Community Resource Guide

A collaborative project of Canal Alliance and the Canal School Readiness Project

Class for people who want to work as a home care aide (helping old people): Canal Alliance will offer a class soon, although the dates are not yet fixed. If you are interested, call Martin at 306-0425 and leave a message with your name and telephone number. The class will be in Spanish.

English classes: There are classes at different places and for different levels. Call Martin at 306-0425 for information on all the programs serving the Canal and greater San Rafael.

Computer classes in Spanish: Classes at Canal Alliance and Pickleweed Community Center include units on how to use computers to find work, manage family finances, and more. $40 for 5 months of training. Call 306-0493 for more information.

Literacy programs: English literacy: The Marin Literacy Project helps people who speak English develop their reading and writing skills; call 485-3318 for more information. Spanish literacy: The Community Literacy Project helps Spanish speakers with literacy in their native language; they meet Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 6:00 to 7:30. Call Araceli at 257-2482.

Music classes for adults and children: Classes begin in February. Come register now! Call 526-2486 or come to the Canal Welcome Center, 141 Alto Street, San Rafael.

Mayan dance group for adults and children: The Chan Kahal group meets every Friday from 6:00 to 9:00 in the Canal Welcome Center, 141 Alto Street, San Rafael ¿Questions? Call 526-2486.

Cooking classes for children ages 6-10: In the Pickleweed Community Center kitchen. Classes are on Saturdays from 2:00 to 3:30; the dates are Nov. 10, Dec. 8, Jan. 19, Feb. 9, and Mar. 15. The cost is $30. Call 485-3077 for more information.

 “Aprendiendo Juntos” (“Learning Together”) program for children ages 0 to 5: Every Friday from 10:30 to 12:30 in the art room of Pickleweed Community Center. For more information, call Claudia at 454-1870 x 104.

Art class for the whole family: The second Saturday of each month, from 10:00 to 12:00 in Pickleweed Community Center’s art room. Come and enjoy art, food, and music. Free. Call 485-3077 for more information.

Learn to fix bikes and earn one of your own: In the "Re-Cyclery" job training center, 125 Larkspur Street, San Rafael. Ages 10-17 preferred. Tuesday to Friday 2-6 p.m., Saturday 12-6 p.m. For more information, call 458-2986 or 455-8876.

Come and enjoy the Pickleweed library: We are open from 2:00 to 8:00 Tuesday and Wednesday, and 11:00 to 5:00 Thursday, Friday and Saturday. We have free access to computers. Wednesdays 7:00 p.m., family pajama night. Fridays 11:30 a.m., bilingual stories for preschoolers. Call us at 485-3483.

Bring your young children to the “flagship” bus: The bus, which helps children ages 0-5 learn to read, is parked outside 400 Canal Street every Monday from 1:15 to 2:45. For kids and their families. For more information, call 497-1666.

Parent Services Project: We offer trainings and assistance for parents and people who work with young children. Call us at 454-1870 to learn more about our different programs.

 Mentors Project: We help isolated families connect with resources, better understand the developmental needs of their children, and support their children when they enter school. Call 454-1870 for more information.

“Even Start” program at Bahia Vista and San Pedro schools: The program has 4 components which help families reach their personal goals and help children succeed in school: * Child education  * English classes for parents  * Educational activities for parents and kids  * Home visits in order to personalize service .  Class times: Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m. We are in two locations: Bahia Vista school -- 125 Bahia Way, 485 2324 / San Pedro school -- 498 Pt. San Pedro Road (portable #4), 485- 6078.

Workshops for parents of hard-to-control teenagers: The “Parent Project” workshops, on 10 consecutive Mondays, help parents to understand their strong-willed children. The workshops give strategies for disciplining out-of-control kids without having to resort to violence. For more information call Saul or Lupita at 454-2640.

Youth Educational Development Program: We have programs for students ranging from elementary to high school and even college. To learn more or register your child, call JuanCarlos at 454-2640.

Support group for couples and single parents: “Allied Families of Marin” follows a support-group model to share the experiences of all participants; we also offer workshops on a number of topics. We meet at Canal Alliance (91 Larkspur Street, San Rafael) the second and fourth Wednesday of each month from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. In Spanish. For more information, call Saul at 454-2640 or Marisol at 499-6787.

