Support for Families of Children with Disabilities

Newsletter Winter 2018

Table of Contents Fall Fundraiser Success, Wine+Design 1 We Couldn't Have Done it Without You!!!

Challenger 2 You listened, you laughed, you raised your paddle.

A HUGE thank you to our attendees, donors, volunteers, presenters, honorees, and singers for pulling together and making such a Family Voices Health Summit 3 wonderful Wine & Design evening!!!

A special shout-out to Thoresen Foundation, Laura Lanzone, and her Parent Mentor Program 4 Cheese Cakes, and Laurie Strawn’s coaching.

Thank you to our board, event committee, and Jim Riley! Pull-Out: Our Services 5-8 With your help, we raised $227,000+

Decreasing Disparity 7 That goes a long way to help us get families of children with special needs the information, education, and support they need to help their children flourish. Help Me Grow 9

Thank You 10-11 Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 2 Education Almost Time for Challenger Baseball! By Mark Kahn Although we are heading into the rainy season and March seems Our home games are at four fields throughout the city – Tepper an eternity away, it’s not too early to be thinking about baseball! Field (SFLL’s flagship field on Treasure Island), Barry Bonds Field at Registration for San Francisco Little League’s (SFLL) Spring 2019 China Basin, McCoppin Square and Riordan High School. Many season is now open. For the past 18 years, SFLL has put on a of our games are “intra league” against one of the other teams in Challenger Division which gives kids and young adults with SFLL’s Challenger Division. However, our teams also play against physical and cognitive challenges—both boys and girls—the other Challenger teams from throughout the Bay Area. Teams opportunity to play baseball with their peers. can expect to play a handful of road games, typically in Marin or the northern Peninsula.

The season begins with a parade, tentatively scheduled for March 2, 2019. The parade includes all teams from each of SFLL’s baseball and softball divisions, and the Challenger Division teams get the honor of leading the parade. The parade starts in the Presidio and then winds its way through the Marina before returning to the Presidio. (This is a different route from prior years.)

The season runs until early June with games each Sunday, except for Easter Sunday and the Sunday of Memorial Day Weekend. The final Sunday of the season is a special round-robin game with all four SFLL Challenger teams playing together. After the regular season concludes, players get to participate in an on-field clinic at AT&T Park, hosted by the . Exact timing varies from year to year, but the clinic usually takes place in either mid to late June or early July.

Little League is an all-volunteer non-profit organization supporting over 30,000 Challenger players in 10 countries. While SFLL’s Challenger Division got its start in 2000 with a single team a registration fee of $100 is requested, partial and full fee waivers of about 10 kids. Under the leadership of Peter Straus, who are available so that no one is turned away. stepped down as head of the Challenger program just this year, the program steadily grew to four teams, serving more than 50 The Challenger program welcomes kids and young adults whether kids and their families. One of our teams specifically serves our they’ve loved baseball all of their lives or have never seen a glove. more senior players, including those that are new to the game. For Come join us! our junior teams, kids must be at least five years old as of January 1, 2019, to be eligible. Most players come back year after year, with Online registration for Spring 2019 is currently underway at some kids having played in the program for five or more years. www.SFLL.org/challenger. You can also contact us directly about Challenger baseball programs throughout the Bay Area and Challenger games are played on Sundays from March until early how to get involved at [email protected] or by calling SFLL's June. Games typically start at 2pm and last for about an hour. All Challenger Coordinator, Mark Kahn, at 415-913-8599. games are non-competitive, as there are no outs, and each player gets to move along the base paths and score. Participation is at all times tailored to each player’s abilities.

Players are assisted on the field either by their family members or by our many volunteers. (We are always looking for more volunteers!) Volunteers typically include ballplayers from SFLL teams in other divisions and several of our local high schools. SF Police Department officers have been known to show up to volunteer as well, by pitching, helping players around the bases or umpiring.

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 3 FVCA

Family Voices of Calfornia Health Summit By Pip Marks The Family Voices of Health Summit & Legislative What to expect at the Summit: Day will be held March 10-12, 2019 in Sacramento. The Sum- mit brings together families, providers, policymakers, state • Hear from health policy experts agencies, and advocates who are eager to improve services • Get tips and tools to address lawmakers effectively and systems of care for children and youth with special health • Get updates on Medi-Cal, behavioral health, California care needs. The event is free for families to attend. A lim- Children's Services, and other health policy issues ited number of sponsorships are available for families, to help • Learn about the value and impact of Family Engagement cover travel, lodging, and meal expenses. Project Leadership • Learn about healthcare financing and funding graduates will be given first preference to receive a sponsor- • Learn about federal health policy and the impact on state ship. If you would like to request a sponsorship please contact funding and services [email protected].

