Contra Costa Herald

News Of By and For The People of Contra Costa County, California

Contra Costa annual Rebuilding Lives Luncheon honors Domestic Violence Awareness Month

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Concord, CA – On Thursday, October 6th at 11:30 a.m., STAND! For Families Free of Violence’s 24th Annual Rebuilding Lives Luncheon and more than 350 civic, business, and community leaders gathered at the Concord Hilton this year to honor Domestic Violence Awareness Month, celebrate the resilience of domestic violence survivors, and raise more than $140,000 for programs that help survivors of family violence.

Keynote speakerTony Porter, Co-founder and CEO of A CALL TO MEN, addressed the role of men in ending violence against women. Exploring the influence that men have with boys and other men as fathers and coaches, he discussed how to encourage boys and men to stand up to those promoting men’s violence. “It is time to stop asking why women stay and starting asking men to stop.”

“Today it is clearer than ever that domestic violence is a men’s issue too. We will end this problem only when men, too end their silence around violence and tell each other this is no longer acceptable behavior. We need to change the conversation.” said Gloria Sandoval, CEO of STAND! For Families Free of Violence.

Though the movement to end family violence has made great progress, there is still work to be done: On average, one in four women and one in seven men will experience intimate partner violence severe enough to send them to the hospital; one in five teens will experience teen dating violence; and 3.2 million children will experience domestic violence in their homes annually. Awareness-raising events, such as the Rebuilding Lives Luncheon, are important for strengthening the movement as well as inspiring new supporters to help end domestic violence.

About STAND! for Families Free of Violence

STAND! helps 15,000 people in Contra Costa County break the intergenerational cycle of violence each year by saving lives, rebuilding families, and changing the future: intervening when violence strikes, supporting victims as they rebuild their lives, and guiding the community as a whole toward nonviolence. Visit www.standffov.org for more information.

 

D.A. Peterson announces arrest of Orinda child psychologist for possession of child pornography

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Kenneth Breslin

Kenneth Breslin

On Wednesday, October 5th, 2016, investigators arrested 68 year old Lafayette resident Kenneth Allen Breslin for Possession of Child Pornography. The arrest stems from an investigation conducted by members of the Contra Costa Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force. The task force consists of detectives from the Martinez, Walnut Creek, Moraga, Concord, Pleasant Hill and San Ramon police departments; along with investigators from the Sheriff’s Office, Probation Department, and the District Attorney’s Office.

Investigators served a search warrant in the 3400 block of Moraga Blvd in Lafayette.  During a search of the residence, a significant quantity of child pornography was located on Dr. Breslin’s computers and other storage devices.  A subsequent search of his office in Orinda yielded additional files of child pornography.

Dr. Breslin was arrested and booked at the Martinez Detention Facility. His bail was initially set at $200,000.   The case is being reviewed by the Contra Costa County District Attorney’s Office.

Dr. Breslin has been a psychologist for over 30 years and maintains a practice in Orinda called “A Child’s Point of View.”

Anyone with information should contact Contra Costa District Attorney Senior Inspector Darryl Holcombe at 925-957-8789.

Supervisor Glover’s office explains challenges with, what occurred in August at Bay Point shelter

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A press release from County Supervisor Federal Glover’s office on Friday, provided the following information regarding the challenges facing and what transpired during an attempted inspection by Glover and other county officials in August, of the Bay Point Homeless Recover Shelter of Love-A-Child Missions.

The clock is ticking for Love-A-Child Ministries, a privately run shelter for women and children in Bay Point.”

“If necessary, the county is prepared to assist in making arrangements for housing” for the women and children currently living at Love-A-Child, said Supervisor Federal Glover.

The shelter’s executive director, Jerome Knott has defaulted on $216,000 loaned to Love-A-Child by the Sacramento-based Nehemiah Community Reinvestment Fund. The (Contra Costa) county is not a party to this financial transaction. In addition, the privately run shelter owes over $100,000 in back taxes and other debts.

At stake are the 70 beds and the people currently living at the shelter, who through no fault of their own, are in danger of losing their shelter.

After reaching an agreement with Knott for an August 10 inspection, Nehemiah and county officials, including Supervisor Federal Glover, attempted to inspect the facility only to meet resistance from Knott and his staff. Knott was emphatic – at one point shouting at Glover – that he would not allow the visit to continue as planned.

Fearing that the situation could get out of hand, Glover asked that (Sheriff’s) deputies be sent to the facility.

“The officers showed up within minutes,” said David Fraser, the supervisor’s chief of staff, who was among the visitors.

Fraser also pointed out that in order to avoid a confrontation, Nehemiah needed to obtain a court order, which the deputies would then be able to enforce.

The Nehemiah representative agreed to that procedure and the visitors, which included the county’s homeless services director and a Building Code Inspector, left the facility. Nehemiah plans to conduct an inspection of the facilities in October and start the process of foreclosure.

The lender agreed to work with the county so that the people currently living there will not have to seek alternative housing or move their belongings.

