"Just before Thanksgiving, a woman in my son's preschool class told me about her aging mother who was living in Ohio and had recently suffered a stroke. She mentioned that she might want to transition her mom out to PA in the New Year. From the ambassador classes I was able to tell her about Avenidas, Avenidas Rose Kliener Senior Day Health Center, and share the link to family resources. I am unsure whether her mom will actually move out here, but I was very happy to be able to share the wealth of information and she was extremely grateful." -Community Volunteer, Ambassador Graduate
"Palo Alto creeks have long been a problem area for trash, in part because of illegal dumping and littering, some of which comes from homeless encampments along creek beds. During the Family Resources Ambassador training program, I learned about the Downtown Streets Team which works to train and hire the homeless so that they can at some point re-enter the work force while providing much needed services for City programs requiring extra labor. The City of Palo Alto is now piloting a program to use the Downtown Streets Team to help clean up creeks in between volunteer clean-up events. This program is a terrific opportunity to experiment with another way to protect our creeks–and we may not have considered this opportunity without with resources I learned about through Family Resources Ambassador program."
-City of Palo Alto Environmental Specialist, Ambassador Graduate
"Over the 12 years I have been a Girl Scout leader, I came to realize the special role that GS leaders play not only with the girls but also with their families. Parents of Girls Scouts often go to their child’s leader to share concerns over family issues, hoping they will be able to help them find the services or programs they often need. During my training as a Family Resources Ambassador, I discovered not only the quantity and variety of services available to families in our area but also that the information regarding those services is easily accessible to all on the Family Resources website. In February, along with a fellow Girl Scout leader and Ambassador trainee, I shared my newly found knowledge with over 60 other Girl Scout leaders during a presentation at our monthly Girl Scouts of Palo Alto Leaders meeting. I was able to show the leaders how easy it is to access the resources through the website, how it can also be used to deliver Girl Scouts programs to our girls, and I encouraged them to share that information with their troops. When you think that each Girl Scout leader has a minimum of five girls (and often more) in her troop, this hopefully means that many families will have a better understanding of how to access the services available to them in our community." -Girl Scout Troop Leader, Palo Alto, Ambassador Graduate
"One evening, one of my high school students walked into my office and expressed deep concern for her younger brother. The young boy was struggling in various classes at Jordan Middle School and his family could not find a good tutor or middle school tutoring program. Fortunately, I was a part of the Family Resource Ambassador Program, where I learned about DreamCatchers, a free tutoring program for middle school and high school students in the Palo Alto School District. In addition, I was pleased to learn Family Resources was deeply involved in the development of DreamCatchers. A couple weeks ago, my student walked into my office with a huge smile on her face. She looked so happy and relieved. Her younger brother joined DreamCatchers and he loves it! The young boy feels connected to his tutors and his grades are improving. Family Resources empowers the community by connecting community members to the services they need the most! Thank you for all your hard work." -Assistant Director of College Success, Foundation for a College Education, Ambassador Graduate
"The circumstance of this family is not wonderful but I felt so empowered because of this Kiosk information [in our office]. We had a family come to us asking if we could help with any information for helping them in their dire situation. The family is made up of a mother and 4 children, 3 of them in PAUSD schools. The mother lost her work and her son (20 yrs old) has two jobs working at $8.50/hr. Their rent for a 1 bedroom is $900.00, which was not furnished and they were sleeping on the floor. They were in trouble. They were trying to hold on through June because their son of 18 is graduating from PALY. They were really on the edge and falling. By using the Kiosk, we were able to help them contact the PA utilities to lower their monthly utility bill. We helped them fill out applications for low income housing and with the Kiosk information we were able to give him names to talk to. We gave them the addresses of places that would help them with groceries. We really helped this family get connected to programs and people who can help them help themselves. What a great feeling of satisfaction for both us.” -Escondido Elementary School Secretary
"Standing before me with her children was a single mother who wanted to leave the area to avoid an abusive situation. She had a multitude of needs, and I was new to my job and this community. Because of the information and connections I’d discovered through Family Resources, I was able to provide her with resources for clothing and food for herself and her children, and transportation money to help pay for her gas to go to southern California. As an office manager at the front desk at the YWCA, Family Resources is a reassurance to me and a great benefit to the clients who come to us for help.” -former YWCA Midpeninsula Office Manager
“I was able to use Family Resources with truly marvelous results today. I had a call from a woman in San Francisco who wanted resources for Traumatic Brain Injuries. Since she had access to the web, so I took her into the Family Resources website with the goal of finding Brain Injury information. When the page opened with several different agencies listed, she was absolutely elated. At this point she told me she was a member of the California Traumatic Brain Injuries Advisory Board, and she was really pleased that there was an agency on our page that she had not heard of. She also mentioned that she had been caring for her son for more than 20 years. She was also extremely complimentary of the Family Resources site in general, saying what an amazing resource it is. She couldn't praise us enough for our obviously diligent research in coming up with so much information on one site, and was truly pleased that she had called us.” -Palo Alto City Hall, Information & Reception, Ambassador Graduate
