The Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors approved a plan to allocate $5 million to launch the “Homes for Heroes” program, to better connect homeless veterans with housing.  On a motion from Supervisor Don Knabe and Board Chair Hilda L. Solis, the Board approved funding and an 18-month plan to serve at least 1,000 homeless veterans.

Late last year, the Board allocated $5 million and requested a specific implementation plan for housing veterans.  Today, the Board approved a program with seven specific strategies, including Bridge Housing Strategy, which will work with existing housing providers to serve an estimated 80 vets at any given time with shelter beds while they secure permanent housing; the “Rent to a Veteran” Landlord Incentive Program, which provides landlords with incentives to commit to renting units to homeless vets; and the Move-In Cost Grant Program, which will provide approximately 500 veterans with grants to cover move-in costs, such as security deposits, utility turn-on fees and moving costs.

“One of the challenges in housing our homeless vets has been identifying housing for them, even when they had a voucher in hand,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “It was taking vets 90 days or longer to find an apartment.  With these new programs, I am hoping that we can shorten that timeframe and get those who deserve our help the most into a safe place to get their lives back on track.”

“Our veterans, both men and women, have sacrificed so much for our country. They put their lives on the line to protect our country and our freedom that we all cherish so much,” Chair Hilda L. Solis said. “Now, it’s our turn to help them by ensuring they receive the attention they deserve so that they do not end up homeless and forgotten. I am proud to co-author this motion. In addition to funding an advocacy program, we will be helping support veterans who struggle to pay rent or who need assistance with moving, move-in costs or paying for utilities.”

With the implementation of these programs, about $1.2 million of the $5 million earmarked for veterans will remain and will be a part of the package of recommended strategies from the Homeless Initiative to be submitted for Board consideration in February 2016.

Supervisor Don Knabe again proclaimed the month of April 2013 as “DMV/Donate Life California Month,” in an effort to urge Los Angeles County citizens to save lives by signing up with the Donate Life California Registry when they apply or renew their driver’s license or ID card through the Department of Motor Vehicles.

“Making the noble decision to donate can be difficult, but there is no greater expression of compassion than making the life-giving act of organ and tissue donation,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Giving the gift of life through organ and tissue donation provides a measure of comfort to a bereaved family. I encourage everyone in Los Angeles County to consider signing up for the Donate Life California registry.”

A single donation of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine can save up to eight lives and a donation of tissue can save and heal up to 50 others. Nearly 100,000 individuals nationwide and more than 20,000 in California are currently on the national organ transplant wait list and every 90 minutes, one person dies while waiting for a donated organ. Each year, nearly 30,000 lives are saved and the quality of life for many hundreds of thousands more is enhanced by organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

To sign up for the Donate Life California Donor Registry, please visit DonateLifeCalifornia.org

Despite serious cuts to child development programs, Los Angeles County’s child care rating system continues to grow, thanks to a significant new grant from Los Angeles Universal Preschool (LAUP) that will allow for dozens of additional child care centers to be inspected and graded.

The rating system, called the Steps to Excellence Program (STEP), was launched by Supervisor Knabe in July 2007 as the first program of its kind in California. In much the same way as the County’s successful restaurant grading system has empowered consumers with information, the goal of rating child care centers is to educate parents and improve the quality and services of the centers.

The program started as a pilot in nine communities across the County, including Long Beach.  Currently, over 400 child development centers and family child care homes participate in the Steps to Excellence Project (STEP). The information collected during the review process will be analyzed and used to assign quality ratings to STEP participants.  It is supported with funds from the County of Los Angeles, the California Department of Education, the First 5 LA Commission and now LAUP.

The $7.6 million grant from LAUP will enable the STEP program to sustain its current operation and allow for expansion of the program into 15 new communities over the next five years.

“What is unique about the STEP program is that we are evaluating the overall quality of these child care programs,” said Supervisor Knabe. “We aren’t just assessing whether or not the carpet is clean and the walls are painted, we are looking at the ‘learning environment’ as well. To me, that is the most important consideration for any parent in deciding where to place their children and that is why this program is so important.”

In Los Angeles County, it is estimated that more than $1.9 billion is spent on child care services annually and the demand for services and facilities continues to grow every year. With this escalating demand for services comes an increasing need for oversight and access to information for parents about the quality of care their children are receiving. The STEP program assesses six key areas including safety, program quality, teacher qualifications, and whether or not the center can accommodate children with special needs.

For more information about STEP, contact the County Office of Child Care at (213) 893-0505 or visit www.childcare.lacounty.gov.

Free health care, employment training, and other services will be available to homeless veterans as part of the San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans on Thursday October 20, 2011 at Whittier Narrows Recreation Area, Supervisor Don Knabe announced today.

The San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, hosted by the San Gabriel Valley Veterans Employment Committee, will provide services to homeless veterans such as showers, haircuts, laundry, food, medical and mental screenings, and VA benefits counseling.

