csnnc

Kinship Care

Kinship care is when children and youth live with relatives, such as aunts, uncles, grandparents, siblings, extended family, or fictive kin (those known to the family). Kinship care, in its many forms, has become a focus in meeting the needs of children and youth involved in the child welfare system. When the home environment is unsafe, kinship placements are the preferred option because they can help to maintain family connections and cultural traditions and minimize the trauma of separation. Kinship care is a longstanding tradition in communities of diverse racial and ethnic backgrounds that continues to prevail.

Prioritizing the placement of children and youth with kin can help transform the child welfare system into one that truly supports families. Supporting kin caregivers by using family engagement strategies and providing culturally appropriate training, services, and equitable supports can positively impact stability and permanency outcomes for children, youth, and families.

Click HERE to continue reading the article and explore resources.

4 Popular Therapy Animals

Many people require different kinds of assistance in order to complete daily tasks in life. Some people cannot live independently without the services of people and specially trained pets. Others simply benefit from a visit with an animal that provides them with a sense of calm and relaxation. Therapy animals provide this special service to people.

Not to be confused with a service dog or an emotional support pet, therapy animals are socialized and trained to provide comfort and affection to people in various stressful environments. Therapy animals are most commonly seen in hospitals, nursing homes, schools, and disaster areas, and are classified as one of three types: therapeutic visitation animals, animal-assisted therapy animals, and facility therapy animals.

The most common kind of therapy animal is a therapeutic visitation animal. These are often pets that go to various places, such as detention facilities, to visit with people who may miss their own pets, but return home with their owner at the end of the day. All kinds of animals are utilized as therapy animals but regardless of the species, they typically go through a veterinarian’s assessment, have received basic training, and have been screened to ensure they do well with people. Therapy animals are not protected by any federal laws, but some states have their own laws to grant rights to the owners and their pets. Vests, collars, registration, and other services are available through the National Service Animal Registry.

Click HERE to continue reading the article.

September CSN Meeting – Aging Populations & Those Who Support Them

You are invited to attend the upcoming CSN meeting on Wednesday, 09.04.24 that will be held via Zoom, 3:30pm-5:00pm.

• Kelly Carpenter – Nevada County Adult Services
• David West II – Nevada County Veteran Services Office
• Leslie Lovejoy – Gold Country Senior Services
• Jet Williams & Judy Steffens – One Source Empowering Caregivers
• Stefanie Murphy – Helping Hands Adult Day Program
• Leslie Kerns or Jim D – In Home Supportive Services
• Serena Cantway – FREED Center for Independent Living

Click here to view the 09.04.24 CSN Agenda

Healthy Parenting with Jinnae Anderson

This fall we are launching Parenting Forums: 2-hour interactive workshops where we focus on specific parenting challenges. This way, parents can learn some new things and/or get a refresher without having to commit to all 8 classes.

The first parenting forum, Loving Discipline and Effective Consequences, takes place Sept 18, 5:30-7:30pm in downtown GV.

It is free and includes childcare and dinner.

More details can be found in the attached flyer.

Our 8-week parenting series this fall is Love and Logic Magic for Early Childhood. It is incredibly helpful for those raising children aged 1-5 – those impactful, and often so challenging, years!

See the attached flyer for more info.

Bright Futures For Youth

Children’s Build, Make & Play

Fun weekly activities in the kid’s room at the Grass Valley Library every Wednesday from 3 – 4pm. Best suited for kids ages 8-12, but open to all.

Art Club For Adults

Need to add some creative time to your week? Join the Grass Valley Art Club!

Each week we’ll focus on a different project to inspire your imagination and give your brain time to relax during an hour of creating. All supplies are provided, and all skill levels are invited to join.

September 4th – To-doodle Lists!

September 11th – Collage Buttons

September 18th – Harvest Moon Paint Pouring

September 25th – Doodle Embroidery

Bright Futures For Youth

Kids are back in school and guess what’s right around the corner? Yep, Homecoming. And the prom is only a few months away (OK, we just wanted to stress you out just a little, it’s more than just a few months). The Cinderella Project — part of Bright Futures for Youth — takes the stress and worry out of formal events with free clothes. The Cinderella Project collects lightly used formal clothes, from dresses to suits and tuxedos, and makes them available at no cost for young people (or little cost for those a bit older). If you have lightly used formal clothes hanging around, please consider donating them to the Cinderella Project — and help a student build a life memory. Click HERE for details.

Playgroups, Storytimes & Family Events in September.

September is full of family fun at various Centers & Library locations in Nevada County!

Click HERE for the full PDF of children’s activities available at no cost.