Dynamic Happenings

Community Rallies to Help At-Risk Children

Since 2008, California state and county child welfare departments and
community groups have seen their funding slashed dramatically. In 2009
and 2010, the State of California cut $80 million in child welfare funds, resulting
in the loss of $53 million in federal matching dollars and the elimination of more
than 600 county social workers state-wide. Proposed state and county budgets for
2012 include more deep funding reductions to programs serving children and families.

Photo of Gloria Sandoval, CEO of STAND! For Families Free of Violence receiving a check from Tiffany Stuart, CEO of Dynamic Office & Accounting Solutions (local business) donating $5,000 to STAND! in support of Child Abuse Prevention Month. Photo taken by Erica Spacher with STAND! For Families Free of Violence.

STAND! CEO Gloria Sandoval says that the cuts are having a dramatic effect on the community members STAND! serves. “Cuts to foster care support, parenting programs, and treatment for at-risk children threaten services that are critical to our clients’ well-being. We serve the families of more than 500 children in foster care with their grandparents and other family members whose lives are directly affected by these cuts. Fewer county social workers means more abused, neglected, and at-risk kids fall through the cracks, and more pressure on private agencies like STAND!, even as government funding for our own programs is being cut. ”


In an effort to raise awareness of this issue and make up lost funding, STAND! has launched a community-wide outreach and fundraising campaign, STAND! Up For Children. “We need the public’s help if we are to continue the critical work we do preventing child abuse and treating the victims,” Sandoval notes. “The response from the community has been incredibly positive. We have raised more than $20,000 in two months from local businesses, community groups, and individuals and we plan to raise another $30,000.”


During Child Abuse Prevention Month in April, STAND! will present information about child abuse and fundraising opportunities to businesses and community groups throughout Contra Costa County. Individual members of the public are encouraged to visit www.firstgiving.com/standffov to learn more about the campaign, make a donation, or set up their own fundraising page to help support STAND!’s programs for children.




Contact:
Michelle Davis
STAND! For Families Free of Violence
Phone: (925) 603-0144
Email: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)