LAKEPORT >> The Lake County Office of Education presented its first report regarding The Hub in Upper Lake Tuesday.
Lake County Superintendent of School Wally Holbrook, presented the report to the Lake County Board of Supervisors.
The Hub, which opened in August 2013 in Upper Lake, is a “one-stop shop” for multiple services and resources for students and their families.
“I think we are on our way to having a very effective method to deliver services throughout the county,” Holbrook said.
As a center not primarily focused on solely education, but mostly on other surrounding factors in a student”s life, the Hub aims to provide options for out-of-classroom help such as medical care, transportation, housing, counseling and other issues related to academic and overall well-being.
Sutter Lakeside Hospital became partners with The Hub after initially providing the facility for The Hub office on the Upper Lake campus. The hospital now provides its Mobile Medical Van on a weekly basis.
According to Holbrook, it can be difficult to navigate the various agencies to find needed resources and services, and transportation around the Lake is often challenging. The Hub seeks to be a one-stop-shop where students and families can connect with the resources that will help them succeed.
This year, a second location opened in Lower Lake.
“The concept is basically to align services,” Holbrook said.
Services include family therapy, tutoring, a homework club, medical and dental referrals, counseling services, transportation resources and information for food, clothing and housing.
“It has been a tremendous success, we have a number of partners offering services ? which are more aligned with the needs of the community,” Holbrook said.
Partners for both Hubs include the Lake Family Resource Center, Redwood Children”s Services and Healthy Start. For the Upper Lake locations, the Upper Lake Elementary School and High School districts have also partnered with the Hub.
In Lower Lake, The Konocti Unified School District and the St. Helena Konocti Wellness Center have agreements with the group.
Additionally, multiple county departments, including social services, public health and behavioral health, are Hub partners.
Holbrook said the long-term plan for the office of education is to open a Hub in every city in the county. He also expects the The Hub will serve as a model to other small rural communities.
“Evidence shows that this approach has been very successful,” Holbrook said. “It is a simple approach ? we bring services to where people are, instead of making people go to the services.”
No action was required by the supervisors.
J.W. Burch can be reached at 900-2022
