Below are some links that our kids, parents and social workers may find helpful. Some are specific to foster care while others are generic sites with helpful information for the general public across a wide range of subjects. If you find any broken links or want to share some of your favorites with us, please let us know here.
Education, Jobs and Futures Planning
General Resources and Information
Education, Jobs & Futures Planning
Advocacy Club
http://advocacy.fosterclub.com/
“People are thinking about ways the foster care system in America can be improved. One way would be to change the rules about how your state can spend federal money on kids in foster care. One thing we know for sure: your voice is needed to make people listen. Your story could change the way people look at the foster care system — and the kids in it.”
Aspire
This program helps youth aged 19-21 to become productive, self-reliant members of the workforce. The program combines assessment, goal setting, vocational training, leadership training, job experience opportunities and social services. No high school diploma is required and the goal is for the student to attain employment with a vocational and/or work readiness certificate. Call 545-5200. Included in Youth Service Providers flyer, which can be downloaded here.
Brainboosters
http://school.discovery.com/brainboosters/
Online educational activities – math and word puzzles.
California Connected by 25
http://www.f2f.ca.gov/california25.htm
California Connected by 25 Initiative (CC25I) is a collaborative effort of five foundations assisting public child welfare agencies and their communities to build comprehensive transition-aged foster youth supports and services for youth 14 through 24. Through comprehensive assessment, planning and practice innovations developed with youth, caregivers, and other partners, effective strategies are being developed that can be spread to improve transition practice and outcomes statewide.
California California Fostering Connections to Success Act
http://www.cafosteringconnections.org/
AB12 converts California’s kinship guardian assistance program (Kin-GAP) into a federally subsidized program; and extend foster care for eligible youth beyond age 18 and, at full implementation, up until the age of 21. The provision to extend foster care benefits past age 18 will be phased-in over 3 years starting January 1, 2012. This handout put together by Stanislaus County Office of Education provides a summary.
California School Directory
http://www.cde.ca.gov/re/sd/
Search for California schools by county or school district.
California Youth Connection
http://www.calyouthconn.org/site/cyc/
California Youth Connection (CYC) is guided, focused and driven by current and former foster youth with the assistance of other committed community members. CYC promotes the participation of foster youth in policy development and legislative change to improve the foster care system, and strives to improve social work practice and child welfare policy. CYC Chapters in counties throughout the state identify local issues and use grassroots and community organizing to create change.
Careerquest
http://www.allianceworknet.com/
This program offers catered services based on individual need to Stanislaus County residents aged 17-21. The no cost services include GED preparation and testing; job suitability assessment; paid work experience; vocational training; and paid on-the-job training. Call 558-YOUTH (558-9688). Included in Youth Service Providers flyer, which can be downloaded here .
Computer Tutor Business and Technical Institute
http://www.computertutor.com/
“Computer Tutor is a Career College and computer software training provider located in the California Central Valley. We offer career training in Accounting, Medical, Clerical, Computer Networking and Computer Operations. In addition, we offer computer software training classes in several of today’s popular desktop applications. Please call us today 209-545-5200!
Digital Media Academy
http://digitalmediaacademy.org/teen/computer-camp-teens.html
“The Digital Media Academy is The Summer Computer Camp for Teens. No other computer camp offers DMA’s unique, high-tech summer camp experience. At DMA teens can explore possible career paths, prepare for college, gain practical work skills and even earn certification. All while enjoying an incredible summer camp with other creative teens. Our summer camps offer a more sophisticated learning environment than any other summer computer camp. All teen camp courses are project based and taught by award-winning industry experts in state-of-the-art facilities. DMA instructors share cutting-edge skills and teach using the very latest technology.”
Driver’s License and California ID Information
Driver’s license information for new drivers under 18.
Driver’s Handbook 2009
FAFSA – Federal Student Aid
http://www.fafsa.ed.gov/
Free online application for federal student aid, along with information about types of financial aid available and ability to track your student aid applications and grants into the future. Beware of commercial sites advertising free FAFSA applications as they won’t submit your application until you have paid a steep fee. The official FAFSA site will never charge any fees and will also safeguard your application information (e.g., Social Security number). For those without ready internet access, download the 2011-2012 application form here. To apply or check your Federal Student Aid records online, you’ll need to set up a PIN.
