Alameda Family Services fosters healing, resiliency, and growth through the delivery of progressive
Operating as usual
Last week our School-Based Health Centers’ Youth Advisory Boards hosted two wonderful Healthy Relationships Fairs - one at Encinal High School and one at Alameda High School. Congratulations on the successful events, and thank you to all the students who stopped by. Let’s continue to learn, spread awareness and take action against dating violence. #alamedafamilyservices #TDVAM2022
Photo credit: @sbhc_afs
Happy International Women’s Day, to ALL women. Support your sisters, not just cis-ters. The future is fluid. #internationalwomensday #sistersnotcisters
(Beautiful illustration by @blessthemessy)
Check out our new look! Our Early Learning Community Network vehicle and our AFS vehicle got an official upgrade. Now it's even easier to see us out and about around town. Thank you to Landmark Grafix for a wonderful job making our vision come to life. #alamedafamilyservices
How’s your heart today? Sending love to everyone out there, including those who feel lonely, are grieving, are single, have a partner, feel down, need closure, miss someone, need space, or are healing. Swipe for some affirmations for Valentine’s Day, and tag a friend who may need the love, too. #alamedafamilyservices
(Beautiful illustrations by @selfcarespotlight)
Did you know that February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month? This is when our School-Based Health Center holds one of their biggest campaigns of the year to learn, share information, encourage discussion, and spread awareness about #healthyrelationships and dating violence prevention.
This week is Respect Week, where each day’s focus is about bringing awareness to TDVAM and highlighting the importance of respect when it comes to healthy relationships.
Tomorrow, February 8th, is Wear Orange 4 Love Day! On this day, people across the country wear orange in solidarity to raise awareness about teen dating violence and to stop abuse before it starts. Show your support by wearing orange tomorrow and share your photos using #WearOrange4Love. Tag @sbhc_afs to be entered into their Healthy Relationships Month Raffle! #alamedafamilyservices
Photo credit: @sbhc_afs (swipe for more info on this month’s activities)
Alameda Family Services would like to thank the Alameda Chamber of Commerce and Merlone Geier Partners (Management Company of Alameda South Shore Center) for the generous donation of $5,000. This generous contribution was facilitated by Michael Liberatore, the General Manager. Alameda Family Services was selected along with the Alameda Food Bank (AFB) and Alameda Meals on Wheels (AMOW) to receive donations through Alameda Chamber Foundation. Katherine Schwartz, Alameda Family Services' Executive Director, is pictured here along with Cindy Houts, Executive Director of AFB, and Peri Drake, Executive Director of AMOW.
Alameda Family Services would like to express our deep appreciation and gratitude to Michael and Merlone Geier Partners for helping us kick off our new year with strong financial support.
In times of stress, it can be difficult to find the right words. Check out this useful cheat sheet compiled by the mental health research team from @mentalhealthcoalition of what to say (and what *not* to say) when someone tells you they’ve been exposed to or tested positive for COVID-19.
Remember that vaccines provide strong protection against severe illness and hospitalization. Be sure you are up-to-date on your vaccine and if you have not received your booster, find an appointment today: www.alamedaca.gov/getvaccinated. And always wear a mask in all indoor public settings. Health officials recommend surgical masks or higher-level respirators with a good fit like KN95s or KF94s.
Alameda Family Services is so thrilled about our new partnership with the City of Alameda and the Alameda Fire Department. We believe that the CARE Team model will provide a much needed alternative to police response for mental health crises here in Alameda.
What is the CARE Team?
The CARE Team (Community Assessment Response & Engagement) provides a new way of responding to individuals experiencing a mental health crisis. If you’re in crisis or see someone who may be in crisis, call 911 or 510-337-8340, the police non-emergency line, and explain the current situation so our dispatchers can determine if the CARE Team is the appropriate resource to send. If so, a mobile crisis team led by the Alameda Fire Department with a licensed Paramedic and an Emergency Medical Technician trained to respond to individuals experiencing mental health challenges will arrive in a low-profile vehicle. They’ll help the client navigate the best path forward and find resources, including 24/7 clinical care and case management from Alameda Family Services.
In the pilot program’s first 3 weeks, there were 32 calls for service, including 10 calls that used the on-call clinician to support the client on scene. 16 calls were referred by the CARE Team for follow-up case management and 7 clients are actively receiving services as a result. Read more about the CARE Team, including an FAQ with answers to some of the questions we have heard about this new program: www.alamedaca.gov/careteam.
