AND SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL COMPETENCE OF CHILDREN. ALL OUR FAMILY RESOURCE CENTER PROGRAMS, AS WELL AS OUR HOME VISITING PROGRAMS, HOUSING PROGRAMS, AND WORKFORCE DEVELOPMENT PROGRAMS INCORPORATE THIS APPROACH, FOCUSING ON ONE OR MORE OF THE FACTORS, DEPENDING ON WHAT SERVICE WE ARE PROVIDING. REGARDLESS OF THE SERVICE OR THE PROTECTIVE FACTORS THAT WE ARE FOCUSED ON, WE ARE ALWAYS NOTICING A PERSON'S STRENGTHS, HELPING THEM RECOGNIZE THOSE STRENGTHS TOO, AND BUILDING FROM THERE. AS PART OF THIS WORK, THE YOLO COUNTY CHILDREN'S ALLIANCE HAS BEEN THE BACKBONE ORGANIZATION TO A COLLABORATIVE OF OVER 20 YOLO COUNTY AGENCIES AND ORGANIZATIONS WHO JOINED TOGETHER IN 2012 TO FORM THE YOLO FAMILY STRENGTHENING NETWORK (YFSN). THE YFSN AIMS TO INTEGRATE THE PROTECTIVE FACTORS FRAMEWORK INTO YOLO COUNTY SERVICE SYSTEMS COUNTYWIDE.

CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION - MULTI-CULTURAL AND MULTI-LINGUAL FAMILY SUPPORT AND HOME VISITING SERVICES FOR FAMILIES FACING VARIOUS CHALLENGES INCLUDING HOUSING INSTABILITY, POVERTY, DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, ETC. IN 2022, OVER 200 FAMILIES RECEIVED HOME VISITING SERVICES THROUGH OUR HEALTHY FAMILIES YOLO COUNTY PROGRAM WHICH PROVIDES PRACTICAL SUPPORT TO PREGNANT FAMILIES AND FAMILIES WITH NEWBORNS. SERVICES CAN CONTINUE FOR UP TO THREE YEARS. WE PROVIDE INFORMATION ABOUT BABY AND CHILD DEVELOPMENT, WE SUPPORT ACCESS TO BASIC ESSENTIAL ITEMS SUCH AS FOOD, DIAPERS, AND SAFETY MATERIALS, AND WE PROVIDE A NURTURING SUPPORTIVE RELATIONSHIP FOR PARENTS SO THAT THEY CAN FOCUS ON NURTURING AND SUPPORTING THEIR BABIES.

COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE - THE GOAL OF THE COMMUNITY HEALTH INITIATIVE IS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY YOLO COUNTY RESIDENT HAS ACCESS TO AND IS COMFORTABLE ACCESSING HEALTH CARE SERVICES, IS ENROLLED IN HEALTH INSURANCE, AND UNDERSTANDS THEIR BENEFITS. IN 2022, WE DISTRIBUTED HUNDREDS OF AT HOME COVID-19 TEST KITS AND HELD SEVERAL FREE VACCINATION CLINICS FOR BOTH FLU AND COVID. OUR MULTI-LINGUAL AND MULTI-CULTURAL STAFF CONDUCTED EXTENSIVE OUTREACH TO PROVIDE ACCURATE AND SUPPORTIVE INFORMATION ABOUT THE COVID-19 VACCINES AND THEIR OPTIONS FOR GETTING VACCINATED. ADDITIONALLY, WE ENSURE THAT ALL YOLO COUNTY RESIDENTS HAVE HEALTHY FOOD AND ENOUGH FOOD TO EAT. WE EDUCATE PEOPLE ABOUT THEIR ELIGIBILITY FOR AND HELP THEM SUBMIT APPLICATIONS FOR BENEFITS SUCH AS CALFRESH (SUPPLEMENTAL NUTRITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM) WHICH PROVIDES MONTHLY CASH TO PURCHASE NUTRITIOUS FOODS. WE ALSO HOLD A WEEKLY FRESH PRODUCE DISTRIBUTION, SERVING OVER 200 FAMILIES EVERY WEEK AND THOUSANDS OF UNDUPLICATED FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS OVER THE COURSE OF THE YEAR. OUR EMERGENCY FOOD VOUCHER PROGRAM PROVIDES $25 FOOD VOUCHERS TO BE USED AT ANY OF THE THREE LOCALLY OWNED GROCERY OUTLET STORES WITHIN YOLO COUNTY. WE RAISE FUNDS TO REIMBURSE THE LOCAL STORES FOR ACCEPTING THE VOUCHERS. IN 2022 WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 300 VOUCHERS TO STRUGGLING FAMILIES AND INDIVIDUALS.