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| MARTHA HITS A HOME RUN! |
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First Honoree of Giants Community Spirit Award |
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In a home plate ceremony before the Sept. 20th San Francisco Giants game against the Cincinnati Reds, HPP Executive Director Martha Ryan was recognized as the first honoree of the Giants Community Fund's Isabelle Lemon Community Spirit Award.
 The award, which included a $2,500 check, is given to an individual each year "who steps up to create positive change in the communities in which they live and work," said Sue Petersen, (left) executive director of the Giants Community Fund.
Martha "exemplifies the commitment to community service and "can-do" spirit of Isabelle Lemon (second from the left). Isabelle has been a member of the Giants family through KNBR promotions, events and partnerships and has consistently advanced the mission of the Giants Community Fund and other charities," explained Petersen.
Martha's daughter, Emma (second from right), and son, Ryan (right), are holding the check.
Photo courtesy of Giants Community Fund. |
| ACHIEVEMENTS |
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Birth and Housing Statistics
BIRTHS: Training and Wellness Coordinator Nancy Frappier reports that in August and September, HPP clients gave birth to 33 babies (21 boys and 12 girls). All except two had healthy birth weights of 5lbs 8ozs or higher (one had low birthweight because he was premature). All infants were born drug free.
HOUSING: Housing Contract Manager Renu Karir reports that in the first quarter of the current fiscal year (July 1 to September 30), HPP assisted 143 families in obtaining housing funds, including assistance with move-in deposits and/or first month's rent, ending homelessness for 287 children.
CHILD DEVELOPMENT: Devorah Zehring, HPP's child development coordinator, reports that during August and September, the center had 526 visits by children (some who come more than once). Seventy percent were 5 years old or younger. |
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NEW FACES |
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Thre new employees who have joined HPP this fall include:
Technology Center Manager Stephanie Dohar
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Family Therapist Dr. Ivania Molina
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Family Case Manager Yvette Mitchell
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In addition, Robin Pugh has been contracted by the Community Health Worker program to develop training curriculum, provide job coaching, and develop internships. |
| NEWS IN BRIEF |
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Budding birth doulas
 HPP health educator Elizabeth Rivera(left) and Carrie Hamilton, (right) an HPP client, attended and completed a DONA International-approved birth doula training this month. San Francisco General Labor and Delivery Nurse Monnie Reba contacted Felicia Roche, a professional birth doula trainer, who agreed to provide scholarships to make it financially possible for the women to participate. In exchange, Carrie and Elizabeth will serve as labor assistants for women birthing at San Francisco General Hospital and HPP clients. Their next steps are to become certified doulas with DONA International.
Woman drives 5 hours for tax help
HPP is the only Northern California organization offering free tax preparation help throughout the year! In September, a woman from Red Bluff in Tehama County drove five hours to HPP to get help with her 2002 taxes. Within 2.5 hours she had a new return filed with the help of volunteers Joann Burik and Grant Schettler, a retired tax attorney who now lives in San Diego and comes to San Francisco each month to help clients. In 2006, HPP volunteers helped 197 low-income participants e-file their taxes to obtain a total of $190,000 in refunds.
Turkeys drive?
No, but HPP hosts one. During the days before Thanksgiving,  HPP will give fresh turkeys and nonperishable food items to clients. If you would like to donate food or money for the effort, contact HPP's Donations and Volunteer Coordinator Rebecca Reiner at 415.546.6756, extension 362 or rebeccareiner@homelessprenatal.org
Domestic violence groups recognize HPP client
HPP client Lidia Garcia was the recipient of a Rosario Award in recognition of her efforts in surviving and overcoming the struggles of domestic violence. One of only six recipients, Lidia received the award in front of an audience of 175 people attending the September 29th "ˇSí se puede!" Domestic Violence conference held at St. Mary's Cathedral in San Francisco. The awards are sponsored by HPP, Catholic Charities CYO, Mujeres Unidas y Activas, W.O.M.A.N. Inc., POCOVI and Good Samaritan Family Resource Center, and are named in honor of Rosario Navarrette, a domestic violence survivor who was head of the San Francisco Department of the Status of Women.
USF Students establish Spanish-language library at HPP
Thanks to three University of San Francisco students in the Organizational Leadership Degree Program, HPP now has a library of Spanish-language books on childbirth and parenting for clients to borrow. Teresa Kappellas (left),  Danitza Sanchez (center), and Joe Petersen (right) contacted bookstores that donated or discounted the books. In addition, the students presented HPP with a check in the amount of $450 to maintain the library. The library is located on the 3rd floor in the Yoga Room which also hosts San Francisco General Hospital's Spanish-language CenteringPregnancy (PDF see page 3) and HPP's Spanish-language prenatal classes.
CHWs work full time
Beginning in October, HPP's Community Health Workers began working full-time in order to accommodate the growing number of families who are seeking services. Previously, CHWs worked only 32 hours a week. |
| CALENDAR |
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October is National Domestic Violence Awareness Month and National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
October 23
welfareQUEENS play (full production), 12 p.m.
Diego Rivera Theater, City College, 50 Phelan, San Francisco
HPP Community Health Worker Laure McElroy performs.
October 27
Super Sábado/Super Saturday, 10:30-1 p.m.
One Saturday a month HPP opens it doors to welcome clients for family fun, art activities and a lunch hosted by volunteers from The Junior League of San Francisco. October celebrates Halloween.
October 31
HPP Halloween Party and Trick and Treat Parade, 1:30-3:30 p.m.
Clients enjoy an afternoon of "no candy" trick or treating, a parade and "spooky" pizza! Hosted by HPP's Child Development Center.
November 4
Run with the Turtles
Staff from San Francisco General Hospital Birth Center and HPP will run half of a half-marathon to raise money for HPP.
November 19-20
Thanksgiving food baskets distributed to HPP clients. See "Turkeys Drive?" item above to see how you can help. | |
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IN THE NEWS |
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| Spotlight on New Beginnings
InService, a newsletter published by the City and County of San Francisco Human Services Agency, featured a profile on HPP's New Beginnings program.
Pregnant women who are struggling with substance abuse are in a quandary. They may want very badly to get help for their addiction so their babies are born healthy, but are afraid that if they tell anyone of their situation that their infants will be taken away from them at birth....Read more (PDF). |
| Thank you for reading and being an HPP friend. Please forward this email! The next issue will explain our clothing and donations policies. For more information about HPP, visit http://homelessprenatal.org
For any questions or comments, contact E-mail Newsletter Editor Susan Arthur at 415.546.6756 ext. 339. | |
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