SHIELDS Welcomes D&A Detox Center and The Avey & Associates Consulting Group

Visitors from D&A Detox Center and The Avey & Associates Consulting Group came all the way from Sacramento to visit SHIELDS today to experience our Exodus Program in person. They learned about the agency, our family-centered treatment model, toured the facilities, and met some clients and their children who shared their stories of success since being at SHIELDS. 

Thanks for coming - we enjoyed having you and wish you the best of luck in your endeavors to expand family-centered treatment in your area!

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books

The Los Angeles Times Festival of Books is a free, public festival celebrating the written word. The Festival is held on the last weekend of April on the campus of the University of Southern California and features vendors, authors and publishers. Some of the events are panels with authors discussing a common subject, storytelling and performances for children as well as the LA Times Book Prizes.

Dates & Location
The annual Los Angeles Times Festival of Books will be held:
Saturday April 30, 2011 from 10am – 6pm
Sunday, May 1, 2011 from 10am – 5pm at:
University of Southern California
Click here for map.
To locate USC on Yahoo! Maps or similar mapping software, you may use the intersection of Exposition Blvd and S Figueroa St, Los Angeles, CA 90089.

Los Angeles Times Festival of Books’ 2011 Change of Address.

Tickets & Admission
General attendance is free!
For information on attending, see our Attendee FAQ.

Parking
Parking at the USC campus will be $10.
Please go to the Getting There page for a detailed map.

Click HERE for more info

Small Business LaunchPad (Applications Due May 5, 2011)

CLICK HERE FOR APPLICATION

Make 9 calls Today to Move Senate Bill 9 Through the Appropriations Committee

In LA, California or from anywhere in the nation or the world

WE NEED YOUR HELP TO GIVE YOUTH SENTENCED TO DIE IN PRISON AN OPPORTUNITY FOR RE-SENTENCING.

Make 9 calls today - it will only take about 20 minutes - and push the California Senate Appropriations Committee to pass Senate Bill 9 to give people sentenced to Juvenile Life Without the Possibility of Parole in California a chance to have their sentence reviewed.

Last month all your hard work got SB9 through the Senate Public Safety Committee.  This Monday the bill will be heard in Senate Appropriations at 11am in room 4203 of the California State Capitol.

How to Reach CA Senate Appropriations Committee:

Hello, I am calling to support a Senate Bill 9. It will be before the Appropriations Committee on Monday, and I know the Senator is on that committee. Would you please let the Senator know I called to urge him/her to vote yes?

(Add what is next to each person’s name below. If you want to, say something about why you support the bill, such as:) I believe young people should get a chance to work towards rehabilitation and to prove that they have changed.

Senate  Committee Members to call:
Christine Kehoe (Chair) (916) 651-4039 ”Thanks for your support of SB 399 last session, we now hope you support SB 9.”

Mimi Walters (Vice Chair) (916) 651-4033 “Please support SB 9 when it comes to the Appropriations Committee.”

Elaine Alquist (916) 651-4013 “Thanks for your support of SB 399 last session, we now hope you support SB 9.”

Bill Emmerson (916) 651-4037 “Please support SB 9 when it comes to the Appropriations Commitee.”

Ted W. Lieu (916) 651-4028 “Please support SB 9 when it comes to the Appropriations Committee.”

Fran Pavley (916) 651-4023 “Thank you for your support of SB 9!”

Curren Price (916) 651-4026 “Thank you for your support of SB 9!”

Sharon Runner (916) 651-4017 “”Please support SB 9 when it comes to the Appropriations Committee.”

Darrell Steinberg (916) 651-4006 “Thank you for your support of SB 9!”

Protect South LA Voting Power TODAY

This evening, April 28th at 6:00 p.m., there will be an important hearing at Los Angeles City Hall and we need you there. As you may know, the process of redistricting for political representation is underway and the future of fair representation in South L.A. is at stake.

Community Coalition's Marqueece Harris-Dawson will be speaking in front of the redistricting commission on the importance of maintaining multi-racial representation for our diverse community. We know it's late notice but we need you come out and send a message to the Citizen's Commission about  how important it is to hold South L.A. districts intact, and maintain the current multi-racial composition of our State Assembly, Senate and Congressional Districts. For the Los Angeles Commission Hearing location and parking instructions, click here.

