Our Community Voices: Elaine’s story

Originally, from San Francisco, Elaine spent her career working on bank acquisitions and had experience working with nonprofits. After moving to Calistoga, a friend of hers who was actively involved with the family center knew Elaine’s skills and knowledge would be a huge asset to the family center's Board of Directors. After learning more about the difference the family center was making in the community, Elaine joined the board of Calistoga Family Center in 2007 – and she subsequently helped lead efforts to merge with St. Helena Family Center, to become the UpValley Family Centers in 2014.

“I love the promise and hope that the family center puts out for all their clients,” comments Elaine. “The needs are so tremendous and are always changing." Elaine was a part of numerous important decisions during the early years of the family center, one that sticks out in her mind was the conversation of whether or not Older Adult support should be included in the family center’s services. Ultimately, the family center wanted to provide for every part of the family, and that included older adults. “That program has grown and evolved so much,” says Elaine “We’ve just gotten better and better at doing what we do”

10 years ago, Elaine was an essential part of the team that established UpValley Family Centers’ signature annual fundraiser, Viva! Napa Valley. “When Viva! first started,” Elaine explains, “there were four different organizations that had a combined auction.” As the years went on, Viva! evolved to solely benefit UpValley Family Centers.

Elaine is so proud of her involvement in the family center as a former board member, and current donor. “This is such a rich organization, with a history that is to die for, and the fact that it’s still so healthy is fantastic.” Elaine wants the family center to be known as the go to resource for all upvalley residents: For parents to know about the Triple P program, Ninos Activos, and the Community Schools Initiative. For students to receive the mental health services they need. For older adults to access the support and resources the family center can provide. “This organization is for EVERYONE!”

Our Community Voices: Bianca’s story

Bianca is a licensed Marriage and Family therapist contracted through UpValley Family Centers to provide therapy to students at Calistoga Junior Senior High School, but Bianca’s family center story goes much deeper.

Bianca has been involved with the family center as a client, a student, and a partner, but her first interaction was as a child witnessing her mother turn to the family center for resources and later becoming a volunteer. In high school, Bianca participated in our CLARA youth mentoring program, where she made lifelong friendships that she still has to this day. As a young student, she felt that CLARA helped her to get in touch with her Latina culture. After high school, Bianca went on to receive her Bachelor's in Psychology and became our CLARA facilitator, where she discovered her interest in becoming a licensed therapist. She soon returned to school and received her master’s degree.

When she had her first daughter, she brought her to our Ninos Activos children's playgroup. It was there where she found community and support from a group of parents and caregivers with children all around the same age as her own. “Ninos Activos doesn’t just help the children," Bianca commented, "it helps us as mothers to connect”.

When her daughter was old enough to go to school, Bianca signed her up for our Summer Bridges program to prepare her for her transition to kindergarten. It was there that Bianca connected with Marcela, our Education Program Manager, who mentioned to Bianca the need for contracted onsite therapists in Calistoga. Bianca loves her work and is passionate about the mental health of our upvalley youth.

For Bianca, UpValley Family Centers was there for support as a student, a mother, and a professional “For many different roles in my life, the family center has been there,” says Bianca. “The biggest impact has been that the family center has given me opportunities and I’ve been able to grow from that”

VIVA! raises $86,180 for our community!

Our 10th Annual online auction, Viva! Napa Valley raised $86,180 to help create a future of opportunity for our community! The funds raised through Viva! sustain our programs and services that benefit the community and our constituents by providing critical and otherwise lacking support services to low-income families and older adults to build their stability and resilience, empowering residents to create a better future for themselves, and reducing systemic social, racial and economic inequities to make our community more inclusive and just.

Free Pickleball Clinics - Space Still Available

Do you want to learn how to play pickleball? We still have space available in our free introductory clinics for beginners during the First Annual Napa Valley Pickleball Classic on Saturday, May 4, 2024! Learn the basics of the games while meeting other new players. The clinic will be led by St. Helena Recreation's pickleball instructor Chris Cheng and volunteer coaches. Participants will learn new skills such as how to keep score, serve, forehands, backhands, and how to accurately place serves into the correct square. The clinics will be offered in English and Spanish from 8:30-10:00 and English only from 10:30-12:00. Clinic registration is free and open to all Napa Valley residents ages 12 and up. For more information & registration, please visit: nvpc2024.givesmart.com

The New Drug Talk

Hosted by the City of St. Helena and UpValley Family Centers, please join us for a screening of Song For Charlie's original film, Drugs in the Age of Fentanyl, which is a compelling tool to help families, teachers, and communities understand the fentanyl crisis and how to talk to our kids about drug use and mental wellness in new ways. 

This 30-minute film outlines the dangers of fentanyl and fake pills. An expert panel discussion will follow the presentation. Join us to learn how to help keep your loved ones safe. The film will have Spanish subtitles.

Wednesday, April 24 at 5:00 PM
Cameo Cinema
1340 Main Street, St. Helena