June 18, 1999
Loma Verde Elementary and Castle Park Middle will follow in the successful footsteps of two other Chula Vista school partnerships and open a Family Resource Center, thanks to a recent $400,000 Healthy Start grant. The center will be located on the Loma Verde campus and is expected to open this fall. Castle Park Elementary and Harborside Elementary each received $50,000 Healthy Start planning grants this spring as well.
The Loma Verde Family Resource Center will provide comprehensive support services and activities for the entire family. The services will include welfare to work and employment assistance, adult education classes, counseling and support groups, medical services, community outreach workers, a parent intern program and after-school activities for children. Staff will also provide referrals to partner agencies and social services not directly linked to the center. It will be similar to the existing Chula Vista Family Resource Centers —BEACON on the Vista Square Elementary campus and New Directions on the Lilian J. Rice campus.
The goals of the Healthy Start grant mirror those of the recent Comer school reform initiated at Loma Verde Elementary. The Corner model also is based upon collaboration, building consensus and providing the support to help every child learn.
The Family Resource Center still needs a name. Suggestions should address the philosophy of collaboration, safe schools, community resources and support. Ideas are welcome and can be submitted by calling the Loma Verde school office, or Project Coordinator Kathy Shellhammer at 420-3940 by Friday June 25. The Family Resource Center also will have an ongoing need for volunteers, parent leaders, business and community involvement.
Healthy Start is a state-funded effort that began in 1991 as a way to provide integrated health, mental health, social, educational and other support services to school campuses. Its intent is to improve the lives of children and families by creating learning environments that are responsive to the physical, emotional and intellectual needs of each child. It fosters interagency collaboration and encourages the full use of existing agencies.
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