| Valley Oak's
May Classes and Workshops
15 Activity Resource Room
6:30 to 7:30 P.M.
GOFRC, Oroville
15 Provider Chat
6:30 to 8:30 P.M.
GOFRC, Oroville
15 Provider Chat 7:00 to 9:00 P.M.
VOCS, Chico | | |
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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!
Every year here at Valley Oak we ask the members of our community how we are doing. The information we gather helps us tailor our services to serve you better. We hope you can take a few minutes to download and complete our community survey and drop it by our office or mail it back to us. And as an incentive everyone who turns in a survey by May 31st will be entered into a drawing for a family friendly raffle basket! We thank you for your input.
In this month's newsletter we offer information on upcoming child care advocacy opportunities, the joys of gardening and cooking with children, and our listing of community resources and events.
Enjoy the Spring! |
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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.
 Have you ever wondered what a day without child care would be like? Families in Humboldt County have thought about it and produced this great video.
This video, from Child Action, Inc. in Sacramento, also highlights the importance of safe, affordable child care for California's families, local communities and our state.
For the most up-to-date information about the Governor's budget proposal and its effects on child care services please become a friend on Facebook of:
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 Gardening With Children
Children are natural gardeners. They're curious, like to learn by doing, and they love to play in the dirt. Gardening gives children a chance to learn an important life skill, one that is often overlooked in standard school curriculums. Gardening is also a great way to teach environmental awareness by exploring the workings of nature.
Once you have grown the food, it's time to prepare it. Children learn by touching, tasting, feeling, smelling, and listening. They love to help prepare food and cook because they can use all their senses, and children like to eat the foods they make. The National Network for Child Care has advice on ways to include children in the kitchen.
Enjoy your harvest! |
 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 May schedule is:
- Paradise Library, 5922 Clark Road, Friday, May 11th, 10:30 A.M. - 12:000 P.M.
- Oroville Library, 1820 Mitchell Avenue, Wednesday, May 16th, 10:30 A.M. - 12:00 P.M.
- Gridley Library, 299 Spruce Street, Friday, May 18th, 10:000 - 11:00 A.M.
Please contact Siobhan O'Neil, VOCS Toy Librarian, at 899-4902 for additional information.
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.
Cultivating Community is hosting a free workshop Fresh Food from Small Spaces. Come learn how to plant and care for an abundant food garden on your porch, balcony or other small space. The workshop takes place Thursday, May 3rd, from 5:30 - 7:00 P.M. at Chico Community Children's Center, 2224 Elm Street in Chico. More details here.
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.
The 6th Annual Growing Healthy Children Walk/Run date is scheduled to be held on Saturday, May 5th, 2012, from 8:30 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. The walk/run course will include 1 mile and 5K loops as well as shorter sprints for the younger children. Please come and join in on the fun! More information here.
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, May 17th, 6:00 - 7:00 P.M. at 1311 Mangrove, Suite E, Chico. Reserve your spot by calling 345-0678.
CARD and the Outsiders are sponsoring a free event, Awesome Blossom Toss'em, a round of disc golf for kids 8-16. The fun takes place Saturday, May 19th at the Sherwood Forest Disc Golf Course, 1928 Manzanita Avenue from 10:30 A.M. -12:00 noon. Registration is required and the first 50 registered children between the ages of 8-16 will receive a free golf disc.
The YMCA is hosting the annual Free Fit-n-Fun Day at the Forebay in Oroville on Saturday, May 19th, from 10:00 A.M. to 2:00 P.M. Come and enjoy many interactive booths that include fun, engaging and creative activities to encourage children and families to adopt behaviors that support a healthy lifestyle. Some of these booths include water and boat safety; canoeing; healthy food samplings; fishing simulator, fitness challenges; crafts; animals to pet; and much more. More information here.
Rowell Family Empowerment and the ARC of Butte County are hosting an ASD Parent Support Group and inviting all families of children at-risk or on the autism spectrum. C ome and enjoy an evening of food and conversation by sharing experiences in the many diverse aspects of raising a child with autism or at-risk for autism. Click on the link above for more information.
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.
The Butte County Library offers Story Time at many of its branches for many ages and in several languages. This flyer will give you all the details. |
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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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