HOLIDAY FOOD
Food Offered Through Home Start Family Self-Sufficiency Program
Hams and various canned foods are available on a "first come- first served" basis through Home Start's Family Self-Sufficiency Program now until December 22nd from 9:30am-4:00pm. Persons interested in this resource can contact Carla Navarro or Sheri Naum at (619) 401-8375 or go to: 338 Lexington, El Cajon, 92020, Suite 105.

HEALTHY LIVING
Free Welcome Baby Kits Available
The San Diego Welcome Baby Program, funded by First Five, offers FREE Welcome Baby Kits for families with children 0-5 years old. For more information go to: http://www.r-p-s.org/WelcomeBabyProgram/OrderaKit.aspx

OLDER ADULTS
Caregiver Coalition Hosts Free Webinars
The Caregiver Coalition of San Diego County www.caregivercoalitionsd.org  hosts webinars of interest to caregivers. By going to the website, you can access previous webinars & sign up for upcoming ones. If you are interested in joining the Caregiver Coalition, please come to our January meeting on Thursday, January 26 from 10 to 11:30 a.m. at the Burn Institute, 8825 Aero Dr., San Diego. To view the Fall/Winter list of webinars, click here.

SAVE THE DATE
Biennial Youth Resilience and Gang Prevention Summit
On April 25, 2012 from 8:00am-4:00pm, at the University of San Diego School of Peace Studies, there will be a working conference highlighting and building on San Diego County initiatives that prevent youth violence and offer pathways to their empowerment and sustainable future. Details and more information will be distributed in February! Early Registration, please contact the Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention (Sarah Lebov): 619-533-4874. This a joint project between USD School of Peace Studies, San Diego County Office of Education, San Diego Commission on Gang Prevention and Intervention, San Diego County District Attorney’s Office, and the San Diego County Health and Human Services.  

VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
Get Involved With El Cajon's Centennial Celebration In 2012
Plans have begun for the City's 100th Birthday!  You can be a big part of the celebration - and of history!  Excitement is growing as plans continue for the City of El Cajon's Centennial Celebration in 2012.  The exact date of the City's 100th Birthday is Monday, November 12, 2012; but fun events are in the planning stages leading up to that date - and after!  The Centennial Celebration Committee, led by Councilmember Jillian Hanson-Cox, is now accepting volunteers. Go to www.elcajon100.com  and look for the volunteer information and registration page, as well as sponsorship opportunities.

JOB LEADS
Eldorado Care Seeks Marketing Liaison/Business Development Person
Eldorado Care center recently expanded the licensed sub acute beds and is in need of a Marketing liaison/ business development person with a proven track record . They are offering an excellent compensation packet. Applicants can apply in person @ Eldorado, 510 E Washington Ave in El Cajon. Call Alex Munoz with questions at: (619) 623-9777.

Public Child Welfare Training Academy Program Manager WANTED
The Academy for Professional Excellence is currently recruiting applicants for a Public Child Welfare Training Academy Program Manager position.  This position will manage all aspects of the Public Child Welfare Training Academy (PCWTA), including program planning, implementation, evaluation, personnel, and stakeholder relations.  PCWTA has a $2 million dollar budget and provides over 350 days of classroom training, online training, and other training-related services to the five southern California county child welfare departments. This position also interfaces with statewide entities such as California Department of Social Services, the California Social Work Education Center (CalSWEC), and other Regional Training Academies in the state. If you, or someone you know, are interested in joining the Academy, you may obtain an application by visiting the San Diego State University Foundation website at:
https://jobsfoundation.sdsu.edu/applicants/jsp/shared/frameset/Frameset.jsp?time=1324223185135 or call Jennifer Tucker-Tatlow at (619) 594-3917.   DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS IS FRIDAY, 1/06/2012.

