| Valley Oak's
April Classes and Workshops
17 Activity Resource Room
6:30 to 7:30 P.M.
GOFRC, Oroville | | |
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| 2011 Directory |  |
Valley Oak Children's Services Directory of Child Care and Family Related Services has been updated and is now available on our web site. You are welcome to download an Adobe Acrobat PDF file of the directory for your reference. |
| PG&E CARE Program |  | |
The CARE program provides a monthly discount on energy bills for income-qualified households and housing facilities. Qualifications are based on the number of persons living in your home and your total annual household income. Valley Oak Children's Services is a Community Partner and can assist you with your application process.
For more information call 895-3572 or visit our web site.
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 Greetings!
We're watering our spring flowers here at Valley Oak and thinking about what we want to plant in our garden this year. Home grown fruits and vegetables are a real treat, and gardening can be a great outdoor activity for children. If you don't have room for your own garden there are many community gardens in our area.
In this month's newsletter we offer information on the importance of play and physical activity in a healthy lifestyle, child care advocacy opportunities, child abuse prevention month, and our listing of community resources and events.
Enjoy the Spring! |
  It's Spring, Let's Go Out And Play!
With the lovely spring weather, it's time to go out and play. Did you know play has an important role in children's brain development? Play allows children to develop essential physical, social, emotional and cognitive skills. This article discusses why play matters, and what parents can do to help their children experience, explore, and learn.
Play, and physical activity in general, are essential components of a healthy lifestyle. In combination with healthy eating, they can help prevent a range of chronic diseases.
 Let's Move! is an initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama that is working to put children on the path to a healthy future during their earliest months and years. Let's Move offers parents helpful information and fosters environments that support healthy choices.
The Let's Move web site has a wealth of information on topics such as childhood obesity, healthy eating, the benefits of physical activity, and helpful tips for families, schools and communities to help kids be more active, eat better and grow up healthy. |
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 Stand For Children: Advocating For Child Care
Please join hundreds of parents, children and child care providers, concerned about cuts to child care at Stand for Children Day at the State Capitol in Sacramento on May 2, 2012, 10:00 A.M. -2:00 P.M.
 Those interested in advocating for child care and letting their voices be heard are invited to join the Butte County Parent Voices group attending Stand for Children. Transportation and lunch will be provided free of charge to participants.
For more information contact Beckie Moralez, 354-0867, or Siobhan O'Neil, 895-3572.
 Also, the 5th Annual Early Learning Summit presents Spring Advocacy Session: A Dialogue That Will Inform and Advocate for Our Early Childhood Education and Care Programs, Saturday, April 21st, 9:00 A.M. - 12:00 Noon, Chico Women's Club, 592 East Third Street, Chico. This presentation will focus on information about the need for high quality care and education care in our state. The agenda will include a presentation from Julie Weatheston and a panel discussion to provide information and strategies for advocacy for our current early childhood education and care system. More information here.
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 April is Child Abuse Prevention Month
April marks the observance of Child Abuse Prevention month, a time to focus on the protection and care of our most vulnerable and trusting people, children. Child Abuse Prevention Month has been observed each April since 1983. Since that time, individuals and organizations have joined together during April to raise the public's awareness of child abuse and its prevention.
Among the events sponsored by the Butte County Child Abuse Prevention Council this April to draw attention to child abuse prevention are: Tie a Blue Ribbon campaign; displays at over 50 locations in the county; 2nd Annual Art Show, April 13 - 15th, (details below); resource booth at the Children's Faire, April 28th; calendars of activities for families in north and south areas of the county; proclamations to all the city councils and board of supervisors; bus poster displays in 6 transit stations; a label pin of appreciation to social workers; resource materials for parents.
 The blue ribbon is the symbol of child abuse prevention. Join us in keeping children safe. Tie a blue ribbon on a tree to show your commitment to protecting children.
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 Livescan Services
Valley Oak Children's Services is now offering Livescan Services.
Livescan Services are available Monday through Friday, from 9:00 A.M. to 4:00 P.M. Please call (800) 315-4507 to schedule an appointment, or visit L-1 Identity Solutions to schedule an appointment on-line.
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 Did You Know?
Valley Oak Children's Services has children's bike helmets available for infant/toddler through school age children.
Please call 895-3572 for more information or to schedule a fitting. |
 Search The Web And Support Valley Oak
GoodSearch is a search engine which donates 50 percent of its sponsored search revenue to the charities and schools designated by its users. You use GoodSearch exactly as you would any other search engine. Because it's powered by Yahoo!, you get proven search results. The money GoodSearch donates to your cause comes from its advertisers - the users and the organizations do not spend a dime!
Every time you search the Internet at GoodSearch.com, your charity or school earns money and the more you search, the more they make. Add up the money generated from all your searches and those done by other people who we hope will use GoodSearch, and we can make a real difference to the people and causes that need funds most.
Please consider using Goodsearch as your Internet search engine, and choosing Valley Oak Children's Services as one of your charities. |
 Community Resources And Events
Valley Oak Children's Services Mobile Toy and Resource Van is coming to the Butte County Library's Story Times. Come visit the van and find commuity resources and check out educational toys and children's play equipment for a one month period. The April schedule is:
- Paradise Library, 5922 Clark Road, Friday, April 13th, 10:30 A.M. - 12:000 P.M.
