1. Spring 2010
S u p p o r t i n g Q u a l i t y C h i l d C a r e S i n c e 1 9 7 4
Child Care Today
Our Mission:
Connections For Children offers
the promise of a stronger future
for children, families and
communities through quality
child care resources, education
and guidance.
CONNECTIONS FOR CHILDREN
A Child Care Resource & Referral Agency
www.connectionsforchildren.org
Fostering Resiliency in Children:
Adapting to Change
Fall 2012
Connections For Children knows that resilient children of today
are more likely to become well-rounded adults in the future.
Change is difficult enough for adults, who are emotionally
equipped to adapt. However, children do not have the tools to
manage the stress that comes with significant change. Some of
the most impactful changes for children may include a divorce in
the family, starting kindergarten, changing schools, or moving.
S
tressful events in children’s lives
can impede their ability to learn
life skills, potentially hampering
their social, cognitive and even physical
development. This jeopardizes a child’s
chance at reaching his or her full
potential. With so much at stake, it is up
to adults to help the child navigate the
rough and murky waters of change.
What is a resilient child? The research
tells us that resilient children can
rebound from hardships, are able to
connect with others, have the drive
to achieve goals, and the capability to
share their feelings. Resiliency sounds
complicated, but it is actually simple.
According to Natalie Lawson, Child
Development Specialist at Connections
For Children, children need two things to
build resiliency: Support and structure.
Lawson stresses the importance of role
models and emotional support. “Studies
show that even if a child is homeless,
illiterate, or has a limited vocabulary, if
they have the care and support of one
person, that child can thrive,” she says.
When chaos abounds, children need
structure and routine: A child must
be able to count on stability. Lawson
also notes that during turbulent times,
children often feel out of control.
Therefore, it is helpful for parents and
caregivers to allow children to make
some decisions on their own.
Continued on Pg. 4

2. A
s usual, summer has flown by, and we are gradually easing
into autumn. The days are getting shorter, leaves are
falling and changing color, and there is a hint of welcome
crispness in the air. We can look forward to favorite fall traditions
like bundling up at football games, carving pumpkins, sipping
warm apple cider, and watching adorable children parade proudly
in their Halloween costumes.
Indeed, we are in a season of change. The deep and continuing cutbacks enacted in
Sacramento have presented new challenges to non-profit organizations. This year,
additional reductions to balance the state budget come on top of the already significant
cuts we’ve faced over the last four years. Many, many families who qualify for subsidy will
not be able to get the help they so badly need. Also impactful is our weakened economy,
with the fallout being financial stress and uncertainty for thousands of families in the Los
Angeles and South Bay communities. Our families need Connections For Children more
than ever!
As the landscape of non-profits and fundraising change, Connections For Children is
changing too. We are constantly evolving, seeking more ways to make high quality child
care and early education accessible to all families. This past spring, we launched Gateways
for Early Educators, which adds additional coaching to augment the child care provider
training we’ve long provided. We are facing the problem of childhood obesity head on,
breaking ground on an initiative that will help child care providers better guide children to
healthy choices for nutritious food and safe activity that keeps them growing strong. This
December, our annual Holiday Gift Program will once again celebrate the joys of reading,
as we share new books with every child and family who receives our financial assistance
for child care.
As we face a shortage of funds, we must tap into our bank of resiliency and acclimatize.
With your help, Connections For Children can continue to provide critical resources to
our communities. Your contributions will help us continue to bridge the gap for hundreds
of families, enabling them to afford safe, nurturing and stimulating early care and
education for their children. We are building resiliency in Connections For Children, so
we can in turn offer the resources to build resiliency in the children and families we serve.
Buoyed by your support, we can overcome any obstacle!
More than ever, we are dedicated to our mission of keeping families earning, and
children learning.
Sincerely,
Patti Oblath
Executive Director
From the
Executive Director
Board of Directors
WILLIAM CHARLES NICHOLAS, President
Co-Director,
National Children’s Study—Los Angeles/
Ventura Study Center
UCLA Center for Healthier Children Families
and Communities
BONNIE L. BAILER, Vice-President
Director,
Center for Healthier Communities
Northridge Hospital Medical Center
DIANNE DOUGLAS, Treasurer
SVP Finance & Global Licensing Operations
Mattel
ADRI BUTLER, Secretary
Community Volunteer
JEFFREY ASSAF
Senior Managing Director
ICG Advisors, LLC
MARVEL FORD
First Vice President, Risk Management
California Credit Union
CHRISTIE FORGASH, CPA
Partner
Technology and Entertainment Assurance
PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP
IAO KATAGIRI
Deputy Vice President and Director,
Community Relations
RAND External Affairs
MARY NORVELL
Consultant, Human Resources and
Risk Management
IRENE VALVERDE
Director of Marketing
Gumbiner Savett, Inc.
NEWSLETTER
Editorial Staff: Lisa Daggett,
Chante Bernard, Patti Oblath,
Stacia Short-Baguio
Design: STUDIO PKF
Photography: David Taylor,
Mathieu Young Photography and Others
2
Phone (310) 452-3325
Hours
M,T, Th, F 8:00 am – 5:00 pm
W 8:00 am – 7:00 pm
Reasonable modifications will be made to
make this document and/or our services
available to all per ADA requirements.

