San Joaquin County Child Abuse Prevention Council

TO ELIMINATE CHILD ABUSE AND NEGLECT THROUGH PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND EDUCATION.

PRESCHOOL: OFFERING BOTH STATE SUBSIDIZED AND HEAD START PROGRAMS, THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCIL (CAPC) PROVIDES EARLY EDUCATION SERVICES IN LICENSED FACILITIES TO MORE THAN 900, 3-5-YEAR OLDS THROUGHOUT SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, INCLUDING 8 UNIQUE SITES IN STOCKTON. PROGRAMS INCLUDE BOTH PART DAY AND FULL DAY OPTIONS FOR FAMILIES BASED ON THEIR NEEDS, FAMILY SIZE AND INCOME. PRIORITY IS GIVEN TO FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN AT RISK OF ABUSE, NEGLECT, EXPLOITATION OR WHO ARE HOMELESS. CLASSROOM CURRICULUM INCLUDES DEVELOPMENTALLY APPROPRIATE GOALS AND OBJECTIVES FOR CHILDREN WITHIN FOUR MAIN CATEGORIES OF INTEREST: SOCIAL/EMOTIONAL, PHYSICAL, COGNITIVE AND LANGUAGE DEVELOPMENT. INFANT & TODDLER CARE: PROVIDED AT 4 LICENSED FACILITIES LOCATED THROUGHOUT SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY, SERVING CHILDREN 0-2 YEARS OLD. CURRICULUM FOCUSES ON HEALTHY ATTACHMENT DEVELOPMENT THROUGH INTENTIONAL AND RESPONSIVE CARE, AND IS DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON ROUTINES AND EXPERIENCES ALLOWING THE UNIQUE DEMANDS OF EACH INDIVIDUAL CHILD TO BE SUCCESSFULLY MET. HOME BASED PROGRAMS: THIS PROGRAM OFFERS IN-HOME EDUCATION SERVICES TO 51 FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN BETWEEN THE AGES OF 0 TO 3 AND USES THE PARENTS AS TEACHERS (PAT) CURRICULUM TO SUPPORT PARENTS IN BECOMING THEIR CHILD'S FIRST TEACHER THROUGH WEEKLY HOME VISITS AND A VARIETY OF PLANNED GROUP SOCIALIZATIONS.

FAMILY INTERVENTION PROGRAM: AN INTERVENTION AND SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR FAMILIES FACING CHALLENGES THAT THREATEN THEIR ABILITY TO COPE. THIS PROGRAM IS FOCUSED ON KEEPING CHILDREN SAFE, FAMILIES STRONG AND OUT OF THE CHILD WELFARE SYSTEM. A SIMILAR PROGRAM, SAFETY NET, IS PROVIDED FOR FAMILIES ENGAGED IN THE CHILD-WELFARE SYSTEM, BUT WHO DO NOT MEET THE THRESHOLD FOR CHILD PROTECTIVE SERVICES (CPS) INVOLVEMENT. PARENT CAFE: SINCE JANUARY 2012, THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCIL (CAPC) HAS HOSTED PARENT CAFES THROUGHOUT SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY INCLUDING OUR MOST RURAL AREAS. PARENT CAFES ARE FREE PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS WHICH SERVE AS A GUIDE FOR PARENTS TO HAVE THEIR OWN CONVERSATIONS ABOUT KEEPING THEIR FAMILIES STRONG BASED ON THE STRENGTHENING FAMILIES FRAMEWORK: THE 6 PROTECTIVE FACTORS. THIS PROGRAM ALSO SERVES AS A MECHANISM FOR THE EMERGENCE AND TRAINING OF NEIGHBORHOOD/PARENT LEADERS WHO CAN CONTINUE THE PARENT CAFE AFTER THE CAPC HAS LAID THE GROUNDWORK. CRISIS/RESPITE CARE: NO COST CRISIS CARE AND RESPITE CARE FOR CHILDREN BIRTH THROUGH 12 YEARS OLD. THE RESPITE CARE PROGRAM IS THE ONLY ONE OF ITS KIND IN SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY AND FUNDING FOR THESE SERVICES IS VERY LIMITED. THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES QUALITY CARE FOR CHILDREN OF FAMILIES (REGARDLESS OF INCOME) WHO ARE NOT ELIGIBLE FOR SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE, BUT ARE EITHER REQUIRED TO PARTICIPATE IN A TREATMENT, CARE PLAN, OR PARENT EDUCATION CLASS, OR ARE FACING AN IMMEDIATE SHORT-TERM EMERGENCY AND HAVE NO OTHER RESOURCE TO TURN TO FOR CHILD CARE. SERVICES ALSO PROVIDED AT THE SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY COURTHOUSE FOR FAMILIES ENGAGING IN OFFICIAL COURT BUSINESS OR ACCESSING THE SELF-HELP CENTER. THE LISA PROJECT: A MULTI-SENSORY EXHIBIT THAT IMMERSES THE VISITOR INTO AN ABUSED CHILD'S LIFE. THIS AWARD-WINNING, INNOVATIVE APPROACH TO AWARENESS-RAISING HAS GROWN TO BE A MULTI-STATE PROGRAM AND HAS REACHED OVER 100,000 PEOPLE ACROSS THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA! A CONDENSED VERSION OF THE EXHIBIT, "LISA IN TEN", WAS LAUNCHED IN 2013 AND THE DEMAND TO BRING IT TO HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUSES IN OUR COMMUNITY HAS GROWN SIGNIFICANTLY. THE GOAL IS TO HAVE THE EXHIBIT AVAILABLE TO EVERY HIGH SCHOOL CAMPUS ON AN ANNUAL BASIS, BRINGING THE MESSAGE OF FAMILY VIOLENCE PREVENTION, INTERVENTION AND HEALING TO YOUNG PEOPLE ACROSS SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY. PINWHEELS FOR PREVENTION (P4P): AN EDUCATION AND AWARENESS CAMPAIGN FOR PRESCHOOL THROUGH ELEMENTARY SCHOOL CHILDREN THAT AGE APPROPRIATELY FOCUSES ON CHILD ABUSE AND SAFE ADULTS. THERE IS ALSO A P4P PRESENTATION FOR HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS/ ADULTS WHICH INCLUDES HUMAN TRAFFICKING AWARENESS.