- Oroville Library, 1820 Mitchell Avenue, Wednesday, April 18th, 10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
- Gridley Library, 299 Spruce Street, Friday, April 20th, 10:000 - 11:00 A.M.
Please contact Siobhan O'Neil, VOCS Toy Librarian, at 899-4902 for additional information.
Rowell Family Empowerment Center of Northern California is also presenting Get Fit...Get Healthy...the Fun Way!, a series of classes offering food demonstrations, appetizing low-cost recipes, including tips for feeding children with special needs, weight management, portion control, exercise and more. Classes are every Thursday night from April 5th through May 24th, 6:00 - 8:00 P.M. Call (530) 538-7201 for more details.
 Children in third grade and younger are invited to celebrate Easter and meet the Easter Bunny at the Annual Spring Jamboree! We will be hunting for colored eggs, jumping in a bounce house and taking pictures with real bunnies! This event is co-sponsored by The 20/30 Club, Girl Scouts, CA Conservation Corp. and the P.V. Key Club. Event is free to all and takes place Saturday, April 7th at Caper Acres - Bidwell Park One-mile. Times:
10:00 AM Pre-School (5 yrs and younger w/parent)
10:45 AM Kindergarten - 1st grade
11:30 AM 2nd-3rd Grade
Benefit Art Show for the Child Abuse Prevention Council. The Chico Art Center is hosting a Benefit Art Show for the Child Abuse Prevention Council, April 13 through April 15, 2012. It will take place at the Chico Art Center, located at the Old Rail Road Stop/Station (450 Orange Street, Chico). Opening celebration is to be held on Friday, April 13, from 7:00 P.M. until 9:00 P.M. Saturday, April 14, show hours are 10:00 A.M. until 4:00 P.M. Sunday, April 15 show hours are 10:00 A.M. until 2:00 P.M.
Submissions for art should be brought to the Chico Art Center Thursday April 12, at 6:30 P.M. For questions regarding the show and/or art submissions contact Molly LittleBird at 877-8087 or e-mail her. There are no specific requirements regarding submissions for art. The show will be all media and all sizes. The show is for donation and to show only. You may show 3 pieces of art but have to donate at least one submission to benefit the Child Abuse Prevention Council. All proceeds will go directly to the Child Abuse Prevention Council.
Cultivating Community, an organization working to improve health in the North Valley, is sponsoring two gardening workshops. First is Creating Community Gardens: A Panel Discussion, Saturday, April 14, 1:00 P.M. -2:30 P.M. at the Murphy Commons "Community Building," 1290 Notre Dame Boulevard, in Chico. The panel discussion will feature experienced community gardeners from the Chico area. Seasoned, beginning and aspiring community gardeners and their friends are invited to enjoy a slideshow presentation and stories of our panelists' experiences with setting up guidelines, working collaboratively, and growing food.
The second workshop, Water Wisely With Drip Irrigation, is Sunday, April 22nd, 2:00 P.M. - 3:30 P.M. at the West Lindo Community Garden, 305 West Lindo Avenue in Chico. Learn to water fruits and vegetables with drip irrigation. Save money, conserve water, minimize weeds. We'll cover basic design, installation, operation and maintenance of a simple, above-ground drip irrigation system.
Opt for Healthy Living offers free monthly classes on How to Eat Right When Money is Tight. Classes include information on how to shop for more with less money and cooking demonstations. This month's class is Thursday, April 26th, 6:00 - 7:00 P.M. at 1311 Mangrove, Suite E, Chico. Reserve your spot by calling 345-0678.
The annual Children's Faire takes place Saturday, April 28th, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. in downtown Chico's City Plaza.
The Housing Authority of the County of Butte has opened the Section 8 Waiting list through April 30th, 2012. Applications for the Section 8 waiting list will only be available online.
Chico Unified School Distrcit will be offering free summer lunches for kids and teens. Come have lunch at any one of the following school sites, beginning May 29, 2012:
- Chapman Elementary School
- Citrus Elementary School
- Fairview High School
- Parkview Elementary School
- Chico Jr. High School
- Bidwell Jr. High School
Breakfast is 7:00 - 9:00 A.M., and lunch 11:00 A.M. - 1:00 P.M. More details here.
The Northern Valley Talk-line is a "warm line" available for all Butte County residents. It is a consumer and family member run, non-emergency, non-crisis mental health support line for individuals in need of an empathetic listener, peer support, or referral to support services. The Talk-line is available toll free 7 days a week, 4:30-9:30 PM at 1-855-582-5554 (1-855-5-talk-line).
Enloe's Mother & Baby Education Center wants to help you and your family prepare for a new baby. They offer a range of classes for before and after the baby is born that promote healthy living for babies and families. Many of the classes are free. For more information and class schedules click here.
Chico Library Preschool Story Time. Tuesdays, 10:30 to 11:00 A.M. at Butte County Library, Chico branch. For ages 2-8. Stories, songs.
Durham Library Story Time is Thursdays at 10:00 A.M. Stories, songs and art activities.
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 We hope you find our newsletter helpful and informative. Please feel free to forward it to others who may find it useful and feel free to stop by our Chico office, located at 287 Rio Lindo Avenue, to meet our friendly staff and discover all the programs and resources VOCS has to offer. As always, you may e-mail your comments to us.
Sincerely,
Valley Oak Children's Services |
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