Since Love-A-Child has had numerous building code infractions in the past, there is a possibility the current facility might not meet the county’s health and safety standards for a shelter.

“There is a dire need for shelter beds in our county,” said Glover. “We don’t want to see the women and children become homeless because of the poor financial decisions by Love-A-Child’s operators.”

For more information about Love-A-Child Missions and their Bay Point shelter, visit www.loveachildmissions.org.

DA Peterson, Contra Costa Behavioral Health Services announce major expansion of truancy program and support network

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Contra Costa County District Attorney Mark A. Peterson announced a major expansion of Contra Costa County’s ongoing efforts to combat school truancy. The Thomas J. Long Foundation has awarded a $625,000 grant to the Lincoln Child Center to allow the Center to collaborate with the county in the effort to reduce chronic absenteeism.  The county’s Behavioral Health Services will provide in-kind matching funds toward that effort.  Thus, the total value of the increased effort to fight chronic absenteeism is $1.25 million.

Chronic absenteeism has been identified as one of the most serious, and life long, threats to our nation’s youth. Long term studies have repeatedly shown its devastating impact on our children, and on our society.

We know that 80% of prisoners in the United States are high school dropouts, and that chronic truancy is one of the best indicators of who will later drop out. We also know that if a child does not read at grade level by the end of the third grade, the chances he/she will later drop out are four times higher than their peers. This often dooms some of our most vulnerable kids to a lifetime of poverty, or crime. District Attorney Peterson stated “It is far better to keep a child in class today, than in a jail cell in the future.”

To address this issue, in 2015 Contra Costa County’s leaders developed a system-wide plan involving schools, the Office of Education, law enforcement, the courts, and the private sector. The Contra Costa Superior Court established a Parent Truancy Program to combat absenteeism in elementary and middle-schools by requiring parents of truants to appear in court.

Contra Costa County Superior Court Judges Rebecca Hardie and John Laettner have spent countless hours coaching parents on the need to get their kids to school. Often, truancy is a symptom of a much deeper problem, and many of the families are in desperate need of social services they cannot afford.

This grant will allow us to provide personalized assistance to the truants or their families to ensure the children get to school. This fund can be used for transportation services, therapy and coaching for the kids and their families, other services, or referrals to other providers.

The Lincoln Center’s mission statement exemplifies our county’s goal “To disrupt the cycle of poverty and trauma, empowering children and families to build strong futures.”

“We are truly grateful to the Foundation and Lincoln Child Center for joining us in this cause,” Peterson added.

Businesses give big to help East County foster kids

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L to R: Dan Peterson, Dave Bowers, Sue Bowers, Michael Bernamonti, Jeff Cornelius, Brian Helmick, Jenny Nunes, Christy Kenney, John Kenney with the large replicas of the two checks. photo by Sean Pearson

L to R: Dan Peterson, Dave Bowers, Sue Bowers, Michael Bernamonti, Jeff Cornelius, Brian Helmick, Jenny Nunes, Christy Kenney, John Kenney with the large replicas of the two checks. photo by Sean Pearson

By Sean Pearson

More foster children in East County will be able to attend summer camp, this year, due to the generosity of two Brentwood businesses. On Thursday, 02 June 2016, Dan Peterson of Movement Mortgage and John Kenney of JDK Realty & Associates formally presented Royal Family KIDS of Brentwood with two checks of $10,000 each.  The presentation took place at the JDK & Associates office on in the Vic Stewart’s Center in Brentwood.

Accepting the checks on behalf of Royal Family KIDS were Dave and Sue Bowers, camp directors at RFK Brentwood.  Dave Bowers explained the impact this grant will have:

“We appreciate the $25 checks too,” Dave said. “But checks like this, kind of push us over the top, and allow us to get ahead a little bit.  Every year we’ve gone, in the past we’ve had to reset…I write a check for camp…for thirty, 35 thousand dollars… and the bank account’s…back almost to zero.”

“We’re not going to be there this year, which is a beautiful thing,” he added. “Plus we’re able to do more things for the kids this year.”

Royal Family KIDS is a faith-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization founded by Wayne and Diane Tesch to serve children in the foster system and take them to a week-long summer camp.  The RFK website, it stated, “In 2015 Royal Family KIDS served over 7,700 children in 209 camps in 40 states and 4 international countries. Over one hundred thousand children have attended the camps since 1985.”

Sue Bowers was very emotional as she expressed her gratitude to Kenney and Peterson.

“The kids thank, you, the kids that don’t have a voice,” she said. “ Thank you for making something positive that they will never forget.”

All the funds will be used for the local, RFK Brentwood camp.

For more information visit www.brentwood.royalfamilykids.org or follow them on Facebook at www.facebook.com/rfkbrentwood.

