Healthy Start and A-OK Programs
“Opening doors to health, school success, and hopes for the future.”
The Santa Barbara School District is lead agency for the Santa Barbara Healthy Start Partnership, a community collaborative created in 1992 as part of a California Department of Education statewide initiative. Funded by grants as well as community and District support, the comprehensive Santa Barbara Healthy Start program is an integral part of six qualifying schools: Adams, Cleveland, Franklin, Harding, and McKinley elementary schools and La Cumbre Junior High School.
The Healthy Start program was expanded in September 2000 with Proposition 10 funds to serve families in the District’s Child Development programs with parent education workshops and a variety of parent/child learning and literacy homeplay kits.
The Healthy Start program serves about 1,200 families per year (about 15% have multiple needs and receive extensive support and family contact).
Healthy Start Program components include:
- Outreach/Linkage for Isolated Families (supportive listening, case management/planning, translation assistance, information about schools, groups, invitation to special events);
- Increased Access to Health and Human Services (help negotiating systems; connections with food, clothing, toys, mentors, and with counseling, legal aid, employment, social, medical and dental services);
- Skills Development and Enrichment Programs (practical skills support; connection with tutoring, afterschool recreation, camp, ESL, and parenting programs; parent-child pre-adolescence communication classes);
- Parent Leadership, Volunteer and Donation Programs (mentoring, special events, community sponsors);
- Afterschool Opportunities for Kids (A-OK) Program serving 100 children daily at five elementary schools with homework help, enrichment, and sports in partnership with the Santa Barbara City Parks and Recreation Department, Girls Inc., and Family Service Agency.
Healthy Start Administration Center Staff:
- Director of Programs: Theresa Weissglass
Phone: (805) 687-0761, extension 302
Fax: (805) 569-5572
E-mail: Theresa Weissglass - Assistant Director: Sharon Roth
Office at McKinley Elementary School
Phone: (805) 966-3177
E-mail: Sharon Roth - Coordinator of Early Childhood Education Resources: Ruth Cardoso
Phone: (805) 687-0761, extension 347
E-mail: Ruth Cardoso
Healthy Start Family Resource Centers Staff:
(Monday through Thursday, 8:30-4:00)
School-based Family Advocates from Family Service Agency:
- Adams Elementary School: Nereyda Evans
Phone: (805) 563-2515
Fax: (805) 563-4365 - CalSafe (Infant) Center: Jacqueline Inda
Phone: (805) 897-1821
Fax: (805) 564-1421 - Cleveland Elementary School: Jenny Leon
Phone: (805) 963-4723
Fax: (805) 965-3523 - Franklin Childrens Center: Brenda Lopez
Phone: (805) 884-0235
Fax: (805) 965-8431 - Franklin Elementary School: Teresa Jurado
Phone: (805) 963-4523
Fax: (805) 962-6846 - Harding School: Carmen Rivas
Phone: (805) 568-0648
Fax: (805) 962-1846 - La Cumbre Junior High School: Sandra Gong
Phone: (805) 687-0761, exension 336 - McKinley Elementary School: Donna Lopez
Phone: (805) 966-3177
Mayra Jimenez
Phone: (805) 730-7466
Fax: (805) 560-7676
Community Partners:
“Collaboration takes time and reaps rewards....”
Eastside Family Dental Clinic, Catholic Charities, City of Santa Barbara Parks and Recreation, Cornelia Moore Foundation, Cottage Health System, Dental Access Resource Team, Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara, Fighting Back, Girls Inc. of Greater Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara Community College, Santa Barbara County (Department of Alcohol, Drug and Mental Health Services; Center for Community Education; Department of Social Services; Public Health Department; KIDS Network), Santa Barbara School Districts, Santa Barbara Council on Alcoholism and Drug Abuse, University of California-Santa Barbara, United Way, Kiwanis Club of Santa Barbara, Santa Barbara County’s United Way, Junior League of Santa Barbara, and First 5 Santa Barbara County.