Our Partners

They say, “It takes a village to raise a child.” AFS is that village for hundreds of Northern California foster children and their families. AFS is a foster, adoptions and mental health agency that has been creating safe, permanent connections for foster children and youth in the Bay Area since 1978. We provide mentoring to youth receiving services from AFS.

Founded in 1975, Greenacres is one of the most comprehensive and innovative agencies of its kind in Sonoma County serving boys and young men with special needs related to autism spectrum disorder, learning disabilities, post-traumatic stress disorder, developmental delays, abuse and emotional challenges. The boys from Greenacres come to the farm program to participate in the mentoring program.

Another of our long time partnerships is with Victor Treatment Center’s North Valley School, and the children in their residential treatment programs. Their program provides Intensive Residential Treatment & Specialty Mental Health services for mentally ill youth who otherwise would require more restrictive and costly care in a state hospital setting or some other intensively supervised setting. Most of the children and adolescents who come to their treatment facility have experienced multiple placement failures and are the most resistive to treatment. The primary objective is for each youth to reach his/her optimal level of functioning and return to their family or other appropriate less restrictive setting in the community.

Parents Place is a program of Jewish Family and Children’s Services, and is the Bay Area’s leading family resource center. From everyday issues to challenges requiring specialized assessment, they help parents, caregivers and educators support children at all ages. Their experts offer parenting workshops, parent coaching & consultation, child behavior & school support, clinical & special needs services, parent/child activity groups, and child & family therapy. The children from the post adoption services have visited the farm weekly since 2010.

Seneca established itself as an innovative leader in the provision of unconditional care through a comprehensive continuum of school, community-based and family-focused treatment services for children and families experiencing high levels of trauma who are at risk for family disruption or institutional care for the children. Children from Seneca visit the Farm for our mentoring program, as well as special day trips to the farm for children outside of Sonoma County.

The Sierra School’s goal is to build the confidence and competence of children facing learning, language, and social challenges through personalized academic interventions. Sierra is committed to achieving success with each student even in the face of obstacles, challenges, and excuses. The program is geared toward preparing youth to become responsible adults who are able to participate in their communities and lead self-fulfilling lives. They aim to build each student’s skills and self-esteem to a level that allows them to return to a mainstream school and become fully functioning members of society. Sierra School has been bringing children to Forget Me Not Farm since 2008.

Social Advocates for Youth began over 40 years ago with a mission to keep teens out of jail and off the streets. Today, they provide housing, counseling and employment services to youth and families throughout Sonoma County. SAY youth participate in our mentoring program.

County of Sonoma Behavioral Health Division: Mental Health Services for Youth and Families. Seriously emotionally disturbed (SED) children and adolescents to age 18 are served by a system of care that includes County staff working in partnership with Schools, the Valley of the Moon children's home, juvenile health services at Los Guilicos, and community partners. Services include wrap-around services for children age 5 to 12 years old, assessment, case management, crisis intervention and stabilization, psychiatric evaluation, medication monitoring, enhanced mental health services for youth in residential care, and therapy. Children receiving service from the county are eligible to enroll in our mentoring program, and visit the farm during the summer.

A strategic partner to the county’s 40 districts and their 184 schools, providing service and support to help them meet legal mandates, operate cost-effectively, and raise student achievement. SCOE provides fiscal oversight to districts and operates schools for special education and alternative education students who are not enrolled at district sites. SCOE’s Career Technical Education (CTE) support services and community partnerships assist districts in their commitment to graduate college- and career-ready students.

Located in California's premier wine country 1 hour north of San Francisco, Sonoma State is a small campus with big ideas. With a tradition of promoting intellectual and personal growth, leadership opportunities and technological proficiency, SSU offers its students a friendly, safe and informal atmosphere on a beautiful campus setting. Sonoma State has been providing interns to work and learn at Forget Me Not Farm for many years. We have had great success with this partnership, and it has lead directly to two people being hired on. We mainly receive interns from the Criminal Justice and Psychology departments, but we our open to any intern from this prestigious local university.

Welcomes homeless and at-risk women and their children into a warm and safe environment during the day when overnight shelters are closed. Caring staff and volunteers offer a lifeline during a time of crisis. Whether homeless for some time, newly homeless, or on the verge homelessness, women of all ages and mothers with children are greeted with love and understanding. Mothers appreciate the child-friendly environment where they receive support while their children engage with toys and learning activities.

TLC Residential Treatment has been bringing teens out to the farm for over a decade. TLC Child & Family Services (TLC) is dedicated to providing permanence, shelter, education, guidance, emotional healing and support to emotionally challenged children. A variety of expertly structured environments are provided so children can realize a richer life experience and discover hidden potential, develop character and a self-identity that is positive and productive in the community.

Valley of the Moon Children’s Home was set up to care for children who are no longer safe with their parents or guardians, providing immediate, temporary, emergency shelter with caring professionals in this peaceful, stable, supportive and nurturing group environment, until a licensed foster home or appropriate placement is arranged. The Valley of the Moon Children’s center has been one of our longest partnerships. They have been bringing children to Forget Me Not Farm since its inception in 1992.

We have worked with the YWCA from the very beginning of Forget Me Not Farm’s formation. As an affiliate of an international membership organization, the YWCA of Sonoma County has devoted the past 30 years to empowering women and affirming the worth of all people, regardless of gender or race. At the heart of the YWCA Sonoma County programs are their domestic violence services. They provide a secure environment in which women and children who have experienced abuse and/or domestic violence can heal, become self-sufficient and return productively to the community. Forget Me Not Farm works biweekly with the children at the YWCA’s A Special Place Preschool, and works seasonally with the children at the YWCA’s Safe House.

Kind Ridge Foundation

Since 2009 this organization has distributed more than 1.5 million dollars to charity, with the majority of that being dedicated to at-risk youth services. Their mission is to raise money and awareness for the organizations that give at-risk youth the chance they deserve to succeed in life. This amazing foundation was set up by Levi Leipheimer as a way to give back to the community from proceeds that come from his Levi''s GranFondo and other fundraisers put on throughout the year. The Forget Me Not Farm is honored and humbled by this foundation as they are one our strongest supporters.

YOL, Turkish for “the road,” offers transformative experiences for high performing teams and individuals that combine wellness, volunteering, and leadership development. YOL works hand in hand with the Farm and other local community-based organizations and NGOs on issues of poverty, health and environmental preservation. They cultivate long-term partnerships and skill transfers between their participants and members of the community. YOL groups come out to generously work on the farm, and we open a dialogue with their tremendous participants to talk about our work, and collaborate on increasing our reach and efficacy.