Critical Community Needs
The Orfalea Foundations define Critical Community Needs as the services that support the well-being of our neighbors, and our community as a whole.
For 2007-2008, the Orfalea Foundations' Critical Community Needs priorities are:
- To provide essential food, clothing for the underprivileged and needy, and oral health programs in our local tri-county region.
- To support public safety, including local disaster relief and child abuse prevention programs.
- Overall support to community nonprofit agencies through the Nonprofit Support Center of Santa Barbara and other county community foundations.
- Encourage intergeneration aspects of community programs.
Below, please read about several programs the Orfalea Foundations have supported that fall within our defined commitments to Critical Community Needs.
Direct Relief International
Direct Relief International (DRI) provides medical material aid including medicines, medical supplies, and equipment to strengthen in-country health efforts around the world to improve the quality of life for the most impoverished people. DRI supports the work of local health professionals in developing countries and here at home, equipping them so they can diagnose and care for patients, enabling millions of people to receive care that otherwise would be unavailable.
The Orfalea Fund is working with DRI to strengthen their internal systems, warehouse operations, and capacity building so they can better serve more people nationally and globally.
ONEgeneration
ONEgeneration is a nationally recognized intergenerational care agency providing community-based services for seniors, children and their families. Committed to healthy aging and successful early childhood development, ONEgeneration's research-proven theory and innovative programming create benefits for all generations. ONEgeneration Daycare is a structured, goal-oriented, co-located intergenerational program that is grounded in research that documents the benefits of multi-generational interaction.
Bridging generations, by bringing together seniors, preschoolers and infants, results in proven benefits to both groups. Seniors show a heightened sense of well-being, while children show increased self esteem, language development, and healthier outlooks on aging and the elderly.
Child Abuse Listening & Mediation (CALM)
The Orfalea Foundations have supported CALM's "Great Beginnings" a home visitation program for children and families in Santa Barbara County who have been identified as at risk for developmental delays, child abuse, or family violence.
This funding allows CALM to increase the availability of Home Visitors, enabling them to serve a greater number of families. Home Visitors can enhance the health, well-being and future educational success of children through early identification of developmental delays and detection of health concerns, including asthma, seizures, hearing and vision problems, and low birth weight.
The Children's Project
The Children's Project is building the nation's first charter boarding school dedicated exclusively to improving foster youth's educational and vocational opportunities. The boarding school/academy will provide an academically rigorous environment for students in grades seven through twelve that will offer stability, continuity and long-term mentorship for a population of children that traditionally experiences continuous upheaval and change.