Stories of Giving Impact

Childrens' Education

• Children's Education

  One Consistent Role Model

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Children's Education

Big Brothers Big Sisters of the North Bay

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One Consistent Role Model

Ally was nine years old and in her second foster home when she met her Big Sister, Kathy. When Kathy first met her, Ally was unruly and unable to show affection. Slowly, Kathy encouraged Ally’s natural athleticism, supported her curious mind and embraced Ally as a member of her own family.

In the past eight years, Ally has been in six foster homes. Through all of it, Kathy has been Ally’s one consistent friend and role model. Today, Ally is a senior in high school who gets As and wants to go to college or join the military.

• Children's Education

  A Sense of Home

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Children's Education

Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

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A Sense of Home

Kevin has been coming to the Club for as long as anyone can remember. His mother left his abusive father when Kevin was only two. He’s spent most of his life moving from house to house. Often, home was a car.

A few years ago the Teen Center flooded and closed for several months. “I thought once again there would be nowhere for me to go.” said Kevin. And when the Center re-opened, “I realized that no matter what happens in my life, I can count on the Club to be home.” Today, Kevin is a high school senior. He’s graduating this spring and on to junior college.

• Children's Education

  A Life Turned Toward the Future

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Children's Education

Boys & Girls Clubs of St. Helena and Calistoga

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A Life Turned Toward the Future

Maria came to the Club when she was 14. Her parents had drug problems and had lost their jobs. They lived on the streets until a St. Helena relative took Maria in. To deal with her homelessness Maria turned to drugs and was eventually arrested.

She came to the Club quiet and withdrawn. Maria worked with the staff to improve her grades by getting academic support (Project Learn). She also worked with the Club's youth diversion staff to get support for her drug habit and self-esteem issues. Maria is now the first in her family to graduate from high school and is in junior college studying criminal justice.

• Children's Education

  A Degree of Separation

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Children's Education

CASA, A Voice for Children

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A Degree of Separation

From a Superior Court Judge:

When Rita came into my courtroom, she was angry at the world. Her parents were out of her life and at 16 she had nowhere to turn. I appointed a CASA volunteer to speak on her behalf and changes started happening.

The CASA advocate became the only consistent person in Rita’s life, helping Rita find a foster home that worked. Rita is completing college, has a job and is a self-assured young woman. She is still a close friend with the CASA volunteer. I am certain that without the appointment of the CASA volunteer Rita would be homeless, in an unhealthy relationship or in jail.

• Children's Education

  Thriving, Together

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Children's Education

Child Start Inc.

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Thriving, Together

A child in foster care with whom Child Start was working had a diagnosed disability. The child was violent in class and wouldn't follow directions. Due to the family's situation, the child missed a lot of school. The team completed a multi-disciplinary case management including managers, teachers, family advocate, community partners and parents to discuss strategies for helping the child to thrive and to reunify the family.

The child was reunified with her parents who met the conditions of their family case plan. Now the child comes to school happily, with her parents using the same type of classroom routine successfully at home.

• Children's Education

  Speaking Clearly

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Children's Education

Community Resources for Children

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Speaking Clearly

At a Napa County childcare center, a little boy named Eduardo appeared to lack age-appropriate expressive language skills. The CRC staff spoke with Eduardo’s parents about options for services; specifically getting his pediatrician to refer him for speech therapy.

CRC staff understands the importance of addressing a suspected speech delay, as it can spill over into other areas. Children who don’t get their needs met verbally may resort to physical aggression. Age-appropriate speech also improves social interactions with peers, a strong correlation to kindergarten readiness. Eduardo now receives speech therapy, preparing him for a lifetime of learning.

• Children's Education

  Racing Toward a Successful Life

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Children's Education

NapaLearns

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Racing Toward a Successful Life

Chris began attending New Tech High his sophomore year. He had heard about New Tech from friends who also struggled with school. With his ADHD disability, it was hard for Chris to concentrate. But when he started project-based learning, school became more engaging, he began to build his confidence and his grades went up.

New Tech requires students to do an internship and Chris did his at a local auto body shop. He had been interested in cars since he was four and wanted to find a career in the auto racing field. Upon graduating from New Tech, Chris enrolled at the NASCAR Technical Institute in North Carolina.

