| Monthly Newsletter Volume 4, Issue 7 | July 2010 |
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Greetings!
 The Eclipse fundraiser was a smashing success with close to 600 in attendance, including a baby wolf cub! Special thanks to the Angel's fundraising committee (Marsha Kotlyer, Jenny Hecht, Melissa Iannelli, and Michelle White) This dynamic quartet has been instrumental in our charity's ability to continue to serve our community babies by having the funding we need. Next movie in Fall, 2011.
Angels now has 73 babies placed. With the last baby we placed, some major heavy lifting was needed to make it possible. Thanks for the heroic effort made by several of our families to take on extra work, (special thanks to Lauren) to allow this to happen. You know who you are and I owe you chocolate chip cookies.
Have a wonderful July!!!
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Special Announcements
New Families
Welcome to Mark & Holly of Santa Barbara and Angel & Yolima of Lompoc who just completed certification!
New Adoptions
There were two adoptions this month! Congratulations to Jonathan & Shaun for their adoption of Christine, and Jim & Ann for their adoption of Antonio.
Please become a friend of Angels on Facebook today!  Grant News Angels recently received a $40,000 grant award from the Women's Fund of Northern Santa Barbara County. The grant was made available to help Angels recruit, train and certify more foster homes in Northern Santa Barbara County. We are extremely grateful for the support of the Women's Fund of NSBC!
We are thankful to have received a recent $10,000 grant from the James S. Bower Foundation in support of the Angels parenting program. The Bower Foundation supports a number of local causes, and a focus is helping children reach their full potential.
Angels Calendar
Angels Foster Parent Training - next sessions
July 16, 5:30-9pm; July 17, 8-4pm; July 21, 5:30-9pm
Sept 17, 5:30-9pm; Sept. 18, 9-5pm; Sept. 22, 5:30-9pm
If you know of anyone who may be interested in joining the class, please have them call the Angels' office or give us their name and number and we will call them.
Angels Foster Family Picnics
Tuesday, July 27, 11am in South County
Wednesday, July 28, 11am in Mid/North County
Exact locations will be e-mailed to families two weeks prior to the picnics. Families are welcome to attend one or both picnics. Please RSVP as soon as possible to your social worker or to the office at 898-0901 so we can be sure we have enough food for everyone.
KIDS Network releases annual "Santa Barbara County Children's Scorecard," offering data about how local children are faring
The annual Children's Scorecard and its easy-to-use web-based companion together serve to provide information on Santa Barbara County children's demographics, health and well-being, along with important information to help you understand the data and its relevance in our community.
A few highlights regarding child safety:
- Younger children, particularly infants less than one year old, are more vulnerable to abuse and neglect. In 2008, under-one-year-olds represented 5% of all children in Santa Barbara County, but 11% of all sustained cases (i.e. required intervention by Child Welfare Services).
- Of all substantiated cases of child abuse and neglect (all ages): 7.1% came from sexual abuse, 9.8% from physical abuse, 1.9% from severe neglect, 53.8% from general neglect, 9.9% from exploitation, 6.7% from emotional abuse, 7.7% caretaker absence/incapacity, 3.3% at risk due to sibling abuse.
To access the report, click here
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From the desk of your Angels Social Worker
Summer is certainly in full swing! Vacation is often in the forefront of everyone's mind; where are we headed to and who is coming to visit? So, just a few reminders about summer plans, travel and guests.
If you are headed out for vacation, please discuss your plans at least 2 weeks in advance (4 weeks if you will be traveling out of state) with your Angels social worker. Angels always needs to know the whereabouts of every Angels' child, even when on vacation.
- Your Angels social worker can make sure the County CWS worker is informed and when needed, help facilitate obtaining any necessary court-approved travel orders.
- Information to provide to Angels regarding travel plans includes, dates of travel, mode of travel (car, plane, etc...) and specific locations where you will be staying with address(es) and contact phone number(s).
If you are opening your home to visiting friends and family, please let your Angels social worker know in advance of your plans for houseguests.
- We will try to accommodate guest and vacation plans when scheduling home visits during that time. However, keep in mind there may be unexpected situations that arise which necessitate flexibility.
- Also, please be aware that licensing regulations require that any guest who stays over 30 days in your home and who is over the age of 18 must complete Live Scan fingerprinting and receive a criminal clearance.
- It is important to note that this is different than a relative or renter moving into your home. In the situation of a new household member, that person must fingerprint before they move into your home. And of course, Angels must be notified before this change occurs as well.
Happy summer to you all!!
- Jennifer
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Angels Contacts 
Executive Director
Meichelle Arntz
Meichelle@angeslsb.com
(805) 898-0901
Program Director
North County
Social Worker
Jennifer L. Mills, LCSW
Jennifer@angelssb.com
(805) 264-4470
South County
Social Worker
Stacy Peterson, MSW
Stacy@angelssb.com
(805) 898-0901
Recruiter
Outreach Coordinator
Newsletter Editor
Ellen Dameron
ellendameron@cox.net
(805) 886-0390
Angels Office
Phone:(805) 898-0901
Fax: (805) 682-6649
3905 State Street,
#7-115
Santa Barbara, CA 93105
info@angelssb.com
www.angelssb.com
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Ask Dr. Charish 
Dr. Charish is better known as Charish Barry, MD, a local pediatric hospitalist with Santa Barbara Cottage Hospital and a pediatrician in private practice (www.petitepediatrics.com). She is also a member of the Angels Board of Directors. Please e-mail her with your questions.
Whooping Cough may be worst in 50 years
Urging Californians to get vaccinated now, Dr. Mark Horton, director of the California Department of Public Health (CDPH), warned in late June that the state is on pace to suffer the most illnesses and deaths due to pertussis, also known as whooping cough, in 50 years.
"Whooping cough is now an epidemic in California," Horton said. "Children should be vaccinated against the disease and parents, family members and caregivers of infants need a booster shot."
As of June 15, California had recorded 910 cases of pertussis, a four-fold increase from the same period last year when 219 cases were recorded. Five infants - all under three months of age - have died from the disease this year. In addition, 600 more possible cases of pertussis are being investigated by local health departments.
Pertussis is cyclical. Cases tend to peak every two to five years. In 2005, California recorded 3,182 cases and eight deaths.
Pertussis is a highly contagious disease. Unimmunized or incompletely immunized young infants are particularly vulnerable. Since 1998, more than 80 percent of the infants in California who have died from pertussis have been Hispanic.
The pertussis vaccine is safe for children and adults. Pertussis vaccination begins at two months of age, but young infants are not adequately protected until the initial series of three shots is complete at 6 months of age. The series of shots that most children receive wears off by the time they finish middle school. Neither vaccination nor illness from pertussis provides lifetime immunity.
Pregnant women may be vaccinated against pertussis before pregnancy, during pregnancy or after giving birth. Fathers may be vaccinated at any time, but preferably before the birth of their baby. CDPH encourages birthing hospitals to implement policies to vaccinate new mothers and fathers before sending newborns home. CDPH is providing vaccine free of charge to hospitals. Others who may have contact with infants, including family members, healthcare workers, and childcare workers, should also be vaccinated. Individuals should contact their regular health care provider or local
health department to inquire about pertussis vaccination.
A typical case of pertussis in children and adults starts with a cough and runny nose for one-to-two weeks, followed by weeks to months of rapid coughing fits that sometimes end with a whooping sound. Fever is rare.
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The Last Word....
I knew when I met you an adventure was going to happen...
-- A.A. Milne
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