Raising children 0-12 years old: The “Forward with Our Children!” program is designed for parents and child care providers. The 10 weeks of classes are free, and free child care is provided. In Spanish. For more information, call Marisol at 499-6787 or “Nuestros Niños” at 1-866-996-4667.

Latino group for parents of special-needs children: Come participate in our Spanish-language support group For more information, call Claudia at the Matrix Parents’ Center at 475-2145. 107 Dowitcher Way, San Rafael.

Radio show “Childhood Matters”: Listen live on Sundays from 9:00 to 10:00 a.m. on KISS 98.1 FM. In English. A similar Spanish-language show, “Nuestros Niños,” can be heard Sundays at 8:00 a.m. on KLOK 1170 AM, La Kalle 100.7/105.7 FM and La Nuestra KBBF 89.1 FM.

Latina women’s group exploring maternity: For pregnant women and mothers with children up to 9 months. We meet every Wednesday from 10:30 to 12:00 in the Pickleweed Community Center. Call 492-0720 for more information.

Economic aid at Canal Alliance: We offer a variety of services, including  * access to government services  * job applications  * rental assistance  * recovery of unpaid wages  * references  * communication with schools  ...and more. Call us at 454-2640.

Financial education project: Classes take place the second Thursday of each month. Topics include banking, managing money, insurance, buying a house, etc. Call Saul at 454-2640 for more information.

Do you need food for yourself or your children? The kitchen of Saint Vincent de Paul offers free, hot breakfast and lunch plus food to go. We are open every day of the year, from 6:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. We don’t require identification and we don’t ask questions. Our personnel speak Spanish and Maya. 820 B Street, San Rafael / Bus route #35. For more information, call 454-3303 x 5.

Free food distribution: Every Tuesday and Wednesday at 12:00 at Canal Alliance, 91 Larkspur Street, San Rafael. Families can get food one time per month. On the fourth Thursday of each month, families can also get USDA food after 10:00 a.m. Call 454-2640 for more information.

Do you want to find a job? The Marin Employment Connection can help you. Their Career Resource Center is open 8:00 to 5:00 Monday through Friday. A Spanish-speaking person is there from 9:30 to 12:30 Wednesday and Fridays and 1:00 to 4:00 Thursdays. They have many different workshops to help you find a job, and help arrange interviews with different companies. For most services, you do not need a Social Security Number. For more information, call 473-3330 (English) / 473-3354 (Spanish).
    The MEC is located at 120 North Redwood Drive, San Rafael. If you do not have a car, you can take a bus from the San Rafael transit center. The bus leaves every 30 minutes (except 11:30), and it’s free. For information on the bus, call 473-5968 (English) / 473-5971 (Spanish) / 473-5969 (Vietnamese).

Job training courses: You can study automotive technology, construction, culinary occupations, accounting and bookkeeping, office technology, cosmetology, home care (for elderly/disabled people), and assisting nurses. The cost is $55 per course. In various locations. The classes are in English, although the auto repair class has support for Spanish speakers. Call the “ROP” program at 499-5860 for more information.

Get help finding a job: Marin Jobs and Career Services can help you prepare a resume, look for a job, practice interview skills, etc. Come any Wednesday at 10:00 a.m. to get started, or call 485-1489 for more information. We are at 405 Fourth Street, in San Rafael. Spanish speakers: Call 485-1489 x 144.

Assistance with online job applications: Come to the Canal Alliance computer lab on Thursdays from 7:00 to 9:00. We are on the second floor of the “86” building (next to the Canal Alliance offices at 91 Larkspur Street). For information, call 306-0493 and leave a message with your telephone number.

If you were a professional in your home country, you can find a better job with the service “Upwardly Global." This free service can help you find work that matches your education and professional experience. You need to speak English and have less than 5 years in the United States. Call 834-9901 for more information.