Family Voices of California is Hiring: Job Announcement

Family Voices of California is hiring! Qualifications and Required Skills: The Family Engagement Manager will be an experienced proj- Position: ect manager with knowledge of public policy and health care Family Voices of California Family Engagement Manager issues related to CYSHCN. A minimum of 2-4 years experience Hours: FTE with program development and implementation, event coor- Salary: DOE + benefits dination, presentation development and public speaking, and Position Available: January 1, 2019 management level reporting is needed. Experience with email marketing services, web site maintenance, social media man- Position Description: agement applications, and database management a plus. Must have excellent verbal and written communication skills, be de- The Family Voices of California (FVCA) Family Engagement Man- tail oriented, and able to work as an independent self-starter ager will assist FVCA to enhance the ongoing coordination, and a collaborative team member. Ability and experience work- education, and activation of family and agency advocates for ing with staff and clients of varying cultures and backgrounds is California families of children and youth with special health care required. needs (CYSHCN). The Family Engagement Manager will research, identify, and disseminate information about health policy issues affecting CYSHCN, and organize families around these issues. Desired skills: This is not a direct family support position. Bilingual English/Spanish-speaking individuals who have expe- rience with families of children with disabilities and the resourc- Duties include but are not limited to: Educating, coordinating, es that serve them are strongly encouraged to apply. and activating family advocates, and identifying and linking them to involvement opportunities that allow them to effec- Please send cover letter and resume to: tively address healthcare issues for CYSHCN; administrative and [email protected]. Please no phone calls. project management including developing and implementing evaluation strategies and collecting, evaluating, and maintain- FVCA is a collaborative of locally-based parent-run centers work- ing data; creating and coordinating events; developing and ing to ensure quality health care for CYSHCN throughout Cali- disseminating materials; representing the organization with fornia. FVCA is the California chapter of Family Voices, a national decision makers, stakeholder groups, and on board and com- organization working to improve health care for CYSHCN. Proj- mittees; strategic program planning and development; project ect Leadership is a statewide parent advocacy training program implementation and management; and regular documenting whose overall goal is to increase the number of family members and reporting on activities and outcomes. of CYSHCN who are prepared and supported to become advo- cates for health care policy and service improvements. The pro- THIS IS NOT AN ENTRY LEVEL POSITION. gram is funded through a grant from the Lucile Packard Founda- tion for Children’s Health.

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 4 PMP Parent Mentor Program By Joan Selby, Parent Mentor Coordinator

Since 1987 the Parent Mentor Program (PMP) has been offered to hands-on exercises on listening and communication skills, as well families through Support for Families of Children with Disabilities as understanding how to utilize resources to help mentor families, (SFCD) and is their longest running program. Parent Mentors (PM) including utilizing SFCD as a helpful resource. are parents or caregivers who volunteer as a resource to families in need of specific experiences or knowledge that a PM has that may The PMP also provides two additional training series that alternate be helpful, letting families know they’re not alone in their journey. every other year, running once a month for 8 months. These 8 month trainings start in September and end in May (and off in In addition to mentoring families, PM’s are also a resource to our December). Currently the PMP is doing the Special Education agency by participating in activities, including assisting in SFCD training series. It provides PM’s the tools to work towards positive outreach or presenting on Parent Panels. The PMP was recently outcomes in successful special education issues which in turn may highlighted at the SFCD Fundraising Gala held on September provide positive experiences when talking with mentee families. 28th, 2018 with PM’s sharing their stories. The other training series is Project Leadership which helps PM’s gain an understanding of health care systems and public policy With their desire to help and support families, PM’s are trained advocacy, helping PM’s increase their knowledge and advocacy through the PMP in order to provide appropriate support to others skills. The Project Leadership series will start in September, 2019. in a caring and supportive manner. PMP trainings are only for families who want to become a Parent Twice a year in June and December are the Parent-to-Parent Mentor. However, if you are looking to get connected to a Parent (P2P) trainings which families have the option of attending Mentor, please contact a Family Resource Specialist. either month. The P2P is required in order to become a PM. The training provides future and current PM’s information and Are you ready to become a Parent Mentor? Please contact us!

Interested in becoming a Parent Mentor? For information or to register, please contact a PMP Coordinator, as follows:

Joan E. Selby (English) JoAnna Van Brusselen (Spanish) Phone: (415) 282-7494, Ext. 113 Phone: (415) 282-7494, Ext. 141 Email: [email protected] Email: [email protected]

Child Development

Sibllings of Children with Special Needs By Caitlin McNamara, Child Development Director

When you have a child with special needs or medical complexities everybody in the family is affected, especially siblings. Support for Families is interested in learning more about what unique opportunities are available within the San Francisco community for brothers and sisters. Support, empowerment, social connection, education, information, validation, these are all protective factors siblings need to be resilient, a trait we as a community can help them achieve. Please share with us organizations, groups, or expe- riences that lend themselves to the support of siblings of children with disabilities and/or health needs.

Please contact: Cailtlin McNamara, Child Development Director at: [email protected]. Thank you!

