There are currently more than 400,000 children in foster care in the U.S., a number that continues to grow each year. Drawing on unprecedented access, the documentary FOSTER traces a complex path through the Los Angeles Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS), interweaving first-hand stories of those navigating the child welfare system with insights from social workers, advocates and others working in the justice system.

Last night, as part of National Foster Care Month, CII teamed up with Film Independent to co-present a screening of the new HBO documentary FOSTER at the ArcLight Hollywood in Los Angeles. Following the screening, CII’s President & CEO Martine Singer was joined by Oscar-winning filmmakers Deborah Oppenheimer and Mark Jonathan Harris, as well as film subjects Jessica Chandler, a DCFS social worker who grew up in foster care, and Mary Montoya, a transition-aged foster youth navigating college. The discussion was moderated by Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell.

From left: Oscar-winning Director Mark Jonathan Harris, transition-aged foster youth Mary Montoya, DCFS social worker Jessica Chandler, Oscar-winning Director Deborah Oppenheimer, and CII President & CEO Martine Singer.

Oppenheimer, who won an Academy Award with Harris for the film Into the Arms of Strangers: Stories of Kindertransport, said the two approached FOSTER wanting to provide an accurate portrayal of the foster care system that differed from how it is often unfairly cast in pop culture and media. She said much of the general public has very little information on how the system operates or the stories of those who are navigating it.

“I was very aware that I had never encountered a foster youth,” Oppenheimer said. “I had never encountered the system or a social worker, and a lot of the people in my life hadn’t either.”

The filmmakers captured more than 150 hours of footage and spent 10 years making the film. While the run time is just under two hours, Oppenheimer said she and Harris felt the movie could have easily been over three hours because there are so many different and important perspectives involved in the foster care system.

I was very aware that I had never encountered a foster youth. I had never encountered the system or a social worker, and a lot of the people in my life hadn’t either.

Deborah Oppenheimer, producer, FOSTER

Harris said it was a privilege to get such honest and intimate access during the filming process.

“They’re working through their stories as we are making this film,” Harris said. “The stories emerge and you try to be faithful to your experience as a filmmaker, and you try to communicate what you discover in the process of making the film.”

One of the perspectives the filmmakers felt was important to share involved CII’s Family Preservation program, which offers support to families who are at risk for entering the system. In the film, the family is referred to CII after their infant tests positive for traces of cocaine at birth. The mother is required to seek treatment for substance abuse while the father needs support for parenting their daughter alone. At the time, he was working the night shift at Walmart and didn’t have the schedule or resources to support his child.

Allyson Manumaleuna, CII’s Family Preservation Supervisor, worked directly with the family and is featured meeting with them at CII’s Watts Campus in the film.

Two clients in CII’s Family Preservation Program that were featured in the HBO documentary FOSTER who needed support to keep their daughter out of foster care.

According to Manumaleuna, CII worked with the father while the mother was in treatment. When the family was first referred to Family Preservation, the father was commuting on public transportation with his child during unsafe hours because he had zero child care options. Only 24-years-old, he lived with his grandfather in a small apartment and had never taken a parenting class.

“As soon as we received the case, we started weekly in-home services to get to know the family and understand what resources they would need,” Manumaleuna said. “We were able to get him free child care so he could continue to work, but also get enough sleep to be a great parent.”

Family Preservation also worked to get the father essential items like diapers and wipes while working to get him stable housing. As part of Family Preservation, he enrolled in Growing Great Kids, a class offered through the program that teachers parenting skills. While the father took these classes, the mother successfully completed her substance abuse course.

There is no big mystery around it, there is just not enough political will or money. We can stop the cycle, we can help people, and there are plenty of things that work if only our politicians will listen.

Martine Singer, President & CEO, Children’s Institute

While not every story has a happy ending, Manumaleuna said the family was able to complete crucial steps and get connected to resources that prevented their child from entering foster care. She believes the family gained tools to ensure their child grows up supported and loved.