Free health clinic: Every Monday and Thursday at “RotaCare,” 1033 Third Street, San Rafael. Arrive at 4:30 to get a number for an appointment. For adults only. First Monday of each month: psychiatric clinic, and clinic for skin problems. Each second and fourth Monday: HIV clinic. Last Monday of each Month: clinic for foot problems. Call 482-6906 for more information.

Low-cost health care services: At the Marin Community Clinic. We have services in English and Spanish, and locations in Greenbrae and Novato. Call 448-1500 to make an appointment or to get more information.

Free or low-cost health insurance for children in Marin: Call 473-3434 to see if you are eligible for various children’s health programs.

Free health exams for babies, children and teens: In many different places. For more information, call CHDP at 473-7499.

If you have hepatitis C: Join our hepatitis C group for support and information. Meetings held in Spanish. Call Marta at 510-535-3706 or Lisa at 248-1060 x 11.

Informational discussions: The third Thursday of each month from 6:30 to 8:30, in room 86F of Canal Alliance (91 Larkspur Street, San Rafael). To know the topic of each month, or for other information, call Maite a 306-0440 o Chris a 306-0449.

Crisis line for sexual abuse victims: Open 24 hours. Call 1-800-670-7273.

Services for abused women: Marin Abused Women’s Services has a 24-hour help line, support groups, and a shelter for battered women. Call the help line: 924-6616 (English) / 924-3456 (Spanish). There is also a line (924-1070) for men who are seeking to control their violent behavior.

Is alcohol a problem in your family? Al-Anon is an anonymous, confidential program. We are in your neighborhood. Call Florinda at 479-6096, Maria at 244-6466 or Mercedes at 892-6031.

If you are a legal immigrant and you change your address: It’s very important that you inform the government of your new address. Sending them the information is easy and free. If you do not do it, it can cause serious problems later. Call Canal Alliance’s immigration department at 306-0427 for more information.

Have you had a green card for 5 years or more? We recommend that you get U.S. citizenship. (If you are married to a citizen, you only need a green card for 3 years.) At Canal Alliance, we can help you with the application (there is a $100 fee), and we have classes to help you prepare for the interview. We also have English classes. Call 306-0427 for more information.

If you are undocumented, we urge that you do NOT return to your country. Leaving the U.S. and later returning can hurt your chances of becoming legal in the future, even if they do not catch you. If you have questions, call Canal Alliance’s immigration department at 306-0427.

Stories of migration: "Why did I have to leave my family and my town?" We are collecting a record of the immigrant experience. If you want to share your story or participate in the project, contact us at 526-2486.

Program for abusive husbands and boyfriends: The goal of the “Respect” program is to help men stop being violent with their partners and have successful relationships. The program has two phases, and anybody can begin at any time. We meet Mondays at 5:00 and Tuesdays at 7:00. In Spanish. For more information, call Antonio R. at 552-1361.

Help with tax paperwork: On Saturdays from 9:00 to 4:00, in our community workshops, we can help you fill out tax forms, get an “ITIN” number, etc. Your immigration status does not matter. At Pickleweed Community Center: Feb. 16 and March 29, with help not only in Spanish but also in Vietnamese and several Chinese dialects. At the Canal Welcome Center (141 Alto St.): Feb. 23, March 15, March 22, and April 5. There will also be a workshop just on the “ITIN” number at Pickleweed Center on Saturday, January 26 from 10:00 to 2:00. Call 306-0425 for more information.

Free community information line: Our “Helplink” line connects people with local community resources. Call for information on * basic needs  * help for children and families  * physical and mental health resources  * employment services  * help for the elderly or disabled  * donations and volunteer opportunities. Dial 211 from any phone Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. The call is free.

Paint in houses built before 1978 is the #1 cause of lead poisoning. Lead can cause serious developmental problems for children. For more information, call the Marin County Childhood Lead Poisoning Prevention Program at 473-3254.

Get low-cost auto insurance: This is a special program for low-income people. For more information, call 1-866-602-8861. (For Spanish, press 2. For Chinese, press 3. For Vietnamese or other languages, press 4.)

For more information or to list an event, please contact:
Brenda Velazquez▪ 415.720.0142 / Martin Steinman▪ 415.306.0425