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 5

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES

Providing services for families and professionals of children with disabilities Our Services

CALL US: Phone line/Drop-in Center Volunteer Parent Mentors MISSION STATEMENT 415-920-5040 Get individualized information, Find a match with a trained The purpose of Support for referrals, and answers to all volunteer Parent Mentor based Families is to ensure that families your questions from Support on a shared issue, condition EMAIL US: of children with any kind of [email protected] for Families staff, who are and or situation. parents themselves. Staff will disability or special health care need, and the providers who FAX US: follow up to make sure you Educational Workshops and 415-282-1226 get the answers you need. Clinics serve them, have the knowledge Staff speak English, Spanish, Learn about resources, rights, and support to make informed and Cantonese. Caregiving for and responsibilities in monthly VISIT US: choices that enhance children's children available 4:30-8:30 parent/professional work­ 1663 Mission Street development and well-being. We p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays. shops and weekly small-group Suite 700 promote partnership with families, clinics. Care giving for children San Francisco, CA 94103 professionals and the community Resource Library and interpretation services are available with advance at large, because it is through HOURS: Access more than 4,500 books, reservation for clinics and partnership that we create a Monday, Wednesday, Friday DVDs, and a toy lending workshops. community where our children can 9:30am-4:30pm collection for families and flourish. Tuesday, Thursday professionals in our onsite Case Management 12:30pm - 8:30pm library. Visit the library catalog online at: Get professional consultation www.supportforfamilies.org/ from social workers. BOARD OF DIRECTORS GO TO OUR WEBSITE: library.html. On-site computer Diego Valderrama, www.supportforfamilies.org access and assistance is also Family Special Events President to get the latest information available. The library is open Socialize and network in a Kathy Shepherd, Vice on workshops, events and President during drop-in center hours fun relaxed atmosphere at new resources. Laurel Kloomok, Secretary quarterly events, such as our and during on-site workshops Jake Block, Treasurer and special events. annual ice-skating party and FIND US ON: Sally Levy Albert Halloween party. Eileen Boussina facebook.com/ Support Groups Elizabeth Brogna Newsletter supportforfamiliessf Come to a support group to Nicholas Fram find solutions to challenges, Read the quarterly newsletter Ada Li learn advocacy skills, and in English, Spanish, or Chinese Tiffany Lin instagram.com/ explore resources. Support to find articles of interest to families and profes­sionals. supportforfamilies groups provide a network EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR for families to gain strength Juno Duenas by sharing experiences with twitter.com/ peers. supportforfams How You Can Help INSIDE All services and events, for Families means that Send a check to the even childcare, are families of children with address below or give always free of charge to special needs will be better online at Support Groups 6 encourage participation prepared to help their www.supportforfamilies.org by all families. With the children—and that more Every gift can help make Special Events 7 demand for services greater children with a difference in the life of a than ever, your donations disabilities will live their child with special needs. Calendar of Events 8 help make this possible. A lives with dignity and gift to Support opportunity.

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 6

Support Groups

All support groups are free of charge. Groups are located at Support for Families unless otherwise indicated. Childcare can be provided unless otherwise indicated but MUST be reserved in advance. If you are interested in par- ticipating in any of these groups, or if you are interested in a specific issue, call (415) 920-5040 or e-mail us at info@ supportforfamilies.org for more information. We have staff who speak English, Spanish, and Cantonese.

PARENT SUPPORT GROUPS Spanish-Speaking Parent Support Teen AAC Group Group Meets every 3rd Wednesday. Autism Parent Group Meets 2nd Wednesday of the month, Time: TBD Meets 4th Tuesday of the month, 10:00am - 12:00pm. 6:30pm - 8:15pm. Young AAC Kids Conversation Club Speech Apraxia Parent Support Please call 415-920-5040 for dates and Cantonese-Speaking Parents Group times. Support Group Meets 4th Tuesdays of the month Meets 2nd Saturday of the month, 6:00pm - 7:30pm. Parent-Child Groups 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Parents of Transition Age Youth Play-Learn-Connect! Chinatown Child Development Currently focusing on issues related This group will give parents/caregiv- Center (CCDC) Group to housing. Meets 1st Tuesday of the ers an opportunity to step out of busy For Cantonese-speaking families of month, 6:15pm - 8:15pm. Parent Advo- daily routines, to play and learn with children with special needs. Meets at cates for Neurodevelopmental Disabili- their children ages 0 to 3. the CCDC on the 3rd Monday of the ties Housing (PANDH) meets monthly Mondays, 11:00am-12pm month, 9:30am - 12:00pm. during the Parents of Transition Age November 5th - December 17th Youth Support Group. Down Syndrome Parent Group Sensory Play Meets 3rd Thursday of the month, Tuesday Night Group This is a chance for you to meet with 7:00pm - 8:15pm. A group for parents who have chil- other families and discover how your dren with disabilities or special health child's senses help them discover new Families of Adults with Disabilities care needs. Meets 1st and 3rd Tues- and exciting things. Ages 3-5 years Addressing adult services issues days of the month, 6:45pm - 8:30pm. old. including transition. Wednesdays, 2:00pm - 3pm Meets 1st & 3rd Mondays UCSF Inpatient Parent Support November 7th - December 19th 6:30pm-8:30pm. Group Meets every Thursday, 4:00pm - Infant Massage Living with Loss: Loss, Hope and 5:30pm. You and your baby are invited to learn Healing about the healing tradition of infant A group for parents/caretakers of GROUPS FOR YOUTH massage in a supportive and relaxed medically fragile children and children environment. facing life threatening illness. Youth & Young Adult Support Thursdays, 2:00pm - 3:00pm Call 415-920-5040 for dates. Group, Ages 16-28 November 8th - December 20th Meets 3rd Saturday of the month, Prader-Willi Group 1:00pm - 3:00pm. Deaf/HH Baby Class Meets quarterly on Saturdays. This group specializes in working with Call 415-920-5040 for dates. Conversation & Social Club children who are deaf and hard of for Transition & Young Adult hearing. Birth to 3 years old. Spanish-Speaking Down Syndrome AAC Users Thursdays, 10:00am - 11:00am Parent Support Group Meets at the Noe Valley Public Library Nov. 1st - 29th, Dec. 6th - 20th Meets 1st Tuesday of the month, Meeting Room every Monday, 4:30pm - 6:30pm. 4:30pm - 5:30pm.

