ual services provided to families include:

Mental Health Referrals: 103 Academic Support Referrals: 58 Food Resources: 60 Clothing Resources: 97 Medical Referrals: 18 Health Insurance Enrollment: 44 Vision Referrals: 20 These are just a few of the resources provided to families. The BUSD family support staff work extremely hard to provide support to schools in many different ways. They are a connection be-tween home and school. Thanks to our partner agencies, clubs, and churches, we have the ser-vices and resources that are needed by families. Your partnership makes a difference for the fam-ilies in this community!

The Caring Connections community collabora-tive has proven to be a successful way to assist families in the Bellflower Unified School Dis-trict. Working and partnering together with community agencies, service clubs, and local churches is an effective way to help and sup-port families. The community collaborative provides resources that are able to help BUSD students and families with a variety of sup-ports. Caring Connections is always looking for new partnerships and resources that can be provided to families by attending community events and joining partnerships that can en-hance and streamline services to families. Re-ferring families to services and resources avail-able in the community is a huge help. We strive to continue this support to all BUSD families, when needed. The BUSD family support staff at school sites are an extremely important piece to making connections to families. Making connections and providing support in the schools is what makes this model so successful! Families look to schools as a place for resource and feel safe seeking help. The BUSD family support staff has been very diligent in trying to provide re-sources to families. So far this school year, they have served 677 families. Some of the individ-

Working Together to Support Families

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9

SERVING THE COMMUNITIES OF BELLFLOWER AND LAKEWOOD SINCE 1992

Caring Connections Mission Statement:

Our commitment is to be a bridge to a healthy and

successful future for chil-dren and families

of the Bellflower Unified School District

2018-2019 Executive Board

Members

Nichole McGahey Encounter Christian Church

Doug Easer Rotary Club of Bellflower

Jeanette Gosden Consultant

Cindy Van Meeveren Bellflower Volunteer Center

Victor Sanchez Kiwanis Club of Bellflower

Chrissy Padilla Birkey Kingdom Causes

Tia Ewing Bellflower Unified

John J. Gunther

Blue Ribbon Practices in

Community Development Award

Association of California School Administrators Part-

ners in Education Excellence

Award

Greater LA Federal Execu-

tive Board Partnership Award

California School Boards Association Golden Bell

Award for Partnerships &

Collaboratives

Caring Connections is a non- profit 501 (c) (3) organization dedicated to serving the needs of children and families of the Bellflower Unified School District.

For more information contact Caring Connections at (562) 866-9011 ext. 2058

A great BIG thank you goes to the Evalyn M. Bauer Foundation for the generous donation of $5,000!!! We appreciate your donation and are extremely grateful for your support of

Caring Connections!

Bellflower Early Learning Link (BELL) Grand Re-Opening BUSD’s Bellflower Early Learning Link (BELL) Program is an interactive program for children ages 0-5, along with their caregiver. The program helps children to be ready to learn when they start school. The grand re-opening this year will be on February 19th from 8:45 am to 10:45 am just next to the Early Childhood Education Office at 9301 Flower Street in Bellflower. BELL offers a variety of engag-ing activities to help foster cognitive, social emotional and physical development. The district spon-sored program is free and available to those who live in the BUSD boundaries. For registration, call (562) 461-2227 or visit the ECE office. Join us for the grand re-opening! All families will receive a free book.

P A G E 2

C A R I N G C O N N E C T I O N S

F E B R U A R Y 2 0 1 9

Special thanks to Caitlin Cariaso and the City of Lakewood for the generous donation of refreshments at this month’s meeting.

The next Caring Connections meeting is Tuesday March 12, 2019

Community Events

Brakensiek Library Events The Brakensiek Library will be holding a Songwriting Workshop as well as a Bonsai Succulent Workshop on Saturday, February

23rd from 12:00-1:30 p.m. For more information, please call (562) 925-5543

Updates and Events

On Saturday, February 2, 2019, 49 happy children rode the Encounter Church bus and went for a fun and exciting ride to Payless Shoes at Norwalk Square. Payless employees assisted the children with their foot measurements and Rotary members enjoyed helping the children find that perfect pair of shoes and socks. The children enjoyed donuts and juice after their shopping was done. With the help of Payless employees, Rotary mem-bers, and BUSD family support staff, the children were back on the bus in an hour with their new pair of shoes and socks to match. Thank you to everyone who helped make this event possible!

Rotary Club of Bellflower Sponsors New Shoes for Kids! City of Bellflower

Spring Basket Program

Michelle Navarro from the Bellflower Volunteer Cen-

ter, is reaching out to community agencies, churches and service clubs to provide East-er baskets for children from low-income families. This is the eleventh year the Vol-unteer Center has implemented this pro-gram. Last year Michelle put together over 427 baskets. Caring Connections is helping in this effort to provide books and school supplies to be included in these baskets. Last month, we were able to participate in the Feed the Children Organization book giveaway. This organization reaches out to homeless liai-sons at qualified school districts to provide resources to homeless and/or low-income families. We were able to receive 169 amazing books for the Spring baskets. For more information on Feed the Children, please visit their website at www.feedthechildren.org. If you are interested in donating items to the Spring Basket Program or would like more information, please contact Michelle at (562) 804-1424 ext. 2331. Donation items may include: school supplies, books, toiletries, socks, games, puzzles, toys and wrapped candy. All donations must be re-ceived by March 7, 2019.

The Secret Place Church Clothing Giveaway

On January 24th and 25th, the Secret Place Church distributed shoes, socks, blankets, men’s co-logne, coats, and pajamas to over 100 Bellflower families. These items will go a long way to helping the community stay warm during the winter months. Thank you for your generosity!