3. Running for Quality Child Care
L
ast year, board members, volunteers, child care providers,
friends, and Connections For Children staff ran as Team
CFC, making a seven month commitment to train for
the marathon. At the same time, our team raised more than
$12,000 to help support quality early child care and educational
programs for young children. The marathon contributions
assisted Westside and South Bay families in accessing high-
quality child care, and helped build the professional capacity of
hundreds of child care providers through training, coaching and
mentoring opportunities.
Team CFC members reaped the thrill and satisfaction of
achieving their fitness goals, all while raising money for
children. The experience was so impactful for Board President
Will Nicholas that he plans to run on Team CFC again this
year. When asked about his experience with Team CFC,
Nicholas shared his enthusiasm. “Getting in my best shape and
completing the LA Marathon was
inspirational because I knew I
was also raising money for a
valuable cause for which
I have great passion.
I knew that every
mile I ran counted
twice – for me and
for our community’s
children. That is both
exhilarating and empowering, and I am delighted to be back on
the team.”
Team CFC is back in the race again this year. We are
exponentially increasing our fundraising efforts, to help bridge
the gap between the diminishing public funds allotted for
child care and the needs of thousands of families across our
service area. This year’s team has set a goal to raise more than
$40,000, and participants have a choice between three races
that provide the best challenge to them. Whether running the
5K, the full marathon, or this year’s new two person charity only
relay, anyone on Team CFC can experience the thrill of the race
and the joy of helping children thrive at the same time!
People at all fitness levels can participate. This year, several
Team CFC members are joining the Club 26.2 marathon training
program. This program prepares team members for the physical
challenges of running a marathon, all while motivating them
to persevere towards their ultimate goals: Completing the
marathon and raising funds for children and families.
Team CFC makes the fundraising process so much fun with
great prizes, cool contests and a user friendly online fundraising
system. You don’t need to be an elite athlete or a seasoned
fundraiser to get involved; you just need to care about quality
care and early education for children. Won’t you join us this
year? For more information about this exciting opportunity,
please contact Lisa Daggett at 310-452-3325, Ext. 211 or at
lisad@cfc-ca.org.
3
As part of our 2013 charity program, Connections For Children is once again
participating in the LA Marathon!

4. 4
Java De Laura, a registered and licensed pediatric occupational therapist
with the Los Angeles Unified School District, agrees with Lawson. To
promote resiliency in children, De Laura suggests a tailored approach.
“Support them in problem solving, and allow them to come up with
original solutions that match their world view, not yours,” she says.
Other resilience building strategies adults might use with children
include showing empathy, limiting their exposure to conflict, and
engaging in age appropriate communication.
To help children adapt, parents and care providers must build a
united front. Lawson says that parents should inform caregivers when
a child is experiencing a stressful situation. Challenging behaviors in
children often spring from stress that can be reduced when parents
and caregivers actively work together. If there is an underlying
developmental issue, then partnership is all the more critical.
In advocating for children, we must arm them with the resiliency
they need to flourish in today’s ever changing world. Connections For
Children assists parents, families and caregivers in getting the resources
they need to help children adapt to change. We recently hosted a
workshop on children and divorce, teaching caregivers how to help
children transition through this trying time. For children or families
in crisis, we offer referrals to low cost programs that best meet their
needs. We know that children are our future, and Connections For
Children is committed to giving them the best possible beginning!
Fostering
Resiliency
in Children:
Adapting
to Change
Connections For Children, together with Family Service of Santa Monica, offers a special
program for early educators that focuses on children’s social and emotional development
and how to support children’s resiliency. This program offers regular training sessions,
coupled with site visits to child care providers. The team of Nora Daly, MFT
on staff at Family Service, and child development specialists on staff at
Connections For Children offer one-to-one coaching to those who work
with and care for young children. Call Connections For Children for
more information on this exciting opportunity, funded by the City of
Santa Monica, First 5 LA, and Los Angeles Universal Preschool.
Continued from pg 1.