Federal Trade Commission
http://www.ftc.gov/bcp/conline/edcams/scholarship/index.html
Scholarship scams.
Foster Care Outreach
http://www.fosteryouthhelp.ca.gov/
A great place for kids in foster care to learn more about their rights, the foster care ombudsman, programs to help them work toward independence and more.
Foster Club
http://fosterclub.com/index.cfm
The national network for youth in foster care.
Foster Ed
http://www.foster-ed.org/
FosterEd works to improve the educational outcomes for children in foster care. FosterEd recently finished writing a set of resources that provide a comprehensive overview of the skills, knowledge and abilities that kinship care providers and foster parents need to support the educational success of children in foster care. These resourcesand mentoring modules are now available online through FosterEd’s website.
Foster Youth Services – Stanislaus County
Foster Youth Services offers Tutoring Services; advocacy in speedy enrollment when transferring into a new school district; assessment of transferable credits to your new school; life skills workshops and trainings; advocacy in IEPs. Contact the Student Support Advocate at (209) 238-1502 for information and assistance.
How to Find a Summer or Part-Time Job
http://www.quintcareers.com/finding_summer_jobs.html
Institute of Technology
http://www.it-colleges.edu/
Institute of Technology has campuses in three different locations in California that offer programs in the following fields: Culinary, Technical, Medical and Business. From their site: “If you are contemplating a new career and are considering graphic design training or medical assistant schools, learn more about the programs we have available. And among trade schools in California, Institute of Technology offers a very intensive culinary training program with options to train for a career as a Culinary Arts Specialist, Culinary Arts Professional or Baking and Pastry Specialist.
Job Corps and AmeriCorps
http://www.thehighschoolgraduate.com/editorial/UScorps.htm
These federally supported programs help people who are looking either for direction in life or a way to help others. Eligible candidates for participation must be age 16-24, low-income eligible, a US resident and in need of basic skills training. Available through the program are job training and education; free medical and dental benefits; $30,000 earned federal scholarship; and free housing, clothing and stipend. Tours are open to the public at the three different centers as follows (download flyer here): Treasure Island, Thursdays 9:30 a.m.; San Jose, Thursdays 8:30 a.m.; Sacramento, Tuesdays 1:00 p.m. and Wednesdays 9:00 a.m.
KidsHealth
http://kidshealth.org/kid/
Information about health, emotional development and more for kids, teens and parents.
Merced College – Foster and Kinship Care Education – F&KCE
http://www.merced.cc.ca.us/programs/fostercare/index.html
My Home
The My Home and Transitional Housing Program Plus (THP+) program is a state-approved program funded (as long as funding is available) by Stanislaus County and the State Transitional Housing Fund. In this program, monthly assistance prayments on behalf of emancipated youth participants are paid to certified lifelong connections for transitional housing services provided. For more information, download the My Home flyer here or call 558-2991.
Occupational Outlook Handbook – Online at the Bureau of Labor Statistics
http://www.bls.gov/oco/
“For hundreds of different types of jobs—such as teacher, lawyer, and nurse—the Occupational Outlook Handbook tells you: the training and education needed, earnings expected, job prospects, what workers do on the job, working conditions. In addition, the Handbook gives you job search tips, links to information about the job market in each State, and more.”
Project YES
http://edservices.ceres.k12.ca.us/ProjectYES/
This program provides tutoring, study skills development and dropout prevention, as well as alternative school placement to individuals aged 17-21. Work experience, internships, job shadowing, occupational skills training, and GED preparation and testing services are also available. Supportive services and leadership opportunities are provided for qualified candidates.
Promise Scholars – California State University
This program offers qualified students who have been in the foster care system mentoring services and bridge funding to cover costs not met through regular financial aid and scholarships. For more information, contact California State University, (209) 667-3131.
