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CHILD & FAMILY CENTER AWARDED
GRANT FROM KAISER PERMANENTE FOUNDATION
Child & Family Center has received a $20,000 grant from Kaiser Permanente Foundation to provide in-school educational groups for children showing early signs of behavioral health problems. Participants will gain a greater understanding of mental health risk factors, coping strategies, what to do when under stress, how to handle bullying and anger management techniques.
Dr. David Wong, Amy Wiese and Laura Gallardo presented the check on behalf of Kaiser Permanente at the Center’s 35th Birthday Celebration on September 9th. “The Kaiser Foundation has always been incredibly generous to Child & Family Center. This latest and most outstanding gift will make a real difference in the lives of so many of our local students – helping them to improve in their school and home lives – and our entire community is very grateful,” said Lois Bauccio, President/Executive Director of the Child & Family Center Foundation.
The primary objectives of the program are to increase access to mental health services for children showing initial signs or at-risk of behavioral problems; prevention of negative incidents, such as fights, bullying, vandalism, suicide or drug abuse; and to identify students who are in need of more intensive services. As a result of the program, it is expected that there will be fewer classroom disruptions and will reduce the time that teachers have to deal with problem behaviors.
The Center’s School-Based Counseling and Mental Health Services are currently offered in 20 schools across five districts in the Santa Clarita Valley. This nationally acclaimed program delivers individual counseling and treatment to over 250 children each year. While the program has been an extraordinary success, its intensity makes services costly and relatively difficult to access.
The Kaiser grant will increase the Center’s ability to see students quickly, efficiently and in large numbers, and to provide preventive and/or early intervention services. Working with school counselors at schools in the Hart, Newhall, Saugus, Castaic, and Sulphur Springs School Districts, the Center will conduct ten six-eight week group discussion sessions on topics such as bullying, social skills, grief, self-esteem, anger management, suicide, divorce, and other relevant causes of behavioral issues. Each group will include six students and will be conducted by an experienced, culturally competent therapist.
As participants demonstrate the need for more personalized services, they will be referred to the Center for a formal assessment and, if appropriate, additional services for which they are eligible.
As the nation's largest nonprofit, integrated health care system, Kaiser Permanente seeks to make positive contributions to health and wellness in the community as part of its social mission. Kaiser Permanente addresses needs and priorities identified locally which affect overall community health and the health care system. This is accomplished, in part, by supporting partnerships with community-based organizations through their community grants program.
SINGLE MOM TURNED HER LIFE AROUND
Child and Family Center helped her leave a cycle of substance abuse.
Everyone deserves an opportunity to start fresh. Unfortunately, not everyone knows what to do with his or her second chance.
Luckily, Tina Gonzales is not one of those people. Read more...
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SCV CHILD & FAMILY CENTER FOUNDATION
UNVEILS DONOR WALL OF HONOR
On Monday, November 1st, 2010, at its annual installation of new board officers, Child and Family Center Foundation of Santa Clarita Valley unveiled a new Donor Wall to honor the generosity of major contributors.
Located at the organization’s headquarters on Centre Pointe Parkway, the Donor Wall will serve as permanent tribute engraved with names of its Lifetime Benefactors and Guardians of Hope, two important donor groups comprised of the companies, families and individuals whose giving has made it possible for the Child & Family Center to continue offering its wide range of mental healthcare services in the Santa Clarita Valley for more than three decades.
“This organization and the entire community owe so much to the names you see on this Donor Wall” said Lois Bauccio, Child & Family Center Foundation’s president and executive director, “We’re very happy to express our gratitude in a way that people in the SCV will see for years to come.”
Santa Clarita City Council member Bob Kellar performed the installation of the new Child & Family Center Foundation Board officers for 2010-2011 headed by the incoming Chair, Laina McFerren. Outgoing Chair Diana Cusumano was recognized for her commitment and leadership this past year. Long-time supporter Robert DiPrimio was newly installed as an Emeritus Board Member.
In another highlight of the evening, the Foundation Board leadership surprised three dedicated supporters with awards acknowledging their exceptional contributions – honoring Debbie Heys as Volunteer of the Year, Jacquie and Harold Petersen as Philanthropists of the Year and Bank of Santa Clarita as Business of the Year.
The new slate of Foundation Board officers also includes Scott Shepard-Vice Chair, Stephanie Graziano-Secretary, Jenny Ketchepaw-Treasurer, Cheri Fleming-Board Development, and Bill Cooper, Sandra Smith and Steve Sturgeon as Officers-at-Large.
Elizabeth Hopp, Jim Hicken and Kim Altobello from the Bank of Santa Clarita, with Darrell Paulk, CEO Child & Family Center
Philanthropists of the Year Harold & Jacquie Petersen with Darrell Paulk and Lois Bauccio, President CFC Foundation
Volunteer of the Year Debbie Heys with Lois Bauccio and Darrell Paulk.
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SCV CHILD & FAMILY CENTER ARTISTS FEATURED IN SHOWCASE CELEBRATING LOCAL MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The work of five young artists from Child & Family Center of Santa Clarita Valley was included in a free art showcase sponsored by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health to celebrate its 50 years of providing services in the Santa Clarita and San Fernando Valleys.
The showcase featured the work of artists who have benefited from local mental health services. The theme of the artwork was “Celebration” and the show included more than 80 pieces, such as paintings, drawing, mixed-media, poetry and rap music. Artists include both children and adults.
“Events like this showcase are very important in helping to remove the stigma of mental health,” said Darrell Paulk, Child & Family Center’s president/CEO, “Art has long been part of our treatment process for children – and the featured young artists have shown themselves to be very talented.”
The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health fosters hope, wellness and recovery, making it possible for adults and children living in the Santa Clarita and San Fernando valleys to receive the help they need in their own community. Mental health services enable people to live healthy and complete lives, keep families together, assist workers so that they can contribute to society and make communities safer for everyone. It is the largest county-operated mental health department in the United States, directly operating 75 program sites and more than 100 co-located sites.