• Children's Education

  Moving through Adveristy

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Children's Education

On The Move

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Moving through Adveristy

SM is a Latina raised in Napa. While enrolled at Napa High School, she began struggling to keep up. Her principal introduced her to Leadership Academies run by On The Move. SM immediately found a community of young people experiencing similar challenges.

While participating in the Leadership Academies, SM’s grades improved. She graduated with honors and remained connected to On The Move when she left for college. Last year, On The Move launched a drop-in recovery center for adults with mental illness. When seeking a director, OTM contacted SM. Her degree and passion aligned with the needs of the program and she was hired as program director.

• Children's Education

  Embracing Higher Education

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Children's Education

Summer Search

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Embracing Higher Education

Supported by Summer Search, a young man from a low-income background was also able to embrace higher education as a goal. And, as a young student, he developed a love of travel sparked by a Summer Search trip to China. After graduating, he left Napa to attend a small liberal arts college. Inspired by his summer trip experiences, he found it easy to make friends and connections. While at college, he offered personalized campus tours to any interested Summer Searchers.

Post-graduation, he returned to Napa and is now a user-centered design researcher for a medical consortium. In addition to volunteering as a mentor in many programs, he also chairs the Summer Search Alumni Board.

Community Health

• Community Health

  Healing Begins at Home

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Community Health

Aldea Children and Family Services

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Healing Begins at Home

Ben was an angry five-year-old foster child who struggled with numerous mental health challenges, including PTSD and mood disorders. His first five years were spent homeless and abused, his parents addicted to methamphetamine. Ben was more violent and defiant than other foster kids and bounced through eleven foster families, feeling more unwanted and isolated with each change.

But when Ben was placed with a special Aldea foster family and received the therapeutic support he needed, he could finally begin to heal. Now Ben lives with his “forever” adoptive family and is embarking upon a brighter future.

• Community Health

  Health Helps

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Community Health

Community Health Initiative Napa County

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Health Helps

Peter, a single parent, came to CHI with his son and daughter, who had been insured under his wife’s health insurance policy. His wife, Maria, had recently passed away as a result of cancer, leaving her young children uninsured.

One of CHI’s licensed insurance brokers helped the dad enroll the children with no-cost Medi-Cal coverage and connected the family to a pediatrician at OLE Health. Peter’s children now have comprehensive health insurance that covers their healthcare, mental health, dental and vision needs.

• Community Health

  Sobering Changes

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Community Health

Cope Family Center

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Sobering Changes

Heather was raised in a home afflicted with violence and substance abuse and turned to drugs to dull the pain. A homeless drug addict, her hopelessness led to an overdose. When she woke up in the hospital, she learned she was pregnant. The pregnancy was the impetus for her to change both her own life and that of her unborn son.

As a result of Heather’s participation in Cope’s home visitation program, she is sober, has her own apartment and is enrolled at Napa Valley College. She is determined to break the cycle of childhood abuse she experienced and to build a brighter future for her son.

• Community Health

  A Better Human Being

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Community Health

Girls on the Run Napa & Solano

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A Better Human Being

After completion of a Girls on the Run program, a mother shared:

"My daughter isn't very athletic and hasn’t wanted to play any sport. But getting involved with GOTR changed that. She is now keeping active and having fun at the same time, while making new friends and being a role model to the younger girls. Thanks GOTR for helping my daughter become a better human being."

• Community Health

  Emotional Tumult

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Community Health

Mentis

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Emotional Tumult

Following the South Napa earthquake, a client experienced fear and instability; emotions he had previously experienced as a result of growing up in a home where domestic violence and substance misuse were a constant.

A therapist helped him to normalize his emotions, offering education around how to cope with the symptoms he was experiencing. He reported regaining a sense of trust and security, which allowed him to get the necessary rest he needed to reduce his emotional distress and resume his daily activities.

• Community Health

  Rescue Without Words

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Community Health

NEWS

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Rescue Without Words

A former NEWS client noticed another woman being verbally abused by her partner. The former client had a hairbrush in her bag, a NEWS give-away item with its phone number. When she saw a safe opportunity she discreetly gave the women the hairbrush and told her "These people can help you."

A few weeks later the police responded to a call where the woman was so upset she couldn’t speak. She held up the hairbrush to say "Please call them!" By that evening she had found a safe place for herself and her children at the NEWS emergency shelter.

• Community Health

  Standing on Two Feet Again

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Community Health

OLE Health

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Standing on Two Feet Again

Paul came to OLE Health dealing with terrible sores on his feet that were affecting his ability to work at his masonry job. Through his primary care provider, Paul learned that the sores were a result of his diabetes and was referred to a diabetes counselor.