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 7 Events Winter Family Events at SFCD Please join us for these special events for families this Winter! All free with advance registration.

Family Events for 2019 Volunteer Opportunities: Volunteers are very important to the work we do. We Friday, January 11th, 6 pm - 8 pm could not offer our huge range of programs, events and work- Drumming Night with Aaron Kierbel, RhythALLogy: shops without our treasured volunteers. Join us as we turn our office into a sensory friendly drumming session for children and families with disabilities. This event is Volunteer Photographer needed: only for families of children with disabilities who have pre- SFCD is looking for photographers who would like to vol- registered for the event. unteer their time to document some of our events and conferences. Events are held on weekends during the Sunday, January 27th, 10 am to 1 pm day, and occasionally on evenings. Photographs are used California Academy of Sciences to promote our events, and for grant documentation.

Saturday, February 23rd, 9 am to 11 am Please contact us at [email protected], with a Aquarium of the Bay Spring Family Access Day link to samples of your work showing people in social settings, and indicate you would like to do volunteer photography. Sunday, March 17th, 10 am to 1 pm Contemporary Jewish Museum Volunteer Handyman/woman needed: SFCD is seeking an occasional volunteer Handyman/ Saturday, March 30th, 9 am to 11:30 am woman to help us with some assorted jobs around our of- San Francisco Zoo fices, such as securing bookcases to walls, assembling modular furniture, and fixing small items. Need tasks To register call 415-920-5040 or visit our website for more done weekdays during work hours. Please contact us at information. [email protected].

Decreasing Disparity Support Services By Steve Vigilante

In partnership with DDS/GGRC, Support for Families is working back to the Latino Community. There is something about to decrease the disparity in regional center services for Spanish being transparent with families and letting them know that we and Chinese speaking families in San Francisco. We have hired have similarities in journeys that gives us a strong connection. two new Family Resource Specialists to work on this project. Please welcome Ahide and Desiree to the support services team. I have six children. Out of the six, five had some difficulties in learning and disabilities ranging from Autism, ADHD, Social Ahide and Desiree are here to serve any eligible GGRC child Emotional and Cognitive Delays. Chemotherapy has caused or adult family member, and to help them access as many many developmental delays for my last child, who had cancer. services as possible, in order to help him or her to reach their full potential. They will accomplish this by providing Being the light in people’s lives gives me much more motivation thorough outreach, engagement, and facilitate training to knowing we can empower and educate communities and change the Spanish speaking community. The goal is to build strong the way systems provide services. relationships between the community and GGRC in order to help families lose the stigma they associate with disability, From Desiree: As a customer of GGRC, it is great to be able to ease the uncertainty of systems and services, and/or to connect families with services they might otherwise not be aware decrease feeling overwhelmed or isolated. Below you will find of or feel they can’t afford. When there is a language barrier, it can a note from each of our new Family Resource Specialists! make a journey challenging and discouraging to access services and benefits. I enjoy working with families to connect them to From Ahide: I came to work at SFCD because I wanted to give resources and services within our community.

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 8 Calendar of Events

For more information or to register for any of these events, please call us at 415-920-5040 or visit us at www.supportforfamilies.org.

