Strengthening Families at Brighter Beginnings PROGRAM OVERVIEW 2012

Brighter Beginnings We believe every family matters and every child deserves to have a happy, healthy future. 2

What we do in a sentence l Brighter Beginnings strengthens families by helping parents become self-sufficient so they can raise happy, healthy children. 3

Our Approach l l 4 We focus our efforts in communities where parents and children have limited resources. Our staff helps families by providing homebased support and family strengthening services that promote healthy births, child development and overall family health and self-sufficiency.

Our Philosophy Focus on Families’ Underlying Conditions: l Social networks l Financial status l Neighborhood resources l Mother’s mental and physical well being l Father involvement and parenting skills 5

Core Services l l l 6 In-home comprehensive case management and parenting education Group education and social support activities provided in Three Family Strengthening Centers Clinical mental health/social work services

Family Strengthening Five Protective Factors are the foundation of the Strengthening Families approach: 1. Parental Resilience 2. Social Connections 3. Knowledge of Parenting and Child Development 4. Concrete Supports in Times of Need 5. Children’s Social and Emotional Competence 7

Life Course Development A woman is on a trajectory over her entire life, not just when she’s pregnant that will lead to a good or a poor birth outcome. This trajectory starts when she’s a baby! 8

Brighter Beginnings Families Face Multiple Risk Factors l l l l 9 Poverty Single parent status Low birth weight Exposure to environmental toxins Child Abuse & neglect Exposure to traumatic events or violence Homelessness l l Special needs in the family (disability, chronic illness, mental disorders) Low proficiency in English Prenatal damage from exposure to alcohol, illegal drugs, tobacco Maternal depression

Brighter Beginnings Builds Protective Factors Ensuring that teens complete high school and can provide for their babies. Connecting moms and families with childcare, WIC programs, and jobs. Strengthening families’ abilities to interact % engage with their babies. Caring for the mental health of families Increasing involvement of fathers in babies development. 10

Strengthening Families: Building the Health/Wealth Connection at Brighter Beginnings Core Strategies for Strengthening Families home visiting, stress reduction techniques, peer support groups, mental health & health educ. socialization activities, parenting groups, peer leadership opportunities protective factors parental resilience social connections Parenting groups, child development, nurturing parenting, understanding discipline knowledge of parenting and child development Play groups, Ages & Stages, Bonding & attachment, social and emotional competence of children Integrating Collaborations Spark. Point –access to Financial Tools towards selfsufficiency Rota. Care Free medical clinic for the uninsured concrete supports in times of need Families thrive when protective factors are robust in their lives and communities.

Spark. Point – Spark. Point is a collaboration of agencies who integrate services to provide free financial asset-building services designed to decrease poverty and move families towards self-sufficiency. Financial Coaching, Job Placement, Career Development, Education Support, Credit Improvement, Business Development, Help with accessing Public Benefits, Free Tax Help

Rota. Care Bay Area l l l Rota. Care Bay Area operates free medical clinics from San Rafael to Monterey providing quality healthcare for the uninsured. Rota. Care started in 1989, founded by a Bay Area Rotarian to provide care to a growing population of working and unemployed residents who are unable to pay for primary healthcare 26, 000 patient visits in 2010 and over 175, 000 since founding

Proposed Rota. Care Richmond Free Medical Clinic At Brighter Beginnings l l l Clinic will be located at 2727 Macdonald, Richmond at the Brighter Beginnings Family Strengthening and Spark. Point-West Contra Costa Center Easy access to public transportation and other services Plan is to offer adult and pediatric services initially one day per week Patients seen by appointment. Walk-ins will be treated on first-come-first serve basis if space is available No insurance reimbursement. ALL services provided at no cost to patient

Questions? For more information contact: Barbara Bunn Mc. Cullough, Ph. D. Executive Director Brighter Beginnings 2648 International Blvd. Oakland, CA 94601 Ph: 510 -903 -7503 Cell: 510 -610 -8945 Fax: 510 -842 -0291 bbmccullough@brighter-beginnings. org www. brighter-beginnings. org 15 Brighter Beginnings, where every family matters , and every child deserves a happy, healthy future.