H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection

Provided.

Timaree Torres.

H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection, a nonprofit organization serving families with special needs children in Kern, Inyo and Mono counties, has added a new Family Resource Specialist to serve families in Tehachapi (and California City) specifically.

Timaree Torres, a local Tehachapi resident, and mother of a child with special needs, will fill this position. Timaree worked for H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection previously in 2013-14, until funding cuts caused the closure and layoffs of the branch offices and staff around the county.

H.E.A.R.T.S. Connection maintained their main office in Bakersfield, and continued to serve the county from there. They are now ready to grow and add staff to focus on specific outlying areas.

H.E.A.R.T.S. is an acronym for Help, Encourage, Advocate, Resources, Training and Support. The nonprofit organization receives funding from the California Department of Education as a Family Empowerment Center (FEC). They also do fundraising and accept donations to help supplement special events.

All services provided are completely free to families.

H.E.A.R.T.S. offers free support groups for parents, resource referrals, trainings and workshops for parents on a wide-range of topics, IEP assistance and fun family events, all provided at no charge.

Visit their website at http://www.heartsconnection.org for more information and a calendar of events.

You can email Timaree directly at [email protected] with questions, or to schedule an appointment for a one-on-one meeting for IEP support. Call or text her at (661) 854-9539. Also check out the Facebook page "Tehachapi Parents of Special Needs" for links to resources and events.