“This is an opportunity for us to help our veterans who cannot afford these services on their own,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Many of these Veterans returned home from fighting for our Country and were left to fend for themselves. This is a hand up, not a hand out, for those who have sacrificed so much for all of us. ”

For more information about the San Gabriel Valley Stand Down for Homeless Veterans, contact Monica Mooring at Volunteers of America at 213-505-0631, or Ron Hansel at the Veterans Employment Committee at 626-347-2572. To make contributions and donations, call 213-505-0631.

In a motion by Supervisors Don Knabe and Mark Ridley-Thomas, the Board of Supervisors will request that the First 5 Los Angeles Commission consider an annual allotment of funding to address the challenges facing low-income families with children with autism, aged five and younger.

The California Legislative Blue Ribbon Commission on Autism reported that a significant number of families confront major barriers in accessing and navigating programs and services, including case management, speech therapy, physical therapy and social skills training. The number of children diagnosed with autism, known clinically as Autism Spectral Disorders, has exploded over the past 17 years, from 1 in 10,000 in 1993, to 1 in 110 children in 2010, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control,

“Autism is a lifelong neurological disorder that has become more prevalent in the past years, affecting not only the child, but the family as well,” said Supervisor Don Knabe. “While the First 5 Los Angeles Commission has funded efforts in the past to provide support for families impacted by autism, we believe that more can be done to help these young children and their families. Detecting Autism at a young age can have a profound impact on cognitive and social development, giving children and their families more options and hope.”

The First 5 Commission, created through Proposition 10 funds, provides low-income families with children five and under, education, health services, childcare and other crucial programs.

Residents wanting to participate and “make a difference” in the Supervisorial Redistricting process can now do so with the help of new software found on the County redistricting website.

By logging onto http://redistricting.lacounty.gov, interested parties can access free mapping software tools, allowing them to develop and submit redistricting plans for Boundary Review Committee (BRC) consideration.

The BRC is comprised of residents of the County who were nominated and appointed by the Board of Supervisors.  Based on the census figures, the county’s population must be substantially equalized among the five Supervisorial Districts.  This same process is undertaken for the state Senate, Assembly, and Board of Equalization.  This process is called “redistricting.” Deadline for submitting redistricting plans is June 2, 2011.

Live online training sessions will be available on the redistricting website on the dates/times listed below.  A software training video will be available on the website in early May. Community meetings and public hearings are currently underway to encourage public participation in the redistricting process, gather public input, and to answer any questions the public may have.

In an effort to urge Los Angeles County citizens to save lives by signing up with the Donate Life California Registry when they apply or renew their driver’s license or ID card through the Department of Motor Vehicles, Supervisor Don Knabe proclaimed the month of April 2011 as “DMV/Donate Life California Month.”

“Making the noble decision to donate can be difficult, but there is no greater expression of compassion than making the life-giving act of organ and tissue donation,” said Supervisor Knabe. “Giving the gift of life through organ and tissue donation provides a measure of comfort to a bereaved family. I encourage everyone in Los Angeles County to consider signing up for the Donate Life California registry.”

A single donation of the heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, pancreas and small intestine can save up to eight lives and a donation of tissue can save and heal up to 50 others. Nearly 100,000 individuals nationwide and more than 20,000 in California are currently on the national organ transplant wait list and every 90 minutes, one person dies while waiting for a donated organ. Each year, nearly 30,000 lives are saved and the quality off life for many hundreds of thousands more is enhanced by organ and tissue donation and transplantation.

To sign up for the Donate Life California Donor Registry, please visit DonateLifeCalifornia.org

Los Angeles County Supervisor Don Knabe encouraged all County residents and employees to consider making a financial contribution to the American Red Cross, in a motion at today’s Board of Supervisors meeting. The donation, on a strictly voluntary basis, is to aid the earthquake and tsunami victims in Japan and throughout the Pacific.

“On behalf of the Board of Supervisors, I would like to extend our deepest sympathies to the people of Japan for their profound loss and suffering from the enormous destruction that has occurred as a result of this devastating earthquake and tsunami,” said Knabe.

County residents and employees who wish to make a monetary contribution to victims of this earthquake and Tsunami are encouraged to do so through the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Fund, which will provide both immediate relief and long-term support through supplies, technical assistance and other support to those in need.

Financial contributions can be made directly to their website at www.redcross.org, via telephone at 1-800- RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767), or by mail to American Red Cross National Headquarters, 2025 E Street, NW, Washington, DC 20006.

The Los Angeles Board of Supervisors approved a joint motion by Supervisors Don Knabe and Zev Yaroslavsky, creating a path towards a more rehabilitative approach to juvenile justice.

The Board accepted a $28 million grant to construct a new 128-bed camp facility  that will replace a large dormitory-style building with small cottage units, allowing for a more interactive approach between staff, youth, families and treatment providers.  The rehabilitative approach includes providing mental health, therapeutic programming and educational intervention during the period juveniles are detained.  This approach is a nationally recognized model which helps facilitate the successful transition of juveniles back into their community.

“I have long advocated for reform in our juvenile justice system and a move towards a more rehabilitative approach to working with young offenders, rather than the punitive environment we have in most of our facilities,” said Supervisor Knabe.  “We owe it to the nearly 3,000 youth we have incarcerated in our camps to provide an atmosphere and resources that give them a chance to turn their lives around and return to their community with a fresh start.”