Rural Youth Services
This program provides services to individuals aged 19-21 who are primarily Spanish speaking or come from a migrant farming background. The focus is GED or job-seeking. Assistance is provided in the areas of vocational development, job training & job placement, GED/ESL preparation and testing to build academic, life and work skills. Call 577-3210. Included in Youth Service Providers flyer, which can be downloaded here.
Social Security Number And Card
http://www.ssa.gov/pubs/10002.html
How to get a Social Security Number and/or replacement card. Or you can download the application form and instructions here .
Stanislaus County Office of Education
http://www.stan-co.k12.ca.us/index/districts.html
Stanislaus Military Academy
http://www.stancoe.org/SCOE/career-altEd/careered/Allard/SMA.htm
“Stanislaus Military Academy Supports Second Chances. We do not train our student cadets for a military career. We train our cadets for successful living by using military methods and bearing. Using physical exercise and military type discipline we help cadets learn to respect authority, develop an ability to follow rules, practice safety first and demonstrate appropriate behavior toward staff and other cadets.”
TeensHealth
http://kidshealth.org/teen/
Information about health, emotional development and more for kids, teens and parents.
YES Company
http://yescompany.org
YES COMPANY is a multifaceted youth theatre program introducing students to the performing arts through intensive summer theatrical training and year-round exposure to performance and the arts.
Child Health and Disability Prevention Program
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/pcfh/cms/chdp/
The Child Health and Disability Prevention (CHDP) program makes early health care available to children with evident health problems as well as to those who seem well.
Child Trauma Academy (Dr. Bruce Perry)
http://www.childtrauma.org/
Disaster Preparedness
http://tinyurl.com/c8j5by
“Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood, workplace or school or can confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services – water, gas, electricity or telephones – were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. The best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.”
The following downloadable (PDF) guides and tip sheets are provided via American Red Cross and California’s Office of Emergency Services. Though some of them specifically address earthquake preparedness, the same basic principles apply for most emergency situations.
Year-Around Family Safety Guide
Emergency Supplies Checklist
How to Strap Your Hot Water Heater
How to Secure Your Furniture (earthquake)
Preparing your Children; Preparing Your Family; Preparing Your Neighborhood
OES Planner
Tips for Pet Owners
Facebook for Parents
A Parents’ Guide to Facebook (PDF) is a booklet and online resource that provides parents with the the tools they need to help their teens optimize privacy and safety on Facebook.
Food Safety FAQs
http://www.foodsafety.gov/~fsg/fsgfaq.html
Want to know if eating raw cookie dough exposes you to a Salmonella risk? Need some tips on the selection, use and cleaning of your cutting board to minimize the chances of bacterial infection? Check out these Frequently Asked Questions, garnered from various federal, state and local food safety sites. Topics covered include: Eggs and Dairy; Meat; Poultry; Seafood; Disaster Assistance; Food Additives; Food Preparation and Storage; Foodborne Illness and Infection; Fruits and Vegetables.
Also, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) provides a Recalls, Market Withdrawals and Safety Alerts page on their website.
Foster/Managed Care Resource Guide
http://www.dhs.ca.gov/mcs/mcmcd/htm/FosterGuide.htm
To assist in finding health care and related resources for foster children, especially those children placed outside their county of responsibility. This guide (download available at this link) identifies key contacts in the Health and Human Services communities.
GERD (Gastroesophageal reflux)
http://www.prevakids.com/info_by_age/12-24_months.asp
Golden Valley Health Centers
http://www.gvhc.org/
Health-Related Information
http://ccl.dss.cahwnet.gov/PG535.htm
This California Department of Social Services site has information on a variety of health-related topics that is relevant not only for foster parents, but for all, including: E.Coli; West Nile Virus; Cold Weather Safety Tips; Preventing Heat-Related Illnesses; Guidelines for Control and Prevention of Stomach Flu; Scabies.