Assistance League of Diablo Valley’s Operation School Bell to celebrate 50,000 children clothed, April 23

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Wayside Thrift Shop in Lafayette

Way Side Inn Thrift Shop in Lafayette

Assemblywoman Susan A. Bonilla (D-Concord), Chair of the Assembly Committee on Human Services, will be joining the Assistance League of Diablo Valley, a non-profit, member volunteer organization dedicated to improving lives in the community through hands-on programs, on Saturday, April 23rd to celebrate their most amazing achievement to date.  One of ten philanthropic programs, Assistance League® of Diablo Valley’s nationally acclaimed Operation School Bell® has reached a milestone this year by clothing 50,000 children since 1994.

The free festivities open to the public include special guest speakers, refreshments, gift certificate drawings and discount coupons for the thrift shop.  Help us celebrate how providing clothes for school children results in improved school attendance, campus citizenship, and academic performance.

WHEN: Saturday, April 23, 2016 at 11:00AM

WHERE: Assistance League Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, 3521 Golden Gate Way, Lafayette

To learn more about Assistance League of Diablo Valley and the Way Side Inn Thrift Shop, please visit their website: diablovalley.assistanceleague.org.

 

New Contra Costa campaign highlights impact of quality child care on children’s futures

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Quality Matters Firefighter

Quality Matters is the county’s new child care rating system

 Concord, CA – Kids who attend quality child care programs do better in life. That’s the message of a new campaign in Contra Costa County to educate parents about the importance of selecting quality child care for their children.

The campaign, called Quality Matters, also publicly launches Contra Costa County’s new system to rate and improve the level of quality licensed child care programs provide to young children. First 5 Contra Costa, the Contra Costa County Office of Education, and the Contra Costa Child Care Council are sponsoring the campaign.

“The important message to families is that quality matters when choosing an early learning or child care setting for their child. Research shows that children in quality child care are more successful academically and in life,” said Sean Casey, Executive Director of First 5 Contra Costa. “Quality Matters is improving the quality of child care in our county and will provide parents with tools they need to identify quality programs.”

To date, 104 licensed child care programs in Contra Costa County are voluntarily participating in Quality Matters. Providers receive training, coaching, support and incentives to meet or exceed quality standards. Most Quality Matters sites are located in low-income communities or serve children with high needs – the children least likely to receive quality child care. Sixteen counties in California are piloting child care rating and improvement systems using common criteria and standards.

The new campaign features ads in English and Spanish on buses, transit shelters, supermarket carts and online, and promotes the qualitychildcarematters.org  website which includes tips for locating and paying for quality child care and ratings for participating programs. So far, 83% of child care programs have either met or exceeded quality standards in areas proven to have the greatest impact on children’s learning and development. These include staff education and training, child-teacher interactions, and providing safe and enriching environments and age-appropriate instruction.

“With the majority of a child’s brain developing during the first five years of life, the quality of care a child receives during this time is critical,” said Ruth Fernández, program coordinator of the county’s Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education, which is housed at the Contra County Office of Education. “Quality Matters provides a set of standards to define quality for parents and for providers. Over time, and with adequate state funding, it will help guide parents in choosing the best care they can for their children.”

Signs of Quality Child Care:

  • Teacher-Child Interactions: Providers that interact positively with the kids in their care.
  • Ratio and Group Size: Small group sizes and a small number of kids to every adult.
  • Learning Activities: A mix of creative, fun and educational activities that are right for a child’s age and help them learn new skills.
  • Staff: Warm and knowledgeable staff who have a lot of training and rarely quit. Providers have taken classes or earned degrees in Early Childhood Education.
  • Environment: A rich learning environment with varied materials, activities and routines. Areas are healthy, clean and safe.
  • Child Health & Development: Providers make sure children receive health screenings and that children are developing on track.

First 5 Contra Costa: First 5 Contra Costa helps young children start school healthy and ready to learn by investing in programs focused on children during their first five years, the most important time in children’s development. First 5 is leading the effort to create a countywide quality rating and improvement system (QRIS) for Contra Costa child care programs. Funding for Quality Matters is made possible by First 5, a federal Race to the Top Early Learning Challenge Grant and a California State Preschool Program QRIS Block grant. Learn more: www.First5coco.org.

Contra Costa County Office of Education (CCCOE) – The Contra Costa County Office of Education’s mission is to be the premier county education agency providing bold leadership, high quality programs, and innovative services. The CCCOE administers the California State Preschool Quality Rating and Improvement System (QRIS) Block Grant and partners with First 5 Contra Costa, the Contra Costa Child Care Council, and the three local Community Colleges to administer the county’s QRIS Initiative. Learn more: www.cocoschools.org

Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education: The Contra Costa County Local Planning and Advisory Council for Early Care and Education, a program of the County Office of Education, works to promote quality child care through community assessment, advocacy, resource development, and collaboration with other organizations. Learn more: www.plan4kids.org.

Contra Costa Child Care Council: The nonprofit Contra Costa Child Care Council is the only child care resource and referral agency serving all of Contra Costa providing a wide range of free and low cost services and programs. It partners with parents, child care providers, businesses, and the community to promote quality care and early education so that children are ready for school and parents can work. Learn more: www.cocokids.org.