GRANT OPPORTUNITIES
RFP: Sustainable Communities Planning Grant and Incentive Program 2011
(This information is also online at http://sgc.ca.gov/planning_grants.html)
The program has released the Round II Sustainable Communities Planning Grant Request for Proposals (RFP) funded through the Safe Drinking Water, Water Quality and Supply, Flood Control, River and Coastal Protection Act of 2006 (Proposition 84). ($18 million). The funds awarded will support development, adoption, and implementation of Sustainable Community planning elements throughout the State, including, but not limited to, Climate Action Plans and General Plan amendments. The grants awarded from this solicitation will cover up to a three-year project period.  Grant requests for amounts from $100,000 to $1,000,000 will be considered.
All applicants submitting proposals for funding through this grant must submit a complete electronic application using the FAAST system, by 5:00 P.M. on Wednesday, FEBRUARY 15, 2012. Late applications will not be accepted.
The application process through the FAAST system can be accessed through the link:  https://faast.waterboards.ca.gov
For technical questions about the State Water Board’s FAAST application, please contact FAAST staff by phone at (866) 434-1083, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m., or by email at faast_admin@waterboards.ca.gov

YOUNG ADULT OPPORTUNITIES
International Rescue Committee Seeks to Recruit AmeriCorps VISTA Member
IRC is recruiting an AmeriCorps VISTA member to support the IRC MicroEnterprise Program. This position will be focused on supporting the refugee community in El Cajon. Click here to see job description. Interested applicants can submit their resume and cover letter to joel.chrisco@rescue.org

EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES
Suicide Prevention Action Plan Now Available
The Suicide Prevention Action Plan is now complete and available.  The links to the Full Report and Executive Summary are listed below. 
        San Diego County Suicide Prevention Action Plan:
        Suicide Prevention Action Plan Executive Summary:
The Action Plan supports the Health Strategy Agenda, known as Building Better Health.  It will be integrated into the Safety Strategy Agenda, known as Fostering Safe Communities in the future. Please contact Donna Peterson at (619) 584-5095 if you have any questions.

Vocational ESL Offered at East County Career Center: By Referral Only
A VESL class is starting up in January at the East County Career Center. If you have a client you would like to refer, please contact ECCC (these classes are by referral only) Click here for more information.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT OPPORTUNITIES
FREE Online Health Literacy Course Offered
This FREE training that addresses Health Literacy, Cultural Competency, and Limited English Proficiency is offered on-line, making it easy for trainees to go-at-their-own-pace. The training has helped more than 4,000 health care professionals and students improve patient-provider communication. Take the course any time, night or day, to improve your ability to communicate with patients and overcome barriers that can keep patients from taking their medications according to your instructions, going to the emergency room when they would be better served in primary care or otherwise preventing them from getting the full benefit of the quality care you provide. For more info, go to: http://www.hrsa.gov/publichealth/healthliteracy/index.html

San Diego Domestic Violence Council Seeks Spokespeople
San Diego Domestic Violence Council's Media Committee is seeking professionals that have expertise and passion for domestic violence prevention to become volunteer members of a bank of spokespeople. Volunteers will be trained by SDDVC to speak to media when opportunities arise. Opportunities could include speaking to media at DV Council events, radio shows, television interviews, quotes for print media, etc. Interested professionals should begin by taking a survey at:  http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/B7DSTNZ

"Train the Trainer" for QPR Suicide Prevention
Thursday, January 19, from 8:00am-5:00pm, please Save the Date for the QPR Gatekeeper Train the Trainer, being held at CHIP (9370 Chesapeake Drive, Suite 220, San Diego CA 92123). This full day course will be offered at no charge to attendees on behalf of the San Diego County Suicide Prevention Council. However, please note that space is limited, and there will be an application process to secure your participation in the training. If you would like to attend the QPR Train the Trainer, please indicate your interest by sending an email to Beth Ruland at bruland@sdchip.org.  You will receive a formal invitation and application in the coming weeks. 

AGENCY TO AGENCY
Chaldean Middle-Eastern Social Services Newsletter is Out
To view a copy of the Chaldean Middle-Eastern Social Services' Newsletter, click here.