Child Clinic, Scout Program Win Grants

Two nonprofit agencies based in the San Fernando Valley were among 15 recipients citywide of more than $700,000 in grants from the California Community Foundation.

The San Fernando Valley Child Guidance Clinic in Northridge received $47,798 and the San Fernando Valley Girl Scout Council’s Outreach Program in Chatsworth received $32,841.

Foundation officials said the guidance clinic is expected to use the grant to provide an in-home tutorial and parenting program for preschool children in an effort to increase learning and English language skills.

Girl Scout officials said the grant will be used to help serve about 4,000 girls in its Outreach Program this year. The grant represents 20% of the $164,204 it needs to reach that goal, said Jason Katz, marketing and public relations manager for the SFV Girl Scout Council.

The council has 10 outreach troops--based in schools, in at least one apartment building and in a shelter--that differ from regular volunteer-run troops. In the outreach troops, the council staffs the program, rather than having a parent determine the group’s activities.

The council also pays the registration fees for troop members, who come primarily from subsidized housing and homeless shelters, Katz said.

The California Community Foundation funds social service programs throughout the region, and is the 13th-largest community foundation in the nation, officials said.