Law Enforcement Guide to Psychotropic Medications
Here’s another reason to alert your Agency Social Worker whenever a child in your care is prescribed any (new) medication: on occasion, a child’s doctor will prescribe a psychotropic medication for what appears to be a strictly medical condition e.g., bedwetting). And, as we all know, we must have a court order before we can give a psychotropic medication to any child in foster care. Here’s a guide, compiled by CABLE, Inc. (Connecticut Alliance to Benefit Law Enforcement, Inc.), that provides a fairly comprehensive list of psychotropic medications; the most common disorders for which they are prescribed are indicated in the far right hand column. But, AS ALREADY NOTED, they might be prescribed for something that seems completely unrelated. So, keep your social worker informed, and make use of this handy guide; it’s in PDF format and can be downloaded for future reference.
National Center for Children Exposed to Violence (NCCEV)
http://www.nccev.org/index.html
The NCCEV mission is to increase the capacity of individuals and communities to reduce the incidence and impact of violence on children and families; to train and support the professionals who provide intervention and treatment to children and families affected by violence; and, to increase professional and public awareness of the effects of violence on children, families, communities and society. Good information on the signs and symptoms of children who has been exposed to violence, the potential effects of exposure to violent media (films, music, television or video games) and the complex issue of school violence.
Medi-Cal Home
http://www.medi-cal.ca.gov/
Northern California Shriners Hospital
http://www.shrinershq.org/shc/northerncalifornia/
The Shriners Hospital in Sacramento, Calif., is one of 22 Shriners Hospitals that provide free specialized medical care to children.
Oakland Children’s Hospital
Map and Driving Directions
Peanut Butter recall information from FDA is available here:
http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/peanutbutterrecall/index.cfm
This FDA site lists products (including pet food products) that have been recalled due to the Salmonella contamination. For more on food safety, go here.
A Reliable Training
http://areliabletraining.net/default.aspx
Located in Ripon, California, (209) 254-3628. They provide CPR, 1st Aid, AED, Community Water Safety, Babysitter’s Training and more.
AdvoKids
http://advokids.org/
“Protecting the right of every foster child in California to safety, security and a permanent home.” Great resources for foster children and foster parents, including Overview of the Juvenile Court Process, Information for Foster Youth and Information for Caregivers.
Aquatic Dreams
http://www.aquaticdreams.com
Located in Modesto, (209) 577-3483; call for information about water safety classes.
American Red Cross – Merced County
http://www.mmarc.org/
American Red Cross – San Joaquin County
http://sanjoaquincounty.redcross.org/
American Red Cross – Stanislaus County
http://www.arcscc.org/
Attachment Disorder
http://www.attachmentdisorder.net/index.htm
Bedwetting
http://www.caringforkids.cps.ca/growinga&learning/Bedwetting.htm
Understanding and managing bedwetting behavior.
Building Permit Handouts and Information
http://www.stancounty.com/planning/bp/handouts.shtm
Guidelines from the Stanislaus County Planning Department for pool fencing requirements, building inspection procedure, etc.
California Department of Social Services – Title 22 Regulations
http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/ord/PG295.htm
Foster Family Agencies like Safe Harbor, and the foster homes we certify, are governed by the following regulations: General Licensing Requirements, Foster Family Homes, Foster Family Agencies.
California Department of Social Services – Find Services, Information or Forms
http://www.dss.cahwnet.gov/cdssweb/FindServic_2312.htm
Caregiver Rights in Dependency Court
This handout provided by Judge Ann Ameral explains the rights of foster parents and other caregivers in Dependency Court.
Character Counts!
http://charactercounts.org/
CHARACTER COUNTS! (the Center for Youth Ethics) is the most widely implemented approach to character education, reaching millions of youth. CHARACTER COUNTS! is a framework based on basic values called the Six Pillars of Character: trustworthiness, respect, responsibility, fairness, caring and citizenship. It offers training programs, free e-newsletters, resources and free consultation to schools, communities, public agencies and nonprofit organizations. The website has good information that parents can use at home, and in making curriculum recommendations to their children’s schools.
Children and Family Services Division – California Department of Social Services (CDSS)
http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/
Information and services related to Adoptions, Foster Care, Children’s Services and Child Welfare. According to CDSS, nearly 7,000 children were adopted in California last year, and the need for more adoptive parents continues statewide. Those wanting more information can download their brochure, A Guide to California Adoptions, here.