“The Desktop Kiosk sits on the counter of the JLS guidance office and it is WELL used. Students will look through it looking for resources about counseling or adolescent issues. We refer parents to it all the time for resources relating to housing, child care, and hunger. The guidance secretary who sits behind the counter says it is extremely useful and she is grateful to have it there for parents to refer to. Prior to the kiosk, she would be seen writing names/number on scraps of paper or the parents would get referred into our offices (the school counselors) and we would be searching for resources and picking each other's brains. Now it is all in one place, and easy for parents and middle school students to use. It is really a fabulous resource and an excellent tool for our parents AND our students.” -former JLS Middle School Counselor
“The Ambassador Development experience opened my eyes to the need of reaching out and connecting within my community. I didn't realize we had so many resources in our city since we are relative newcomers. This is the first time I have ever heard of such a comprehensive program by a city to reach out and meet the needs of its residents.” -Community Member, Ambassador Graduate
“One evening during the summer, a young woman came into the Children's Theatre. She was looking for a shelter for an older woman who went in a meeting at a church hoping to find a shelter. I showed her the Family Resources Desktop Kiosk and gave her some paper and pen and she spent the better part of an hour writing down resources and exclaiming how wonderful it was to have the Kiosk so complete with needed information. She placed the woman in a hotel for the night and intended to call agencies the next day.” -former Director of Children’s Theater, Ambassador Graduate
“Just this morning a man called saying he was a new dad looking for parenting classes for new parents. I referred him to the Family Resources website. He called back saying he found two places by using the Family Resources Website. The Family Resources Kiosk has been a great help for the people coming into the YWCA looking for resources, programs, and classes available for families, especially when they are not provided by the YWCA. With the help of the Family Resources Kiosk and website, the YWCA is able to better serve the Palo Alto Community.” -YWCA Program Director for Classes, Ambassador Graduate
“As an Ambassador Alumni, I use the Family Resources website a great deal to respond to community members who call or come to our office. One young woman who lived in Central California and would be moving to Palo Alto to attend school full time was very nervous about quitting her job and making the move to this unfamiliar place. She was looking for any help possible. I told her about the Family Resources website. She was so grateful and appreciative that she came to the office after her move to tell me in person. The resource information available on the website helped her to find affordable housing and resolve other needs.” -Human Services Division Secretary, Ambassador Graduate
“The Ambassador Development Program helped me to get grounded in the Palo Alto community. In my opinion, this program is more than a resource. It is more like a community asset. I valued the opportunity to network with peers; I learned about community issues through peer interaction as well as the great speakers that addressed the class; and I've been able to assist peers, as well as receive assistance through partnerships and collaborations established through my participation. I really can't express how helpful and key it was for me as a new member of this working community.” -Outreach Director, Ambassador Graduate
“As a 30 year resident of Palo Alto, I am speaking from a place of gratitude that has history behind it. Since becoming involved in the Ambassador Program through Family Resources, I have realized how valuable the functions provided by Family Resources are to the community. I am grateful to have the opportunity to share our community with others and look forward to earning the title of Ambassador for many years to come. Sadly, without Family Resources I would have still been in the dark and only enjoying the "reputation" not the full measure of the "good life" in Palo Alto. Thank you and your staff for all you do to expose us to what is available. As a Palo Alto Police Agent, I know my business and am on top of my work. By participating in the Family Resources Ambassador Program, I enlarged my horizons and added new depth and effectiveness to my job. I now have an overview of the kinds and amount of services that are available for all kinds of needs. Seeing and hearing speakers and the opportunity to network have expanded my connections.” -Palo Alto Police Officer
"In the Family Resources Ambassador program I learned ways to help others, places to make referrals, and developed important networking connections. The information I gained from Family Resources helped me help families when they needed it most. It is not possible for me to personally help each person I encounter; Family Resources showed me that I can be a distributor of knowledge and therefore increase my impact in the community. This program has already helped me find services for a family when their teen began to self-injure and resources for my own family members as they age. I use the website in my daily work and refer others to it as well!" -Director of Donor Relations Family and Children Services, Graduate Ambassador
"While the Desktop Kiosk was available to our preschool parents, a large number were actively using it to find out information. When the kiosk was returned to the main office, parents continued to ask when we would be getting one of our own. It is and will continue to be a wonderful resource for the families in our program." -former Director State Funded Child Care Programs, PAUSD
"One evening during the summer, a young woman came into the Children's Theatre. She was looking for a shelter for an older woman who went in a meeting at a church hoping to find a shelter. I showed her the Family Resources Desktop Kiosk and gave her some paper and pen and she spent the better part of an hour writing down resources and exclaiming how wonderful it was to have the Kiosk so complete with needed information. She placed the woman in a hotel for the night and intended to call agencies the next day." -former Director of the Children’s Theater, Ambassador Graduate
