Home / Newsletter: Fall 2018

Welcome to the “Back to School” edition of our newsletter which focuses on program highlights around early learning and school success for young children. At Family Paths, we have a long history of working with children birth-8 years old – via mental health consultation in preschools, parent education and specialized early childhood mental health therapy. We know that learning begins from infancy and parents/caregivers and educators all have an important role to play in teaching children the important skills that will help them succeed throughout life. We are excited to share the progress we are witnessing in this important work. To learn more about the connections between school success and child development read HERE.

And scroll down to learn more about our amazing interns and our upcoming Women’s Leadership Luncheon. Thank you for your continued support as we work to strengthen families and children of all ages!

Early Childhood Mental Health Consultation

    

“I have better understanding of each individual child and their strengths and I learned
how to approach and give guidance to the child that needs help.”
~Head Start preschool teacher

This is some of what Family Paths’ early childhood mental health consultation offers to preschool teachers. Our current Mental Health Consultant, Gloria Ortiz Martinez, partners with early childhood staff in four different Oakland Head Start classrooms. This past year, she was able to be part of the Oakland Starting Smart and Strong Trauma Informed Practice (TIP) Project, which offered Head Start staff expert consultation on the impact of trauma in young children’s lives.

Through this project, and with Gloria’s support and guidance, one of her preschools was able to embrace new ways of thinking about children’s needs. For example, they created “super friend” capes that taught children the values of safety, kindness, respectfulness, and responsibility. Helping teachers and staff learn new strategies to help children manage big feelings and build positive relationships is one way to help children develop the social skills that will assist them in transitioning to kindergarten and being successful in life. As a result of mental health consultation, one teacher commented: “I am so much better equipped to deal with the situations at hand. I am so grateful to my consultant. She makes me feel stronger and more informed.”

Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors Program

  

“I understand more about my children, and how important [it is] to improve their education at an early age.”
~Parent after attending AP/OD parenting class

Seeing yourself as your child’s first teacher and knowing your child is learning every day is one of the fundamental goals of the Abriendo Puertas/Opening Doors parenting curriculum. Our teachers also review with parents their child’s educational rights so they know how to best advocate for them as they move through pre-school towards kindergarten. We have been honored to work in partnership with Oakland Head Start to support families from different backgrounds (Latino, African American, Chinese, Vietnamese, Ethiopian and Yemeni) to learn from each other and become more empowered. With generous funding from Oakland Fund for Children and Youth and the Bernard E. & Alba Witkin Charitable Foundation we have just finished our second year of classes to 67 parents in Oakland. Thank you to everyone for their enthusiasm and engagement. We look forward to the year ahead!

Client Success Story


“My therapist has been a great advocate for my daughter at school and in the home. My daughter has come so far.”
~Parent of child client

Family Paths works with children from 0-21, but we know the earlier the intervention, the better likelihood of setting a child on a track for long term success. We also know that having children on track academically by 3rd grade is a huge marker for positive outcomes as an adult.
“Stephanie” was only in kindergarten when she was referred for therapy with us. She had symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder that were making it hard for her to participate in school. Her deep feelings of sadness and anger would often lead her to acting out in class and getting sent home with “red cards” for bad behavior. At the beginning of the treatment planning process, Stephanie was able to share that she wanted “only to have green, blue or purple days.” Three months into therapy and with the active support of her mom and her therapist, she was learning new skills to manage her big feelings and making amazing progress – moving from 4 green days to 14, with only one red day all month! Stephanie is now filled with pride, and is motivated to continue this trend. We predict with the new tools this mother and daughter have, Stephanie will be on track for long term school success.

2017-2018 Clinical Interns


(Nancy Morosohk, Program Manager, left, with 2017-2018 interns)

Every year, Family Paths recruits clinical trainees and interns to work in our Treatment, Intervention, and Prevention Services (TIPS) program. Interns receive extensive training, clinical experience, as well as experience on our 24-Hour Parent Support & Resource Hotline. These trainees and interns are integral to TIPS’ success and allow us to meet our goal of providing free mental health services to more than 125 children, adults, and families in Alameda County.

Kim San Gabriel is a Registered Associate MFT. She graduated from the Wright Institute and along with her staff position on the Hotline, has been an intern with us for over 5 years!

H. Teague Craig is an MFT Trainee and is graduating this fall from the Wright Institute. They will be staying on with us for another year.

Gabriela Zuloaga is an MFT Trainee and is graduating this fall from the Wright Institute. She will be staying on with us for another year, providing services primarily to the Spanish speaking community.

Leesha Mony is a Registered Associate MFT. She graduated last year from Dominican University. She will be leaving us this summer after 2 years as an intern.

Meridith Anne Baldwin is an MFT Trainee. She graduated from CIIS in their expressive arts program and is awaiting her registered associate number. She will be staying on with us for another year.

Laura Grossman is an MFT Trainee and is graduating this summer from Cal State East Bay. She will be finishing up her internship year with us this summer and will be starting a staff position with our Families In Transition (FIT) team in the fall.

Aidan Pelly is a Registered Associate Marriage and Family Therapist (MFT) and Registered Associate Professional Clinical Counselor. He graduated last year from California Institute of Integral Studies (CIIS). He will be leaving us this summer after 1 year with us as an intern.

Mia Turner is an MFT Trainee and is graduating this fall from the Wright Institute. She will be finishing up her internship year with us at the end of the summer.

We are so thankful to have had these trainees and interns with us for the past year and honored to have three of them returning for another year!

  

Family Paths’ Women’s Leadership Luncheon 2018:
“Quality and Equality in Oakland’s Evolving Music Industry Ecosystem”

Friday, September 21, 11:30am-1:30pm,
plus VIP afterparty 1:30-4:00pm

Nile Hall in Oakland’s historic Preservation Park
(1233 Preservation Park Way).

TICKET PRICES THROUGH SEPTEMBER 14
General price ($75)
VIP price ($100)

We hope you will join us for our Women’s Leadership Luncheon 2018 on September 21 with a keynote by Piper Payne, music industry entrepreneur and Chief Mastering Engineer/Owner of Neato Mastering and Co-Founder at Second Line Vinyl. You don’t want to miss Piper’s Keynote: “Quality and Equality in Oakland’s Evolving Music Industry Ecosystem”.

This year’s event will feature live music, insight into record production and rich commentary on the state-of-the-arts, equity and economic development in Oakland.

TICKETS AVAILABLE NOW. CLICK HERE!