LOWER LAKE ? The joys of the season were shared merrily at Arbor Education and Training on Thursday. The spoils of the third annual Family Focus holiday event reached clients in the CalWORKs program and provided each of the children with a Christmas gift.
Guests were treated to refreshments while children waited to visit with Santa Claus and tell him Christmas wishes. Nearly 100 children received a gift.
“The Family Focus holiday event is an opportunity for Arbor to share in the joys of the season with its clients,” Sharon Anderson, Arbor director said. “The children really seemed to like taking pictures with Santa and telling them their wishes.”
Youth Coordinator Gina Dickson said the event provides an opportunity for Arbor to recognize all the hard work its clients endure to better themselves and their families. “Although we primarily work with parents in the CalWORKs program, we understand that they are working hard for their families and we want to give them a day for their families to share this holiday with Arbor Education.”
Arbor Education and Training works with Lake County families providing assistance with the transition from Welfare-to-Work. It operates with funding provided through CalWORKs/TANF, which are state and federal programs. Services are accessed through the Department of Social Services.
“Arbor is the best thing to happen to this town and this county in general,” client Misti Parriott said. “They are helping me gain a career instead of just another job.”
MiZone youth program students contributed to the event, greeting guests and welcoming them to the gathering. MiZone, open to children whose parents are Arbor Education clients, provides career links to youth 16 to 19 years of age.
MiZone is housed in Arbor Education”s facility located at 9055 Highway 53 in Lower Lake. There is a computer lab with Internet access; quiet study areas and a physical recreation area.
The program offers activities for education and entertainment. Students are given the tools they need to research college options and learn more about requirements for attendance and how to access financial aid. Job shadowing and internship opportunities are available to youth in the program.
Job Zone, a full-service resource facility for those seeking employment, is also located in the Arbor Education building in Lower Lake. The Job Zone site is equipped with 13 computers including a handicap-accessible station. The site provides computer resume-writing software and resume-writing assistance; Internet access, copy and fax machines, daily newspaper, job listings, hot job lead postings from employers; unemployment/EDD phone and Web access; DMV printouts for CalJob-listed positions; useful listing of county, public and government Web sites; and a message service for clients to receive calls from potential employers. In addition, staff is always on hand to answer any questions and provide assistance.
For more information about Job Zone, call 995-9015. For more information about MiZone, call 995-9012.
Contact Denise Rockenstein at drockenstein@clearlakeobserver.com or call her directly at 994-6444, ext. 11.
