Support Groups
San Diego Community Support Groups
Bereavement Support Group. Lost a loved one? Learn to cope with grief through these sessions that offer comfort and encouragement. First Tuesday & third Friday of the month, 10-11 am. Free. For details, call or visit website. Scripps Memorial Hospital Encinitas, 354 Santa Fe Dr. www.scripps.org; 760-633-7784.
Palomar Pomerado Health (PPH) Breastfeeding Support Groups. Tuesdays & Fridays, 1-2:30 pm at PPH Women’s Health Connection Boutique, Pomerado Outpatient Pavilion, 15611 Pomerado Rd., Ste 108, Poway; Thursdays, 11 am-12:30 pm at First United Methodist Church, 341 South Kalmia St., Escondido. Free. 858-613-6110.
Griefshare Thursdays. Losing a loved one is one of life’s most painful experiences, but you don’t have to go through it alone. Take this 14-week, video-driven course that offers support for individuals coping with the loss of a spouse, friend or family member. Contact Christine Molla at mollachristine@gmail.com or visit www.griefshare.org.
MOPS (Mothers of Preschoolers). Take a ‘mommy break’ as you meet and socialize with other moms in this support group. Activities include talks on parenting-related issues, crafts, games and more. Wednesdays, 10-11:30 am. $85 for 16 weeks. Pre-registration required. Faith Community Church, 2285 Murray Ridge Rd. www.mops.org; 619-405-7078.
OceansideMommies.com. Join a free, online community for moms in North San Diego County (a chapter of non-profit organization, The Mommies Network) where you can connect with other local mothers, share information (on anything and everything – from tips on feeding picky eaters to the best place for kids’ haircuts) in private forums and meet up at member-driven events.
Warrior Traditions. This free program by Veterans Village of San Diego consists of off-base, confidential support groups for Active Duty, Reserve, National Guard and recently separated combat veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, that lets them share their experiences and discuss any issues they may have related to their service. Spouses and significant others are welcome to participate. Mondays at Libby Lake Community Center, 4700 North River Rd., Oceanside & Thursdays at Veterans Museum & Memorial Center, 2115 Park Blvd., San Diego. 7-9 pm. Also offering Spouse Night for the loved ones of Iraq and Afghanistan veterans. First & third Tues. of the month, 7-9 pm. www.vvsd.net/warrior.htm; 619-393-2084.
Are You a Breast Cancer Survivor? Join this support circle and share personal experiences, gain support and meet other people who are in the same situation. English-speaking group meets every first & third Tuesday of the month, 5:30-6:30 pm; Spanish-speaking group meets every second & fourth Monday of the month, 6-7 pm. Vista Community Clinic’s Health Promotion Center, 846 Williamston St. 760-631-5000, ext. 7167.
NAMI Connection. The National Alliance on Mental Illness offers this weekly support group for adults that presents a relaxed approach to sharing the challenges and triumphs of coping with mental illness. Thursdays, 6-7:30 pm. Free. 4480 30th St., San Diego. www.namisandiego.org; 619-543-1434.
California Bipolar Foundation offers support groups for parents of children and young adults affected by bipolar disorder. First Tues. of the month, 6-8 pm in Carmel Valley (RSVP to lisa.weinreb@sdcda.org); third Wed. of the month, 10 am-noon in Rancho Santa Fe (RSVP to muffwalk@aol.com); second Thurs. of the month, 10 am-noon in Poway (RSVP to ksheffres@cox.net). 858-342-0327.
Lung Cancer Support Group. Third Wed. of the month, 11 am-12:30 pm. Facilitator: Steven Hickman, PsyD. Moores UCSD Cancer Center, Rm. 3106, 3855 Health Sciences Dr., La Jolla. For details, call 858-822-6868.
CASA Volunteers Program
By some counts, San Diego’s foster youth are in crisis. Each month, 150-200 children enter the foster care system for the first time, and approximately 7,500 children go through the system each year. Social workers and court systems are overwhelmed and often, little time can be dedicated to each child’s case.
San Diego’s Voices for Children is a ray of light within the foster care system. This nonprofit organization trains volunteers to become Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) for foster children.
What is a CASA?
A CASA is a volunteer who is specially trained to advocate for children and youth in the foster care system. A CASA is assigned to a specific child or sibling group for the duration of their case. In many instances, a CASA is the only person in a child’s life who is not paid to be there.
“This makes a huge difference to the children—to have someone who volunteers his time to be with them,” says Cindy Charron, Voices for Children program manager.
What Does a CASA Do?
There are two sides to the role that a CASA plays in the life of a foster child. On the legal side, CASAs have the ability to advocate for the child in court and school. This means that a CASA:
• Writes detailed court reports
• Appears at court hearings
• Investigates and makes recommendations about the permanent placement of a child or sibling group
• Follows a child’s progress through placements
• Facilitates communication with everyone involved with a case
• Makes a minimum commitment of 18 months
CASAs also play a role that combines mentor, friend and family. A CASA has ongoing contact with his assigned child or sibling group in person and on the phone. This is the precious one-on-one time that enables a CASA to draw out a child’s interests and provide the judge with current and personal information about the child—information that most social workers, foster parents and attorneys may not have time to observe or collect.
Do CASAs Make an Impact?
According to the County of San Diego’s Commission on Children, Youth and Families, studies conclude that for every dollar spent on “prevention” today, seven dollars are returned to the public.
By investing in CASAs for children who are most at-risk for drugs, crime and school failure, communities will save seven times this investment by not having to pay for welfare, MediCal, police, prison and remedial education services in the future.
Kim Penny, Voices for Children vice-president of marketing and development says,“By helping foster children grow up to be self-sufficient, contributing members of society, CASAs help the whole community.”
Program Effectiveness: Proof Positive!
The following studies show how CASA programs positively impact children in the foster care system.
• CASA Effectiveness Studies Review
A recent review of 14 CASA-effectiveness studies
by researchers at the University of California, Fresno Medical Education Program noted:
- Children with CASAs are more likely to be adopted.
- Children with CASAs are less likely to re-enter the child welfare system.
- Twenty percent more children with CASAs passed all school courses and were significantly less likely to be expelled.
- Children with CASAs scored significantly higher than other foster children on protective factors scales (sense of acceptance, controls against deviant behavior, positive attitude for the future, and ability to work with others).
Read more: www.nationalcasa.org/about_us/studies.html
• California Blue Ribbon Commission on Children in Foster Care Concluding its two-year study, the Commission had several suggestions for improving outcomes for children in foster care including “CASA programs should be available in all counties.” Read more: www.courtinfo.ca.gov/jc/tflists/bluerib-rec.htm
• Pew Commission on Children in Foster Care: “Fostering the Future: Safety, Permanence and Well-Being for Children in Foster Care” 2004 Report
“Even with the active participation of children and families, judges and attorneys will not always have the time and resources needed for the courts to make fully-informed decisions. We therefore recommend an expansion of the successful, community-based CASA program. ”
Read more: http://pewfostercare.org/docs/index.php?DocID=47
Ronni Rowland is a mother of two and freelance writer.