If you are experiencing abuse or would just like some information, please call our help line, available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
Sometimes Grandpa is the Best Parent…
NEWS advocates for grandfather to take guardianship of children after abused father becomes disabled
When Marco first came to NEWS, he was being abused by his wife who was addicted to drugs. Marco feared for their 2 children and asked for help shortly after filing for divorce. He won full custody of the children and the NEWS housing advocates helped him with stabilizing his housing and offering support to him and his children.
Marco worked hard to support his children and gave them a safe and stable home. They were in a good place when Marco unexpectedly became disabled and was unable to care for them anymore. This was devastating to his family and especially to his young son and daughter. After receiving the news that Marco had become disabled, NEWS reached out to the family to offer support and we began working with Gerardo, Marco’s father. We encouraged Gerardo to file for Guardianship of his grandchildren and after a long process, he was finally awarded custody. NEWS advocated for this family to keep their Section 8 voucher and assisted in getting it transferred to Gerardo who is now the head of household. We also assisted in finding a three bedroom townhome that will accept the voucher. The children are now safe and happy living with their grandfather.
According to NCADV, 1 in 7 men have been severely physically abused (hit with a fist or hard object, kicked, slammed against something, choked, burned, etc.) by an intimate partner at some point in their lifetime. NEWS is here to help. Please call our help line at (707) 255-NEWS (6397) or visit our website for more information.
And that's a wrap! Thank you to all who supported NEWS, Soroptimist International of St. Helena Sunrise, and Girls on the Run Napa & Solano in May by viewing this year's LUNAFEST films! It was a compelling set of short films by and about women, providing us with new stories and fresh perspectives. We look forward to seeing you again next year! And a big thank you to this year's LUNAFEST sponsors who helped make the event possible:
Nena Talcott | Clif Family Winery | Karl Lawrence Cellars | Tre Posti Events & Catering | Wine Country Cases | Be Bubbly Napa | Greene's Cleaners | Kelley Reyes Realty | Mechanics Bank | Villa Corona
Help Us Make a Difference
NEWS has a dedicated group of staff and volunteers providing direct client services as well as shelter 24 hours a day/7 days a week, to approximately 1500 people each year.