Project Community: Central Coast nonprofit helps students succeed

NEW THIS MORNING-- A LOCAL ORGANIZATION AIMING TO HELP STUDENTS AND PARENTS COPE WITH THE CHALLENGES OF LIFE IN AND OUTSIDE THE CLASSROOM IS EXPANDING. CRADLE-TO- CAREER IS A NON- PROFIT THAT CONNECTS PARENTS WITH RESOURCES TO HELP THEIR CHILDREN GROW AND SUCCEED.#### NATS JULISSA SILVA SAYS AS A SPANISH SPEAKER -- SHE OFTEN ENCOUNTERS BARRIERS WHEN TRYING TO LEARN ABOUT WHAT RESOURCES ARE AVAILABLE TO HELP HER CHILDREN SUCCEED IN AND OUTSIDE OF SCHOOL "ONE OF THE BIGGEST CHALLENGES THAT I FEEL AS A MOM, IS NOT KNOWING HOW TO HELP MY CHILDREN SOMETIMES." BUT A COMMUNITY GROUP IS HELPING TO EASE SILVA'S CONCERNS.. THE GROUP IS CALLED CRADLE-TO-CAREER... "WE HAVE A LOT OF SERVICES WITHIN THE COUNTY. SOME OF THESE FAMILIES DON'T KNOW ABOUT THOSE SERVICES. SOME FAMILIES ARE LIMITED IN RESOURCES. SO CRADLE TO CAREER IS HELPING TO BURN THE BARRIER." CRADLE-TO-CAREER BRINGS TOGETHER COMMUNITY PARTNERS AND CONNECTS THEM WITH LOCAL PARENTS... TO HEAR DIRECTLY ABOUT HOW TO SUPPORT THE HOPES.. DREAMS.. AND CONCERNS OF FAMILIES... THE PROGRAM RECENTLY WAS EXPANDED TO SANTA CRUZ CITY SCHOOLS... SAN LORENZO VALLEY UNIFIED AND SOQUEL UNION DISTRICTS.. "WE FOCUS ON FOUR DIFFERENT PILLARS THROUGHOUT THE INITIATIVE, WHICH IS GOOD HEALTH,GOOD EDUCATION, GOOD CHARACTER AND COMMUNITY STRENGTH.." THE GROUP ALSO WORKS TO PREPARE STUDENTS FOR NEXT STEPS IN THEIR LIVES...WHETHER IT'S HIGH SCHOOL ... COLLEGE OR A CAREER AFTER GRADUATING. "SO THAT'S WHERE WE PROVIDE THEM WITH THAT SERVICE CONNECTOR, WITH ALL THE RESOURCES. AN EXAMPLE, LET'S SAY, THEIR KIDS ARE MOVING FORWARD WITH THEIR EDUCATION...INTO HIGH SCHOOL OR COLLEGE. WE PROVIDE AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM TO CONNECT DIRECTLY WITH THE SERVICE PROVIDER. WE'RE WORKING TOGETHER WITH CABRILLO COLLEGE AND OTHER PARTNERS." FOR SILVA...SHE SAYS SHE IS THANKFUL... THE GROUP HAS HELPED HER CHILDREN FROM BOTH A SOCIAL AND EDUCATIONAL ASPECT.. "FIRST I'D LIKE TO SAY..CRADLE TO CAREER IS LIKE A FAMILY... AND IT HAS HELPED US TREMENDOUSLY BECAUSE IT IS FOCUSED ON THE MENTAL HEALTH OF THE CHILDREN FIRST. AND IT HELPED US INTERACT WITH THE SERVICES LIKE SWIMMING CLASSES, SOCCER CLASSES. AND PARTICIPATE IN ACTIVITIES SO THEY CAN GO AND SOCIALIZE.." " AND FINALLY I WANT THEM TO BE CHILDREN THAT KEEP GROWING AND GO TO COLLEGE. THAT THEY GO TO THE UNIVERSITY. AND THAT THEY HAVE THE CAREER THEY CHOOSE." IN ADDITION TO ALL OF THEIR SCHOOL PARTNERS -- CRADLE-TO- CAREER ALSO WORKS WITH THE COUNTY OF SANTA CRUZ... FIRST 5 SANTA CRUZ