Anyone having a hard time jumping into a super productive routine this week? Try easing yourself into the year one day at a time. You do not have to achieve your 2022 goals right now. These are not normal days. These are not normal weeks. Be patient with yourself. #alamedafamilyservices
(Beautiful illustrations by @laurajaneillustrations)
Things to start instead of a diet in the new year:
• Write snail mail to people you love
• Start a new hobby
• Start a new journal
• Drinking more water
• Meditation & self reflection
• Invest in your community
• Start a new book or podcast
• Buy a new plant & notice both your growth
• Take an online class
• Therapy or support group
What do you hope to start in 2022? Share with us in the comments below! #alamedafamilyservices
(Beautiful illustration by @blessthemessy)
Alameda Family Services would like to wish everyone a wonderful and safe holiday season. We are so grateful for all of our partners and supporters and look forward to continued collaboration as we endeavor to offer support to those in Alameda that may be struggling. Remember to reach out to those who may be alone and feeling isolated during this time as we continue to battle this seemingly endless pandemic. It is through our connection and care for each other that we express our best selves.
If you would like to help Alameda Family Services help Alameda, please go to www.alamedafs.org/donate. No donation is too small!
Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year!
We had a wonderful turn out on Monday at our Winter Break Activity Bag Distribution Day! We hope you and your families enjoy your time together this holiday season and that the books and activities provided help foster engagement and memory making during these rainy days.
Make sure to tag us in any photos you share, and give us a follow so you don’t miss out on the next distribution day! #alamedafamilyservices
We are happy to announce that the Alameda ELCN will be once again hosting its 0-5 Activity Bag Distribution Day on Monday, December 20, 2021. This event will be held at the Alameda Family Services - College of Alameda Child Care Center located on West Campus Drive - 555 Ralph Appezatto Memorial Parkway, Alameda, CA, 94501 from 10 AM - 2 PM.
Activity bags, holiday gifts, and other items donated to support the 0-5 community will be provided to foster parent engagement in early learning during the upcoming holiday season and winter break school closures.
Please note that this event is being held in memory of Supervisor Wilma Chan, who dedicated her life to improving the lives of young children and who helped sponsor these "Year of the Young Child" events during the height of the pandemic. Without her generous support this now annual event would not be possible. #alamedafamilyservices
We were thrilled to see members of the Police Reform Committee at the event. Thank you for the important work you do.
7/7 Celebration of Community Partnerships
#alamedafamilyservices
Alameda Family Services looks forward to working closely with The Village Of Love in the future. Thank you for being part of our community!
6/7 Celebration of Community Partnerships
#alamedafamilyservices
Congratulations again to Alameda Family Services Board President Alysse Castro for recently receiving the City of Alameda Nonprofit Board Member Community Service Award.
5/7 Celebration of Community Partnerships
#alamedafamilyservices
Alameda Family Services wants to thank the Alameda Unified School District for the many years of partnership. Our work together is so important and we are eternally grateful for our incredible relationship with the school district.
4/7 Celebration of Community Partnerships
#alamedafamilyservices
A very special and belated thank you to City Councilmember Trish Herrera Spencer for her unwavering support of this project and Alameda Family Services in particular.
3/7 Celebration of Community Partnerships
#alamedafamilyservices
Thank you again to our incredible Chefs Kitchen partners. We love all of our wonderful chefs! A special thank you to Chef Giuseppe and his beautiful wife Christine, owners of Trabocco, for their incredible generosity in opening up their restaurant for our event.
2/7 Celebration of Community Partnerships
#alamedafamilyservices
We are so excited about this partnership between the City of Alameda, the Alameda Fire Department and Alameda Family Services. Thank you so much Assemblymember Mia Bonta for coming and supporting us in our celebration of community partnerships last month at Trabocco.
1/7 Celebration of Community Partnerships
#alamedafamilyservices
Say these words to yourself:
“This is the season I will make beautiful things. Not perfect things but honest things hat speak to who I am and who I am meant to be.”
Things you can make today (in no particular order):
1. Make room for rest
2. Make a cup of something refreshing to drink
3. Make art
4. Make yourself laugh
5. Make a list
6. Make dinner
7. Make a friend
8. Make peace with the past
9. Make a difference
10. Make a decision
11. Make a plan for the future
12. Make a memory…
May the list go on and on. Tag a friend who may need the motivation! #alamedafamilyservices
(Beautiful artwork and words by @morganharpernichols)
FREE COVID-19 testing open to all AUSD students and staff Monday through Friday. Swipe for details on schedule and locations, and visit the @alamedaunified website for more information.
As gatherings and festivities begin to pick up this holiday season, remember to stay safe and get tested, in addition to getting vaccinated.
(Beautiful graphic by @sbhc_afs)
2325 Clement Ave
Alameda, CA
94501
| Monday | 9am - 8pm |
| Tuesday | 9am - 8pm |
| Wednesday | 9am - 8pm |
| Thursday | 9am - 8pm |
| Friday | 9am - 5pm |
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