Agencies build partnerships to benefit Pomona youth, families

Participants met in groups, which were arranged by organizers, based
on their agencies' areas of expertise and discussed ways they can
partner and better serve the city's youth and families.

Some groups talked about the need for those offering after-school
programs to network, said Nancy Matarrita, co-chairwoman of the task
force and event participant.

Matarrita was among the people talking about the need for
after-school programs to network.

All types of ideas flowed, she said.

They included suggestions to share resources, such as trading methods
of measuring the progress of programs to methods of sharing
information with the public about the master plan, Matarrita said.

Some ideas are easier to implement and could soon be in place, she
said.

Others are worth keeping in mind and setting in motion at some point,
such as using podcasts to spread information about the master plan.

"It may not be this year, but it's cool to think about for the
future," Matarrita said.

Various connections were made at the event.

"Unusual connections that never would have been made sitting behind
out desks," she said.

Among those connections are learning about a group that provides
family legal services.

Some organizations wanted the agency to visit and make presentations
to their clients, she said.

Victor Caceres, executive director of the Boys & Girls Club of Pomona
Valley, urged participants to work together to reach and serve more
youth and families in need of services in the city.

"We have a responsibility to see partnerships," he said. "Together
we're more efficient, more impactful."

The event on Thursday offered participants an opportunity to take the
time to learn what services other organizations represented at the
event had to offer, Caceres said.

"Collaboration happens when we reach out and say, 'What do you
do?' " he said.

During the event, organizers offered an update on initiatives being
implemented as part of the master plan.

They included the city's efforts to open family resource centers at
locations in Pomona and information on www.pomonafamilyresources.org,
a database with information on resources ranging from health services
to educational services that are available to Pomona residents.

For participants, such as Ortega, the workshop was helpful.

He was getting ideas about resources that his clients could
benefit from add he had already started speaking with Arellano-Gonzalez about arranging a visit to the facility.

Arellano-Gonzalez, a supervising children's social worker with the
Los Angeles County Department of Children and Family Services, said
her agency can provide teenagers with assistance for housing, but
they must show they are attending school or working.

Ortega's agency may be able to provide some employment and
educational opportunities for some of her clients.

Arellano-Gonzalez said meeting people representing other agencies is
important because it allows her to make a connection and gives her
someone she can refer clients to.