OUTPATIENT MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES: PROVIDED TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH 0-18 YEARS OLD THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY-BASED SERVICES. TREATMENT IS PROVIDED THROUGH ATTACHMENT-BASED MODALITIES, INCLUDING THERA PLAY INFORMED STRATEGIES AIMED AT STRENGTHENING THE PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIP AND REDUCING THE LIKELIHOOD OF ABUSE OR NEGLECT. SCHOOL-BASED MENTAL HEALTH: IDENTIFYING BARRIERS AND FACTORS PUTTING K-12 STUDENTS AT RISK OF POOR ACADEMIC PERFORMANCE AND/OR SUSPENSIONS AND EXPULSIONS. SERVICES INCLUDE THERAPY PROVIDED ON SCHOOL CAMPUS, AND HOME-BASED CASE MANAGEMENT TO ADDRESS CORE ISSUES OF STUDENTS AND FAMILIES, COMBAT ADVERSE CHILDHOOD EXPERIENCES (ACES) AND MITIGATE THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON DEVELOPMENT AND RELATIONSHIPS. SCHOOL STAFF ARE ALSO PROVIDED WITH CLASSROOM SUPPORT AND MENTAL HEALTH EDUCATION IN EFFORTS TO MAXIMIZE STUDENTS' TREATMENT FOR ACADEMIC, EMOTIONAL AND SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT. MENTORING FOR TRANSITIONAL AGE YOUTH: MENTORING AND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES ARE PROVIDED TO YOUTH AGES 16 TO 25 WITH EMOTIONAL AND BEHAVIORAL DIFFICULTIES AND WHO DO NOT MEET THE CRITERIA FOR SPECIALTY MENTAL HEALTH CARE SERVICES. HIGHRISK YOUTH, THOSE INVOLVED WITH GANGS OR AT RISK OF GANG INVOLVEMENT, HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY EXPLOITED, AND/OR HAVE OTHER EXPOSURES TO VIOLENCE, CRIMINALITY OR PHYSICAL AND EMOTIONAL ABUSE ARE THE TARGET POPULATION FOR THIS PROGRAM. SERVICES INCLUDE CASE MANAGEMENT AND GOAL SETTING RELATED TO EDUCATION, PARENTING SKILLS, SOCIAL SUPPORTS, PHYSICAL HEALTH, COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT, EMPLOYMENT, FINANCIAL PLANNING, EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING AND HOUSING. SUICIDE PREVENTION: WORKS WITH YOUTH IN A VARIETY OF SCHOOL DISTRICTS AND SCHOOL SITES THROUGHOUT SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY TO BRING AWARENESS OF SUICIDE PREVENTION AND EDUCATION UTILIZING THE YELLOW RIBBON CAMPAIGN. SERVICES INCLUDE TRAINING FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS TO ASSIST YOUTH IN CRISIS. STAFF ARE ON EACH SCHOOL CAMPUS AND ARE TRAINED TO OFFER DEPRESSION SCREENINGS, SUPPORT GROUPS AND REFERRALS FOR PSYCHOLOGICAL CONSULTATION.

