New Employee, Susan Borows, Increase’s CALICO’s Ability to Aide Abused Children Under the Age of Five and Their Caregivers

San Leandro, CA – May 3, 2010 CALICO, 501 (c) 3, the child abuse listening, interviewing and coordination center of Alameda County, is pleased to announce the hiring of Susan Borows as the organization’s newest family recourse specialist. CALICO now has a staff of 11 child advocacy professionals.

Borows is a licensed psychotherapist with 30-years experience in private practice, social agencies, health care, legal and educational settings. In her role with CALICO Susan will be working specifically with children under the age of five along with their caregivers. She will provide on-site support, crisis intervention, referrals and follow-up services while promoting healthy lifestyles and healing. Additionally, in a new partnership between Children’s Hospital in Oakland and CALICO, Susan will perform her role one day a week, on-site, at the hospital.

"We are very happy to add Susan on our team. The depth of her experience working with very young kids significantly increases our ability to meet the growing needs of the children we aide at CALICO’s main office and now Children’s Hospital in Oakland," said Victoria Gwiasda, executive director for CALICO. “This hire enables to expand our services, which is an ongoing mission of CALICO’s.”

Susan holds a B.A. in Communications Studies/Counseling from the University of Massachusetts Amherst and a M.S. in Marriage, Family and Child Counseling from San Francisco State University.

April 8, 2010
CALICO is seeking committed and talented individuals to join our collegial and hard-working Board of Directors. We are seeking particular expertise in: finance, communications/marketing, fundraising or human relations. Additional skill sets are also welcome. For more information, please email info@calicocenter.org to contact our Board Development Committee Chair.

Abuse-counseling group, Borders in Alameda partner for holiday book drive
By Rin Kelly
Correspondent

When Erin Harper sent a letter to Borders asking for book donations for her organization, she didn't expect the response she got.

Not only was the book seller interested in partnering with the Child Abuse Listening, Interviewing and Coordination Center, replied Borders in a next-day e-mail, they wanted to do it in the form of a coordinated book drive, with signs at the registers and cashiers asking customers if they would consider buying a book or a stuffed bear for the cause.

Harper, program fellow at CALICO, says she is "ecstatic" at the result. In only a matter of weeks, the book drive at Borders in Alameda Towne Centre has brought in about 350 books and stuffed pandas for the children and teenagers CALICO serves. A nonprofit "multidisciplinary hub," CALICO provides a safe and supportive environment for abused children to recount their experiences to welfare workers, police officers and prosecutors. Part of putting the kids at ease means giving them a stuffed animal and a blanket to take with them when they leave.

Now, thanks to Borders shoppers, they also will get their pick of hundreds of books.

"The first day of the drive I came in as kind of a secret shopper and heard them asking at the registers," recalled Harper. "I couldn't believe it — it's nice to see that side of people. We've received an amazing amount of books."

In fact, said Borders General Manager Desmond Epidendio, an average of $150 a day is going into the book drive for CALICO.

People have provided books ranging from "Green Eggs and Ham" to "The Vampire Diaries" to "Charlotte's Web" and "Sense and Sensibility and Sea Monsters."

More than a few have also purchased Borders' own "Beckett the Bear" plush panda for donation to the center.

"It's a really great foundation," said Epidendio. "And for what better cause than literacy for kids?" The drive, which continues through December 24, has also featured special events such as free gift-wrapping by CALICO volunteers.

For Victoria Gwiasda, executive director of the organization, the book drive provides more than just an opportunity for Alamedans to improve the lives of abused children.

"It's great to have venues like Borders, a place where everyone goes, and to be able to reach this whole cross-section of the community, let them know a little more about the issue — let them know what services are available for kids and families in this community related to child abuse and child protection."

Most importantly, she said, it's a chance for people to talk to their kids about reporting abuse.

"You're in Borders, and there's information about this service — take that as an opportunity to maybe talk to your kids," she said. "It's a first step so that kids know this is not an issue that is too scary for even adults to talk about."

IF YOU GO
What: Holiday Book Drive to benefit the Child Abuse Listening, Interviewing and Coordination Center
When: Through Dec. 24
Where: 2245 South Shore Center, Alameda
More Info: 510-522-6442

CALICO hosted its first fall crush on Thursday, November 5, 2009. We were delighted to see well over 120 attendees and were grateful for the opportunity to share information about CALICO and the hundreds of young victims we aid each year.

We shared with the audience the many ways individuals and companies can help CALICO fulfill its mission and provide vital services to abused children in Alameda County. Please consider:

• Engaging your company to be a sponsor of the April 24, 2010 Casino Night at Palio D’Asti Restaurant. (Please click on the PDF below for sponsor levels)
• Co-hosting the Spring event, by committing to sell 10 event tickets between now and April
• Donating a raffle or auction prize
• Donating to CALICO directly or through the United Way
• Contacting us for volunteer opportunities
• Asking your friends on Facebook to add us to their friend list so they can be updated on our progress

In the meantime, we will stay in touch to share with you the latest news about our services and our April 24, 2010 Casino Night.

Appointments Designed to Increase Support for Abused Children in Alameda County

San Leandro, CA – September 16, 2009 CALICO, 501 (c) 3, the child abuse listening, interviewing and coordination center of Alameda County, announces the addition of four new professionals to its staff. The new employees increase CALICO’s ability to provide a supportive environment to interview abused children through its collaborative multi-disciplinary process. CALICO now has a staff of 12 child advocacy professionals.

Melanie Henry joins CALICO as a child interview specialist. She conducts one-on-one fact-finding interviews within CALICO’s child friendly setting(s) to assist with criminal and dependency investigations. She has over 20 years experience working within child protective services. Melanie earned a B.A. in welfare studies from the University of Western Sydney and an Associate Diploma in Social Science (Child Studies) from Meadowbank TAFE in Sydney, Australia.

CALICO’s new bilingual family resource specialist, Erica Jimenez, provides on-site support, crisis intervention, referrals and follow-up services to caregivers of abused children while promoting healthy lifestyles and healing. Erica brings to CALICO more than 10 years of experience advocating for children and families throughout Northern California. Erica attended The University of California Berkeley where she earned a BA in Social Welfare and Chicano Studies. Additionally, she holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) from San Jose State University.

Erin Harper joins CALICO as their first program fellow. Working closely with CALICO’s Executive Director, Victoria Gwiasda, Erin will prepare CALICO’s first annual report on multi-disciplinary child abuse investigations and assist with updating agency policies and protocols to meet reaccreditations standards for 2010. Admitted to the California Bar in 2007, Erin brings valuable legal experience to her new position. She holds a B.A. in European History from The University of Pennsylvania and a degree from The University of California’s Hasting College of the Law.

Joshua Steinfeld, CALICO’s public relations and communications coordinator, has more than eight years of experience leading communications campaigns for non-profit organizations. He provides strategic leadership and support to CALICO’s media relations campaigns, special events, fundraising initiatives and social networking projects. Joshua has a B.A. in public relations from Central Washington University.

"I am delighted to have Melanie, Erica, Erin and Joshua on our team. The wealth of experience that each of them brings to CALICO significantly increases our ability to meet the growing needs of abused children in Alameda County," said Victoria Gwiasda, executive director for CALICO.

Click below to view an article by Amy Sylvestri published in the March 19, 2009 edition of the San Leandro Times.