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YOUR HOMETOWN WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
Vol. 10, No. 41
Foster care gets a helping hand by Ruth Roberts Staff Writer
Next year, an estimated 6,000 California foster-care youths will be emancipated from the state-run system. For many of these 18-year olds, new-found freedom is often fraught with fear and uncertainty. But now, thanks to a bill signed into law last week, California foster youth will be offered a helping hand into their futures. “It’s great, a great thing,” said Oakley resident Sue Hobbs, who is completing her doctoral degree in psychology at the Center for Public Policy Research at UC Davis. “We (supporters of the bill) believe that if foster youth can stay in the system with families for longer, they will have more time to mature and transition. It will be a lot less fearful for them.” For many of the adolescents in the foster-care system, being forced out on their own when they turn 18 leaves
Photo courtesy of Sue Hobbs
Oakley resident Sue Hobbs, front row right, is part of a team of researchers at the Center for Public Policy Research at UC Davis. The Center is helping to assemble the National Youth in Transition Database, which is aimed at improving foster care through a survey of youth preparing to leave the system. The voluntary extension them without a support network, few life skills and few- program – slated to begin er prospects. It’s the hope of in 2012 – will be offered to proponents of the bill that the youth who are not mentally or extend time in the care of the physically disabled and are in foster system will make their school or working at least 80 eventual transition smoother. hours per month. The new law
will allow the state to draw on federal funds to replace the more-than $52 million of state money now being used to place foster children with relatives. And while participants will still be in contact with social workers and the juvenile court, their relationship will be less stringent and more flexible. “Many of these foster youths come out of the system without the basic skills such as how to balance a checkbook, how to pay bills and how to apply for college or find a job,” said Hobbs. “Many foster youth move from home to home and neighborhood to neighborhood. We know they have problems with mental health, welfare and unemployment, and we’re looking for ways to help.” One way might be the implementation of the National Youth in Transition Database (NYTD), a program mandated under the provisions of
Staff Writer
The East Contra Costa Fire Protection District will soon ask residents what kind of fire service they want, how much they’re willing to pay, and how that money should be collected. The ECCFPD Board of Directors this week voted to spend $40,000 on a poll to help give it direction in dealing with chronic under-funding that could see the 250-squaremile district run out of money by late 2011. Board Chairman Erick Stonebarger said the poll will probably be conducted af-
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“ It’s not just about how much we can get
passed. It’s about finding out what kind of service people want and then putting a package together to get them what they want.
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ECCFPD Chairman Erick Stonebarger ter the November election, but in time to analyze the data and put a possible tax measure on the ballot next June. “It has to be all-encompassing,” Stonebarger said, adding that he wants it to answer questions such as whether residents want paramedics on the engines, are in favor of two levels of service – suburban
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in some areas, rural in others – and what type of tax they would prefer, if any. “We need a snapshot of what the community wants in the way of service,” he said. “It’s not just about how much we can get passed. It’s about finding out what kind of service people want and then putting a package together to get
Magnificent Muir go to news/WebExtras!
Towering trees mark one of the world’s great sanctuaries for the spirit.
October 8, 2010
This Week Big fans off campus
The City Council honored a fantastic Falcon and NFL Teacher of the Year. Page 12A
Untangling the Web The city’s upgraded website will help residents navigate Oakley’s information highway. Page 3A
Falcons get goal-oriented
see Foster page 22A
Residents to be polled on fire issues by Rick Lemyre
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them what they want.” The poll is expected to take about 15 minutes to complete. The questions will be brought to the board for “reviewing and tweaking, if we deem it necessary,” prior to the poll going forward, Stonebarger said. Stonebarger said that if the district chooses to put a tax measure on the ballot in June, he wants voters to also have a chance to begin directly electing board members. “If we’re going to go ask for more money, then you have to let the people elect the peosee Fire page 22A
Take a seat
go to news/press releases The county’s Aviation Advisory Committee is looking for a crew member.
Freedom’s “supprting cast” water polo team is evolving into a squad that’s less reliant on one superstar. Page 1B
Plus: Business .............................21A Calendar ............................ 23B Classifieds ......................... 15B Cop Logs ............................17A Entertainment ................. 11B Food .................................... 12B Health & Beauty ................ 8B Milestones ........................ 10B Opinion ..............................16A Outdoors ............................. 6A Sports ................................... 1B
FOR MOVIE TIMES SEE PAGE 5A
Troop Fest
go to multimedia/videos A car and bike show highlighted a bash thrown in support of vets and their families.