“Mirroring the new mission statement,
the Wraparound program offers a need-
based, skills driven, planning process. We’re
moving away from the tradition that you
have to have something wrong with you to
have mental health needs addressed.”
“Wraparound comes in and asks,
what are your strengths, what do you do
well? Let’s talk about what is working
because that’s going to build a pathway to
permanency, and stability, for the future. It’s
predicated on using your natural resources.”
“Wraparound really creates that village
around the family that migrates with them
throughout their journey,” Rebboah said.
“That’s part of our work — that
families learn how to be their own greatest
resource,” Grier said.
Although RCS is moving forward they
haven’t forgotten their past. Adoption and
foster care continue to be a significant
element of the organization. There is an
ever-present need for community members
to step-up.
“We are constantly recruiting both foster
and adoptive families,” Grier said.
The need varies from families who are
willing to take emergency placements,
to those ready to commit to a long-term
adoption and matching process.
For every foster care family, RCS is there
providing education on what to look for,
and how to help each child, and be a part
of the healing.
“We’re there all along the way,” Grier
said, adding that the most important factors
in becoming a foster or adoptive parent are,
“an open mind and an open heart.”
The Culinary Academy is another
valuable resource for RCS. Students aged
15-21 are eligible for the program and upon
graduation from the academy, they are
presented with a food handler certificate,
a valuable component they can add to their
resume.
“Our goal is to get them placed in a
job before they leave, and right now our
number is around 98 percent job placement
rate,” Chef Carlos Pineda, manager of the
Culinary Academy, said.
The culinary program stays true to the
mission behind RCS.
“The partnership with mentoring and
job opportunities and job placement when
they graduate is really the key component.
Staying true to what the program is, help-
ing kids in our community get jobs, and
take the right path,” Luevano said.
“It’s a tremendous honor and privi-
lege to keep the philanthropy of the
Independent Order of Odd Fellows at
Rebekah’s going, for them to see all the
great work that’s happening through the
various programing, and in the work that
people are offering to kids and families,”
Rebboah said.
For information regarding foster or
adoptive care, contact, Becky Gabuat at
408.871.4962. For additional informa-
tion on services and programs offered at
Rebekah’s, or to volunteer, go to their
website, at rcskids.org.
Second Annual Pop-A-Cork
Rebekah Children’s Services Staff, Volunteers and Apprentices
On Thursday, March 31, 2016, Rebekah Children’s Services hosted
the Second Annual Pop-a-Cork Celebration benefitting the Culinary
Academy. The 170 guests in attendance enjoyed a special selection
of culinary delights prepared and served by the students, sampled
award-winning wines, and listened to live music in the Barrel Room
at Fortino Winery in Gilroy.
24
GILROY • MORGAN HILL • SAN MARTIN
The event raised over $25,000 which will allow even more
students to attend their ten-week program, earn their Food Handlers
Certification, and position themselves for future success. They are
already planning the third annual event to take place on Thursday,
March 30, 2017 at Leal Vineyards in Hollister.
MAY/JUNE 2016
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