“What About My Hair?” program acknowledges that there is a disproportion number of African-American children entering the foster care system in Santa Clara County than there are African-Americans custodial guardians or “Resource Families” raising their hands taking them in. Although Resource Families provide the children with emergency placement, around the clock care in loving homes and safe havens with hopes for them to thrive, hair has been a part of African-American history dating back for generations and the lack of this resource they are slowly being detached from their cultural identity. A sense of culture and identity is something Resource Families struggle with and is they currently lean on Social Workers for to the answer on a daily – the main request is for help with hair. H.O.M.E has collaborated with Santa Clara Department of Family and Child Services (DFCS) and the African American Community Service Agency (AACSA) to provide live instructor-led hands-on training provided by Hair Care Professionals (Stylists and Barbers) for Resource Families on how to care for foster children with African American or mixed-textured hair. In addition to the training, we will also be creating a directory of Hair Care Professional for the Resource Families as a reference and a Hair Care Pantry of supplies and products for those who cannot afford them.
Each and every one of our incentives are based around helping empower others in the community to live a better life. It is important to help others, but it is the actions we take to help others which help take our fulfilment to the next level in our lives.
“Treasure Our Teachers” recognize and reward the teachers while also providing supplies to their schools. We find teachers in over-crowded resource deficient schools that go above and beyond (by talking to the principles, peers and parents/students), have students express their gratitude publicly in the form of various gift cards as well as provide their class with school supplies.
“H.O.M.E. for the Holidays” is geared towards the homeless, veterans, aged-out foster children and all of those who are usually forgotten during the holiday season. Although the event is held during the holidays, it is religion agnostic to be as inclusive as possible. We set up shop to serve hot meals, company and conversation. For maximum reach we drive around the surrounding area for those who cannot make it to us. For some of them this is the only interaction and sense of community they will have for the whole year, so we take upmost pride in making it them feel like part of a family, even if only for a day.
Coming together to create positive change is one of the most fulfilling actions anyone on our beautiful planet can take. Coming together and impacting the world as part of the H.O.M.E family just helps remind you that together, we can make a bigger difference.
CREATE CHANGEinfo@maintainearth.org
P: (408) 661-5795
F: (408) 608-3347
P.O. Box 51298, Palo Alto, Ca. 94303