Code Amber
http://www.codeamber.com/
“Code Amber is a leader in the aggregation and online syndication of both Amber Alerts and Code Amber alerts in the U.S. and Canada.”
Family Disaster Planning
http://www.arcscc.org/index.php?pr=Family_Disaster_Plan
“Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services–water, gas, electricity or telephones–were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away.
Family Education
http://www.familyeducation.com/home/
Parenting advice, activities for children, family games and recipes.
Foster Club – Parent Training
http://fosterclub.com/training/index.cfm
Need Foster Parent training hours? Get them here for free!
(Check with your agency social worker to find out how much of your required continuing education can be obtained through on-line training)
Foster Parent College
http://www.fosterparentcollege.com/>
Training and other resources for adoptive, kinship and foster parents.
Fostering Families Today
http://www.fosteringfamiliestoday.com/
A foster care and adoption resource, source of the bimonthly Fostering Families Today magazine we hand out to our certified parents.
Giving Back: It’s a Family Affair
http://www.casefoundation.org/spotlight/travel/giving
Some tips to help parents broaden their children’s perspectives on the world. Whether you’re planning an intensive international volunteer experience or a trip to the local park, there are plenty of ways to spend quality time as a family, while doing some good.
Interstate Compact on the Placement of Children (ICPC)
http://www.childsworld.ca.gov/Interstate_328.htm
Megan’s Law Website
http://www.meganslaw.ca.gov/
This Department of Justice website lists designated registered sex offenders in California. After reading and acknowleding a disclaimer, you can search the database by a sex offender’s specific name, obtain ZIP Code and city/county listings, obtain detailed personal profile information on each registrant, and use the map application to search your neighborhood or anywhere throughout the State. Here is a how-toguide put together by CCL which will show you how to use the site (please use it responsibly!) The DOJ site also has links to information on How to Protect Yourself and Your Family, Facts About Sex Offenders, Frequently Asked Questions and Sex Offender Registration Requirements in California.
Miracle League of Stanislaus County
http://miracleleagueofstanislauscounty.com/
“For the past eight years, the Miracle League has made it possible for children with physical and mental disabilities to achieve the same dream as their healthy peers, to play baseball. The Miracle League builds a specially equipped field for our players, a custom-designed field that incorporates a cushioned synthetic turf that allows children in wheelchairs and walkers to glide unrestricted to their positions without fear of injury. In other words, it provides a level playing field where children can hit, run and catch – just as they envisioned in their dreams!”
National Adoption Center – Adoption Information
http://www.adopt.org/
NetSmartz
http://www.netsmartz.org/netparents.htm
Tools to help you safeguard your children from some of the dangers on the internet. Includes FAQs and tips for helping kids understand who might be looking at their online profiles – including coaches, college admission officials and potential employers.
- The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children provides information on Keeping Kids Safer on the Internet: Tips for Parents and Guardians. A PDF version can be downloadedhere.
Parenting Library – Resources, Articles, Adoption, Adopting, Child
http://library.adoption.com/
Parenting and Families
http://library.adoption.com/information/
Parents’ Guide to the Information Superhighway: Rules and Tools for Families Online
This guide is for parents who have begun to see that computers and online services will be or already are a part of children’s at school, at community centers, at home, or at the library—and who are looking for some guidelines and advice. Written by The Children’s Partnershipwith the computer novice in mind, it provides simple definitions and ideas for how to get involved.
Parents’ Monthly Magazine Online
http://www.parentsmonthlyonline.com/
The Parents’ Monthly Magazine has articles that may be of interest to our parents. Articles in one edition included: Performing Arts and Children; September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month; Back-to-School Asthma: What Can Parents Do?; What Schools Aren’t Teaching Children; ADHD Treatment: Possible Alternative to Traditional Medications; Homework: A Survival Guide; Does My Child Need a Tutor?
