Some seniors are especially vulnerable to financial abuse from people close to them, but the Elder Financial Protection Network is working to reduce those risks.

There's a 24-hour, toll-free hotline for reporting suspected elder abuse at 1-888-436-3600. Additional resources are available through every California county.

 

  EFPN is holding a online wine auction to help support the local non-profit. Bidding is active from Oct. 31 through Nov. 9.

An online  guide to resources available to residents anywhere in the United States is the Elder Care Locator. If you're not sure exactly what elder financial abuse is, there are answers here.

Victims of domestic violence, including undocumented immigrants, now have some new programs available to protect them.

Here is a link to a page of frequently asked questions about U Visas.

Below are some additional resources with links.

Catholic Charities Immigration Services

Sonoma County YWCA

 US  Immigration Service

 

An unusual gathering of educators, service providers parents and tomorrow (Tuesday) will look at ways local schools can meet the needs of the rapidly growing number of students diagnosed with autism.

Andrew Bailey is  Executive Director of Anova Center for Education , which has campuses in Santa Rosa, San Rafael and American Canyon in Napa County. Anova was founded in 200o.

SONOMA COUNTY'S 1ST ANNUAL AUTISM COMMUNITY SYMPOSIUM

When:             Tuesday, October 21st, 3:30pm-6:30 pm

Where:            The Anova Center for Education 

                         3033 Cleveland Avenue, Santa Rosa, CA

Cost:                FREE to participants and attendees

For more information or to reserve your seat, contact Anova at: (707) 527-7032

 

Anova will be hosting the Autism Community Team (ACT!) of Sonoma County in the First Annual Autism Community Symposium, "Meeting Challenges and Creating Opportunities". This forum brings together parents, public schools, regional centers and private providers to increase understanding of what services are currently available to those impacted by autism, and to discuss all that remains to be accomplished.

Autism is the fastest growing disability in the US.  With 1 out of every 150 children diagnosed with autism, autism is more prevalent than childhood cancer, juvenile diabetes, and pediatric AIDS combined. Here in California, the number of students with autism in grades K-12 has increased more than 1000% over the past 20 years. With statistics such as these, there is no question: autism has a widespread emotional, social and economic impact on our community, and has ramifications our community must be prepared to fully address.

 

As autism spectrum diagnoses become more frequent among local students, Andrew Bailey says it is increasingly important for schools to implement cost-effective approaches to meeting their needs.

  Same sex weddings and Community Impact Reports could both have a notable effect on the Sonoma County economy.

    

 

 

On  October 6, the Petaluma City Council is expected to vote on a resolution requiring Community Impact Reports (CIRs)  for new large retail developments in the city, including those shown on this map.

 

 

 

The Living Wage Coalition of Sonoma County is the leading local advocate forCommunity Impact Reports.

 

 

Director Geof Callan's new documentary film is trying to do more than capture history; he wants to influence it.

Jeanne Rizzo says it was not an easy decision to become part of the lawsuit that overturned the California law that blocked same sex marriages, but it was the right choice.

 

  

The film will premiere in Santa Rosa on October 2^nd, at the Rialto. To find out more about screenings including Santa Rosa, click here .  To view the trailer, click here .

To read about the nonprofit organization that was created out of the film making, as well as the creators, click here .

Proposition 8 was created by ProtectMarriage.com , but has a large amount of opposition from same sex marriage supporters.