ANNUAL REPORT

OFFICER'S MESSAGE

Through awareness, communication, planning, coordination, and collaboration, Children’s Network (CNET) ensures children will have resources, opportunities and supports needed to help them grow into healthy, successful adults.

On April 6, 2017, over 600 individuals attended the 19th Shine a Light on Child Abuse Awards Breakfast. This annual awards breakfast honored 16 individuals and organizations for their dedication and efforts to keep at-risk youth safe. This event is a part of the county’s National Child Abuse Prevention Awareness month.

Over 500 social workers, mental health professionals, counselors, health care providers, resource parents, kin caregivers, teachers, and law enforcement and safety personnel attended 35 workshops offered at the Children’s Network Annual Conference. Topics covered in breakout sessions included: Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders; Prenatal Drug Exposure in Children; Mentoring; The Connection Between Animal Abuse and Human Violence; Autism Movement Therapy; Mindfulness; Positive Psychology and Purpose; State Resources to Help Victims of Crimes; Support for Kin Caregivers; Latest Trends Among the Young; and Human Trafficking and Sexual Exploitation of Children. The conference included the introduction of workshops geared toward approximately 100 youth attendees from Transitional Age Youth Centers and students from San Bernardino High School’s Law and Society program.

CNET works with county and community partners to combat commercial sexual exploitation of children. CNET’s goal is to increase the number of partners and community members trained on the awareness, prevention and intervention methods currently available. To accomplish this goal, Children and Family Services assigned two Social Service Practitioners to train with the Coalition Against Sexual Exploitation Coordinator.

Statistics show the more trauma one experiences in childhood, the greater one’s risk of medical, mental, and social problems as an adult. CNET’s goal is to increase awareness of the effects of Adverse Childhood Experiences through workshops, trainings and collaboration with other infant/child serving organizations.

All children need caring adults in their lives. Mentoring can fill this need for at-risk children. The bond fostered by effective mentoring can lead a young person to a better future. Statistics show an increase in the number of mentors will lead to an increase in high school graduation rates, students enrolled in post-secondary education and higher youth/young adult’s employment rates. The goal of the Mentoring Taskforce is to increase the number of mentors available providing a one-to-one ratio throughout the county. This will be accomplished by a Countywide call to action,: ‘Vision to Mentor.’


Kathy Turnbull
Officer, Children's Network

STATISTICS

100

cribs provided to
families whose babies
needed a safe place
to sleep

400000

flyers, brochures and
videos distributed to
the community

350

county and community
partners were trained on
the long term effects of
Adverse Childhood
Experiences
OUR MISSION

Children’s Network of San Bernardino County concerns itself with at-risk children who are defined as minors who, because of behavior, abuse, neglect, medical needs, educational assessment, and/or detrimental daily living situations, are eligible for services from one or more of the member agencies of the Children’s Network Policy Council. A variety of public and private agencies deliver a broad and occasionally confusing array of services to these children.

The overall goal of Children’s Network is to help at-risk children by improving communication, planning, coordination, and cooperation among youth-serving agencies.
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