December 2018 17-Jan IEP - Spanish 4:00pm - 6:00pm 3-Dec Triple P - English 10:00am - 12:00pm 24-Jan Transition to Adult Services 4:00pm - 6:00pm 4-Dec Triple P - Spanish 10:00am - 12:00pm February 2019 6-Dec IEP - Cantonese 6:00pm - 8:00pm 7-Feb IEP Clinic - Cantonese 6:00pm - 8:00pm 8-Dec PMP: Parent to Parent - English 8:30am - 4:30pm 9-Feb PPW - TBD 8:30am - 12:30pm 10-Dec Triple P - English 10:00am - 12:00pm 14-Feb IEP Clinic - English 4:00pm - 6:00pm 11-Dec Triple P - Spanish 10:00am - 12:00pm 19-Feb PMP: Special Education Series - English 5:30pm - 8:30pm 13-Dec IEP - English 4:00pm - 6:00pm 20-Feb PMP: Special Education Series - Spanish 10:00am - 1:00pm 19-Dec PMP: Special Education Series - Spanish 10:00am - 1:00pm 21-Feb IEP Clinic - Spanish 4:00pm - 6:00pm 20-Dec IEP - Spanish 4:00pm - 6:00pm 28-Feb Transition to Adult Services 4:00pm - 6:00pm 25-Dec SFCD HOLIDAY - OFFICE CLOSED March 2019 27-Dec Transition to Adult Services CANCELED 7-Mar IEP Clinic - Cantonese 6:00pm - 8:00pm January 2019 9-Mar PPW - TBD 8:30am - 12:30pm 3-Jan IEP - Cantonese 6:00pm - 8:00pm 14-Mar IEP Clinic - English 4:00pm - 6:00pm 10-Jan IEP - English 4:00pm - 6:00pm 19-Mar PMP: Special Education Series - English 5:30pm - 8:30pm 12- Jan PPW: Conduct Disorder – 8:30am - 12:30am 20-Mar PMP: Special Education Series - Spanish 10:00am - 1:00pm the Overlooked Diagnosis 21-Mar IEP Clinic - Spanish 4:00pm - 6:00pm 15-Jan PMP: Special Education Series - English 5:30pm - 8:30pm 28-Mar Transition to Adult Services 4:00pm - 6:00pm 16-Jan PMP: Special Education Series - Spanish 10:00am - 1:00pm Go to www. supportforfamilies.org for more information

Clinics Save the Date: Individualized Education Program (IEP) Clinic The 2019 Information and Learn about Special Education law, the IEP process, what to do Resource Conference when things aren't working, and how to become a more active and effective team member. Bring your questions and real life issues! Saturday, April 13, 2019 Chinese: 1st Thursday; English: 2nd Thursday; Spanish: 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM 3rd Thursday. Location: Transition to Adulthood Clinic John O'Connell High School Successfully navigate the transition from school to adulthood. 2355 Folsom St. Learn how to navigate special education transition services and San Francisco, CA 94110 how to effectively participate in the development of your child's transition plan. Appropriate for parents of children ages 12+. A free conference for families of children with disabilities, 4th Thursday of the month. the professionals who work with them and members of the community. Workshops and Clinics are FREE and held at Support for Families (SFCD), 1663 Mission St., Suite 700, San Francisco Registration opens March 6th. Limited childcare will be pro- (between Duboce St. and S. Van Ness Ave.). vided and workshops will cover a variety of topics. Pre-registration is required. To attend, reserve childcare and/or interpretation services, you must register at least one Check our website and Facebook for more information as week in advance by calling 415-920-5040 or emailing the IRC approaches or call 415-920-5040. [email protected].

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 9 Inclusion Help Me Grow and SF Inclusion Networks

Dear Families, We found this to be so helpful that we decided to plan an activity for each child to make their own calm down box to take As your child’s school year moves into the next phase, home and share at school with their new teachers and friends! the Help Me Grow San Francisco (HMG SF) team would Included in their box will be a stretch toy, a squishy/light up like to share some tips and strategies that help to keep ball, slime, pad of paper, crayons, bubbles, calm down hero the classrooms we work with friendly, respectful and safe. book and a choice board that shows the different things a child can do to calm down. When children seemed very excited, sad Many of you are or will soon be starting the Kindergarten or mad, we ask them if they need help to calm down. We offer application process. We know that the transition to Kindergarten the calm down box and help children identify their emotion is a BIG one and many children will be overwhelmed with their and then decide what they want to use from the calm down feelings about a new school and new friends. We encourage box. We noticed that some children will use one or two items you to consider these tips and share them with your child’s and will then be ready to rejoin the group while others will take teacher to make the transition smoother and to continue up to ten minutes and use each item. supporting their self-regulation skills into Kindergarten. Other strategies to support self-regulation and emotional In order to learn, play and explore children need to feel literacy: regulated. Together, we can tailor educational activities to • Reviewing daily schedule with children, introducing any best support your child’s development. We use a calm down possible changes. box that is accessible to all children in the classroom. We pair • Reminding individual children who will be picking them up it with a choice board that encourages children to identify and when. what they are feeling and what might help them feel better: • Asking children to be helpers and leaders throughout the day. • Acknowledging when children do things that are hard for • Scented crayons/marker and paper them. You are so flexible, patient, responsible, caring and safe. • A book to read • Giving children a chance to explain “their side” of a story and • Squishy worm validating how they feel. • Therapy ball to squeeze • Reminding children to advocate for themselves. I need space, I • Stretchy band need the calm down box, I want a hug. • Bubbles • Setting clear expectations around routines and activities, • Calm down hero book: counting backwards from 10 with giving concrete choices when possible. It’s time to go to school, calming movements and breathing techniques do you want to sing a song or tell a story in the car? • Turn routines into a game! Let’s brush our teeth like a superhero, who do you want to be?

