By Jan Cox
There are many forms of community: our neighborhoods, churches, the towns we live in, or even a group of like minded people coming together with common interests. In the last few years, a strong community has formed around the One Stop Centers in Herlong, Beiber, and Westwood.
Here in Westwood, the One Stop Center is a partnership between the Westwood Family Resource Center, Lassen Aurora Network, and Lassen County Department of Health and Social Services. While the Lassen Aurora Network supports wellness through peer support services, self-care workshops and groups, Lassen County Department of Health and Social Services provides mental health and drug and alcohol services.
The Westwood Family Resource Center (WFRC) also wears many hats. In talking with Elizabeth Krier, director of the Westwood One Stop Center, she explained that the Family Resource Center concerns itself with educational, community and social service work. This center is for the entire community. Here residents may receive emergency food from a food shelf or buy natural foods from the WFRC Natural Food Store. The emergency food shelf has been especially important during these lean times and they always welcome food donations. Residents may also bring a toddler to a play group, borrow toys, or sign up for parenting or childbirth classes. Every so often, you will read a notice in the newspaper about their mystery baby showers where community members can attend and/or leave unwrapped baby gifts for a family in need.
This center also offers internet, copy machine, and fax access, computers, and application assistance for Medi-Cal and other social services. LassenWORKS now has a case worker on site every 4th Wednesday of the month to serve the residents of Westwood, Pine Town, and Clear Creek. This case worker helps residents complete the application process for CalWORKS cash assistance, Food Stamps and Medi-Cal and is available to answer questions.
As a retired educator, one thing that excited me about the Westwood Family Resource Center was the Jack PAC After-School Program which takes place during the school year from the time school lets out until 6 pm daily. This is the time when the juvenile crime rate climbs due to children of working parents being home alone. The Center was established in 1992 and soon evolved into a non-profit organization under Communities United for Children and Families. Family Resource Centers work under that umbrella. Jack PAC (Partners in After School Collaboration) is primarily funded by California Department of Ed, Prop 49 funds while groups such as the Chimney Fund, Rotary, Fletcher Walker Elementary School (building), Westwood Community Services (use of park) and many local businesses help them meet the demand for matching funds. Elizabeth noted that they are always grateful for this necessary community funding.
During the school year, Jack PAC has an average of 90 children enrolled with a daily average attendance of 70 children. Desiree Naseath is the new activities coordinator for the WFRC, while this year, the JackPAC coordinator is a separate position and will be a new face on the first day of school. Volunteers also teach various activities such as cooking and beading clubs, town history, community awareness, theater production and other areas of skills or interests that engage children.
Playground Fun for JackPAC kids
A typical afternoon at Jack PAC includes a nutritional snack, physical education, homework tutoring and specific clubs and activities. The Family Resource Center makes it a point to connect to teachers over lunch to keep open lines of communication about the children that attend the program.
Watch for the center’s Light’s on After School open house October 22, 2009. At this open house there is usually a dinner, raffle, Power Point presentation and demonstrations of activities. Or come in and find out more for yourself. The Westwood One Stop Center is located at 463-975 Birch St., Fort Sage One Stop is located at 17 D.S. Hall Avenue, Herlong, CA., and Beiber One Stop meets in the Bieber Library. Visitors are always welcome.
