"Women Who Rock"

Posted by David Rozul

Our very own Laura A. Mustari was nominated by the San Diego readers of SDMETRO as an outstanding professional who has made an exceptional impact on our San Diego communities.  Laura A. Mustari is currently the CEO of Home Start, and with her background in San Diego nonprofits for over 25 years, has brought with her knowledge, drive and passion that has kept our team being the best we can.  She has made remarkable changes with Home Start and her dedication and hard work is easily recognized in everything she does.  Laura A. Mustari has taken our agency to new heights, building relationships with city leaders, engaging a new donor base, and overall increasing professionalism. She is nothing less than a remarkable leader, and keeps everyone she works with motivated with her beaming smile.

We are always happy to acknowledge an outstanding member of our team, and continue to do the best and have the best, to serve our community.

"Laura Mustari's dedication, passion and expertise in the social services arena, especially as it pertains to the health and wellbeing of children and families throughout San Diego County is unmatched. I speak on behalf of the board of directors, the Home Start staff and the tens of thousands of Home Start clients who receive our services annually, in congratulating Laura, and thanking her for her years of outstanding service to the organization and the community."

-Anthony Bollotta

 President

Home Start Board of Directors

Click on this link for the entire article

Sun Life Financial Summit

Posted by Nicole Graichen

Last weekend Home Start CEO, Laura Mustari attended the Sun Life Financial Summit in Miami Florida along with our student nominee, Latrice Brown, who was chosen as one of the recipients of the $5,000 college scholarship. They met 21 other Rising Star scholarship winners, and their sponsor agencies from around the country to share their experiences with the Financial Literacy program funded through Sun Life Financial. A wonderful tribute to Home Start’s Financial Literacy program for youth and how we are helping our community!

Check out this article from the UT about the Summit that Laura and Latrice attended

Keeping Up the Motivation-Intern Diaries

Posted by Nicole-Home Start Mental Health Intern

Well, five months down and reality has certainly set in. The second semester of this school year is starting, and I hear myself talking about how tired I am with my peers, who generally agree with me. The application process for next year's internship is finally complete, and now starts a long month of waiting to find out the results.

Being an intern is tough. It is difficult to juggle internship responsibilities, classes, dissertation work, and family. I think that I probably find it more difficult than the average intern, because I am in my thirties now, and I had a career in which I had earned some positional authority. The good news is that I have learned a great deal about myself as a therapist and as a person. I am starting to feel more comfortable in a variety of therapy settings. Parent child interactive therapy (PCIT) is much less scary and fully rewarding. The current group of interns with whom I work is the most accepting and overall positive group I have ever been a part of. I guess it is time to put on my determined face and keep up the motivation.

Volunteers Needed

Target Employees volunteering at the
Home Start warehouse sorting food.

Each year more than 100 people donate precious time to Home Start by volunteering for various tasks which include: tax preparation for clients, community outreach, administrative services, handing out food to needy families, and organizing community food and clothing drives just to name a few.

Without their wonderful support we would not be able to provide critical prevention and treatment services for child abuse in our community.

Volunteering creates a lasting community impact through meaningful service! If you are looking for a meaningful and positive work environment then Home Start is the place for you. Please read below for current volunteer needs.

Development Volunteer Opportunities CONTACT ngraichen@home-start.org

Our friendly Development Staff is looking for energetic, organized, and flexible people that are able to commit to at least twice a week for at least 6 months. Schedule and length of commitment flexible and to be agreed upon before volunteer begins work.

Needs include: data entry, filing, mailings, creating and modifying documents in Microsoft Office, general clerical duties, and other opportunities in fundraising and event planning as needed/desired and agreed upon by both volunteer and organization. Please send resume and letter of interest via e-mail to ngraichen@home-start.org

EITC Volunteer Opportunities – January-April 2011 CONTACT hr@home-start.org

(Evenings and weekends)

Site Coordinator – Responsible for site operation including staff scheduling, supervision of facility and customer service.  Must have strong tax preparation background with excellent management skills and be well organized.

Tax Preparer – Conducts intake of client information and prepares federal and state tax returns.  Must have basic tax preparation skills and be willing to prepare numerous tax returns during tax season.  Candidates are required to complete Internal Revenue Service sanctioned tax preparation training and to pass the basic proficiency exam.

Greeter/Screener – Schedule and manage appointments, greet taxpayers upon arrival, and screen for proper documentation.  Must have good organizational skills with basic knowledge of documents needed to prepare tax returns.  Greeters/screeners must enjoy working with people and have excellent customer service skills.

Interpreters – Assist non-English speaking taxpayers upon arrival, ensure they understand requirements for tax preparation, and answer any questions taxpayer may have.  Must have good organizational skills with basic knowledge of documents needed to prepare tax returns.  Interpreters must enjoy working with people and have excellent customer service skills.

Check out the Latest Video!

Home Start Holiday Video

Thank you so much to everyone that participated at this year's Holiday Distribution at the Home Start Warehouse!!! Not even the pouring down rain could keep our superstar volunteers away. Please take a look at this video to see all of the special things that went on!!

Please Save the Date!!

Home Start is excited to announce the 2011 “Blue Ribbon Gala” celebrating 39 years of service to the San Diego community and in honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month. This signature event raises funds for Home Start’s programs which provide critical assistance to San Diego County’s most vulnerable children and families.  Held at the beautiful Estancia La Jolla Hotel and Spa on April 29, 2011 (6pm - 11pm), this is a fun, festive and heartwarming dinner with live dance music and special presentations. For more information, please contact Nicole Graichen (619) 692-0727 ext.113 or ngraichen@home-start.org.

Thanksgiving a Time to be Thankful…

Posted by Nicole Graichen

Thanksgiving is a time when you gather around the table with your loved ones and friends and share a special holiday meal. You play games, you laugh, you watch football, and you eat way too much! J  Remember to be grateful for your friends and family, and the opportunity to celebrate Thanksgiving like you always have…and if you can, give back a little this year because it’s not that way for all of our neighbors.

San Diego County’s official poverty rate rose in 2008 from 11.1% to 12.6%, the highest level on record during the past 50 years.

·        367,000 county residents are living below the federal poverty level (46,000 more than in 2007), with household incomes of less than $10,991 for an individual or $21,834 for a family of two adults with two children.

·        The number people in poverty in San Diego grew at a much faster rate than in the state or the nation. US poverty grew .2 percentage points and California poverty grew .9 percentage points, while San Diego County poverty grew 1.5 percentage points.

·        The data show that 850,000 county residents -- 29% of the population -- were living in economic hardship in 2008. Economic hardship is CPI’s term describing households with incomes below 200% of FPL, e.g. $21,982 for an individual, $43,668 for a family of 4.

The Data:
The following data comes from the 2008 American Community Survey (ACS) which was released on September 29, 2009 by the US Census Bureau. ACS provides demographic, economic and social data for individuals and households. The data is made available for geographic areas with populations of 65,000 or more.