About Help Me Grow San Francisco (HMG SF):

HMG SF are a team made up of specialists, consultants and

family support professionals with extensive knowledge and

experience in early childhood education, developmental

screening, and family engagement.

The HMG SF team is here to support your child and their teachers so that ALL children feel that they belong, are learning, and are having fun playing.

For more information on Help Me Grow San Francisco (HMG SF), a project of Support for Families, please contact: [email protected].

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 10 Thank you! Wine+Design 2018 Gala Sponsors and Donations received August 1, 2018 - October 31, 2018 Support for Families gratefully acknowledges gifts from the following individuals, groups and businesses.

2018 Gala Sponsors and Donors Bruce Deming & Jeff Byrne Nancy Tisdale Clark Kari Sasada Deanne Detmers Nancy & Antonio Corbelletta Emily Schuman Galleria Sponsor $25,000 Minna & Nathan Folkman Mario & Lori Dahdah Patricia Seith Thoresen Foundation Judy C. Chen & Michael V. Gamboa, Daphne & Christopher Alden Arun Sharma & Irene Lee-Sharma DDS Nanette De Lara & Jim McCormick Allison Sockolov Skylight Sponsor $10,000 John & Elise Gerich Andrea & Christopher Dehner John Takayama MD Allene and Jerome LaPides Jeff Harrell Nicholas & Victoria Fram Ruby Tsang & Paul Hom Foundation Carolyn Hodge Barry Graynor Dahlia Uchihara Jennifer Katz Wesley & Jennifer Horner Atrium Sponsors $5,000 Patricia Lawton Fred Jones Other Gala Donations Compass Real Estate Goli Mahdavi & Thomas Lee Yasaman Nazmi & Young Lee Anonymous Rachel & Tal Eslick Sally Levy Albert Steve & Mary Sandkohl Naaz B Assaad Flying Cloud Vineyards/ David A. Joe Lowry & Carol Smith Diego Valderrama Lawrence Baker Gavrich Peter Mansfield Christine & Sol Varon Danan Barnett Dr. Suzanne & Louis Giraudo Lynne & Bob Myers Jan & Jim Watson Sue Baum Jane LaPides & Murray Cahen Jennifer Nam & Adam Patterson; Steven Winningham Debbie Borenstein - In honor of the Google Matching Gifts - In honor of Boussina Family Stage Sponsors $2,500 the Boussina Family $250 Sheila Bost Eileen & Nersi Boussina Prader-Willi California Foundation Jeff & Angie Bennett Anne D Brandon Nancy & Antonio Corbelletta; BD Nathan Rhodes Rob & Robyn Bowen Mary Brennan Matching Gifts Teru Simon Molly Cahen & Nick Schoen Lydia L Chang Juno & Robert Duenas Kevin Urbatsch Kelly Close Edrington, Schirmer & Murphy LLP - Elizabeth Brogna & Michel Kapulica Emily Wang DDS & Eric Wang - In Christian & Catherine Dauer In honor of Michael Boussina Nicholas & Victoria Fram honor of the Boussina Family Baryohay Davidoff Gina Edwards - In honor of Kathy Kathleen & Bart Shepherd Janice Watson Emre Yilmaz & Carrie Smith Shepherd Barry Milgrom Darren Wollrich Susan & Dave Hess Erica Feldman UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospital Vonceil Yara Nina & Dale Hill J.B Fox UCSF Division of General Pediatrics Jeannine Yeomans Carla & David Hultman Claire Fram Afra Afsharipour & Diego Valderrama Kathy Kardos Brian & Sheri Frank - In honor of Nersi Raise Your Paddle/ Daniel Kilduff Boussina Banner Sponsors $1,000 Fund a Need Donors Winnie Lau Simon Govier Anonymous $2,500 Gail Ludwig Jeff Green Arthur J Gallagher & Co Jessica Denning Lise & Marc Maisano Carla & Kellie Greenwald Matt Connors & Nancy Nazmi - In Lisa Gardner Vanessa Mori & Darrick Baker Annalee Hagood-Earl honor of Jim and Isaiah Riles Miye Takagi Kris Moser & Richard Downing James & Patricia Hargarten Collin Davitian & Melissa Willa Robert Noakes & Carolyn Startup- Patricia M Hoppe Jessica Denning & Matt Kelly $1,000 Noakes Bernard Kassover Patrick Donohue & Shirley Hamilton Eileen & Nersi Boussina Meghana Raorane Zandra Krischer Jeanne & Rob Fram - In honor of Nick Barbara Colton Brianna Reyes Claire & Edward LaMeire and Victoria Fram David A. Gavrich Anda Kuo & Michael Shlipak Leslie & Howard Lerner Judy Janec - In honor of Irving and Campbell Judge Adam Staley Peizhen Lin Gloria Schlossbery Marcel Kapulica Mark & Suzanne Sullivan Neal & Julie Maeyama Laurel Kloomok & Ned Smith Melissa Kapulica Doug Swanson Patrick & Donna McAllister Laura & Eugene Lanzone Kathleen & Bart Shepherd Casey & Dain Vogel Sally & Steve McDonald Ellen McElhinny Jane LaPides & Murray Cahen Wesley Hom & Marilyn McEntee Martha Moore Ann LaPides & Jim Misenheimer Thomas McKinley Cira Nickerson - In honor of Nersi Pacific Pediatrics Barry Milgrom $100 Boussina Penny Bellamy & Mark Simon Susan Rasmussen Karen Clayman Michael O'Connor Sports Basement Tim & Masumi Reynders Andy Danforth Michael Osofsky - In honor of the Bous- Joel Ritch & Sarah Benedetto Jessica Denning sina Family Program Sponsors $500 Arun Sharma & Irene Lee-Sharma Bobbi Evans Neal Panken & Ben Garduno Lisa (Louise) Baker Rachel Simon Aline Garcia Stephanie Peek - In honor of Isaiah Jake Block; Deutsche Bank Americas Ned Smith Jennifer Hall Riley Matching Gifts Joe Vivio Diana Kaw Gayle Podleski Linda Boghrati - In honor of Michael Steven Winningham Zumra Maner Michael & Teresa Post - In honor of Boussina Jessica Marmolejo Boussina Family Audrey Carlson $500 Josephine McGann Roberta S. Rehm Penelope Chu - In honor of Boussina Stephanie & Ila Afsharipour Marie Ng Laura Dwelley Samant - In honor of Family Azar & Pashotan Afsharipour Michael Ng Kathy Shepherd Liane Collins Peggy Barbieri Cora Pagsanjan Jingo Sarkis - In honor of Boussina Christian & Catherine Dauer Sue Baum Jane Poppelreiter Family Andrea & Christopher Dehner Cynthia Berkovatz Sally Levy Albert Household Aaron Schapiro

