| | Expanding our footprint in Calistoga We're excited to announce that we are moving into the Vermeil House, at 913 Washington Street in Calistoga (the former clinic of Adventist Health). These offices will be transformed into a centralized hub for essential community services, significantly expand our footprint, and increase our capacity to bring more partner services onsite. This is needed now more than ever, so we can provide support, guidance, and access to resources for local community members during these uncertain times. We'd like to thank Adventist Health St. Helena for working closely with us to make this move possible, and their desire to have the property continue to be a resource that fosters community health and wellbeing. We are grateful to the St. Helena Hospital Foundation and the E. Richard Jones Family Foundation for special gifts that have helped make this expansion possible. Thanks to our board members Ziggy Gutierrez and Doug Marriott, and volunteers from the St. Helena Odd Fellows group, the interior of the building has a fresh coat of paint! Our Case Managers will be available to meet with clients in the new space by appointment only April 1st - 18th. Appointments can be scheduled by calling (707) 965-5010. We will open to the public for walk-ins starting on April 21st. |
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| | | March Highlight: Napa Valley Wellness Conference A group of UpValley Family Centers' staff and students from our youth mentoring programs attended the 6th Annual Napa Valley Wellness Conference at Silverado Resort & Spa. The conference brought together educators, administrators, practitioners, and student leaders for a comprehensive professional development experience that elevated school-based mental health programs while promoting youth voice. Our Education Program Manager, Marcela Rodriguez, joined SHINE Napa Valley partners from Mentis, Aldea, and Napa Valley Unified School District in a panel presentation: "Supporting the Needs of Newcomer Youth and Their Families," which discussed current trends, impacts of immigration on mental health, barriers to accessing care, and their successes. The discussion raised awareness about the experiences of newcomer youth, emphasizing the importance of offering a diverse range of resources, and highlighting the impact of community agencies working together as a united front. |
| | Napa County Woman of the Year This month, we celebrated Norma Ferriz, our Finance and Operations Director, who was named Napa County Woman of the Year by Congressman Mike Thompson, and celebrated her 17th work anniversary at UpValley Family Centers! “Norma Ferriz de Massaro has been a pillar of the Napa Valley community for nearly two decades,” said Congressman Mike Thompson. “Ms. Ferriz de Massaro has also been an active member of many civic and nonprofit organizations, including Soroptimist International St. Helena Sunrise, the St. Helena Star Editorial Board, the St. Helena Library Committee, the St. Helena Library Foundation, the St. Helena Multicultural Committee, and the Napa Valley Community Foundation’s Community Programs and Grants Committee. Her leadership in these organizations has helped make our community a more inclusive place. I am proud to recognize her as Napa County’s Woman of the Year.” |
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| | | Yessi Martinez Student Wellness Specialist Yessi coordinates wellness services for students on campus at the St. Helena High School Wellness Center including planning, organizing, coordination and supervision of prevention education programs for students and their families to address non-academic problems that interfere with the students’ ability to be successful in school. |
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Joey Garcia Economic Success Manager Joey supports our Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program, adult education, and business development partnerships, supervising staff in their work connecting families with safety net services. He will also assist with developing and implementing programs that promote financial stability for low and middle-income households. |
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| | Immigration Program News On March 14, the Calistoga Tribune covered our federal funding freeze mentioned in our February newsletter - you can read the article here. On March 27 we received an official notice from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security terminating our Citizenship and Integration Grant. The message read: Effective immediately, the U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS) hereby terminates your USCIS award to end all work. Pursuant to 2 C.F.R. § 200.340(a)(2) and the terms and conditions of your award, DHS has determined that the scope of work performed under this award no longer effectuates the program goals and the Department’s priorities. Pursuant to this notice, you must cease all federally funded work under this Award and any costs incurred for such work on or after the date of this notification will be unallowable. |
| | | Upcoming events: Logvy Park Ribbon Cutting - Friday, April 4, 2025 at 4:30 PM The ribbon cutting at Logvy Park that was previously scheduled for March 12 and postponed due to rain has been rescheduled for Friday, April 4 at 4:30 PM. We hope you'll join us to celebrate Adelante and their project that will serve Calistoga's children and families for years to come! Know Your Rights Presentations in St. Helena and Calistoga - Tuesday, April 15 from 6:00 - 7:00 PM at the Carnegie Building in St. Helena (1360 Oak Avenue, St. Helena)
- Wednesday, April 16 from 5:00 - 6:00 PM at the Calistoga Community Center (1307 Washington Street, Calistoga)
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| | NVPC Tournament and Clinic registration is OPEN! The Second Annual Napa Valley Pickleball Classic isn't just a tournament - it's a celebration of community, connection, and collaborative action. Organized by a committee of local volunteers and representatives from the City of St. Helena Parks and Recreation Department and UpValley Family Centers, this event brings neighbors together for a day of play, fun, and shared purpose: ensuring that families in northern Napa Valley have the support and resources they need to thrive. Saturday will consist of pool play doubles matches with the following brackets: Ages 18-50 and Ages 50+, each divided by intermediate and advanced levels. The day will also feature free introductory clinics for pickleball learners, food trucks, and other fun activities for the community. The Sunday tournament will consist of single-elimination finals featuring the winning teams from Saturday. |
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| UpValley Family Centers
1440 Spring Street | Saint Helena, California 94574
707-965-5010 | info@upvalleyfamilycenters.org |
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