| Column 8/21/03 During the past two
years I have attended various meetings and functions at the Happy Camp Family Resource Center
(“FRC”.) Our election debates were held there. The Chamber of Commerce, Fire
Safe Council, Community Action Plan and the Community Coalition for Action on Alcohol and
Drugs have meetings there. People learn to quilt, paint, perform ballet and martial arts
at the FRC. Musical jam sessions happen there. Hunter’s safety courses are given
there. Teens hold dances and movie nights at the Center. Community plays are shown there.
Kids hang out there and play games and learn crafts in a safe and nurturing environment.
There is also another dimension to the center. Many support services are delivered to community
members there, such as: parenting classes, support groups, CalWORKS, life and job skills
classes, prenatal and early child development classes, social and behavioral health
services and referrals. One can get medical equipment there or use the clothes closet to
help stretch pennies. One can find brochures on how to cope with various crisis; find
assistance and referrals to folks who have resources that can help with all sorts of
problems. One can get informed about opportunities to learn, recreate or volunteer.
There are currently five FRCs in the county: Happy Camp, Dunsmuir,
Yreka, Tulelake and McCloud. The Happy Camp FRC can be contacted at 493-5117 or
hcap@sisqtel.net
Scott Valley has a “virtual” FRC
in the form of the FOCUS group. (You may have
received their regular newsletter in the mail.) Some of the things the group has worked on
include various parenting programs, the Even Start program, mailbox buddies, children’s
summer programs, home visiting with new parent’s, children’s dental care and
child car seats. FOCUS also coordinates with the Valley Oaks Seniors group to help
publicize their community events. FOCUS is evolving toward becoming a physical Center.
Contact FOCUS through Kathy Murray at Scott Valley Feed or at svfocus@email.co
There are currently three active community teams in Siskiyou County
that do not yet have physical FRCs: Scott Valley, Montague and Butte Valley. There are two
communities have neither active community teams nor physical facilities: Weed and Mt. Shasta.
In addition, the Quartz Valley Rancheria may be developing its own FRC.
Recently, the Community Services Council of Siskiyou County received
a $270,000 grant over a three year period from the State Office of Child Abuse Prevention.
The grant will support the establishment and growth of the FRCs in the various
communities. Three AmeriCorps staff will be available to assist the Centers. An FRC
advocate will help the community teams in assessing their needs and goals. A network of
the FRCs has been formed to offer technical support and assist in program development and
business practices.
On Saturday, September 4, from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., FOCUS will be
sponsoring the annual swap meet in Greenview next to Scott Valley Feed along Hwy. 3. In
addition to the usual treasures and bargains in “experienced” items that will be
for sale, FOCUS has invited Scott Valley Service groups to host fun activity booths for
fundraising and information sharing. This is an excellent opportunity to meet the FOCUS
Community Team. Come explore what Scott Valley has to offer your family and have some fun!
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