THE PLACEMENT OF A CHILD into the foster care system is never easy, but the Department of Public Social Services (DPSS) is developing new approaches to ensure children who need foster care find good homes and have a better chance of staying in a stable environment.

The Family to Family program seeks to partner DPSS with parents, community organizations and staff to bring a more family-centered approach to the foster care system. The program, dubbed F2F, aims to improve child safety and child health, reduce the number of times a foster child is moved to a new foster home and maintain connections between family and child.

Such a neighborhood-based approach is aimed at driving home the message that the health and safety of children is everyone’s responsibility, regardless of whether a child lives with his or her birth family or is in the foster care system.

The program is built around the development of locally-based resources to support families and the creation of teams through a team-building approach to assist foster parents and case workers in making the best decisions for children. F2F also calls for using available data to chart progress, make decisions and determine when changes are needed.

More information about the program is available at the Foster Parent Recruitment Hotline 800.665.KIDS (5437).

Good News for the Future Family Pets and Pet Owners

ONE OF THE BIGGEST PROJECTS in Riverside County Animal Services history is now underway. The Board of Supervisors approved funding to build a new shelter to replace the Riverside location on Wilderness Avenue.

Once completed, the 65,000-squarefoot Northwestern Riverside County/City Animal Shelter will be the largest animal shelter in the Inland Empire and one of the largest in Southern California. The Board of Supervisors budgeted $26 million for the construction costs.

The new location, on the northeast corner of Van Buren Boulevard and Clay Street used to be a county transportation department storage and work yard.

“This shelter will really make an outstanding statement at how committed this county is to homeless animals and to the many strays that come through our doors,” Director Robert Miller said. “This is not our building,” Miller said. “This is the community’s shelter. We want them to feel that this shelter is a valuable addition. We want community groups to feel welcome to use the large conference room or center courtyard for their functions. They will see how much the county and city of Riverside is committed to caring for homeless animals.”

Some of the shelter features include climate-control kennels, orthopedic surgery rooms, automatic water bowls for dogs and “life rooms” for dogs or cats that will mirror the average living room. There were will some space dedicated to livestock and a protected-custody ward for abused or neglected animals.

The new shelter will have the ability to house more animals with fewer dogs placed in each kennel run and fewer felines placed together in cat condominiums. The city of Riverside is a major partner in the shelter. Earlier this year, the Riverside City Council approved a five-year extension with the county for its animal control/animal services contract.

JURUPA VALLEY SENIORS can receive free flu shots and gain information about services at the annual Jurupa Valley Senior Citizens Health and Services Fair.

The fair will be held on Thursday, Nov. 6 at the Country Village Apartments, 10250 Country Club Drive in Mira Loma. The fair begins at 9 a.m. and ends at 2 p.m. Free flu shots will be offered on site for seniors 60 and older from 9 am – 11am.

A drive-through service will also be offered for those who have difficulty getting out of their vehicles. Numerous health vendors and agencies will be offering their expertise, including the Alzheimer’s Association, IEHP (Inland Empire Health Plan), and the Riverside County Office on Aging. Seniors will receive information about daycare, transportation and many other services.

Dr. Michael Butchko, a local veterinarian, will be offering free immunizations for dogs and cats. Several hundred seniors are expected to attend the program and enjoy a complementary continental breakfast and lunch. Officials are anticipating as many as 600 seniors.

County officials began the fair more than a decade ago after attending a community meeting and hearing from seniors in the area who said they did not have access to services. The county then decided to bring needed services to the seniors. For more information call 951.955.1024

RIVERSIDE COUNTY OFFICIALS are preparing to make this year’s historic election as easy as possible on voters by reinstating an early voting program and dispatching a “vote mobile.”

County officials also are hoping to engage young people. Registrar of Voters Barbara Dunmore said the county’s Student Poll Worker Program gets young people interested in the democratic process. Students who are at least 16 and have a 2.5 grade point average are eligible to participate if they have permission from their school.

The students go through a two-and-ahalf- hour training class, and work all day on Election Day from 6:15 am until after the polls close. They receive $20 for the class and $90 for Election Day work. Dunmore said the county has reinstated its early voting program at area malls. The Galleria at Tyler will offer early voting Oct. 18 – Oct. 26.

On Oct. 6, the county’s 32-foot vote mobile will begin traveling to various areas of the county. Stops include:

• Oct. 25, 2:30pm – 6pm, The Promenade Shops at Dos Lagos, Corona
• Oct. 28, 9am – 2pm, Riverside County Administrative Center/Corona, 505 S. Buena Vista Ave.
• Oct. 28, 3pm – 8pm, Metrolink North Main Corona station, 250 E. Blaine St.
• Oct. 29, 9am – 2pm. Riverside County Administrative Center/Riverside, 4080 Lemon St.
• Oct. 29, 3pm – 8pm, Metrolink Riverside Downtown station, 4066 Vine St.
• Oct. 30, 9am – 2pm, Stater Bros. Market, 11070 Limonite Ave., Mira Loma
• Oct. 30, 3pm – 8pm, Metrolink Pedley station, 6001 Pedley Rd.
• Oct. 31, 9am – 2pm., Stater Bros. Market, 2790 Hamner Avenue, Norco
• Oct. 31, 3pm – 8pm, Metrolink West Corona station, 155 S. Auto Center Dr.
• Nov. 1, 3pm – 6pm, Riverside Plaza

Voters can also request a vote by mail ballot, Dunmore said. Those ballots will be mailed out beginning on Oct. 6. For more information, please see www.voteinfo.net