Housing and Community Development provides a path to self sufficiency

When single mother Terisha Taylor lost her job with Fed-Ex several years ago, things got really tough. She couldn’t find another job that supported her family and paid the rent. Homelessness loomed.

But these days, Taylor’s fully employed as a Wal-Mart supervisor, and she’s studying for the LSAT with plans to go to law school.

She credits County staff and programs with helping her regain her financial independence.

“Wow, I’m not on any kind of (government assistance) program now,” Taylor recently marveled.

The first step was Section 8, or federal rental assistance for very low income families, which helped Taylor and her family avoid the streets. The County’s Department of Housing and Community Development (HCD), helps low-income families find safe, decent and affordable housing, thus creating a stable housing platform and a path to self sufficiency.

Stable housing allowed Taylor to earn a college degree, work part-time and provide her family the basics. But she was still just scraping by.

The County’s Family Self Sufficiency program finally helped change that. The voluntary program requires participants to meet with HCD staff and develop a step-by-step plan for becoming financially independent, once and for all. Participants commit to the plan in a signed contract.

“Overall, it forced me to make goals,” Taylor said.

The program also connects participants with relevant training. Taylor took a consumer credit and financial planning class.

Sticking to her goals, Taylor found a job as a supervisor at Wal-Mart and worked her way up from managing 20 people to managing 100. In a couple years, she earned enough to move out of the “very-low-income” bracket and become truly self-sufficient.

The program ultimately saves the public money, said Kelly Duffek, the Chief of Rental Assistance with HCD, because it helps people find and stay on a path to self-sufficiency.

“Not only does this program help families, but it benefits the taxpayers by reducing the number of people dependent on subsidies,” she said.

Thousands Descend on Juvenile Hall

Probation officers show juveniles the clothes they would be required to wear at Juvenile Hall.Thousands of young people lined up, looked straight ahead and obeyed all orders today in what is just a glimpse of life for a detainee at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility.

San Diego County’s Probation Department held its annual Open House, offering an opportunity to learn firsthand about the juvenile justice system, from a hearing in juvenile court through a stay at the detention facility. The experience was an eye-opener for many who attended.

 “We want to help kids and their parents understand that there are serious consequences to illegal behavior,” said Chief Probation Officer Mack Jenkins. “We work with the community to provide a variety of programs and services for detained juveniles to help them get back on track, but we would prefer that they never enter the system in the first place.”

Families at the Open House were also able to get information for young people who may be facing challenges at a resource fair featuring 50 booths hosted by Probation groups and partner organizations.  Almost 3,200 people attended today’s Open House. Tours were provided from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

The Probation Department provides a safe and secure environment for minors arrested and detained in San Diego County at its juvenile facilities. Last fiscal year, 6,342 juveniles spent at least one day in custody at Kearny Mesa Juvenile Detention Facility, with an average daily attendance of 282 juveniles.

For more information about the Probation Department and its juvenile programs, please visit www.sdcounty.ca.gov/probation. 

Microchip Your Four-legged Loved One

There's something that goes on at the three San Diego County Animal Shelters that you probably weren't aware of. It's a weekly thing and people are coming in for the savings. For more information, visit www.sddac.com.

Health, School Officals: "No Proof, No School"

A new California state law goes into effect July 1st, 2011 requiring all 7th through 12th graders show proof of whooping cough immunization.

Students should see their primary care physician to obtain their vaccinations. Uninsured children may obtain the vaccine through one of our County's Public Health Centers.

Growing Your Garden 101

The County of San Diego has launched regional garden centers for residents to learn how to garden. It's part of Healthy Works, a countywide initiative promoting wellness and addressing the nationwide obesity epidemic.

There are five garden centers around the County.

When the classes are scheduled, you will be able to find them at http://www.healthyworks.org/healthy-foods/school-and-community-gardens.

Drumming Out Stigma

 People attending a mental health celebration at Balboa Park Saturday unexpectedly found themselves in the middle of a flash mob and many joined in by dancing to the beat of “Men in Black.”

The flash mob was a surprise to many of the hundreds of participants at the “Drumming Out Stigma” event, organized by the County of San Diego Health and Human Services Agency (HHSA) and its many mental health partners to commemorate May as Mental Health Month.

One in four adults experience a mental health disorder during any given year, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. About 61,000 people benefit from County-funded mental health services each year.

Parents and Teens Invited to Start Smart Driving Class

Parents and their teens are invited to a FREE Start Smart class on Tuesday, May 17th at 7:00 p.m. at the Viejas Training Center, 5000 Willows Road, Alpine. The class is a chance for new drivers to clearly understand their responsibilities behind the wheel. A graphic video presentation gives teens a reality check of the consequences of speeding, as well as drunk and distracted driving. A parent or guardian must accompany their teen driver throughout the class. To save a seat, please contact Crime Prevention Specialist Paula Dickenson by calling (619) 659-2608 or sending an email to paula.dickenson@sdsheriff.org. For more information about Start Smart, click here.

March for Babies North County

Several County employees took part in the Oceanside March for Babies 2011 fundraising camplaign for the March of Dimes. Bob Atkins, Jackie Collins, Maria Herrera, Eric Lardy, Rheana Corirossi, Christina Bengen, Olivier Bracktt and his son William all participated. Dozens of County employees participated in an earlier walk in Balboa Park in San Diego.

County, Rotary Club of Chula Vista Team Up for "Extreme Makeover"

Visitation room before  The Child Welfare Services’ (CWS) family visitation room in National City recently received an “extreme makeover.”

After a thorough clean and paint job, CWS staff, assisted by members of the Rotary Club of Chula Vista, filled the room with new interactive toys, children’s furniture, an area carpet, a refurbished blackboard and children’s art. The room is used by families during the reunification process.

“Research has shown visitation is key in the reunification process,” said Norma Rincon, Protective Services Supervisor. “Providing families the opportunity to visit their children in an environment conducive to safe and healthy interactions increases the likelihood of earlier and successful reunification.”

Through a successful reunification, children remain with their family, in their own neighborhood and their own community.   

Rotary Club of Chula Vista members donated their time as part of Rotarians at Work Day, a tradition started in 2006 in San Diego that has expanded worldwide. On the last Saturday of every April, Rotarians do a project of their choice in their community.

The family visitation room makeover is one of more than 30 projects conducted by the Rotary Club of Chula Vista this Rotary year.

 Visitation room after

Meet the Vector Collectors

Squirrels, mice, ticks, fleas, and mosquitos. What do they have in common? The County's Vector Control Program catches all of these animals to test for nasty diseases like West Nile Virus and plague. Without this trapping and testing, we'd never know if we had a disease outbreak in the county.