PRESCHOOL/CHILD CARE: SUBSIDIZED CHILD CARE FOR CHILDREN 0-5 YEARS OLD OFFERED IN CENTRAL STOCKTON, MANTECA AND TRACY. COURT APPOINTED SPECIAL ADVOCATES (CASA) PROGRAM: A PROGRAM THAT RECRUITS, TRAINS AND MANAGES VOLUNTEERS WHO MENTOR AND ADVOCATE FOR CHILDREN IN THE FOSTER CARE SYSTEM DURING THE DEPENDENCY COURT PROCESS. CASAS ACT AS FACT-FINDERS FOR JUDGES AND ENSURE THAT FOSTER CHILDREN ARE NOT FORGOTTEN, BUT RATHER ARE AFFORDED EVERY OPPORTUNITY TO HAVE A HEALTHY AND HAPPY LIFE. 24-HOUR ADVICE HOTLINE: ANSWERED BY A TRAINED FAMILY ADVOCATE 24 HOURS A DAY, 365 DAYS A YEAR, PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND RESOURCE INFORMATION TO FAMILIES IN IMMEDIATE NEED. THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC IMPACT: THE CHILD ABUSE PREVENTION COUNCIL (CAPC) HAS SEEN A SIGNIFICANT INCREASE IN THE NEED FOR SERVICES PROVIDED SINCE THE START OF COVID-19 PANDEMIC. WHEN THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC BEGAN, CAPC STAFF ACTED QUICKLY - IDENTIFYING STRATEGIES TO MEET WITH CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN SAFE WAYS, MANAGE REMOTE VISITS AND ENSURE THE SAFETY OF CHILDREN AND FAMILIES IN ALL OF OUR PROGRAMS. YOUNG CHILDREN'S SOCIAL, EMOTIONAL AND MENTAL WELL-BEING ARE BEING DIRECTLY IMPACTED AND WELL-FUNCTIONING FAMILIES ARE EXPERIENCING STRESSORS THEY NEVER HAVE BEFORE. ACROSS THE BOARD, OUR PROGRAMS ARE SEEING AN INCREASE IN THE NUMBER OF FAMILIES REQUESTING SERVICES AND AN INCREASE IN THE REQUESTS AND NEEDS FOR REFERRALS TO MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES, FOOD PROGRAMS, UTILITY ASSISTANCE AND A VARIETY OF OTHER LOCAL RESOURCES. THE CAPC HAS BEEN ACTIVELY WORKING WITH SCHOOL DISTRICT PARTNERS TO PROVIDE TRAINING ON HOW TO IDENTIFY YOUNG PEOPLE IN NEED OF MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORTS WHILE TEACHING VIRTUALLY. SIMILARLY, CASE MANAGERS ARE SUPPORTING FAMILIES IN ESTABLISHING ROUTINES AND BOUNDARIES THAT WILL ENSURE ALL MEMBERS IN A FAMILY ARE ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY EXECUTE WORK FROM HOME PLANS, DISTANCE LEARNING AND OTHER VIRTUAL SERVICES. THE PANDEMIC AND SHELTER IN PLACE ORDERS ARE ALSO TAKING A TOLL ON OUR COMMUNITY'S MOST VULNERABLE POPULATION: CHILDREN IN FOSTER CARE. WITH FOSTER PARENTS AND CASA VOLUNTEERS ALREADY IN SHORT SUPPLY, CHILD PROTECTIVE AGENCIES ARE STRUGGLING TO LOCATE ALTERNATIVE, SAFE OPTIONS FOR THOSE SUFFERING FROM ABUSE. THE CAPC HAS IDENTIFIED UNIQUE STRATEGIES TO MAINTAIN OUTREACH AND RECRUITMENT EFFORTS FOR VOLUNTEERS AND CONTINUES TO HOST TRAININGS THROUGH A DIGITAL PLATFORM AND IN-PERSON WITH APPROPRIATE SAFETY ACCOMMODATIONS.