5. Q and A with Nora Daley, MFT and Early Childhood
Mental Health Consultant
5
Q: In your opinion, why is it important to
foster resiliency in children?
As adults, we know how difficult it can be to successfully
navigate the uncertainties of our world. Imagine how our
young children are affected. It is so important that children
develop resilience to cope with the many stressors they
will encounter throughout their lives. We know that early
experiences predict future outcomes so we want to begin
early on to build social-emotional competence in our
children. By social-emotional competence, we are referring
to the self-regulatory process that our infants and toddlers
learn, or don’t learn, in their earliest environments from their
primary caregivers. Self regulation is the key to resilience and
resilience is the key to maintaining developmental success.
Q: How do you think parents, educators and
caregivers can foster resiliency and help
children navigate change?
Our children learn through their relational experiences
with all of us. If we are nurturing, respectful, consistent and
positive models, our children will organize around these
experiences. If we are inconsistent, contradictory, indirect,
disrespectful and negative, our children will follow in this
path. Loving nurturance, consistent routines and boundaries
that are implemented at home and at child care will help
with creating acceptance and the sense of extended family. It
is also essential that we all support each other, communicate
and work together in a positive partnership. If a child feels
secure and supported by parents, educators and caregivers,
this goes a long way in assuring resiliency necessary to
manage transitions as they arise.
Q: How can parents, educators and caregivers
work in tandem to support children who are
facing adversity (i.e. be on the same page)?
A: If care providers do not have solid, trusting relationships
with parents, our young children will sense the restrictions
of that relationship and will hold back from the safety they
deserve to experience. That’s why it’s crucial to have parents
and caregivers on board together. We want to enhance our
children’s security in our world and not confuse them with
our own unresolved conflicts.
Q: How does your partnership with CFC help
promote resiliency in children?
A: Our collaboration focuses on the emotional and social
development of our children, caregivers, parents, and
community. It’s not just about providing resources, referrals,
and trainings to ensure quality care. We are collectively
supporting each other’s strengths in growing a thoughtful,
peaceful and resilient community that prioritizes the
protective factors and minimizes the risk factors for the
futures of our children and their families.

6. Why I Serve
I
I have no children, and since many of our adult friendships develop around
children, I have relatively few friends who do. Therefore, it may strike some as
odd that I devote much of my volunteer time to strengthening organizations
like Connections For Children, the Santa Monica Child Care & Early Education Task
Force, the Santa Monica Police Activities League, and our schools, both public and
private. But it is actually quite logical: With no direct hand in raising a few children,
I feel compelled to support programs that provide a positive influence on the early
experiences of many children. After all, I am counting on these children to become
effective stewards of our community, our nation and our world.
A growing body of studies documents the importance of the earliest years on how
children develop social skills and learn to learn. We live in a community blessed
with a variety of programs that supplement the efforts of parents. The trick is
understanding your family’s needs, what programs are available, what they actually
do and how good they really are, and for many families, finding some financial
assistance to take advantage of these opportunities. Connections For Children
helps families find answers to these questions and craft solutions to fit their
circumstances. It is the resource and referral hub that makes all of our community’s
early childhood programs better, more effective, and more accessible to all.
6
Iao Katagiri
Ralphs and Food4Less
Community Shopping Programs
Please remember to re-register for the Ralphs and Food4Less Community shopping programs.
Buy delectable fare for your holiday table and help us raise money for children at the same time.
Committed to supporting education and the community, the Ralphs and Food4Less Rewards programs help customers save
money while donating to the non-profit organization of their choice.
SIGNING UP IS EASY, JUST FOLLOW THESE STEPS:
For Ralphs – sign up for a Ralphs Rewards Card at a store near you (not to be mistaken as the former Ralphs
Club Card). Visit the Ralphs Community Contribution page at www.ralphs.com and click on the “Participant”
sign up. You will have the option of selecting Connections For Children as your educational organization to receive Ralphs
Rewards earnings. Our NPO number is 90569. Please note that Ralphs requires participants to re-register every September 1.
For Food4Less – request a Food4Less Rewards card by calling or visiting the Connections For Children office at
310-452-3325. Or, you can e-mail Lisa Daggett at lisad@cfc-ca.org. Once you receive your card, you must register
the card online at www.food4less.com/community_rewards.
Katagiri has served on the
Connections For Children
Board since Fall 2010