The Citizen's Commission is responsible for redrawing district lines that will affect who represents you at the U.S. Congress and State Legislature. The lines can easily be redrawn to shortchange Black and Brown residents at the state and federal levels. Representation, resources and our voice can be erased if we don't ensure South L.A. district lines remain intact.

As a Black and Brown organization, we need to weigh in aggressively. Current multi-racial (especially Black/Brown) South LA districts that have African-American representation may be changed in this process. The future of South L.A. representation is at stake and some will likely use this as an attempt to break the Black/Brown coalition and cooperation that African American and Latino activists have spent years building in South L.A.

We must not let this happen. In order to preserve fair South L.A. political representation, it is vital we have a vocal and strategic voice advocating the protection of our interests. For the Los Angeles Commission Hearing location and parking instructions, click here.

Every Child Healthy Shopping List

If you’re worried about having to make significant life changes so your child or teen can combat obesity and/or prevent it, think again. Food is NOT our enemy, but it has become the most overused drug and the most underused form of nutrition.

Changing and improving food choices is not complicated, it’s not painful; at worst it’s just NEW.

The Every Child Health Network (ECH) has a list of healthy, quality nutrition rich food kids needs for overall health, brain health and to combat obesity. And YES, they taste great and are not going to put a ding in your bank account.

Click HERE for some key points of what to look for when you’re shopping.

Attend the Healthy Families Conference, 2011

The California Legislative Black Caucus
In Collaboration with
Kaiser Permanente and Healthy African American Families
Presents

Healthy Lifestyles Initiative Conference

Exploring ways to reduce health disparities within
African American communities.

Friday, April 29, 2011
California Science Center
Donald P. Loker Conference Room
700 State Drive, Los Angeles, CA 90037

Registration & Conference Information
Registration: 7:30 a.m. - 8:30 a.m.
Conference: 8:30 a.m. - 2:30 p.m.

To attend the conference please complete the Online Registration Form here
or Download & Print the PDF Registration Form here
and fax back to Salena Pryor at (916) 445-8899

This conference is FREE, however, space is limited
and reservations will be taken on a first come first serve basis.
FREE PARKING is available.

California Assembly Democratic Caucus
Website: http://www.assembly.ca.gov/Mitchell
Email: Assemblymember Mitchell

Capitol Office:
State Capitol
P.O. Box 942849
Sacramento, CA 94249-0047
Tel: (916) 319-2047
Fax: (916) 319-2147   

District Office:
300 Corporate Pointe,
Suite 380
Culver City, CA 90230
Tel: (310) 342-1070
Fax: (310) 342-1078

National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges To Hold 74th Annual Conference

On July 24–27, 2011, in New York City, NY, the National Council of Juvenile and Family Court Judges will hold its 74th Annual Conference.

The conference will provide tools that juvenile and family courts can use to improve case processing and outcomes for juveniles and their families. Sessions focus on a wide range of topics, including custody and visitation, trauma, military issues and the courts, high conflict divorce, juvenile justice, domestic violence, immigration, substance abuse, and child abuse and neglect issues, and more.

Registration is available online.

Resources:

For more information about the conference, visit www.ncjfcj.org/content/view/1352/315.

To register, visit
http://store.ncjfcj.org/Core/Events/event details.aspx?iKey=CACX1107NY&TemplateType=A.

SHIELDS A.S.K. Program offering a No Family Left Behind: Financial Independence Education Series

Join us for FREE financial planning from debt management to establishing a college plan for your children.

This 5-part series will kick off on Thursday, March 24, 2011.

Session 1: Financial Basics

Thursday, 3/24/11

11:00am-12:00pm Spanish

12:00pm-1:00pm English

Session 2: Debt Management

Thursday, 4/28/ 11

11:00am-12:00pm Spanish

12:00pm-1:00pm English

Session 3: Retirement

Thursday, 5/26/2011

11:00am-12:00pm Spanish

12:00pm-1:00pm English

Session 4: College Fund

Thursday, 6/ 23/ 11

11:00am-12:00pm Spanish

12:00pm-1:00pm English

Session 5: Emergency Fund

Thursday, 7/28/11

11:00am-12:00pm Spanish

12:00pm-1:00pm English

Seating is limited so RSVP your attendance at 310-603-1098 Ext. 3215