In this instance, she said the Family Preservation program worked as it was designed to. Success stories like this family’s not only prevent children from entering foster care, but also create happy and healthy home environments that break the cycle.

“We provide consistent support in-home every week to families who don’t have the resources,” she said. “The families do all of the work – we just help them along the way.”

CII partnered with Film Independent to hold a special screening and Q&A that was moderated by Film Independent Curator Elvis Mitchell.

Singer said FOSTER does a good job of capturing the root causes that lead to families needing programs like Family Preservation or other services in the foster care system. She said communities featured in the film have been redlined, isolated and lacking investment, which lead to violence and crime.

“There are a lot of causes for the problems we see in the movie like poverty,” Singer said. “Not to take away from personal responsibility, but there are a lot of forces that cause the circumstances to be what they are.”

Singer said this movie will hopefully allow people to have a better understanding of the foster care system and judge the people involved less harshly. She said there are a lot of programs that are effective in addressing the underlying issues, but they need better funding.

“There is no big mystery around it – there is just not enough political will or money,” Singer said. “We can stop the cycle, we can help people, and there are plenty of things that work if only our politicians will listen.”

FOSTER debuted May 7, 2019 exclusively on HBO and is currently available on HBO On Demand, HBO NOW, HBO GO and partners’ streaming platforms.

Children’s Institute is celebrating teachers everywhere in honor of Teacher Appreciation Week from May 6-10. Read stories from the people involved in Early Childhood Education at CII.

Early childhood education has been a focus for Children’s Institute for decades. It’s the best investment we can make to maximize children’s lifelong well-being – particularly for kids experiencing the impact of poverty and trauma. High-quality early learning is critical to healthy development, and prepares children to learn and thrive in kindergarten and beyond.

CII’s committed teachers and home visitors help our youngest children to learn and grow. In honor of Teacher Appreciation Week, we are sharing perspectives from teachers, volunteers and parents connected to our early education programs.

CII has 32 Head Start, Early Head Start and Home Visiting sites in L.A County that are supported by 213 teachers, substitute teachers and home visitors along with in-classroom parent volunteers who contributed 6,078 total hours last year. Each day, teachers create and implement lesson plans that set kids up for success, but their reach extends beyond the lesson. CII’s teachers and home visitors are often the first to spot developmental delays or behavioral challenges, and refer families to crucial services like counseling and regional center services.

I hope you will join me celebrating CII’s teaching staff and their lifelong impact on children.

Warmest regards,

Martine Singer
President & CEO

A Quarter Decade Teaching Head Start

When Silvia Serrano was hired as a teacher in 1994, CII had just two preschools. Over the next 25 years, Serrano worked in four different locations as Early Childhood Education at CII grew to 32 early education centers. Along the way, she would become CII’s longest active serving teacher.

Serrano was just starting her career as an educator when she came to CII.  A single mother, raising her young daughter with limited support, Serrano was drawn to CII’s mission because she could relate to the challenges experienced by families receiving services. She immediately appreciated how nurturing and invested her fellow teachers were with every student.

“I liked the way we were helping the community,” Serrano said. “We were treating every child like they were our own and we were welcoming families in a way that showed them that we are people they can trust.”

From her very first day, Serrano’s teachers mentored her and provided valuable advice when it came to her own family. There was a sense of community in which everybody was there to help each other – a culture Serrano said has been consistent over her 25-year tenure.

We were treating every child like they were our own and we were welcoming families in a way that showed them that we are people they can trust.

Silvia Serrano, Head Start Teacher

Serrano’s own daughter went on to earn an M.D. from Columbia University before moving back to practice medicine in South LA at Martin Luther King Jr. Community Hospital.

“CII gave me support, and I try to give that support to our families,” she said. “I tell everybody how important CII is to the families we work with.”

Serrano doesn’t approach education with the expectation that her own students will attend Ivy League universities or become doctors. She said success is understanding the individual needs of each child and empowering them to grow in their own way.

