NFRC: now administered by DSS
The Santa Barbara County Department of Social Services (DSS) offers programs and services to help people maintain their health, improve their economic security, and protect their safety. These programs include health coverage from MediCal, food aid from CalFresh, cash aid from CalWORKs, child protection and care from Child Welfare Services, elder protection and care from Adult Services, and more. When most people think of DSS, they think of these programs.
In addition, DSS also administers several community networks
that coordinate, improve upon, and report on programs and services that impact
the well-being of children, seniors, and individuals with disabilities. These networks
include the KIDS Network, Child Abuse Prevention Council, the Adult & Aging
Network, and the Network of Family Resource Centers. Read on to learn more about the community networks!
KIDS Network
The Santa Barbara County KIDS Network was created by the
County Board of Supervisors in 1991 as an advisory body on children and family
issues. It is a countywide organization, including members from public
agencies, community-based organizations, schools and school-linked programs,
healthcare, and parent groups. KIDS Network provides data on children's
well-being, and supports key initiatives benefiting children and families. It
also serves as the hub for Resilient Santa Barbara County, a countywide network
dedicated to preventing and reducing the impacts of Adverse Childhood
Experiences (ACEs) in Santa Barbara County. KIDS Network welcomes new members.
Together with partners, KIDS Network hosts the annual
Bridges to Resilience conference, laying the groundwork for a seamless network
that addresses childhood adversity and promotes trauma-informed care for
children and families throughout the coastal tri-counties. This year, Bridges
was held as a four-part online conference. The final part, Creating Positive Experiences for Youth, will be held online
November 15, 2023, from 12:30 to 1:30 p.m. For more information, visit www.bridgestoresilience.com.
For more information about the Santa Barbara County KIDS
Network, visit www.sbckids.net.
Child Abuse
Prevention Council (CAPC)
The Child Abuse Prevention Council (CAPC) of Santa Barbara
County is a community council primarily focused on coordinating efforts in the
county to prevent child abuse and neglect. The CAPC works to raise community
awareness about child abuse and neglect through activities during Child Abuse
Prevention Month in April and year-round. It provides resources and education
to organizations and community groups, and educates service providers working with
families about mandated reporting, community supporting, and how to prevent
child abuse. The CAPC supports parent leadership development and promotes the
strengthening families framework through Parent Cafés.
CAPC and its community partners in the Together for Children
collaborative developed a comprehensive child maltreatment prevention plan,
approved by the California Department of Social Services in August 2023. The
plan aims to provide prevention services for families when risk factors first
arise, so that traditional child welfare services such as foster care are less
likely to be needed.
For more information about Santa Barbara County's CAPC,
visit www.sbc-capc.org.
Adult & Aging Network (AAN)
The Santa Barbara County Adult and Aging Network (AAN)
includes representatives from many public and private agencies working to
improve the lives of older adults and adults with disabilities in our County.
The AAN meets to set goals and priorities to provide this population with
health and human services, education, access and integration into the community;
and advises the Board of Supervisors on these issues.
Together with partners, AAN is gathering community input for
the Master Plan for Aging, a roadmap to meeting seniors’ needs for housing, healthcare
and community over the next decade. A community convening, Transforming the Experience of Aging, will be held October 12, 2023
from 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the Santa Ynez Valley Marriott, 555 McMurray
Road in Buellton, to share progress to date and launch the next phase of action
planning. To pre-register for free, visit www.sbcmpa.com.
The AAN welcomes new members. For more information on AAN,
visit www.sbcaan.org.
Network of Family Resource Centers (NFRC)
The Santa Barbara County Network of Family Resource Centers
(NFRC) is a collaborative of organizations located across Santa Barbara County,
united in providing quality services for children, families, and
communities. Formed in 2008 and now
administered by DSS with funding from First 5 Santa Barbara County, the NFRC
works collectively to advance the field of family support and promote best
practices to help children and families thrive.
Family Resource Centers are community hubs that support
family well-being, children’s healthy growth and development, civic engagement,
and community transformation. Together, the NFRC organizations serve well over
10,000 families throughout the County each year.
For more information about the Santa Barbara County Network
of FRCs, visit www.nfrcsbc.org