Over the past decade, CHAC’s annual number of clients served has increased from 1,844 to 11,720.  Due to this growth we were in desperate need of more space to provide services, however we lacked the funds to purchase a larger building.

We are referring to the move as the “Miracle on El Camino”  because our new building is being donated to us through a trade agreement with the Malek Family of Mountain View who wanted to develop the land our current building sits on.  They agreed to swap deeds with us for a building they own only two blocks away from our current Church Street location.

Despite this incredible good fortune, one big challenge remains:  While the new building is largely appropriate for our needs, there are several upgrades and renovations required to prepare for the building for our move and future use.  The total anticipated project cost is $187,620.  We are calling on our friends and supporters to help us achieve this goal by making a one-time investment donation to help renovate/remodel our new building.

We believe that helping youth and their families build external and internal assets is the most meaningful way to protect youth from high-risk behaviors while promoting the positive attitudes, skills and behaviors that will ensure academic and personal success.  This new facility will enable us to continue to meet the needs of so many at-risk youth and families for many years to come.

Please consider helping us achieve our goal to be prepared to serve our local community for the next 20 years!

click here to make a donation (please specify that the purpose of the donation is for our building fund)

click here to read an article about our building swap in the Los Altos Town Crier

Our next Positive Discipline class for parents of tweens and teens 

Are you having challenges with your teen? Come to our class to learn concrete, new ways to be with your child that will improve your relationship.

In Positive Discipline classes, parents and caregivers learn how to:

• change your stance with your teen so that you are connecting instead of fighting
• explore what your parenting needs and limits are and present them in a respectful, balanced way
• empower your teen while also having your own boundaries
• start building what you want instead of dealing with what you don’t

Format: This is a seven week class which meets Wednesday mornings from 9am to 11am fo two hours each session in Mountain View, CA. Contact Dr. Martha Cravens at cravens@marthacravens.com  or 650-504-6781 to register or for more info.

Cole has served as a volunteer member of CHAC’s Board for the past ten years including serving a term as Vice President.  As a Board member, he’s recognized for using his strong business savvy combined with his commitment to CHAC’s mission to benefit kids in our schools and families in our community.

Originally from New York City, Cole graduated from Pepperdine University with a MS in Organization Development.  As a pioneer in high-tech human resource management he’s held senior positions with several iconic companies.  Cole has since retired from a corporate leadership role, however he maintains an active consulting practice in human resources management, organization development and certified career coaching, where he maintains an open door for ‘up-and-coming’ young colleagues in the field.

Cole’s desire to give back to the community began at an early age. While growing up in Harlem, he was the elected youth representative on the Board of Directors of Harlem Youth Opportunities Unlimited ACT in 1964.   He worked with the social activism organization to increase opportunities in education and employment for young blacks in Harlem as well as teach residents how to work with governmental agencies.

Since moving to the Bay Area, he’s utilized his human resource management skills to serve as board member and president of the Northern California Human Resource Association, formerly called Santa Clara Valley Personnel Association.  He’s also served as Vice President of the board of Casa WOMA, now called “Next Door” an organization that seeks to end domestic violence and promotes safety for battered women and their children.   Cole is currently on the board of VTF Services where he first met CHAC’s executive Director Monique Kane, and was introduced to CHAC.

Some of you may also recognize Cole’s name from his performances as a professional jazz musician and the leader of the Cole Hamlin Trio. A professional bass player since his early teens, Cole has performed locally with many top show-business names, and has also donated his musical talents to many charitable organizations, including performing at a few CHAC events.

Kinder Club is a 6-week psycho-educational program that helps Kindergarten students to develop basic social skills.  Children meet in groups of four once a week for 30 minutes and learn how to share, appropriately communicate their feelings, encourage each other, and properly behave in a school environment. One of the activities used to teach these skills is the board game Trouble.  “It’s not about playing the game, or winning,” Krueger said, “it’s about learning how to be kind, considerate and sympathetic of others, as well as learning to count in English.”

Teachers were immediately thrilled with Kinder Club’s results.  “They said it made such a difference,” said Krueger, “it allowed them to focus more time on teaching than babysitting. We’ve run Kinder Club groups every year since.”  Last year Kinder Club was brought to San Miguel Elementary.  San Miguel Principal Brenda Guy embraced the program so much that she has now made it mandatory for all Kindergarten students to participate.

The article in the Voice features CHAC’s upcoming move to a new building:  “This spring, CHAC is planning to move into a building at 590 West El Camino Real that doubles the size of its long-time downtown home. 

“We will have twice the space, which we will fill in one day,” said CHAC executive director Monique Kane. 

How did a non-profit that has lost funding this year make such an upgrade? An unusually charitable developer bought CHAC the building to make way for a project on CHAC’s property. The Malek Family Foundation is offering a “deed swap” which will be complete any day now.”

The article also discusses CHAC’s successful expansion into the Sunnyvale School District, and our ongoing need to fill the financial gap left from the past year’s funding cuts.

Read the full article here:  http://www.mv-voice.com/news/show_story.php?id=6355&e=y

The Sunnyvale Sun recently published an article about a report we received from the Sunnyvale School District that shows significant improvement in student behavior during the 2011-12 school year. Suspensions and expulsions have dropped 66% and disciplinary referrals are down 78% following the first year of CHAC’s services in the Sunnyvale School District.

The report in Sunnyvale also showed an 18.8 percent improvement compared to the previous year for the teacher-scored classroom rating scale, which scores student performance perceived by the classroom teacher in the areas of behavior, attendance, motivation and academic performance.

In the article, San Miguel Elementary School Principal Brenda Guy shared her opinion about CHAC:

 “CHAC really handles all kinds of counseling and provides a support system for individual children and groups and families and parents.”If children don’t have their basic fundamental needs met–parents as well–it’s really hard to focus the energy and effort on the academic. This program has been phenomenal in the way it has changed the lives of everybody in our community.”

Read the full article from the Sunnyvale Sun:  http://bit.ly/Vk4eTk

We recently spoke with one of the teen  parents in our Blossom Project about how the program has helped her finish high school, and plan a successful future by becoming the first person in her family to go to college.

Hi, Julia.  Thank you for taking the time to talk to us about CHAC’s Blossom Project. Blossom focuses on preventing teen pregnancies and supporting young families. How are you involved with Blossom?

Come dine at Morocco’s for lunch, happy hour, and/or dinner on November 8.  No need to bring this flyer—simply let them know you are there for the CHAC fundraiser and Morocco’s will donate 30% of your bill back to CHAC! 

Hope to see you there!  Reservations are recommended.  Call (650) 968-1502.

Location:
873 Castro Street, Mountain View, CA 94041
view map

If you are interested in volunteering please contact mkane@chacmv.orgor bh57@comcast.net or call (650) 302-3988.  Please let us know which shift you would like and feel free to bring a friend to help too! Make a fun morning or afternoon out of it!