Children Ventura County

Although the numbers of teen-agers giving birth and youngsters suffering abuse are rising every year in Ventura County, children growing up here are still far safer, healthier and less likely to have babies themselves than young people in other parts of the state, a new survey shows.

In the battle to shield children from abuse and neglect, the therapeutic preschool program at Casa Pacifica is on the front lines. Children arrive at the preschool, one of several programs run by the Ventura County shelter for youngsters, removed from their families by the court, with physical and emotional scars. Often they are malnourished and developmentally delayed. Many are violent and aggressive and unsuitable for placement in public preschools.

In the battle to shield children from abuse and neglect, the therapeutic preschool program at Casa Pacifica is on the front lines. Children arrive at the preschool, one of several programs run by the Ventura County shelter for youngsters, removed from their families by the court, with physical and emotional scars. Often they are malnourished and developmentally delayed. Many are violent and aggressive and unsuitable for placement in public preschools.

Dressed down in a T-shirt and jeans with a mop of red hair, Joan Gendreau doesn't look much like Santa Claus. But to more than 800 foster children throughout Ventura County, that is who she is. For more than 20 Christmases, Gendreau has spearheaded an effort to provide shiny bikes, dolls and teddy bears to county children spending the holidays in foster homes.

Over the past eight years, Lori Allred has cared for 54 foster children, and finding enough presents each Christmas has been a challenge. That's why she appreciates the Gingerbread Giving Tree, which helps distribute presents to foster children throughout Ventura County. "Last year, one of our girls was able to get a Huffy 10-speed bike. She was so surprised," said Allred, a Ventura resident.

Dressed down in a T-shirt and jeans with a mop of red hair, Joan Gendreau doesn't look much like Santa Claus. But to more than 800 foster children throughout Ventura County, that is who she is. For more than 20 Christmases, Gendreau has spearheaded an effort to provide shiny bikes, dolls and teddy bears to county children spending the holidays in foster homes.

A 14-year-old boy is being investigated in connection with the alleged molestation of a 3 1/2-year-old girl while he was baby-sitting a group of children in the El Rio area near Oxnard, authorities said Wednesday. The boy's name was not released because of his age. The child told her grandmother about an incident that apparently occurred between 6 and 8 p.m. Tuesday, when the boy was baby-sitting the girl and some other children, Ventura County Sheriff's Sgt. John Fitzgerald said.

As a reminder to parents to get their children immunized, Ventura County health officials have launched a weeklong awareness campaign to coincide with similar state and national programs. The goal of the campaign is to alert parents to have their infant children fully immunized by their second birthday for protection against dangerous diseases, officials said.

With Christmas just days away, the Marine Corps Toys for Tots campaign is 9,000 toys short of its goal to provide 38,000 toys to needy children in Ventura County. Marine Staff Sgt. John Hendrix, coordinator of the effort, said the corps urgently needs toys for children ages 10 to 16. Hendrix added that because of the name of the annual toy drive, people tend to give items for very small children.

Child support collections in Ventura County were up nearly 16% for fiscal year 1993-94, according to the office of the district attorney. Collections for the year totaled more than $27.2 million, an increase of $4 million over the previous fiscal year. The county's fiscal year ends June 30. "This is good news for the children of Ventura County and for custodial parents who need these payments to provide for food, clothing and shelter," Dist. Atty. Michael D. Bradbury said in a release Friday.

Over the past eight years, Lori Allred has cared for 54 foster children, and finding enough presents each Christmas has been a challenge. That's why she appreciates the Gingerbread Giving Tree, which helps distribute presents to foster children throughout Ventura County. "Last year, one of our girls was able to get a Huffy 10-speed bike. She was so surprised," said Allred, a Ventura resident.

Although the numbers of teen-agers giving birth and youngsters suffering abuse are rising every year in Ventura County, children growing up here are still far safer, healthier and less likely to have babies themselves than young people in other parts of the state, a new survey shows.

Re "Children's Day," Ventura County Letters, Nov. 21. I agree that we need a Children's Day, but I would go letter writer Anthony L. Pecoraro one further. Nix the national holiday; we should make it International Children's Day. As for the correct date for us to recognize and celebrate children, Sept. 2 would be my choice. On that day in 1990, the human rights treaty known as the Convention on the Rights of the Child went into force. That treaty--ratified by every country except Somalia and the United States--enhances the dignity of children and promotes the progressive development of human rights.

Some trick-or-treaters may get coupons instead of candy when they open their Halloween bags this year. The Easter Seal Society of Ventura County is selling booklets containing coupons that children can redeem at 13 participating businesses for a variety of free goodies, including french fries, frozen yogurt or even a goldfish. Each booklet contains 10 coupons and costs $1. Coupons are a safe alternative treat for Halloween, Easter Seal officials said.