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org Support for Families Newsletter Winter 2018 11 Development

Le Anne Steinberg - In honor of Marin Theatre Company William and Margaret Stewart Special Thank You to our Michael Boussina Mark Hanson Wine+Design Gala Volunteers Joseph Tada Mary Small Photography In Honor of Tim Carter and Lilian Ansari Jane von Bothmer Meditrina Designs Diana Blank Oscar Arteta Bob & Barbara Voss Medlock Ames Gary Tom Elizabeth Boyarsky Nancy Lim Yee Michael Santimauro Samantha Clark Michel Kapulica In Memory of Valerie Rowmeeka Collier Auction Donors 2018 Miye Takagi deChadenedes Izar Decleto 101 Surf Sports Nalle Winery Shelley and Andy Forrest Pamela Dunham Adventure Cat Sailing Charter North Bay Brewery Tours Jennifer Edmister Adventures by the Sea O'Brien Estate Workplace Giving Brittni Frazier American Conservatory Theater Original Joe's Anonymous Patricia Hoskins Aqua Terra Physical Therapy Parc 55 San Francisco Hotel Adriana Ayala, JC Penney Sam Hsu Asian Art Museum Picaboo Emma Campos, JC Penney Elisabeth Lasater Azari Vineyards Platypus Tours Monica Rosenfield, GitHub Nayra Mattson Balletto Vineyards Portalupi Wine Stanley Shaw Barry Graynor Reiko Takahashi Corporate Matching Laurie Strawn Bay Area Children's Theatre Retzlaff Winery GitHub Sophia van den Ende Bay Area Discovery Museum Riley Ranch Google, Inc. Renee Voss Beach Blanket Babylon/ Steve Silver Roseann Gould The Walt Disney Company Founda- Scott Yaris Productions, Inc. tion Marilyn Yee Bear Republic Brewing Company San Francisco Giants Belden Barns San Francisco Symphony Individuals who started a A Special Thank You to Our Beth Gabow San Francisco Zoo Facebook Fundraiser Wine+ Design Gala Betwixt Wines San Rafael Pacifics Megan Anderson Parent Presenters Blue & Gold Fleet Sandy Lipkowitz Lauren-Elena Tigno Pelorin (Pictured Below) Cal Shakes Scandia Family Fun LaTae Pickett Jennifer Carpentier Capital Genealogy Schramsberg and Davies Vineyards Vu Tran Robin Hansen Charles Belgarde Semifreddi's Bakery Scott Holbert Chateau Montelena Winery Seven Stills Brewery & Distillery Facebook Donations Wes Horner Children's Creativity Museum SF Bay Adventures Andreya Allen Ashlynn Kalahele Clif Family Winery SF Hole in the Wall Catering Tracy Goodman Andersen Marisol Martinez Dandelion Chocolate SF Jazz Net Dancel Martha Membreno David A. Gavrich Sharp USA Kathryn Harmon Catalina Ramirez Denise Stukas Six Flags Discovery Kingdom Judy Lau Gabriela Ramirez Dogpatch WineWorks Smuin Ballet Vu Mai Christina Share Electric Tour Company Sonoma Canopy Tours Hiep Nguyen Julia Strawn Elizabeth Spencer Wines St. George Spirits Lauren-Elena Pelorin Ruby Tsang Etsuko Bram Susan Veresh Ricardo Smith Steve Winter Fine Arts Museum of San Francisco Terrie Raphael Stacey Sysavath Flying Cloud Vineyards The Cheese Shop, Inc. Vu Tran Gustafson Family Vineyards The Laser Center of Marin, Inc. Ruby Tsang Hafner Vineyards The Style Bar Greenbrae Cairyc Wehtam Harry Leaf Thomas McKinley Hawaiian Airlines Touchstone Climbing Hiller Aviation Museum Turley Wine Cellars Hook & Ladder Winery Tutu School In-N-Out Vichy Springs Resort and Spa Irene Feiks Vicki Kleban Isaiah Riley-Chinn Waikiki Aquarium Jacuzzi Family Vineyards & The Olive Waikiki Marriott Press Winchester Mystery House Jessica Denning & Matt Kelly Wine Road Sonoma Co. Jim Riley Yasaman Nazmi & Young Lee Kabuki Springs and Spa Yukie Masumoto Kahnfections Kateri Michos Family Voices 2019 Summit Kellie Greenwald Sponsors Kris Moser Eli Lilly and Company Lagunitas Brewing Company Laura Lanzone Individuals Liam Peters Anonymous Lights Up Monique Harris Lindsay Wildlife Experience Sara Humphreys Lovejoy's Tea Room Patricia and Tom McRae