Serrano encountered a student recently who did not know how to write his name and had a very limited understanding of numbers. His parents were first generation Americans from South Korea, and he spoke little English. Drawing from her many years of experience as an early childhood educator, Serrano was nurturing and supportive as they worked through activities each day. Overtime, he exceeded many of the expectations and is in a much better place.

“Little by little, he learned letters and numbers that will be important in kindergarten,” she said.

Hundreds of other students have received this same support from Serrano through the years. This includes one former student, Concepcion Amy Mateo, who was in Serrano’s 1998 Head Start class. Her positive experience inspired her to return to CII as an adult and apply to be a substitute teacher. Serrano remembered Mateo and helped her navigate being a new teacher.

With plans to continue in her role, many more kids will benefit from her teaching.

From Early Childhood Education Parent to Substitute Teacher

Before they ever led a class, many of CII’s current teachers first interacted with the organization as parents accessing services for their own children. This career trajectory applies to Daisy, a long-term substitute teacher at CII who works in classrooms for one- or two-week periods. Prior to starting at CII in late 2018, she was a parent with multiple children enrolled in Head Start.

Daisy first connected with CII while attending a health fair in her neighborhood. After visiting CII’s booth, she decided to enroll her daughter in Head Start. It didn’t take long for Daisy to be inspired by her daughter’s teachers as they worked together on writing, speech and numbers.

“They have helped me so much,” Daisy said. “They are special because they make a unique impact and provide a different perspective than what I could have done at home.”

Every teacher has been very welcoming and helped me with the things I didn’t know when I started. They are great resources, and every day I learn something new.

Daisy, Head Start Substitute Teacher

During her daughter’s first year, Daisy had been pursuing a degree in early childhood education. When an opening came up for a substitute position, the teachers at her daughter’s Head Start encouraged her to apply. Daisy interviewed and got the job.

The transition from parent to teacher has been a natural one thanks to support from other teachers. Daisy said she received training and mentoring that made for a smooth first six months.

“Every teacher has been very welcoming and helped me with the things I didn’t know when I started,” she said. “They are great resources, and every day I learn something new.”

Daisy hopes to become a full-time teacher and  enjoys being part of the growth and development of her students. She is supporting students in their progression toward important milestones that she saw her own daughter reach.

“I like how children acknowledge you when you help them,” she said. “They remember what you teach them.”

A Parent Benefits from Committed Teachers

Behind every successful teacher is a larger group of volunteers who help ensure a classroom runs smoothly. More than 6,000 volunteers fill support roles across every classroom at CII.

Jeanette enrolled her two youngest children in Head Start to help them with writing and art. She noticed how invested each teacher was in helping her children. She wanted to do something to support the program.

“They really helped my kids and prepared them for kindergarten,” she said. “I wanted to become more involved and give back.”

All of the teachers work so hard. They take responsibility for the kids during the day and give them the attention they need.

Jeanette, Head Start Parent Volunteer

Jeanette started by volunteering in the classroom and helped teachers with lesson plans and organized activities. During her second year of volunteering, Jeanette joined the Head Start Policy Council and encouraged other Head Start parents to get involved as well.

Jeanette said the volunteering is worthwhile and greatly benefits the kids in the program. She said the teachers invest so much in their work that it is helpful to have a larger group supporting them.

“All of the teachers work so hard,” she said. “They take responsibility for the kids during the day and give them the attention they need.”

Jeanette is in her fourth year as a parent volunteer and is looking forward to continuing her involvement with the teachers at her Head Start site.

More than 500 families and staff attended the 2nd Annual Movie Night & Car Show at CII’s Watts Campus in early May. The event is a partnership with PBS SoCal and designed to prepare kids for success in school while encouraging group activities with families. The earth science and astronomy series Ready Set Go! was screened and families combined engineering and art skills to create homemade cars.

Families worked on the homemade cars over multiple weeks as part of an activity with their local Early Childhood Education program.

The cars provided an opportunity to promote STEAM curriculum, which stands for Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. The cars challenged kids to work on each of these subjects where they designed, built and decorated their own cars.

Early Childhood Education also uses this activity as an opportunity to engage parents around improving their own parenting skills. Families spent multiple hours together where they improved communications techniques and bonded together.

At the conclusion of the event, every child in attendance received a backpack that will be used next year in school. Families in the program live below the poverty line, making school supply purchases challenging.

The backpacks were donated by the corporate team at Age of Learning who volunteered to collect and organize the backpacks. CII’s Board Member Sunil Gunderia is the Chief Strategy Officer at the company.

The Annual Movie Night & Car Show featured other activities where kids could practice STEAM curriculum like experimenting with science projects.

Art was also featured throughout the event where kids showed off their artistic side.

Due to the event’s success, staff is already working to ensure next year’s event grows in the number of families participating. PBS SoCal continues to be an amazing partner for the event along with the support from strong corporate partnership in Age of Learning.

Elizabeth Vasquez runs into her students and their families outside of school all of the time. When filling her gas tank, eating dinner in a restaurant or shopping for groceries, it’s common for her to look up and see one of her students waving at her. Every time this happens, she enthusiastically stops to catch up, even if she saw them just an hour ago in class.

For Vasquez, each encounter is a chance to embrace her neighbors. As a Head Start teacher at Children’s Institute at Jordan Downs, seeing her students in the community is just one of the many things Vasquez considers a highlight of her job.

Vasquez grew up in South LA and has lived and taught in the same neighborhood for the past five years. With such close ties to her community, she is especially welcoming to every student she teaches. This commitment to serve her own community exemplifies EQUITY, one of CII’s four core values. 

All of CII’s early education sites welcome diverse populations and communities, and classrooms are a gathering place for different races, religions and cultures. As a teacher, maintaining an inclusive and equitable atmosphere is essential to a rich educational experience.

When I come into class each day, I treat everyone with the same level of respect

Elizabeth Vasquez, Head Start Teacher at Jordan Downs

Vasquez views schools as a place where all children should be seen as equals and given a fair shot at success. When this doesn’t happen, she says, students suffer and learning is impacted.

“When I come into class each day, I treat everyone with the same level of respect,” she said. “All of my students are different so I do everything I can to meet them at their level and address their needs.”

Vasquez has held this belief since starting her career in early childhood education in 2003. When she moved to CII in 2014 for her first role in a Head Start classroom, she appreciated the program and organization aligning with her values of classroom equality, while giving her additional opportunities to build strong connections with her students and their families.

This level of familiarity gives her the ability to make referrals to other community-based services when she notices a family is facing challenges. If a family is struggling with food insecurity or needs help finding a therapist, Vasquez connects them with a family services worker, who links them to needed resources.

This type of understanding and influence aligns with the philosophy of Head Start. Created as an anti-poverty initiative in the 1960s, Head Start programs go beyond teaching the basics to kids who are living in poverty. Studies show that kids growing up in poverty were far behind their peers before their first day of kindergarten, setting them up for major challenges throughout their academic career.

Head Start by design is a program that is anchored in equity and closes the education gap by giving kids free access to early education in communities with limited access so when Vasquez creates a classroom where children feel equal and supported, she is reducing the impact of poverty and setting kids up for success.

She’s always there for the students and has a lot of love to give .

Monique Anderson, Site Supervisor at Jordan Downs

Monique Anderson, Site Supervisor for Vasquez’s Head Start at Jordan Downs, said Vasquez does all of this work naturally. Anderson said Vasquez does a great job balancing different needs and backgrounds through flexibility and an altruistic view of education.

“She’s always there for the students and has a lot of love to give,” she said. “Her energy and loving personality comes through with everything she does.”

This energy and investment in her community is why Vasquez stays involved in the lives of her kids, even after the school day is over and she has left the classroom. Running into a student and saying hello while picking up dinner isn’t a hindrance – it’s another opportunity to support her community.

For 10 weeks, kids in Children’s Institute’s PowerUp! after-school program were introduced to the Olympic Games to learn about other cultures while developing team building skills. As the kids wrapped up the curriculum and reflected on their experience, many felt they had learned a lot while also having fun in the process.

“Because of the Olympics, we’ve learned about partnership and sportsmanship,” said Arleni, 10 year-old while Bryan, an 11-year-old, said, “It’s the best program. I want to stay forever.”

This enthusiasm was on display last week at CII’s Otis Booth Campus as the kids showcased their knowledge and celebrated the previous day’s Olympic Games. More than 100 families and community members cheered as the kids represented their assigned nations of China, Egypt, Greece and Mexico. Dressed in clothing that reflected their respective countries, the kids took to the stage and presented aspects of culture through dance. The day before, they had competed in relay races, balloon tosses, and a basketball shoot-off. At the end of the ceremony, they smiled with pride as they received participation medals for their hard work.

Children in CII’s PowerUp! spent multiple months learning about art, culture and athletics through curriculum modeled after the Olympic games.

In early January though, this celebratory atmosphere wasn’t on display when the kids learned they were going to spend their entire winter on the Olympics.

Nawal Salim, Experiential Learning Manager who created weekly lesson plans for the Olympics curriculum, said it was mostly groans and complaints when the kids first heard about the concept for the Olympics. She said they weren’t in favor of being placed into groups where they could not select their country or teammates.

The PowerUp! after-school program works with children who have been exposed to trauma and encourages them to learn from a variety of activities and processes – and then asks them to reflect on what they’ve learned in order to build resilience and continue the healing process. Until the Olympics, the kids had never done curriculum that would last multiple months and cover so many different areas.

Children showcased what they learned during a two-day Olympic-style competition where more than 100 friends and families arrived to cheer them on.

PowerUp! normally has two different groups of kids who attend the program twice weekly on different days. The kids split time between completing homework and taking part in what the staff call a daily enrichment activity. These activities have included practicing yoga, programming robots, art and nutrition classes, or making their own hip hop beats.

To adjust for the lukewarm attitudes toward the Olympics, Salim said they spent the first few weeks focusing solely on team building activities and exercises that promoted the positives of each country participating in the Olympics.

“It probably wasn’t until the third week that they understood why we were doing this,” Salim said.

Mary Brougher, Director of Experiential Learning & Volunteer Services, developed the core curriculum for the Olympics and understood kids may not understand its importance right away. She had implemented the Olympics at other organizations and encountered similar challenges.

From learning what it means to be part of a team to signing up for the final games, they have immersed themselves in the lessons and activities, and have enjoyed seeing it all come together in such a magical way.

– Stephanie Argueta, Program Supervisor in PowerUp!

For PowerUp!, the program encourages academic success, increased physical activity, and improved social skills. Brougher said the Olympics are the perfect vehicle for promoting all three of these areas. She said kids usually come around and eventually appreciate the education and life lessons that the Olympics can offer.

“The reason why I selected the Olympics is because it is multifaceted,” she said. “We’re trying to promote cultural tolerance, team work, healthy lifestyle choices and much more.”

Similar to the real Olympics, many of the activities revolved around athletic competitions that promoted mobility and teamwork. But unlike the real Olympics, Brougher’s version pulls from various subjects like art, history and culture and even food to incorporate academics and cultural awareness.

In addition to cultural education, the Olympic curriculum taught kids about team work and working through challenges.

One activity challenged the kids to use creativity and art as they designed costumes and flags for their country. Another involved geography as the kids learned about their country’s different regions.

Stephanie Argueta, Program Supervisor in PowerUp!, said she was amazed by the Olympics and the positive response from the kids. Argueta, who was one of the many PowerUp! staff implementing the Olympic curriculum for the first time, said it exceeded her expectations for aligning with the program’s goals.

“From learning what it means to be part of a team to signing up for the final games, they have immersed themselves in the lessons and activities, and have enjoyed seeing it all come together in such a magical way,” she said.

While the kids have now returned to their regular weekly schedules of homework followed by stand-alone enrichment activities, the Olympics appears to have added to the ongoing success of PowerUp! while highlighting the importance of after school programs and how they can support the kid’s individual needs.

The reason why I selected the Olympics is because it is multifaceted,” she said. “We’re trying to promote cultural tolerance, team work, healthy lifestyle choices and much more.

-Mary Brougher, Director of Experiential Learning & Volunteer Services

From a recent report that surveyed families who have kids in PowerUp!, 95 percent reported their child was doing better in school as a result of the program and 94 percent reported their child is better at handling daily life. Of the kids who ranked low on physical activity when they entered the program, 83 percent reported they had increased daily activity to a healthy level.

Each positive outcome signals to staff that they are achieving program goals of helping kids right now, while setting them on a path for future achievements in life and academics. The program builds a foundation where kids will continue to seek out new ways to learn and grow.

“The whole purpose of this program is skill building and progression,” Salim said.

Ismenia Platero, a parent whose kids have been in PowerUp! for multiple years, said she has seen exactly this type of transformation with her family. At the closing ceremonies, she described a positive change in the ways her sons Jeffrey and Deemar approach academics and wellness.

“The program is so important to our family,” she said. “My sons used to fight a lot and weren’t focused, but now they see the purpose in doing school work and are excited to go to PowerUp! each week.”

Victor, an 8-year-old echoed what many of the kids in the program have said – the program has made a positive impact and he enjoys being a part of the program.

“PowerUp! is so cool because you get to learn about new things and you don’t even have to pay one penny!” he said.

Last week, actress, author and philanthropist Marlo Thomas was honored with the Champion of Children Award at the 31^st Annual Colleagues Spring Luncheon, benefiting Children’s Institute (CII), to celebrate her impact on the lives of kids.

As she delivered her acceptance speech, Thomas reflected on what her first commercial hit, That Girl, a TV show from the 1960s about a single woman navigating a career in New York, has meant to a generation of women. In front of the luncheon’s audience of more than 600 guests, Thomas discussed the themes of empowerment and independence.

“The work of The Colleagues is a great example of what woman can accomplish together,” she said to an audience who applauded in agreement.

Founded in 1950, The Colleagues is a women’s volunteer nonprofit that supports and raises funds to benefit CII. Embodying what Thomas highlighted during her speech, the group has been a crucial voice in driving a conversation about the importance of giving back.

More than 600 guests attended the Spring Luncheon where a focus was place on helping South LA.

In their nearly 70 years, The Colleagues have raised more than $25 million for CII programs while leaning on their collective influences among actors, politicians and philanthropists to expand CII’s reach. This year’s luncheon proved to be another example of the group showing their unwavering support.

Hosted by author and TV host Cristina Ferrare for the second year in a row, the award was presented to Thomas by Hollywood icon and friend Henry Winkler. After the award ceremony, the audience was treated to a private fashion show of Oscar de la Renta’s Fall 2019 line by co-creative directors Fernando Garcia and Laura Kim.

This is our signature event and it is where we can generate the most revenue for CII. The Colleagues are a group of great women who are doing the most that they can for children.

Cara Esposito, President of The Colleagues and CII Board of Trustee

The Colleagues President and CII Trustee Cara Esposito and the other members of the support group made sure the event had substance and focused on children. Multiple times during the afternoon, speeches and videos highlighted the lives of children and families whose trajectories are very different from those living in Beverly Hills, Brentwood or Bel Air. Esposito shared that a child growing up just 20 miles south of these neighborhoods could have a much lower life expectancy, 20 years less than children born in more affluent area of Los Angeles.

Esposito said the luncheon has been an opportunity for The Colleagues to work together on an impressive event that highlights the important work of CII. She said the event’s decades-long run is a testament to the group’s passion for giving back and knowing how to bring together an influential crowd.

CII President & CEO Martine Singer (right) poses with The Colleagues President Cara Esposito. 

“This is our signature event and it is where we can generate the most revenue for CII,” Esposito said. “The Colleagues are a group of great women who are doing the most that they can for children.”

In receiving the Champion of Children Award, Thomas joins an impressive list of celebrities and politicians with a history of philanthropy. Previous recipients include actresses Audrey Hepburn, Sophia Loren and Carol Burnett along with former First Ladies Nancy Reagan, Betty Ford and Laura Bush.

It’s an extraordinarily generous and wonderful tradition. They have been continuous supporters for decades and we’re so grateful and humbled by their continued advocacy and commitment to our mission at Children’s Institute.

Martine Singer, President & CEO of CII

Anne Johnson, the Executive Chairman of the Spring Luncheon, said her goal each year for the event is to have as large of a turnout as possible since that means greater funds raised for CII. She said a testament to the event’s success is that it has become a tradition of giving for many of the supporters. 

“I care deeply about children and any child that is ever abused,” Johnson said. “CII is doing absolutely the most important work.”

The Spring Luncheon concluded with a sneak peek of Oscar de la Renta’s fall 2019 line. 

In addition to funds raised at the Spring Luncheon, the group is currently working on a separate campaign to raise funds for CII’s new Watts Campus designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry that will be breaking ground next year (2020). The Colleagues also operate a high-end resale clothing boutique, The Room, in Santa Monica where all proceeds benefit CII.

Martine Singer, President & CEO of CII, said support from The Colleagues has been important to the organization, and the group continues to play a key role in fundraising initiatives – especially with funds raised through the Spring Luncheon.

“It’s an extraordinarily generous and wonderful tradition,” she said. “They have been continuous supporters for decades and we’re so grateful and humbled by their continued advocacy and commitment to our mission at Children’s Institute.”

It’s National Volunteer Appreciation Week and we are reflecting on all of the important ways volunteers have made a major impact at CII. In 2018, we were fortunate to have more than 7,000 volunteers contribute 41,000 hours of service valued at $976,000 to support children and families facing adversity in Los Angeles. From our corporate volunteer groups who helped beautify our Head Start centers to the individuals who show up every week to support teachers in our classrooms, we could not work at the level we do without your help.

India

High School Student & Volunteer Ballet Instructor

India is a student at Marlborough School who has supported our PowerUp! after school program for over a year by leading ballet classes. Even with a busy student schedule full of responsibilities and commitments, she has remained a dedicated volunteer who is enthusiastic about sharing her expertise in ballet. In addition to sharing new skills, she has made close connections with the kids in her ballet groups. They are very grateful to have her as a volunteer and role model.

“India has been an outstanding volunteer in the PowerUp! after-school program. She has been supportive, not just to our staff, but to the kids as well. In her ballet class, India has really worked hard to empower these kids and teach them a skill they may never otherwise have been exposed to. Her passion for teaching and helping others makes her a great role model for the kids who look up to her.” – Jessica Gomez, Care Coordinator at CII

Angélica Zagal

ECS Parent & Soccer Volunteer

Angelica is the parent of two girls in the Soccer Academy at our Watts Campus. She started volunteering three years ago after seeing a need for additional program support, and has stayed on as a loyal part of the team ever since. She is quick to get on the field and lend a hand wherever needed, and always engages with youth to ensure they are safe and having fun.

“I started volunteering for the Soccer Academy because I like the sport, as well as giving back to my community. I help wherever I can, and love to see the kids happy. ” – Angélica Zagal

Paul R. Kanin

Chair for the CII Board of Trustees & Event Volunteer

As the Chair of CII’s Board of Trustees, Paul leads the organization’s effort to increase outreach, impact and philanthropy across multiple industries and areas. In addition to leading the board and lending his time and expertise to further CII’s mission, Paul also finds time for hands on volunteering at CII events including the Winter Family Festival. Paul is proud of CII’s work and the current make-up and impact of the Board of Trustees. When he is not volunteering or advocating for children and families, Paul is practicing trusts and estate law as a partner at Kanin Soffer, LLP.

“I enjoy my time because it is a completely different approach to how I spend the other parts of my day. At CII, we’re talking about lives and humanity. Such a diverse group of people from so many different backgrounds contribute.” – Paul R. Kanin

Carolina Alvarez-Correa

Development Intern & Capital Group Volunteer

Carolina handled volunteer management for the Winter Family Festival. The event had the most families and volunteer in attendance compared with any previous CII event. In addition to her help with the Winter Family Festival, Carolina interned on the CII Development team through a program with Capital Group, her full-time employer. A frequent supporter of CII’s work, Capital Group is an example of a leading community partner because of all the ways they engage with our work and clients. From service on our Board of Trustees, to supporting fundraising events, to providing volunteers and interns to support our programs, to helping improve facilities in the communities we serve – they truly participate at every level of our organization. This type of community service rewards not only the children and families in our programs, but also the individual employees from Capital Group who have the opportunity to form relationships with our team, our clients and our community. Thank you to Carolina and Capital Group’s Corporate Social Responsibility team.

“It was evident that the parents were so grateful to CII for providing their kids with perhaps the only holiday gifts and fun they’d be receiving that season during the Winter Family Festival. The most clear evidence that the families had fun was that they stayed until the very end of the festival. We even started cleaning up and they still wanted to stick around!” – Carlina Alvarez-Correa

Lilia Velasco

AmeriCorp Member and General Volunteer

Lilia is an AmeriCorp member who assisted CII for the PowerUp! Olympics Closing Ceremony. She has also supported trainings on emergency readiness where she provided education for families to prepare in case of a natural disaster. Outside of her volunteer efforts, Lilia was recently accepted into a sign language interpreter program.

“Lilia was very flexible and willing to help in all areas of the PowerUp! Olympics to make it successful. She cut flowers, helped with table decorations and stayed later to clean up everything.” – Soleil Delgadillo, Volunteer & Community Engagement Manager at CII

Patty Capps

Les Amies Chairman for CII Support Groups & General Volunteer

Patty has been a long serving member of CII’s Les Amies, which is a Support Group that has furthered CII’s mission for more than 50 years. As a volunteer, Patty has helped plan important events like the CII Fall Harvest Baskets in November and the Winter Family Festival in December.

“As a member of Les Amies and a CII volunteer, I have especially enjoyed working together with Les Amies and CII staff in planning programs for children and families. It has been a very rewarding experience for me.” – Patty Capps

Evan Spells

Former Client & ITSP Volunteer

Evan is a former client of Individualized Transition Skills Program that supports transition-aged foster youth. When he completed the program, Evan wanted to stay involved to support young adults going through similar experiences. Since 2017, he has been a volunteer, and then intern, in our Fostering Social Skills client groups as a co-facilitator. He also co-facilitated our first ever peer-led group and plans on co-facilitating the next peer-led group this summer.

“Evan has been a vital part of the expansion of Fostering Social Skills groups. I personally would not have been able to begin and succeed in such groups, in particular in creating a peer-led group.” – Julio Cruz, ITSP Supervisor

Jordan Mullins

Student & General Volunteer

Jordan is student volunteer in our Day Treatment Intensive program where she supports our staff and works directly with clients. She has exceeded expectations for her role by extending past the original six-month commitment she made to CII. Jordan is someone CII has been able to trust and rely upon, especially, during the harder and more challenging times in which the Day Treatment Intensive team must work together to provide the best support and safety for kids.

“Jordan is a sweet, dependable, genuine, and proactive person who continually demonstrates her desire to learn and enhance her understanding of early childhood mental health. She effectively supports these young children and their families in reaching their fullest potential.” – Nicole Fauscette, Senior Clinical Supervisor, Day Time Intensive

To learn more about becoming a volunteer with CII, please click here.