Our School

The Mt. Diablo CARES is a well-established program with strong support from our community partners as well as from our school site and administration. It is a unique collaborative between the Mt Diablo School District, City of Concord Parks & Recreation and Bay Area Community Resources, who all serve overlapping populations. This support stems from a history of excellent programming, coordination, strong program leadership and shared responsibility of providing services and families in the community. Mt. Diablo CARES has been a part of the state- wide Healthy Behaviors Initiative (HBI) identifying exemplary practices in nutrition in After School Programs. Financially we are supported by grants from both state and city initiatives.

In order to maintain high quality services being offered to our students and families, additional funding sources are continually being pursued. The formation of a non-profit charitable foundation and other small fundraiser and mini-grants for site need. There is an ongoing need to maintain high quality professional development and mentorship for CARES staff to ensure qualified staff are serving our students. Expanded opportunities for culturally diverse and enriching opportunities prepare students with the life experiences.

CARES operates from the end of the school day until 6:00 pm. There is no cost to students for program participation.

Homework Help, Academic Intervention Program, ASPIRE Supplemental Educational Services, Nutrition Education and Cooking, Dance, Arts and Crafts, STEM, SPARK & CATCH program, Gardening and Field Trips. A Middle School Sports program is offered at the three Middle Schools with the CARES Expanded Learning Program.

Daily nutritional snack & supper provided in partnership with Food Services Department and the USDA. Participating students receive a healthy snack consisting of milk, cracker and fruit. The Supper meal consists of milk, fruit, vegetable, and a whole grain and protein item to complete a healthy and nutritious meal.

One Day at a Time provides Latinx youth and young adults of color with Hope, Support, Healing and Opportunity to realize their strengths, their self-worth, and their power.

A World where Latinx youth and young adults of color are safe, connected, self empowered, inspired, liberated, and heard.

Respect – We treat everyone with kindness and dignity.

Trust – We honor and create places of safety, integrity, accountability, consistency and support to build trust.

Understanding – We suspend judgment to acknowledge other points of view.

Growth – We are committed to opening doors and providing opportunities for youth to be heard and to support personal development.

Equity – We identify and apply resources according to community needs.

Dedication/Perseverance – We endure and commit to overcoming community

challenges that would stop us from fulfilling our Vision and Mission.

One Day At a Time or ODAT was founded in 1997 by Johnny Rodriguez, to help turn around the lives of young men and women that were at high risk of becoming involved with violence or gangs.

Prior to this, Mr. Rodriguez had spent his time working as a campus resource officer and volunteering across East Contra Costa County middle and high schools in community outreach and gang awareness work. He saw that many of the youth he worked with just needed some guidance and an opportunity to believe in themselves and therefore started ODAT. Due to the need in 2009; ODAT services expanded to include young adults, both in terms of program and leadership development. Additionally, ODAT also redirected it's focus and became centered on empowering youth and young adults from all backgrounds and not just focusing on specific subgroups. This has improved school climates by allowing youth; whom otherwise may not have known each other to develop positive relationships with their peers and embrace and learn from each others' differences.

Additionally, in 2010 ODAT partnered with John Muir Health to offer the Beyond Violence program to youth and young adults in East Contra Costa County that are seriously injured and are victims of street violence and end up at John Muir Trauma Center, Walnut Creek. ODAT’s Intervention Specialist then works with these clients for a year and provides resources, referrals and wrap around services to reduce or prevent future re-injury, retaliation and recidivism linked with violence. More information on this service can be found in the ‘Our Services’ tab under ‘Hospital Linked Services’.

Previously, ODAT had been its own, stand-alone non-profit, but due to the staff wanting to commit the majority of their time and passion to serving youth and young adults; ODAT leadership made the decision to seek out fiscal sponsorship and in 2012 ODAT became a fiscally sponsored project of Community Initiatives, a 501(c)(3), public benefit, not for profit organization. ODAT has grown in many aspects, one of them being that in 2015, ODAT started its first ever elementary level, Youth Mentor program at a local elementary school. The purpose is to work with young children in order to improve self-esteem, practice positive social interactions, develop positive attitudes towards individuals and school, improve individuals decision-making skills, express oneself through group activities and learn skills to manage anger and to resolve conflicts using peaceful solutions.

• Direct mentoring and support for youth at school sites

• Classroom presentations for students, staff and school administration

• Conflict mediation

• Tracking of grades, attendance and disciplinary records

• Weekly, after school group meetings focused on: stereotyping, self-esteem, relationship building, communication, life skills, accountability, family, substance abuse, health issues, anger management, cultural awareness, education, college, careers, positive leadership, self-discipline, positive versus negative choices and empowerment within oneself.

• Collaboration with other community based organizations to foster leadership skills

• Artistic outlets in form of painting, drawing, spoken word, poetry and dance that support constructive forms of self-expression, build self-confidence and help youth gain a sense of accomplishment and pride in their work.

• Educational and recreational field trips to help youth bond with each other, develop leadership skills and demonstrate that memorable and enjoyable experiences are possible in a positive manner without the involvement of external substances and other dangerous activities.

• Community service opportunities through ODAT to encourage our youth to give back to their communities. ODAT also offers community service opportunities to the public. You must call or visit our office to inquire about this possibility.

• Meetings with parent(s)/guardian(s) and/or school administration to better support the youth's success.

• Home visits as needed

• Improving and promoting a positive school climate

• Referrals to other programs or services

• Youth employment referrals