Practical Money Skills for Life
http://practicalmoneyskills.com/english/at_home/
This is a really informative site for learning not only how to manage your own finances but how to help your kids learn money management. Surveys show that teens would like more coaching in money matters from their families than they’re getting. Be sure to explore the entire site, it has a wealth of information including, under Bringing Practical Money Skills Home With You, links to Jason Alderman’s Practical Money Matters columns. These include topics like foiling financial scam artists, catching up on retirement savings, and teaching your kids good money management skills. He provides a link to a Salary Wizard that will help your teens look at pay data for a broad range of jobs by geographic area; this is a great tool for them to use in mapping out their career choices. On the main page menu (left-hand side of page) are links for parents to use to create activities for younger kids and teenagers. It’s never too early or too late to start working with our kids on these critical life skills.
Produce Oasis
http://www.produceoasis.com/
One-stop source for information about selecting and preparing fresh fruits and vegetables, including healthy recipes, seasonal information, history and nutritional and dietary data
Reading Skills Development
Promoting Reading in School-Aged Children
Reading is one of the most important skills a child can learn early on, as it can affect his ability to adjust to and learn in educational settings throughout his school career. Here are some simple tips to help parents encourage kids to read.
Resources for Foster Families
KidsPeace – Foster Care and Family Services
Online and print resources for foster parents; compiled by KidsPeace, the National Center for Kids in Crisis.
Safe Kids USA
http://www.usa.safekids.org/
Safe Kids USA is part of a global network of organizations whose mission is to prevent accidental childhood injury. Their website includes information on child safety in the following areas: in and around cars; fire and burn safety; pedestrian safety; poison safety; railroad safety; toy safety; water safety.
StandUp for Kids
http://www.standupforkids.org/
According to one report in 2007, 50% of all homeless people are former foster youth. That statistic has probably gotten worse with the tanking economic situation we’re now facing. The mission of StandUp for Kids is to find, stabilize and otherwise help homeless and street kids improve their lives, and provide deterrence and resource programs via the schools and the internet.
Stanislaus County Foster Parent Association
(We couldn’t find a website, but if you have a link, please send it in)
3900 Morgan Rd
Ceres CA 95307
(209) 541-3819
Calenders, monthly, yearly
http://www.printfree.com/Calendars.htm
Printable free calendars, calenders to print, monthly and yearly available
Kilogram to Pound Converter and Pound to Kilogram Converter
http://users.tpg.com.au/doktormj/kilograms2pounds.htm
MapQuest.Com
http://www.mapquest.com/
MapQuest is a digital directory resource for finding locations and driving directions
Online Conversion – Convert just about anything to anything else
http://www.onlineconversion.com/
Online Conversion is a resource for weights, measures, calculators, converters.
TinyURL.com
http://tinyurl.com/
TinyURL is for those long URLs that break up and wrap around when you try to send them to people by email. The person you sent it to often has to cut and paste it back together in their browser, and it still doesn’t always work like it should. Try plugging that l-o-n-g URL into the text field box at TinyURL.com, and watch it create a tiny URL you can use instead.
General Resources and Information
2-1-1
http://www.211.org/
There may be a 2-1-1 help line in your community to provide you and the children in your care with critical health and human services information as well as community resource and government assistance. This one-stop help line can provide you with resources for basic needs such as food, clothing, job training, and mental health services While services that are offered through 2-1-1 vary from community to community, 2-1-1 provides callers with information about and referrals to human services for every day needs and in times of crisis.
City of Ceres, California
http://ci.ceres.ca.us/
DAR Information
http://www.modestoareaexpress.com/dar_information.htm
Dial-A-Ride information
Live Scan Fingerprint Services
http://ag.ca.gov/fingerprints/publications/contact.php
A listing where Live Scan fingerprinting services are available to the public. This list is updated as additional information is received. However, applicants are encouraged to contact the Live Scan providers in advance to verify their current operating hours, fees, etc.
Modesto Area Express
http://modestoareaexpress.com/
Modesto Area Express provides bus transportation, dial-a-ride demand response paratransit) and commuter services in and around the Modesto area.
San Joaquin Regional Transit District – San Joaquin RTD
http://www.sanjoaquinrtd.com/maps_and_schedules/
Stanislaus Regional Transit
http://www.srt.org/
StaRT provides quality and reliable transit service to the residents and visitors in Stanislaus County.