Sound Minds, a Resounding Joy high-school program that uses music therapy techniques to build bonds between teen parents and their babies, expanded to serve three San Diego high schools in addition to a high school already being served, thanks to a $75,000 grant from First 5 Commission of San Diego County. The First 5 Commission innovative grant is the largest that Resounding Joy has applied for and received and the maximum grant amount that the commission awards.

Resounding Joy began implementing the newly funded program on November 1, 2008. Infant centers at Garfield High School, Victoria Community Day School, and Lindsay Community Day School are the newest recipients. In 2007, Resounding Joy implemented Sound Minds and achieved success at Mark Twain High School.

The objectives of Sound Minds are to
. increase school readiness for infants ages 0–3 years
. use music to facilitate interactions between parents and their infants
. use goal-directed music experiences within Cal-SAFE centers

Cal-SAFE is an acronym for California School Age Families Education.

Research shows that building attachment between a caregiver and a child is critical in developing a child's cognitive and behavioral skills. Research confirms the success of music therapy in promoting listening, cooperative social skills, language development, and motor coordination.

Sound Minds aims to serve at least 100 families during the 2008-2009 grant year, including 89 infants, 31 toddlers, and 67 expectant teen parents. Older-adult volunteer Joy Givers will assist Resounding Joy music therapists in building multigenerational relationships with teen parents in Cal-SAFE infant centers at the four San Diego Unified School District campuses. Resounding Joy will train school district staff in music activities. Cal-SAFE helps expectant and parenting students and their children. Operated by the California Department of Education, Cal-SAFE provides parenting and childbirth classes, child care, career education and counseling, and college-prep courses, among other things.

Resounding Joy trains a network of volunteer Joy Givers to use drumming, singing, percussion and rhythm to reduce stress, improve physical fitness, encourage self-expression and foster camaraderie of those in need across San Diego County. Joy Givers assist at many faith-based and community-based organizations, including the Encinitas Nursing & Rehabilitation Center, Redwood Elderlink, the YWCA, and the Third Avenue Charitable Organization ( TACO ) in San Diego.

First 5 Commission San Diego utilizes state tax revenues to promote the health and well being of children from the prenatal stage through five years of age, assuring them access to health care, growth and development screening, dental care, obesity prevention, quality child care, early-education programs, and family support. First 5 programs and services are funded through San Diego County's share of revenues from Proposition 10, an initiative approved by California voters in 1998 that taxes cigarettes and other tobacco products.

Noelle Pederson, MT–BC, Resounding Joy, Inc. Director of Education and Training
oversees the Sound Minds program at the following schools:

Garfield High School»
1255 16 Street
San Diego, CA 92101
First, third, fifth Wednesdays 8:30–10:30am
second, fourth Wednesdays 8:30–11:00am
every Friday 8:30–10:30am

Lindsay Community Day School»
232 West Ash Street
San Diego, CA 92101
Wednesdays, Fridays 9:00–11:15am

Mark Twain High School»
6402 Linda Vista Road
San Diego, CA 92111
Tuesdays 8:15–10:45am
Thursdays 9:00–11:00am

Victoria Summit High School
1665 Precision Park Lane, #A 
San Ysidro, CA 92173
Mondays and Thursdays, 9:30–11:15am