| By Marell Brooks
During March, Women's History Month, the Santa Barbara County Commission
for Women honors five programs that serve the women and families in our
county. The Commission, which promotes the well-being and equal status
of women, is made up of three members from each supervisorial district
and advises the Board of Supervisors in areas affecting women, especially
women who have the greatest need. Altering its "Women/Teen of the Year"
recognition program to focus on programs and agencies, the Commission
as a whole decided on the five honored programs that were nominated by
the respective commissioners from each district.
The 1st District honors the Santa Barbara Rape Crisis
Clinic. Commissioners Cynthia Thurber and Sonia Kroth praise the center
for its work providing counseling, crisis intervention, and support services
to survivors of sexual assault and their families. It also offers community
education and prevention programs essential to the eradication of sexual
assault.
The 2nd District honors Villa Majella, a residential
program for single pregnant teenagers that provides a nurturing environment
of education and support so that women and their babies can progress toward
a healthy and productive life. Commissioner Magdelena Torres explains
that Villa Majella also has outreach services including pregnancy prevention
programs, counseling, case management, newborn care coaching and support,
as well as post-adoption support via the HomeVisit Program.
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The 3rd District honors the UCSB Women's
Basketball Team Outreach Program. According to coordinator Cynthia Foster,
these young women have gone out into the community to speak to youth groups,
serving as excellent role models for young women in the area. Supervisor
Brooks Firestone recommended this program for the honor.
The 4th District honors Domestic Violence Solutions.
Alice Down and Sarah Strickland praise DVS for its 24 Hour Crisis Services,
Emergency Shelter, Teen Services providing counseling on healthy relationships,
and its community outreach. DVS also operates the Second Time Around Thrift
Store in Lompoc, to raise funds for its programs.
The 5th District honors the Santa Maria branch of
the American Association of University Women, especially its support of
the Tech Trek summer program by raising money to send several promising
seventh grade girls to one of the five, week-long math/science camps sponsored
by California AAUW.
To learn more about the Commission, Friends of the Commission,
or the Commission's "Women's Resource Guide," call 568-3410.
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