7. Please like us on Facebook!
www.facebook.com/connectionsforchildren
Tribute and Memorial Gifts
Are you looking for meaningful and unique gift ideas this
year? Honor your loved ones on any occasion with a gift to
Connections For Children. We will send that special someone a
card acknowledging your generous and thoughtful donation. Do
you have people asking what you would like for your birthday?
You can designate Connections For Children as the charity
of your choice and ask friends and family to make donations
in your honor! We will even furnish gift givers with a special
birthday box, along with information about the important
resources we provide to families and caregivers in our
service areas.
Finally, if you would like to make a gift in someone’s memory, we
will ensure that the family of the departed receives a beautiful
card notifying them of your donation.
Annual Fundraising Appeal
Your annual gift this year will support children’s lives for years to
come. Watch your mailbox in November!
Gift Collection
Our annual Holiday Gift Program is coming soon! Please help
hundreds of children enjoy this special time of year by
donating new unwrapped toys, books, games
and fun stocking stuffers to our gift drive.
Consider enlisting the support of family,
friends and colleagues by turning your
annual meeting, holiday party or
other special event into a collection
opportunity! Your holiday gifts will
bring joy to children who might
otherwise go without.
7
Give the Gift of
Resiliency
In order to save paper, in addition
to our two hard copy editions of our
newsletter each year, we will continue
to send regular e-newsletters. If
you haven’t done so already, please
join our e-mailing list through
Facebook or our website at www.
connectionsforchildren.org.
Fall is now upon
us, and the holidays are just
around the corner! In the spirit of
the season, now is the perfect time to
contribute to Connections For Children and
make a difference. With your support, we can
continue to offer families and caregivers tools
and resources that help them raise resilient, well
adjusted children. Resilient children today are
more likely to become productive, prolific
community members tomorrow. When you
invest in the future of children, you in-
vest in the future of our world.
There are many different ways to give - and
every gift makes an impact in a child’s life!
Here are just some of the ways you can
support Connections For Children.
Please support
Connections
For Children
by searching or
shopping online
through GoodSearch and GoodShop at www.
goodsearch.com. Every time you search with
GoodSearch we earn a penny, and each time
you make a purchase on GoodShop, we re-
ceive a percentage of the sale. Please check
out both of these opportunities!

8. 2701 Ocean Park Blvd., Suite 253
Santa Monica, CA 90405
NON PROFIT
ORG
U.S.POSTAGE
PAID
PBPS
Since 1995, more than 12,000 families living on low-incomes and receiving
subsidy through Connections For Children have participated in our
annual Holiday Gift Program. During the holiday season, our office
becomes a toy store, bursting with new books, toys, and other gifts to
delight children and make their seasons bright! Please join us during this
special time as we celebrate children and their families. This year, our
event is planned for December 19 through December 22. Here is how
YOU can help:
• Collect new toys, games, books & gift cards through your company,
school or service organization.
• Hold a party or event, and ask everyone to bring a new toy or
stocking stuffer.
• Collect decorations and gift wrapping
supplies to donate.
• Volunteer just a few hours of your time
at our headquarters to wrap presents,
help families select gifts, or to work at a
children’s activity station.
For more information, please contact Lisa Daggett at 310-452-3325, Ext. 211 or
lisad@cfc-ca.org. We can’t wait to hear from you!
Happy Holidays Gift Drive!