San Jose Grail Family Services

PARTNERS WITH FAMILIES, SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITIES TO PROMOTE CHILDREN'S SUCCESS AND WELL-BEING.

DURING COVID-19 WE PIVOTED OUR PROGRAM DELIVERY MODEL AND ADDED SERVICES TO RESPOND TO THE IMMEDIATE NEEDS OF OUR COMMUNITY, WHICH WAS DISPROPORTIONATELY IMPACTED BY THE PANDEMIC. THIS INCLUDED PARTNERING WITH OTHER ORGANIZATIONS TO DISTRIBUTE FOOD, DIAPERS, PPE, FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE, ACCESS TO TESTING AND VACCINES, AND MORE. WE ADDED FUNCTIONALITY TO OUR BUILDING BLOCKS OF PARENTING (BBP) APP TO PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO CRITICAL INFORMATION ABOUT THE VIRUS AND RELATED RESOURCES, INCLUDING STRATEGIES AND ACTIVITIES TO SUPPORT THEIR CHILDREN'S LEARNING AT HOME.

WITH OUR SI SE PUEDE COLLECTIVE (SSPC) PARTNERS WE ARE A LEAD ORGANIZATION IN THE LOCAL IMPLEMENTATION (JOBS TO GROW) OF A 3-YEAR NATIONAL ECONOMIC MOBILITY LABS INITIATIVE FOCUSED ON HELPING THE ECONOMIC RECOVERY OF OUR COMMUNITY. IN THIS INITIATIVE, GFS IS PROVIDING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND BUSINESS TRAINING TO UNLICENSED CHILDCARE PROVIDERS. NOT ONLY WILL THIS INCREASE ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY FOR PROGRAM PARTICIPANTS, IT WILL ALSO HELP TO ADDRESS A CRITICAL NEED FOR ACCESSIBLE CHILDCARE IN OUR COMMUNITY. OUR FIRST COHORT INCLUDED 23 PROVIDERS, ALL OF WHOM GRADUATED FROM THE PROGRAM. WE ARE ALSO THE SSPC LEAD ORGANIZATION FOR A STATE-WIDE INITIATIVE, FAMILIES LEAD CALIFORNIA. FAMILIES LEAD IS FOCUSED ON LIFTING THE PARENT VOICE AND STRENGTHENING THEIR LEADERSHIP IN CREATING SYSTEMS THAT ALLOW FOR COLLECTIVE AGENCY AND ACTION, ESPECIALLY IN THE AREA OF EARLY CARE AND EDUCATION. WE COMPLETED A REDESIGN OF OUR BBP APP BASED ON INPUT FROM FAMILIES AND WILL RELAUNCH IT IN PARTNERSHIP WITH LOCAL HEALTH CLINICS. WE CONTINUE TO PROMOTE STRONG HOME-SCHOOL CONNECTIONS THROUGH OUR FAMILY ENGAGEMENT PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM AND SO FAR HAVE TRAINED MORE THAN 600 CHILDCARE PROVIDERS AND TEACHERS.

WE OPENED OUR SECOND STATE-FUNDED PRESCHOOL, EXPANDING OUR CAPACITY TO PROVIDE A TOTAL OF 96 FAMILIES WITH ACCESS TO A QUALITY PRESCHOOL EXPERIENCE FOR THEIR 3-AND 4-YEAR-OLDS TO PREPARE THEM FOR KINDERGARTEN AND BEYOND. WE IMPLEMENTED A FAMILY MATH PROGRAM IN PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DREME NETWORK (DEVELOPMENT AND RESEARCH IN EARLY MATH EDUCATION). THE PROGRAM INCLUDES FAMILY MATH TEACHER TRAINING, CLASSROOM ACTIVITIES, AND ACTIVITIES FOR FAMILIES TO DO AT HOME. AS A RESULT OF OUR WORK ON THE FAMILY MATH PROGRAM, WE WERE INVITED TO PRESENT AT THE 2022 SOCIETY FOR RESEARCH IN CHILD DEVELOPMENT (SRCD) CONFERENCE TO BE HELD IN PUERTO RICO.