1663 Mission Street, Suite 700, San Francisco, CA 94103 •(415) 282-7494 • [email protected] • www.supportforfamilies.org SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES NONPROFIT ORG. 1663 Mission Street, Suite 700 US POSTAGE San Francisco, CA 94103 PAID SAN FRANCISCO, CA PERMIT NO. 1887

SUPPORT FOR FAMILIES OF CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES Christine Reina, Family Resource All services are free of charge: Board of Directors Specialist  Phone Line & Drop-In Center Diego Valderrama, President Daniel Segundo, Social Worker  Information & Resources Kathy Bello Shepherd, Vice President Joan Selby, Parent Mentor Coordinator Christina Share, Information Resource  Resource Library Laurel Kloomok, Secretary Manager  Support Groups Jake Block, Treasurer Desiree Sheehan, Family Resource  Parent Mentor Program Sally Levy Albert Eileen Boussina Specialist  Educational Workshops Elizabeth Brogna Margarita Spataro, Communications  Family Gatherings Nicholas Fram Manager  Short-term Counseling Ada Li Kristine Thai, Education Coordinator  Community Outreach Tiffany Lin Jennifer Tse, Accountant  Website: www.supportforfamilies.org Linda Tung, Administrative Coordinator Executive Director JoAnna VanBrusselen, Parent Mentor This NEWSLETTER is published quarterly in English, Juno Duenas Coordinator Spanish & Chinese. If you have a question or Kiely Watt, Program Coordinator comment, email us: [email protected] Family Resource Center John Wong, Social Worker Karen Baca, Assistive Technology Lisa Yee, Family Resource Specialist Support for Families Specialist 1663 Mission Street, Suite 700 Martha Barrera, Caregiver Family Voices of CA San Francisco, CA 94103 Marteal Barton, Caregiver Pip Marks, FVCA Project Director T: 415.282.7494 Sarah Bennet, Social Worker Ali Barclay, WCM Outreach Education F: 415.282.1226 Nina Boyle, Community Projects Project Manager Manager Elaine Lin, Project Leadership Advocacy Training Manager Family Resource Center Warmline, Elaine Butler, Librarian Information, and Referral Tim Carter, Family Resource Specialist Bobbi Evans, Finance & Operations Family Resource Center Network of CA 1663 Mission Street, Suite 700 Director Debbie Sarmento, FRCNCA Manager San Francisco, CA 94103 Jasmin Gauci, Family Health Liaison/ T: 415.920.5040 Family Resource Specialist Help Me Grow Joe Goyos, Education Program Director Nadia Thind, Director Gus Gunn, Data Director Support for Families strives to present families Dennis Lockett, Family Resource SF Inclusion Networks and professionals with a wide range of views Specialist Amy Pacio, Director and options in its materials and trainings. Felix Lopez, Education Coordinator Alison Stewart, Special Needs Inclusion Sean Lowry, Program Coordinator Network Manager The materials and trainings are not Sonia Valenzuela, Family Involvement necessarily comprehensive, are not Olga Maldonado, Family Resource Specialist Manager meant to be exhaustive, nor are they an Zulema Rubalcava, ASQ Trainer & Coach endorsement of the author and/or presenter. Caitlin McNamara, Child Development Manager May-Ling Joa, Inclusion Coach Ramya Krishna, Inclusion Coach If you would like to offer feedback or if you Indra Mungal, Special Events & know of additional resources, speakers and Volunteer Manager Breana Marino, Inclusion Coach /or materials that may be helpful, please Ahide Palomera, Family Resource Kerrie Perata, Inclusion Coach contact us at [email protected]. Specialist Mary-Jane Roebuck, Project Coordinator