For Immediate Release
February 19, 2019
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Multi-agency effort aims to help families better understand their teens
SANTA CLARA COUNTY, CALIF. – The Santa Clara County Library District, in partnership with the County District Attorney’s Office, the County Department of Family & Children’s Services’ Prevention Bureau, and the Gilroy Police Department, is funding and hosting a ground-breaking program at the Gilroy Library that helps parents steer their teenagers away from truancy, delinquency - and worse. Up to 30 local parents are invited to take part in The Parent Project©, a 12-week class conducted in Spanish that will run from March 6 to May 22.
“This program builds on our efforts at the Library to focus on the specific information needs of teens and their families, and the special challenges that many of them face,” said County Librarian Nancy Howe. “Gilroy Library is a welcoming place for all ages, making it the logical setting for such a family-based program.”
Since 2008, over 7,000 Santa Clara County parents have graduated from The Parent Project, helping them to divert their beloved children from destructive and dangerous behavior. The program, which is approved as a court-mandated diversion program, is free and provides on-site childcare. To sign up, contact County Parent Project Director Gloria Maturino: (408)808-3794, parentproject@da.sccgov.org.
“Families are made stronger by developing the skills and tools they need to deal with their strong-willed children,” said Maturino.
“This program is a tool to help parents communicate with their at-risk kids,” said County Supervisor and Library Joint Powers Authority Board Chairman, Mike Wasserman. “We anticipate reduced substance abuse and gang participation, and expect better grades and school attendance, which are critical to the future of these young people, as well as the health of the local community.”
The Gilroy Library The Parent Project class was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian.
About the Santa Clara County Library District
The Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) promotes knowledge, ideas, and cultural enrichment. Its collection includes more than 2 million books, videos, CDs, DVDs, Audiobooks, eBooks and extensive online resources accessible from home or work. In 2014, SCCLD celebrated one hundred years of service to local residents. For the last eleven years, SCCLD has been consistently recognized as one of America’s Star Libraries by Library Journal. In 2018, SCCLD was ranked among the top ten large libraries in the United States in the Library Journal Index of Public Library Service. In 2014 and 2015, SCCLD won Innovator Awards from the Urban Libraries Council.
SCCLD includes two bookmobiles, an online library, seven community libraries and one branch library serving Campbell, Cupertino, Gilroy, Los Altos, Los Altos Hills, Milpitas, Monte Sereno, Morgan Hill, Saratoga and the unincorporated areas of Santa Clara County. In 2018, SCCLD had nearly 370,000 library account holders and welcomed 3.3 million visitors who borrowed 9.85 million items.
Find the Santa Clara County Library District online at: www.sccl.org
Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/santaclaracountylibrary
Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/sccld
Contact:
Nancy Howe/Diane Roche/Erik Sanjurjo
Santa Clara County Library District
(408) 293-2326 ext. 3001/3080/3014