As Paul came in regularly for wound care, he was able to report how suggested exercise and diet management had been helping his blood sugar stay in a healthy range. Through community partners, he was able to get diabetic work boots for a reduced cost and return to work.

• Community Health

  Loving Baby Gertie

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Community Health

ParentsCan

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Loving Baby Gertie

Gertie’s parents were devastated when they learned that their eight-month-old baby, who had Down syndrome, had also developed a bone marrow disorder.

With the help of ParentsCAN, they received information about treatment options for Gertie’s conditions and received the guidance they needed to navigate complex medical and social service networks for Gertie’s care. The family connected with other parents through a support group and now feel more empowered and less isolated.

• Community Health

  Hidden Pain

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Community Health

PDI Surgery

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Hidden Pain

Jayla's mom could not figure out why her four-year-old daughter's attitude had suddenly taken a turn for the worse. She was shocked to hear Jayla's teacher reporting outbursts from her sweet-tempered daughter, and her recent attitude change caused a decline in her grades and a strain on her friendships.

Little did she know, Jayla was suffering extreme pain from severe dental decay in seven teeth. After treatment at PDI, Jayla is back to her sweet self and doing well in school again.

• Community Health

  A Mother's Education

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Community Health

Planned Parenthood of Northern California

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A Mother's Education

Nicole was 14 and a college-bound straight A student when she found out she was pregnant. She was steered to Planned Parenthood where she met her case manager, who helped her overcome obstacles to completing her education while being a good mother to her child.

Nicole has since graduated high school, attended community college, received four AA degrees, earned her Bachelors of Nursing degree and recently completed her Masters of Nursing and her MBA.

• Community Health

  Managing the Essentials

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Community Health

Puertas Abiertas

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Managing the Essentials

A family with three children, one of whom is undergoing chemotherapy, came to Puertas Abiertas for assistance when the father, the primary wage earner, needed to take time off to be with his sick child. With the mother ill and taking care of a new baby, their situation was dire.

Puertas Abiertas became a liaison for the family and the many channels they need to navigate, along with providing immediate financial assistance. The organization continues to act as an essential resource for this family.

• Community Health

  A New Life

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Community Health

Queen of the Valley Care Network

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A New Life

When Sal became ill with chronic abdominal pain, he ended up in the ER at Queen of the Valley. Near death, he was subsequently hospitalized before being discharged home.

Sal was referred to CARE Network for follow up, which set him up with Meals on Wheels, connected him with OLE Health for his primary and specialist care and got the cost of his medications, running over $300/month, reduced. Sal is now living at home, able to cook his own meals, afford his medications and work part-time as a limo driver.

• Community Health

  The First Few Days

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Community Health

St. Helena Hospital Family Birth Center

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The First Few Days

Susie’s labor in the Family Birth Unit (FBU) was not progressing as much as her OB-GYN would have liked. But within a matter of minutes before a Cesarean was recommended, Susie was able to deliver her beautiful baby girl.

Unfortunately, soon after delivery a migraine and other unexpected symptoms persisted, making the first few days as a new mother very difficult. “The nurses in the family birth unit were my saviors,” explained Susie. “If it were not for them allowing me to rest and care for our daughter, I don’t know what we would have done.”

• Community Health

  Mother to Three

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Community Health

UpValley Family Centers

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Mother to Three

Martha and her husband came to UpValley Family Centers when Martha needed immediate fibroid surgery, but was uninsured. In pain, unable to afford surgery and concerned about her ability to parent her three children with no family in the area to help, Martha was desperate.

UpValley Family Centers worked closely with the family to apply for financial assistance, which was approved. Martha received her surgery and today is healthy and happily raising her three children without the financial burden of a huge medical debt.

• Community Health

  A Grandmother's Love

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Community Health

Lilliput

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A Grandmother's Love

I wasn’t expecting to be the parent for my two grandchildren, but I wouldn’t change a thing. These kids had gone through traumas, but the classes and social workers at Lilliput helped me understand the best ways to relate to, communicate and help my grandkids.

I wouldn’t be able to navigate court hearings and paperwork if I didn’t have my Lilliput social worker to help me. I’m proud of my two grandkids and have come to terms with the fact that they needed me to step in as their parent. I look forward to the day their adoption is finalized.