The Alameda County High School Graduation rate is going up!

Check it out, plus other Alameda County Youth and Young Adult datapoints on our new ICPC fact sheet.

Understanding the County Budget Process

In an effort to build an understanding of, and broaden engagement in, county budget deliberations, the California Budget & Policy Center has created Dollars and Democracy: A Guide to the County Budget Process, which provides an overview of the year-round county budget cycle, details the roles of the key players (including the authority counties have to raise local revenues), and lays out the timeline for county budgeting as well as opportunities for input. 

New Guide and Infographic

@CalBudgetCenter

Please join Parent Voices for Stand For Children, May 10, 2017!

Stand For Children is an annual collaborative response of all 17 Parent Voices Chapters throughout the State of California who spend a day in Sacramento with a rally on the Capitol steps. The focus is to improve early education for all families.

On Wednesday, May 10th, join Parent Voices Oakland aboard a bus and ride to the State Capitol in Sacramento to advocate for our children's future.

Children are welcome, please register yourself and any children.

Reserve your seat now!

Tough Stuff: Exploring Difficult Conversations with Kids

How do we help children process and understand the current political and cultural climate? In this interactive, 90-minute workshop, we will share ideas and strategies for how parents, caregivers, and teachers can talk with children about some of the tough stuff that kids hear about in the news, witness in the community, and experience in their lives.

Thursday, May 11, 2017
6:00pm - 7:30pm
Main Library, 125 14th Street
Oakland, CA 94612

Learn more

Free Spanish Workshop:
Know Your Rights

Friday, May 12
6:00pm-800pm
Eden United Church of Christ
21425 Birch Street, Hayward, CA

Sponsored by Assemblymember Bill Quirk, this workshop features Centro Legal De La Raza, Eden United Church of Christ, and Housing Economic Rights Advocates to bring valuable information to our immigrant and refugee community. Individual consultations will be available on site with an immigration and/or family attorney.
Learn more

In this issue, we spotlight the Union City Kids' Zone

team, and some of the remarkable programs and partnerships they have built to improve the lives of youth and young adults in the New Haven School District.

Union City Kids' Zone Community Partnerships Since its inception in 2010, Union City Kids' Zone has had a vision to partner with families, schools, community, and public and private organizations to deliver comprehensive, coordinated, tailored services and promote "cradle to career" success by engaging and empowering children, youth and families in the Decoto Community to use their full potential. Union City Kids' Zone connects students, families, and community members with various services through the Kids' Zone Resource Center, part-time familiy liaisons, Kidango pre-school, Fremont Family Resource Center, and many other partnerships and services. Kids' Zone top goals are:

Union City Kids' Zone resources are available for the following categories:

 - Academic Support
 - Youth Development
 - Family Services
 - Adult Education
 - Childcare
 - Family Literacy
 - Emergency Shelters
 - Housing Assistance
 - Food and Clothing Pantries

Learn about their resource partnerships

CAREavan: Going the Extra Mile for Displaced Families with Vehicles

In 2014, the staff at Union City Kids’ Zone were tracking an increasingly high trend of truancy throughout the district. In working with the students and their families, they learned that many families were displaced and living in cars. As if that wasn’t hard enough, the families were constantly relocating, even parking in different cities, as there weren't safe locations with facilities in which to park at night. This revelation motivated Kids’ Zone staff into action, and with the partnership of the City of Union City, they created CAREavan: A safe parking lot program for displaced families with vehicles whose kids are enrolled in the New Haven School District. Eligible families register and receive a parking placard which allows them to park overnight at one of five locations offered by partnering local community and faith-based organizations. These locations offer private and safe parking with security personnel (funded by Union City), restrooms, showers, and some even offer free food pantries, meals, clothing, laundry services, Wi-Fi and entertainment. Since 2015, New Haven School District truancy levels have decreased significantly.

Contact Kids' Zone to learn more.

Kids' Zone Partnership with SPARKPOINT: Free Financial Services

In partnership with Kids' Zone, New Haven School District, and the New Haven Adult School, SPARKPOINT Fremont Family Resource Center offers free financial services and assistance with:

• One-on-one with a financial coach
• Programs and services to increase income and savings
• Guidance in managing finances such as creating a budget, reducing debt, and understanding a credit report
• Education on improving a credit score for housing, employment and low interest loan eligibility
• And much, much, more

Learn more