A Santa Cruz County organization, aiming to help students and parents cope with the challenges of life in and outside the classroom, is expanding to Santa Cruz City Schools, San Lorenzo Valley Unified School District and Soquel Union Elementary School District. Cradle to Career is a nonprofit that connects parents with resources for their children to grow and succeed. Julissa Silva says as a Spanish speaker, she often encounters barriers when trying to learn about what resources are available to help her children. “One of the biggest challenges that I feel as a mom is not knowing how to help my children sometimes,” said Silva, speaking through a translator. But Cradle to Career is helping to ease Silva’s concerns.“We have a lot of services within the county. Some of these families don't know about those services. Some families are limited in resources. So Cradle to Career is helping to burn the barrier,” said Julio Andrade, the assistant director of Cradle to Career. Cradle to Career brings together community partners and connects them with local parents to hear directly about how to support the hopes, dreams and concerns of families. The program, which was first implemented in the Live Oak School District, was recently expanded to three more school districts in Santa Cruz County. “We focus on four different pillars throughout the initiative, which is good health, good education, good character and community strength,” said Andrade. The group also works to prepare students for the next steps in their lives, whether it’s high school, college or a career after graduating.“That's where we provide them with that service connector, with all the resources,” said Andrade. “An example, let’s say, families are moving forward with their kids' education into high school or college. We provide an opportunity for them to connect directly with the service provider. We're working together with Cabrillo College and other partners.”For Silva, she says she is thankful. The group has helped her children from both a social and educational aspect.“Cradle to Career is like a family and it has helped us tremendously because it is focused on the mental health of the children first. And it has helped us interact with the services like swimming classes, soccer classes and participate in activities so they can go and socialize,” said Silva, speaking through a translator. “I want them to be children that keep growing up and go to college. That they go to the university and that they have a career that they choose."In addition to all of their school partners, Cradle to Career also works with Santa Cruz County, First 5 Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Community Health and the United Way of Santa Cruz County.

SANTA CRUZ, Calif. —

Cradle to Career is a nonprofit that connects parents with resources for their children to grow and succeed.

Julissa Silva says as a Spanish speaker, she often encounters barriers when trying to learn about what resources are available to help her children.

“One of the biggest challenges that I feel as a mom is not knowing how to help my children sometimes,” said Silva, speaking through a translator.

But Cradle to Career is helping to ease Silva’s concerns.

“We have a lot of services within the county. Some of these families don't know about those services. Some families are limited in resources. So Cradle to Career is helping to burn the barrier,” said Julio Andrade, the assistant director of Cradle to Career.

Cradle to Career brings together community partners and connects them with local parents to hear directly about how to support the hopes, dreams and concerns of families. The program, which was first implemented in the Live Oak School District, was recently expanded to three more school districts in Santa Cruz County.

“We focus on four different pillars throughout the initiative, which is good health, good education, good character and community strength,” said Andrade.

The group also works to prepare students for the next steps in their lives, whether it’s high school, college or a career after graduating.

“That's where we provide them with that service connector, with all the resources,” said Andrade. “An example, let’s say, families are moving forward with their kids' education into high school or college. We provide an opportunity for them to connect directly with the service provider. We're working together with Cabrillo College and other partners.”

For Silva, she says she is thankful. The group has helped her children from both a social and educational aspect.

“Cradle to Career is like a family and it has helped us tremendously because it is focused on the mental health of the children first. And it has helped us interact with the services like swimming classes, soccer classes and participate in activities so they can go and socialize,” said Silva, speaking through a translator. “I want them to be children that keep growing up and go to college. That they go to the university and that they have a career that they choose."

In addition to all of their school partners, Cradle to Career also works with Santa Cruz County, First 5 Santa Cruz County, Santa Cruz Community Health and the United Way of Santa Cruz County.

Project Community: Central Coast nonprofit helps students succeed

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