April, 2009
from 10:15am - 11:15am

Read and Win a Disney Vacation!
April, 2009

Lightening Up Lactation
April 27, 2009
from 9:00am - 4:00pm

Form 990 the EZ Way
April 29, 2009
from 2:00pm - 5:00pm

Emotional Pilates™ : Strategies and Interventions for Building Emotional Strength
May 1, 2009
from 8:30am - 4:30pm

AIA Teleconference Series: African American Women Affected by HIV/AIDS Part 1
May 1, 2009
from 11:00am - 12:00pm

Food Allergies & Intolerances in Children
May 2, 2009
from 9:00am - 12:00pm

 

Strategic Financial Management: Linking Money, Mission, & Financial Decision Making
May 4, 2009
from 9:00am - 12:30pm

Mother's Day Festival

May 9, 2009
from 11:00am - 4:00pm

8th Annual Raising Readers - A Literacy Festival
May 9, 2009
from 12:00pm - 4:00pm

AIA Teleconference Series: African American Women Affected by HIV/AIDS Part 2
May 12, 2009
from 11:00am - 12:30pm

Inspiring ECE Leaders in the 21st Century
May 16, 2009
from 8:00am - 4:00pm

2nd Annual Resource Fair in Pacoima
May 16, 2009
from 10:00am - 2:00pm

Are We There Yet: Building Sustained Impact - Part 1
May 27, 2009
from 9:00am - 12:30pm

AIA Teleconference Series: Parents Challenged by Substance Abuse Part 1
May 28, 2009
from 11:00am - 12:30pm

Are We There Yet: Building Sustained Impact - Part 2
June 3, 2009
from 9:00am - 12:30pm

2009 Childhood Obesity Conference: Creating Healthy Places for All Children
June 9-12, 2009
all day

AIA Teleconference Series: Parents Challenged by Substance Abuse Part 2
June 10, 2009
from 11:00am - 12:30pm

The First 5 LA-funded Westside Infant Family Network has been chosen by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation as an exemplary model of service integration and delivery. More »

Because of the economic downturn, the request for food stamp benefits, or as it is now known, SNAP benefits (SNAP is the acronym for Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program), has increased almost 50 percent in the last year, according to the California Association of Food Banks. This equals almost 2.5 million Californians.

But for those Californians the world has gotten a little bit brighter. In fact, starting April 1, $40 a month brighter. Money from the federal stimulus package has boosted a household's food stamp benefit from $300 to $340 a month. This equates to a 13.6 percent increase for current recipients, and probably an extra bag of groceries. Click here to see the press release issued by the California Department of Social Services about the increase.

I'd like to remind anyone who works with families who might benefit from the SNAP program to encourage them to apply. To help a family determine if they are eligible go to the SNAP Pre-Screening Eligibility Tool at www.foodstamps-step1.usda.gov/fns/. To apply for food stamps families can: