Guadalupe Diaz, Employment Specialist, started at Children’s Institute in June to work with individuals and parents in Watts seeking employment support. While the economic crisis from COVID-19 has hit communities across Los Angeles, it has especially impacted Black and Latino families in South LA. Diaz supports residents who are currently unemployed or want help moving into a more sustainable career. While new to CII, Diaz is a Watts native with experience supporting populations with employment needs.

What are your focus areas when working with clients?

It really depends on the individual as everyone is at a different place in his/her career. Broadly, I help with resume writing, practicing mock interviews and educating job seekers on certifications that may make them stronger candidates. For those with criminally involved backgrounds, I let them know their rights when it comes to hiring.

My main focus is to build self-confidence so candidates believe in themselves. This is a big part of the hiring process and it’s important that they see themselves as hirable and qualified.

Why do you think this work is important?

I think sometimes people get overwhelmed with the employment process. People need somebody to give them encouragement and help finding job openings. It’s not about doing it all for them, but having someone guide the process increases the chances of landing a job.

I also grew up in Watts and believe this is a very special community. In the past, there have been agencies or companies that make promises, but don’t deliver. I want my role to be about following through since CII has the ability to hire. Watts has so much to offer and there are so many amazing people.

What it is about your background that makes you well-suited for this role?

I started as an advocate in sexual assault and moved over to working with domestic violence victims. I then worked with formerly incarcerated individuals who mostly lived in Watts to help them transition back into the community, which included employment support.

The process of finding employment for individuals or parents who are trying to get back into the workforce is similar to working with formerly incarcerated individuals. There are certain tricks and tools that can make a major difference, which is very valuable to people in our communities.

What are the central responsibilities of your role?

I have two projects at CII – the first is working with parents in our Community Schools, which is an initiative where CII supports an entire school or preschool community with services for students, their families, teachers and administrators. I am connected with three schools in Watts where I will be helping parents find employment.

The second project is working to identify local hires for our new Frank Gehry-designed Watts Campus. The site is currently under construction, which means our contractors are hiring for a number of positions like electricians or plumbers. The campus will be part of the community when it is completed so it is important that people from the community be part of its construction. To date, we have hired six individuals from the community to work on the project, and we’re hoping to see that number grow.

What does the process look like?

I meet with candidates to understand what they want when it comes to employment. When I have a good feel for where they want to be and what skills they’ll need to get there, I reach out to potential employers on their behalf. I have existing partnerships with a number of employers so I have access to a network that wouldn’t normally be available to them. If a parent comes to me and says they want to work in a tire shop, I know a number of tire shops owners in the area and understand what they are usually looking for in candidates.

As I mentioned, I then prepare them for applying and a potential interview. This includes making sure they have professional clothes for an interview or work boots if they get hired for the Watts Campus construction.

And once they find employment and get hired, I follow up with them to see how things are going. This relationship doesn’t stop once someone gets a job. We want them to succeed in that career.

How do you support someone who contacts you for employment support, but may benefit from other CII services?

I will connect them to the appropriate CII program depending on where they need assistance. If it is a father wanting support with parenting, then I will connect him with the Project Fatherhood. If a client is seeking counseling then I refer them to our counseling department. When an individual shares with me that they are in need of an essential item like diapers, we make arrangements for the client to obtain those items from one of our sites.

Are there any success stories you would like to share?

A long-time Watts resident named Raymond had been on our list of local hires. He was a strong candidate who showed great determination, persistence and consistency so he was hired as a supervisor’s assistant for our Frank Gehry-designed Watts Campus. Since working onsite for more than a month, Raymond said he is happy and grateful to have this opportunity. He has a very positive outlook and reports to work every day with an attitude of giving his best.

Melisa Morgan, Early Childhood Services Manager, has spent seven years at Children’s Institute helping to improve the quality of early education services for families living in high-poverty communities of Los Angeles. In March, the COVID-19 pandemic swept through South LA and devastated families who were already struggling financially. Morgan saw the impact firsthand and decided to mobilize friends and family to raise life-saving funds.

To date, Morgan and her network have brought in $20,500 for CII’s COVID-19 Relief Fund. The money raised has gone directly to purchasing food and other essential supplies like diapers and formula, along with rent relief for families whose household income disappeared in the spring.

“Partnership and relationships are important to me so when the pandemic started, I wanted to use those relationships to advocate for our CII families,” Morgan said.

The money came in through a combination of members at Morgan’s church, Oasis LA, and her immediate family. Oasis LA, located in Koreatown, previously supported CII by helping Morgan enroll families in CII services and send volunteer groups to clean up and beautify CII sites.

Jennifer Perkins, Community Relations Director at Oasis LA and a close friend of Morgan, said the church’s pastors, Julian and Christina Lowe, believe in CII’s mission and wanted to take an active role to support families. The church selected CII to be one of 10 organizations they supported through a fundraising campaign called Healing Los Angeles. Members at Oasis LA brought in $10,000 in the first two weeks and an additional $3,500 over the following two weeks for CII.

Melisa Morgan and Jennifer Perkins doing outreach in 2016 to enroll families in CII’s Early Childhood Education programs.

“We decided the best thing we could do is support everyone financially,” Perkins said. “There are essential organizations on the front lines trying to fill a gap exacerbated by COVID-19, and we wanted to make sure they are supported because people in the community are so dependent on these resources.”

Morgan also found success enlisting her mom, Joline Morgan. Though she lives a thousand miles away in Washington state, she was compelled to donate as she heard stories from her daughter about the unique challenges families in South LA were facing. Joline Morgan pledged to donate $1,000 to CII each month until the pandemic ended.

“I envy Melisa because I would give anything to spend my life doing what she is doing,” Joline Morgan said. “She truly cares about and wants to make a difference in the lives of children and families.”

For Melisa Morgan, she sees her efforts aligning with national conversations around social justice and equity. Reports have shown that the heaviest economic impact of the outbreak has been within Black and Latino households. A recent survey showed 52% of Black and 71% of Latino households in LA reported “serious financial problems,” compared with 37% of white households. In a recent survey of 1,000 families in CII’s early education programs, more than 40% reported a loss or employment or a reduction in hours.

“A lot of my faith is guided by justice-minded solutions so whatever I can do to help people and bring more equity, I am going to try and do” she said. “My personal values are also reflected in CII’s values so this work really makes everything come together.”

Make a donation to families impacted by COVID-19 here.

 

“The right to vote is precious, almost sacred. It is the most powerful nonviolent tool or instrument in a democratic society. We must use it.” -Congressman John Lewis

To access your sample ballot based on the address you are registered to vote, please visit Ballotpedia here. 

Seat Elections

In addition to the presidential elections, there are multiple seats to consider based on your congressional, state, and local districts.

National: President, U.S. House of Representatives, U.S. House (select congressional districts)

State: State Senate, State Assembly

Local: District Attorney, Los Angeles Unified School District Board of Education, Superior Court of LA County, County Board of Supervisors

Statewide Ballot Measures

There are 12 statewide ballot measures and one Los Angeles County measure on the 2020 ballot. Items to consider range from criminal justice, employment classification for app-based transportation, and rent control. For more information on all statewide ballot measures, please visit the California Secretary of State website here. Below is a brief overview of select statewide propositions:

Proposition 15 – Schools and Communities First Initiative

Increases funding for K-12 public schools, community colleges, and local governments by requiring that commercial and industrial real property be taxed based on current market value (with exemptions). Estimates net increase in annual property tax revenues of $7.5 billion to $12 billion in most years, depending on the strength of real estate markets; $6.5 billion to $11.5 billion would be allocated to schools (40 percent) and other local governments (60 percent).

Proposition 16/ACA 5  – Affirmative Action in Government & Public Positions

Overturns existing legislation (Proposition 209) and allow for government and public institutions to consider “persons on the basis of race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin” in public employment, public education, and public contracting.

Proposition 17/ACA 6 – Free the Vote Act

Restores voting rights to over 50,000 Californians after release from prison, who are currently unable to vote in any local, state or federal elections despite working, paying taxes and raising families in California. Currently 19 other states and Washington, D.C, automatically restore voting rights upon release from prison or have no felony disenfranchisement whatsoever.

Proposition 18/ACA4 – Voting Age

Authorizes a United States citizen who is 17 years of age, is a resident of the state, and will be at least 18 years of age at the time of the next general election to vote in any primary or special election. Currently at least 19 other states and Washington D.C. allow 17-year-olds who would be eligible for the next general election to vote early.

Disclaimer: As a 501c3 organization, Children’s Institute is prohibited by federal tax law from supporting or opposing candidates for public office or telling people how to vote, directly or indirectly. This document is solely educational and to encourage your civic engagement.

Para español, por favor recorra hacia abajo.

Due to COVID-19, many voters will vote by mail – some for the first time. For those who plan to vote in person, the experience will likely be quite different from the past. And for first time voters, or those who haven’t voted since the 2016 election, there’s lots of new information to consider before casting your vote. Below are answers to common questions.

Registration

In Los Angeles County, you can register to vote online before Oct. 19 by visiting here. To register online, you will need (1) your California driver license or California identification card number, (2) the last four digits of your social security number, and (3) your date of birth.

Voter Registration and Voting is Offered in Multiple Languages

Los Angeles County offers election materials in 10 different languages, including Spanish, Korean and Chinese.

Voting Safely By Mail

Due to COVID-19, all registered voters in Los Angeles County will have a ballot mailed to them starting on Oct. 5. If you are a first time mail-in voter or you recently moved, it is important that you confirm your registered address before ballots are mailed. You can check your Los Angeles County voting information here. Click here if you are registered to vote in a different county.

Additionally, if you’re worried about voting by mail, multiple studies have shown that it is safe, reliable and trustworthy. For more information on voting security, click here.

Voting Early

Because there may be delays with the US mail, voters should cast their ballot as early as possible; all registered voters will receive a ballot and prepaid return envelope 29 days before the Nov. 3 election. Please fill out your ballot as soon as possible and either mail it or drop it off at one of 300 official drop boxes in Los Angeles County. Click here for more information on ballot drop boxes.

You can sign up here for email and SMS text notifications if you’d like to know when your ballot was mailed.

Watch Out for These Common Mail-in Ballot Mistakes

Please read all of the instructions carefully before filling out your ballot, because incorrectly filled out ballots can cause delays. Just as important, you must sign the return envelope. The signature should match what is on your voter registration, so take your time when signing.

Voting While Experiencing Homelessness

If you are experiencing homelessness, you are still eligible to register and vote by mail. When registering to vote, select “I do not have a street address.” Voters can list cross streets and county instead of a residential address; these are used to assign you a precinct.

Voting In-Person

If you vote in person, Los Angeles County has taken a number of steps to ensure voting locations are safe and prevent the spread of COVID-19. You can find the location of your neighborhood voting center 30 to 40 days before the election here. Expect to wear a mask and practice social distancing.

Same Day (Conditional) Voter Registration

People who miss the 15-day voter registration deadline may conditionally register to vote and cast a provisional ballot by visiting a county elections office, a vote center or a designated satellite location up to and including Election Day. Visit here for more information on same day voter registration.

If You Legally Changed Your Name

If you have legally changed your name, you must re-register to vote so that your voter record reflects your current name. The Secretary of State recommends that before you update your voter record with your current name, you first update your California driver license or identification card with DMV.

Starting Your Own Voter Registration Drive

If you would like to increase the number of eligible voters in your neighborhood, click here for rules on conducting voter registration drives in Los Angeles County.

Spread the Word!

It is important to make sure your friends and family are also prepared to vote. Connect with people in your network to double-check that they are registered to vote, and make sure they know all the helpful tips for voting by mail or in-person.

Una Guía para Votar en las Elecciones de 2020

Debido a COVID-19, muchos votantes votarán por correo, algunos por primera vez. Para aquellos que planean votar en persona, la experiencia probablemente será bastante diferente a la del pasado. Y para quienes votan por primera vez, o aquellos que no han votado desde las elecciones de 2016, hay mucha información nueva que considerar antes de emitir su voto. A continuación, encontrará respuestas a preguntas comunes.

Registración

En el condado de Los Ángeles, puede registrarse para votar en línea antes del 19 de octubre visitando aquí. Para registrarse en línea, necesitará (1) su licencia de conducir de California o el número de tarjeta de identificación de California, (2) los últimos cuatro dígitos de su número de seguro social y (3) su fecha de nacimiento.

Registración de Votantes y la Votación se Ofrecen en Varios Idiomas

El condado de Los Ángeles ofrece materiales electorales en 10 idiomas diferentes, incluidos español, coreano y chino.

Votando Seguramente por Correo

Debido a COVID-19, todos los votantes registrados en el condado de Los Ángeles recibirán una boleta por correo a partir del 5 de octubre. Si es la primera vez que vota por correo o se mudó recientemente, es importante que confirme su dirección registrada antes de que se envíen las boletas. Puede consultar la información de votación del condado de Los Ángeles aquí. Oprima aquí sí está registrado para votar en un condado diferente.

Además, si le preocupa votar por correo, varios estudios han demostrado que es seguro, confiable y confiable. Para obtener más información sobre la seguridad del voto, oprima aquí.

Votando Temprano

Debido a las demoras con el correo, votantes deben emitir su voto lo antes posible; todos los votantes registrados recibirán una boleta y un sobre de retorno prepago 29 días antes de las elecciones del 3 de noviembre. Llene su boleta lo antes posible y envíela por correo o déjela en uno de los 300 buzones oficiales del condado de Los Ángeles. Oprima aquí para obtener más información sobre las casillas de votación.

Puede registrarse aquí para recibir notificaciones de texto y por correo electrónico si desea saber cuándo se le envió su boleta por correo.

Tenga Cuidado con Estos Errores Comunes en las Boletas Electorales por Correo

Lea atentamente todas las instrucciones antes de completar su boleta, ya que las boletas llenas incorrectamente pueden causar demoras. Igual de importante, debe firmar el sobre de retorno. La firma debe coincidir con el nombre en su registro de votante, así que tómese su tiempo al firmar.

Votando Mientras Vive Sin Hogar

Si se encuentra sin hogar, aún es elegible para registrarse y votar por correo. Al registrarse para votar, seleccione “No tengo una dirección.” Los votantes pueden incluir calles cruzadas y condado en lugar de una dirección residencial; estos se utilizan para asignarle un recinto.

Votando en Persona

Si vota en persona, el condado de Los Ángeles ha tomado una serie de medidas para garantizar que los lugares de votación sean seguros y evitar la propagación del COVID-19. Puede encontrar la ubicación del centro de votación de su vecindario entre 30 y 40 días antes de las elecciones aquí. Espere usar una máscara y practicar el distanciamiento social.

Registración de Votante del Mismo Día (Condicional)

Las personas que no cumplan con la fecha límite de 15 días de registración pueden registrarse condicionalmente para votar visitando una oficina electoral del condado, un centro de votación o un lugar satélite designado hasta el día de las elecciones inclusive. Visite aquí para obtener más información sobre la registración de votante del mismo día.

Si Legalmente Cambia Su Nombre

Si ha cambiado su nombre legalmente, debe volver a registrarse para votar de modo que su registro de votante refleje su nombre actual. El Secretario de Estado recomienda que antes de actualizar su registro de votante con su nombre actual, primero actualice su licencia de conducir o tarjeta de identificación de California con el DMV.

Inicie Su Propia Campaña de Registración de Votantes

Si desea aumentar la cantidad de votantes elegibles en su vecindario, oprima aquí para conocer las reglas sobre cómo realizar campañas de registro de votantes en el condado de Los Ángeles.

¡Difunda la Palabra!

Es importante asegurarse de que sus amigos y familiares también estén preparados para votar. Conéctese con personas de su red para verificar que estén registradas para votar y asegúrese de que conozcan todos los consejos útiles para votar por correo o en persona.

In June 2020, Children’s Institute launched its Office of Equity (OOE) to ensure the organization’s mission-driven work serving families in Los Angeles is delivered with an unwavering commitment to anti-racism and social justice. Equity is one of CII’s four core values and the newly formed OOE will support the entire agency by providing planning, ongoing training and accountability.

Amina Jones Fields, Vice President of Research, Evaluation and Reporting, oversees OOE and reports directly to CII’s President & CEO Martine Singer on these matters. Fields was selected in early 2020 to lead CII’s initiatives around Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI). As national unrest and protests grew in May and June in response to the murder of George Floyd, Singer requested a more urgent response and the OOE was created to elevate the scope and impact of this work.

The children and family members served through CII’s programs have experienced intergenerational poverty and trauma, perpetuated by long-standing racist systems and policies. To successfully support the needs of marginalized children and families, OOE will facilitate training for staff to confront their own experiences with racism, and will identify racial biases that have persisted in systems that provide care to communities of color.

Fields said OOE will work on parallel tracks to support both individual learning and development around equity and organizationally to establish an EDI culture. OOE will involve administrative and program staff at all levels to capture different perspectives and shape CII’s work.

“Systemic racism and inequity are the root of the health, safety and economic challenges that impact the families we serve at CII,” Fields said. “To achieve CII’s mission, we must have an organizational focus on equity.”

Singer said OOE will make recommendations directly to the executive leadership team, which ensures this work is a high priority.

“I can’t think of a better time in this country’s history to be launching this initiative,” Singer said. “Amina’s vision and the team she is pulling together will be transformative for our organization.”

Joining Fields to lead OOE is Simona Brown, Human Resources Manager, Terry Kim, Director of Government Relations & Advocacy, and Dr. Jacqueline Atkins, Vice President of Strengthening Families. Fields said that when OOE was announced internally, more than two dozen staff members reached out to get involved.

Brown will ensure CII’s talent strategy, which includes hiring and staff retention, aligns with the overall goals of OOE. In the last couple of weeks, OOE brought in renowned diversity trainer Tiana Sanchez to facilitate multiple small group sessions on race and equity. OOE is launching an anti-racism resource portal for staff education and will have more interactive events throughout the fall and winter.

“I want people to know that for us to achieve the goals of this initiative, this work needs to be owned by everybody,” Brown said. “It’s everybody’s job and everybody’s responsibility.”

For Kim, who came to CII with a passion to engage in racial equity through public policy and government advocacy, OOE is about linking individual staff and program goals with overall agency goals on equity and justice.

“Systemic change cannot happen without confronting structural racism and historical inequities that the families served by CII experience every day,” Kim said. “As an organization we have to centralize racial equity and justice in all that we do.

Please email equity@childrensinstitute.org to learn more about partnership opportunities with OOE.

Children’s Institute congratulates CII Trustee and soon-to-be Deputy Chief Emada Tingirides, who will lead LAPD’s newly announced Community Safety Partnership Bureau (CSP). Mayor Eric Garcetti, members of the LA City Council and LAPD Police Chief Michel Moore announced the new bureau earlier this week while emphasizing that Captain Tingirides’ new role will help transform the way LAPD approaches policing.

CSP is the signature community policing program of LAPD that began in 2011 as a relationship-based approach working in LA’s housing developments. Captain Tingirides has been part of CSP since its inception and has worked closely with Civil Rights Attorney and CSP co-founder Connie Rice to expand the program. A UCLA report published earlier this year credited CSP with helping to reduce violent crime and increase trust with residents.

During the press conference, Mayor Garcetti complimented Captain Tingirides’ commitment to CSP and said that the expansion of the program will ensure the community has a greater say in how it is policed. Captain Tingirides will oversee CSP as its own bureau where officers commit to five-year assignments to better understand the neighborhood and build relationships with residents.

“It’s a dramatic step in that … we’re moving squarely towards the core of our policing philosophy — a model that is about co-owning public safety,” said Garcetti. The mayor highlighted CSP as an effective step to police reform, as protests have called for LAPD funding to be cut and reallocated.

Captain Tingirides said examples like the UCLA report show that the relationship building by CSP officers across the community is effective in creating trust which translates to crime reduction. This relationship extends to nonprofits like CII, which helped inspire CSP strategies.

Captain Tingirides said that during the early years of CSP, she met with CII program and care coordinators in Watts to plant community gardens and read stories to children. She said she was inspired to have CSP officers engaged in these types of activities, and it opened her eyes to all of the work aimed at improving the lives of children in the community. Captain Tingirides eventually joined CII’s Board of Trustees in 2014, which has led to a close partnership between CII and CSP.

“The fact that there is an understanding of what CII offers allows our officers to do their job better,” Captain Tingirides said. When CII opens the new Frank Gehry-designed Watts Campus in 2021, CSP will have an office inside the building, which will bring important community initiatives closer together.

CII President & CEO Martine Singer said her insight and perspective have been invaluable as CII has increased its reach and impact in Watts and other parts of South LA.

“Captain Tingirides’ compassion and experience is unmatched, which makes her the perfect person to lead the Community Safety Partnership Bureau,” Singer said. “The residents of Watts truly appreciate the impact she has made in this community.”

Captain Tingirides is a Watts native and becomes the second Black female LAPD Deputy Police Chief. At the State of the Union address in 2015, President Obama honored Captain Tingirides, along with her husband Phil Tingirides, then the captain of LAPD Southeast Division, for their community policing work.

With protests calling for reallocating funding away from LAPD following the death of George Floyd, Captain Tingirides said CSP’s focus on partnership highlights how policing can be one piece of solving the challenges communities face.

The economic effects of COVID-19 are widespread: 30 million people in the U.S. are currently receiving unemployment and millions more are struggling to pay for food and rent. The pandemic – and the widespread protests following the death of George Floyd – underscore long-standing inequities in healthcare, education and opportunity. While the virus does not discriminate, people of color and those living in extreme poverty bear its impact disproportionately. And nothing less than a new federal relief package can move us forward.

At Children’s Institute in Los Angeles, we provide critical services in communities with child poverty rates as high as 70 percent, where trauma is so prevalent that residents might not even mention it when describing their everyday lives. Toxic stress from abuse, racism, community violence or living in chronic poverty has dramatic and lasting consequences to mental and physical health, as well as school and job performance.

Since mid-March, we’ve responded to an overwhelming number requests for food, rent and other basic needs. The most pressing come from families that are undocumented and/or work in hotels, restaurants and other service businesses that have been shuttered. Even those who put their lives on the line every day for low-paying, frontline jobs often lack the basics.

Facing a $54 billion deficit, the California Legislature and Governor Newsom passed a balanced budget in late June that continues to safeguard essential programs like early education and childcare. This was a welcome bit of news, but without additional federal funding, the state can’t continue to support these services – and they’re more vital now than ever before. To prevent further devastation, the U.S. Senate must pass the Health and Economic Recovery Omnibus Emergency Solutions, or HEROES Act, which already passed in the House, and step up for our most vulnerable children and families.

Last week, the Senate introduced the Health, Economic, Assistance, Liability Protection and Schools (HEALS) Act. The Senate proposal and the House’s HEROEs Act have varying priorities and will need to be reconciled in one bill to pass another COVID-19 federal relief package to support families. As an organization, we support the HEROES act.

How can HEROES help California?

• CHILDCARE: Without it, how will Californians go back to work? We join leaders around the country in calling for a $50 billion investment in early childhood education in the next legislative package.
• STUDENT SUPPORTS: Programs like community schools integrate such critical services as mental health and family supports in schools, mitigating the impact of toxic stress and reengaging students and families with learning after months of suboptimal schooling.
• SUPPORT FOR UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS: One million undocumented immigrants live in Los Angeles. We celebrate the Supreme Court’s recent ruling on DACA, but additional action must be taken to protect undocumented families, who represent a critical sector of our economy. These families don’t qualify for federal assistance and as a result their children suffer from hunger and lack basic resources. California was the first state to offer disaster relief for undocumented adults, upwards of $1,000 per household, but this fund reaches only 150,000 adults statewide. Federal assistance in the HEROES Act is essential to ensure undocumented immigrants can provide for their families.
• FOSTER YOUTH: The needs of foster youth also continue to increase during this crisis. In addition to stable housing and mental health services, they need laptops, cellphones and internet for distance learning for the foreseeable future. Fortunately, the HEROES Act removes institutional barriers for youth to qualify and access extended foster care services.

Now more than ever, we must demand a just system that centers on equity and promotes policies that protect all children. Let’s work together to end the disparities that have been magnified in recent weeks and months. We implore Congress to step up and advance the HEROES act.

Children’s Institute recently celebrated an exciting milestone in the construction of our new Frank Gehry-designed Watts campus: Topping Off, or placing the final beam on the building. To commemorate the occasion, a small group of staff and construction workers signed the beam before it was put in place.

CII broke ground on the site in January 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic struck Los Angeles. However, the construction project has continued to move along on time and on budget.

Slated to open in 2021, the building will house critical therapeutic programs, parenting workshops and after-school activities that will serve children and families affected by poverty and intergenerational trauma. The space will also feature a new headquarters for the Watts Gang Task Force and the LAPD Community Safety Partnership.

CII’s President & CEO Martine Singer said that when the Watts campus opens, it will serve a community reeling from the long-lasting effects of the pandemic. A recent survey conducted with families in CII’s early education programs reported over 40 percent had either lost their job or had their hours reduced, and weekly earnings dropped to an average of $400 for a family of five. And the majority of families are in need of financial support to aid in paying for basics like rent, food, soap or utilities.

“This campus will serve many purposes as CII responds to immediate threats to the lives and well-being of families while also addressing bigger systemic issues that have made residents in this community incredibly vulnerable during this crisis,” Singer said.

Bridget Gless Keller, CII Trustee and Watts Building Committee Chair, has supported the Watts campus from its inception by enlisting friends and family to raise awareness for the project. She said the need for the new campus has only increased as a result of this national health crisis and it will be a central community hub when it opens.

“The ‘Topping Off’ is another significant milestone in the construction process,” Gless Keller said. “In these unprecedented times, the continued good work of the design and construction teams are bringing this vision to fruition.”

CII is currently in the final phase of the Capital Campaign for the Watts Campus. Click here to support the campaign.

Over the past five years, Children’s Institute has embraced “reflective practice” – literally, the ability to step back and reflect on your own experiences to improve the way you work. At CII, reflective practice is incorporated both in clinical supervision and in supervision with teachers and home visitors.

Jesús Parra, Vice President of Behavioral Health & Wellness at CII, said reflective practice improves the level of care staff provide while also preventing burnout. According to Parra, people working in human service may get caught up in the moment of caring for families and lose sight of the bigger picture, which is why it is important to build in a pause mechanism, especially when work gets chaotic. Reflective practice allows supervisors to help staff reflect on their interactions with families after the fact, and also to use reflection in their sessions.

“This isn’t just about thoughts and feelings,” Parra said. “In reflective practice, staff and supervisors slow down to see if additional resources can help, including bringing in new expertise.”

While reflective practice has been part of the human services field for more than three decades, its value has become increasingly important during the COVID-19 crisis, with people stuck at home for  many months.

Desiree Yoro Yoo is the Director of Project ABC and has more than 10 years of training in reflective practice. She said the whole concept focuses on keeping clients, staff and supervisors in a place of calm where they can continue making thoughtful decisions. If done correctly, people will stay mindful regardless of external events.

“The most important part about reflective practice is creating safety through emotional support, which remains true for this current crisis,” Yoro Yoo said.

Nancy Watt is a Home Visitation Program Manager at CII and uses reflective practice regularly with her team; when workers are feeling stretched or rejected reflective practice can help keep things in perspective.  Home visitors usually go into the homes of new parents to provide tools and guidance, though since March they have worked remotely, using phone and video.

While virtual sessions present new challenges, Watt said the process of pausing to reflect and find new solutions is still taking place, and will continue to happen as CII provides extra support to families during traumatic times.

“Reflective practice improves the quality of work because we are able to bring new perspectives to every type of challenge,” Watt said. “When two people come together and have that safe space, they are able to discover new solutions.”

The first time Greg attended a group meeting at Children’s Institute’s Project Fatherhood program, he hardly said anything. He was looking for answers on how to become a better parent to his 10 children, but he was nervous to share his own struggles and open up to the other dads.

Sunday marks Greg’s third Father’s Day as a member of Project Fatherhood where he rarely misses a meeting. He not only speaks frequently at group meetings, but he is now looked at as a mentor and leader to dads who are new to Project Fatherhood.

“We say it every week, that this is a safe place for dads to talk about their feelings and express themselves,” Greg said. “We don’t have many spaces to do this so our time together is important.”

Greg with nine of his 10 children. His oldest daughter attends college out of state and is not pictured.

The program, which connects trained CII staff with dads who want to improve their relationships with their kids, relies on fathers like Greg to use their own struggles and successes to build trust with new dads joining group meetings. Many of the dads grew up in “tough love” homes where their fathers were absent or emotionally closed off, which has led to their own parenting challenges.

With 19.7 million children nationally, or roughly one in four kids living without a father, the program focuses on dads being active participants in their kid’s lives. The program has reached more than 15,000 dads who parent 23,000 children since its founding.

David Frazier, Project Fatherhood Specialist, said Greg brings a tremendous amount of experience as a single dad to 10 kids, which makes him central to the group.

“Greg’s love and admiration for the program keeps him involved in the group on a weekly basis, and allows him to constantly evolve as a man and father for his children,” Frazier said.

Greg taking a selfie while out to dinner with his children.

Greg, who works as a barber and also home-schools his kids, said the skills he has learned from Project Fatherhood are something he uses every day with each one of his children. Prior to the marches and protests that have broken out following the murder of George Floyd, Greg said he talked to his children about what it means to be Black in America, but the last few weeks have been especially important parenting moments about opening up and speaking to his kids about race.

“I have seven boys and three of them are above 6 feet tall,” Greg said. “Even if they aren’t adults yet, that doesn’t mean they won’t be mistaken as adults and even bad things happen to people who follow orders so we have constantly been talking about this topic.”

Greg said his oldest son loves medieval history and has a replica sword. He said that last week his son was about to walk outside to grab the mail while holding the sword, and Greg had to stop him and explain how that was a potentially dangerous situation from an innocent action.

“We had to have a conversation about what it means to be a young Black man and the dangers he faces when he goes outside,” he said.

While Greg has watched the marches and protests with his children from afar, he said he will continue to educate them and support their rights to live safe and healthy lives, which has been central to his parenting approach since joining Project Fatherhood. That approach also carries through to his Father’s Day plans, which Greg said will be minimal – he said he prefers the spotlight to remain on his children.

“To me, every day is Father’s Day,” he said. “I’m working for my kids and that’s the biggest reward.”