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Representing BOARD DISTRICT 4
Brentwood, Del Rey, East Hollywood, Encino, Hollywood, Mar Vista, Marina Del Rey,
Pacific Palisades, Playa Del Rey, Tarzana, Topanga, Westchester, West Hollywood,
Westwood, Woodland Hills and Venice
A Hollywood Success Story
Last Friday, the Hollywood FamilySource Center celebrated its one-year anniversary at its current location at Santa Monica and Western. It was a great event where LAUSD staff came together with community and city partners to celebrate this innovative program that has broken down traditional walls between education and social services.

For those of you who aren't familiar with what the center is accomplishing, let me fill you in on how this partnership for learning between LAUSD, a non-profit and the city's Community Development Department is creating a holistic approach to improving educational opportunities for kids and raising entire families out of poverty.

The Hollywood FamilySource Center is part of a groundbreaking model for education that I worked hard to design and bring to Los Angeles. It involves uniting services and providers from across disciplines with the goal of helping kids succeed in school. It draws together resources like medical care, counseling, tutoring and traditional school programs under one coordinated umbrella where information and staff can be shared across what are usually unbreakable boundaries, enabling students to get a well-rounded package of services without the daunting task of cobbling them together on their own. It's a way of approaching our most vulnerable children and their families that I strongly believe in.

With this model in place, the Hollywood FamilySource Center has become a one-stop shop for all the resources and training that its neighborhood families need to better their lives − this is the place where kids and families come to solve problems.

Many students living in poverty face issues outside of the regular scope of schools that impact their ability to excel. This can be mental health issues, violence, substance abuse, the need to care for younger siblings or family members, long commutes to school, parents struggling with issues like language or employment, or community pressures like gangs. Having seamless resources to address these issues close to home and in a cohesive way is proving to be an effective strategy − giving our kids the support they need to succeed.

But, in addition to supporting students, the FamilySource Center's second mission is to create the stability that families need to get ahead economically and raise themselves out of poverty. That means that it helps parents find legal assistance when they need it, provides referrals for medical care, has parenting education classes and provides job training among other things. It is truly impressive in its scope of services and since its opening in 2012 has become a key part of the neighborhood it serves. Each year, it provides services to more than 2,600 clients.

I have the opportunity every day to see this place in action. I set up my field office on site at the Center in order to be able to collaborate with the program. My staff and I have an open door to those who use the FamilySource Center, providing intervention and resources to make sure our neighborhood kids are getting the right information and aid − I look at this program as a continuation of my time in classrooms as an educator. I believe it accomplishes something critical for our kids and I am dedicated to being an every day part of its success. After school, the lobby here fills up with patrons of all ages. It's a real point of pride for those of us who have championed the FamilySource Center when we see the payoff − kids and parents getting the help they want and need.

The next step is helping kids who truly lack any family support − our homeless youth population. The FamilySource Center has plans in place to help this vastly underserved group of kids, and in the coming year will be rolling out new programs.

We are very proud of the dedicated team at the Center that works hard every day to make FamilySource Center work. And if you haven't visited the Hollywood FamilySource Center or another FamilySource Center, please consider stopping by to see what we're up to or to make use of these resources. There are 12 of them located all over the city, and each one provides unique and critical services to the community.

Best Regards,
Steven Zimmer, LAUSD District 4 Board Member
News
Teachers OK LAUSD evaluation standards
(Daily News, Jan. 19)

LAUSD Joins Nationwide Alliance to Tackle School Lunches
(LA-ist.com, Jan. 17)

Alliance of big city school districts aims for more healthful meals
(LA Times, Jan. 17)

New Center Provides Help, Hope to Hollywood Families
(Park La Brea News, Jan. 19)

Upcoming Events

Feb. 2: 31st Annual Academic Decathlon Super Quiz

Feb. 22:
ONE: A Celebration of Environmental Education and the Arts for All Children Marina del Rey Middle School


Resources
Safer Schools for Our Children
Preventing school violence is a topic on every parent's mind. Whether it is recognizing bullying or stopping weapons on campus, there are steps every parent can take to help understand and end this devastating trend. Here is information from the CDC on creating safer schools for our children.

Flu Season Prevention and Resources
It's flu season. As you may have read, influenza is on the rise. The District is working to ensure the health and safety of students, staff and the general community. Click here for more on what you can do.

2013-2014 Draft Instructional Calendars Available
Whether your school is on a single-track or four-track calendar, we've got draft calendars that will help you plan, click here. The Board will vote to finalize the calendars on Mar. 12, 2013.


Increasing Funds for Schools * Investing in Real Reform
* Supporting Students & Families