Agencies: Redwood Middle School and Silverado Middle School
Support Needed: $5,000
Purpose: Purchase books for literacy- improvement program

Reading is fundamental. Especially for 200 students at Redwood and Silverado middle schools, who began the year reading far below grade-level. A teacher that runs the library and media programs on both campuses decided to tackle the problem by enticing these youngsters into the enriching world of books. Last September, she launched a special literacy effort (called the Accelerated Reader Program) that develops comprehension skills and offers prizes to kids who show improvement, or read more than the required number of books. Two cohorts of eighth graders are the target population for a few reasons: They are poised to start high school, and half of them read below the seventh-grade level. Government-mandated performance requirements have stripped literature from the language arts curriculum at both Napa-based schools, and now instruction focuses primarily on grammar. As a result, kids with poor reading skills fall farther and farther behind. The Accelerated Reader Program relies on two key components, a computerized curriculum and each school's existing book library. The teacher uses the curriculum to establish a student's reading level, or "zone." Kids then select books within their "zone" and check them out of the library. Upon completing a book, each student takes a computer-based quiz that measures comprehension and vocabulary acquisition. The computer immediately offers kid-friendly feedback and the number of points earned towards incentives. Students with quiz scores of 85 percent or higher receive prizes; special recognition also is given to kids who achieve a vocabulary of one million-plus words, which is our state's reading standard for eighth graders. After nine months, results have been positive. Middle schoolers at Silverado inched up three-quarters of a grade-level in reading, and Redwood's participants jumped an entire level. One wrinkle has surfaced: Libraries on both campuses are in short supply of the recommended number of books needed for struggling readers--1,800. For instance, the 101 eighth graders reading below level at Redwood share 54 books. What's needed is $5,000 to pay the annual software licensing fee ($650) and purchase 250 books that are age- and reading-level appropriate--and engaging--for reluctant readers. Your support would help next year's eighth graders improve their literacy, and get hooked on books.

Agency: CASA, A Voice for Children
Support Needed: $20,000
Purpose: Train more volunteers to advocate for vulnerable kids

Sadly, each year in Napa County, 130 children, from birth to 18 years old, become dependents of the court and are placed in foster care. These kids have been abused or neglected and, in spite of assistance from social service agencies, their parents have not proven able to create a safe environment in the home. The court's goal is for the judge, lawyers, caseworkers and others to find solutions that would allow the child to eventually be reunified with his or her family. For the child, this process can seem like an endless parade of unfamiliar grown-ups. State and federal governments require the court to appoint an adult to be the voice of the child during the sequence of investigative and legal proceedings. In most California counties, Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASAs), who are specially-trained volunteers, serve in this role. Napa County's volunteer program is run by a nonprofit called CASA, A Voice for Children. Since 1996, CASA has been screening, recruiting, training and supervising volunteers from our local community that have advocated for more than 1,000 kids. A volunteer not only provides to the child a stable relationship with an adult, but also promotes a child's best interests and wishes regarding health care, therapy and schooling. The nonprofit's staff recruits volunteers, who are often retired school teachers or nurses, and provides 36 hours of mandatory training, as well as 12 hours of continuing education each year. Some CASAs work five hours per week for three years on behalf of a child. In 2008, CASA served 111 children with a cadre of volunteers that contributed approximately 4,256 hours of service. This represents more than $93,500 in equivalent compensation. Annual budget for the nonprofit is $240,000; 30 percent of revenues come from California's State Judicial Council to help defray costs to document compliance with national standards, a host of laws, as well as rules of the court. CASA spends about $2,000 per child to screen, train and supervise its volunteers. Currently, 100 children are matched with 50 volunteers; 24 kids are on a waiting list. CASA wants to cut the list in half and, to that end, needs to recruit, train and supervise another 10 volunteers. The price tag: $20,000. Support of this effort would dedicate these specially-trained, trusted adults to more children during a difficult and traumatic time.

Agency: Spirit of Unity in Napa, Inc.
Support Needed: $6,240
Purpose: Extend hours of drop-in center for working-poor residents

A few years ago, Spirit of Unity in Napa (SUN) launched a drop-in resource center called Puertas Abiertas ("Open Doors") for the working-poor Latino families that constitute the backbone of our agriculture- and visitor-focused economy. The Puertas Abiertas Resource Center is located near St. John the Baptist Catholic Church in downtown Napa, a trusted center of community life for many of these Spanish-speaking households. Puertas staff connects and refers people to a wide variety of services, including Napa Valley Food Bank, Job Connection and Boys & Girls Club. Puertas also brings nonprofits inside its doors to offer services on site. For example, Queen of the Valley Medical Center's Mobile Dental Van provides oral care to children twice a week; Fair Housing discusses tenant and property owner rights; and Family Service counsels couples that are experiencing stress or other difficulties. SUN recently conducted a survey of 800 Latino community members; more than half of them cited adult education and English language classes as their top priority. In response, Puertas is increasing its education offerings. For instance, Napa Valley College instructors now teach English twice a week at the resource center. Another new service: Spanish-language literacy classes for adults. This offering is essential for many Puertas clients, who emigrated from rural Mexico, where they did not have the opportunity to attend high school. Without a solid foundation in Spanish, learning English is doubly difficult. SUN also is adding 18 computers to facilitate the education process. Clients will use the technology for: practice drills and self-paced study; researching and applying for potential jobs; increasing basic computer skills; and, connecting with community resources. Puertas is in demand--last year 2,000 families accessed services via the center--but only open 25 hours per week. The program, which has an annual budget of $140,000, wants its doors open 10 more hours per week to accommodate another 110 clients. A grant from Napa County Tobacco Master Settlement (MSA) will cover about one-third of the $9,600 cost for extra staff time. Your support would be leveraged with MSA funding, and would ensure that working families receive services to increase their self-sufficiency.