Deskside Chat with the Board: Ariff Sidi

Posted on February 28, 2024 at 9:28 am.

We had the privilege of sitting down with one of our newest Board members, Ariff Sidi, former GM & Chief Product Officer at Edgecast, a division of Verizon Media. During our conversation, Sidi shared some of his major career accomplishments and his convictions as a father and how these experiences led him to join the Board at Children’s Institute.

Ariff, you’ve had quite an impressive career – from engineering to product management to media and tech! Could you walk us through your professional journey, highlighting some of your achievements?

I started off in software engineering at Qualcomm, having graduated from the University of California, San Diego. In the beginning, my work was hands-on, writing code. While it was intellectually challenging, it was also a bit removed from the consumer experience, and I wanted to create products that touched people’s lives more directly. That led me to Disney, where I began migrating from engineering to product management.

During my 12-year tenure at Disney, I built a variety of products and technology that people were using and enjoying daily, which I loved. I also played a central role in the development of ABC’s industry-first video streaming platform, which my team built in only 62 days, and kicked off an entire industry transformation that is still ongoing today! In the process, I filed 10 patents, won an Emmy award and two additional Emmy nominations. I also earned an MBA from UCLA during this time.

After my time at Disney, FOX and a couple of start-ups, I went on to become the Chief Product Officer at a division of Verizon During my time at Verizon, I led the business through two private equity transactions, after which I decided to take some time out to spend with my family.

Wow, what an incredible impact you’ve made across multiple industries! It must’ve been a rollercoaster of an adventure to be part of an unprecedented transition from traditional media to streaming, and congrats to you!

Can you share about what motivated you to join Children’s Institute’s Board of Trustees?

Ultimately, being a father of two young kids in the same age range as Children’s Institute’s children is what motivated me to join and why Children’s Institute’s mission and work resonates with me personally. I recognize that a stable and healthy childhood makes a huge difference in launching young people into successful and happy adults. If I were to think of my own kids in anything but the best conditions – not being cared for, not having access to education, feeling unsafe, not having the opportunities they currently have, not having their dad around, etc. – it’s heartbreaking.

Knowing that not all children are afforded these opportunities, and that Children’s Institute is pushing hard to change that is the source of my motivation to get involved. I’m hoping that I can use my skills as a technologist, business leader, and dad to support Children’s Institute and the great work it does.

That’s wonderful to hear and thank you for your incredibly big heart and desire to help the children of Los Angeles, particularly those who are consistently marginalized and underserved. Children’s Institute’s North Star states that all children and families can achieve educational success and emotional wellbeing to build lasting pathways to lifelong health and economic mobility. Can you share what specifically connects you to Children’s Institute’s North Star?

I want to start off by sharing a quote by Martin Luther King Jr, from his book, “Why We Can’t Wait.”

It is obvious that if a man is entered at the starting line of a race 300 years after another man, the first would have to perform some impossible feat in order to catch up.

While this quote is specifically about racial inequality and reflects the challenges that many African Americans face today, I think it is has quite a lot of relevance to the work of Children’s Institute. It is difficult to compete if your starting line is so far behind your peers. That’s why the work of Children’s Institute and its work in early childhood education and head start programs is so important. How one starts their lives impacts their future and their early years in childhood carry forward into adulthood. I believe in a fair playing field, for kids most of all.

Let’s give these kids a better start to ensure better outcomes in the future.

What a powerful motivator. It’s true that to make a lasting impact, it often starts with the early stages of childhood. That relates to a statement that was recently made by a fellow Board member, Sunil Gunderia, who said, “The most effective and efficient societal investments in education are those made in early childhood education.”

Now that you are a member of Children’s Institute’s Board, what is something you would like to accomplish in your work and advocacy through Children’s Institute?

There are three parts to what I’d like to accomplish as a Board member of Children’s Institute:

First, in an early meeting with Martine Singer and Catherine Atack, before I became a member of the Board, they had mentioned that Children’s Institute has been around for over a hundred years – since 1906, which is about the time LA Children’s Hospital was established. But a major difference is the level of public awareness between the two. I would like to help build awareness for Children’s Institute and its work through my efforts and connections.

Second, because of my background in tech, I hope to be helpful in guiding the use of technology to drive and improve efficiencies to contribute to better outcomes internally.

And third, also related to technology, but more specifically as it relates to its externally facing products. I hope to be helpful in guiding the use of technology to improve products and services delivered to CII’s children and families.

That’s wonderful! We’re so excited to have you onboard! On a personal level, can you share some of your hobbies?

I have a bunch of hobbies, most of which lean pretty technical. I enjoy photography; I also enjoy sailing and powerboating; I’ve always been big into cars and had an amateur racing license at one point; I do a lot of DIY from electrical to plumbing to carpentry to metal work; I do some content creation; and I’m building an AI home automation system. I’m probably forgetting something. One day I will get a private pilot license, but my wife has forbidden me to do that while we have young kids!

Are there any other interesting facts about yourself?

I mentioned I had several patents from my time at Disney. There’s a high likelihood, probably a certainty, that you have come across and experienced one of my patents if you’ve ever watched a streamed video with ads in it. If you’ve noticed the countdown timer during an ad or how you can’t skip the ads, you’ve come into contact with one of my patents!

Thank you so much for your time, Ariff. It was a pleasure getting to know you and your desire to make a positive impact on the lives of children. Welcome to Children’s Institute!

(more…)

Ways to Engage this Black History Month

Posted on February 20, 2024 at 9:01 am.

Written by Pilar Padilla

Featured image: “Three Women” by Charles Dickson – 1966, Mixed media oil on canvas; learn more at CII’s Watts Campus Virtual Art Tour.

Happy Black History Month!

Every year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History (ASALH) designates a theme for Black History Month. This year’s theme is African Americans and the Arts. According to ASALH, “African American art is infused with African, Caribbean, and the Black American lived experiences. In the fields of visual and performing arts, literature, fashion, folklore, language, film, music, architecture, culinary and other forms of cultural expression, the African American influence has been paramount. African American artists have used art to preserve history and community memory as well as for empowerment.”

So, we wanted to call attention to opportunities for CII staff and community to engage locally, in the art and history of LA’s Black Community.

	Watts Towers Art Center – Black Brown Beige Exhibit In 1943, Duke Ellington performed the symphony Black, Brown and Beige at Carnegie Hall, the title of which referred to the mistaken assertion that African-Americans can be categorized by a single color. In light of the shared experiences between Black and Latino Americans and in an effort to share the various colorful stories that lie behind a label, WTAC has organized the exhibition Black, Brown and Beige. The artists in the exhibition follow the trajectory that Ellington’s symphony set out to cover; historical, transitional and contemporary narratives.
	Bahia Reverb: Artists and Place Bahia Reverb: Artists and Place presents the work of ten artists who are former fellows at the Sacatar Institute in Bahia, Brazil—all from North America and of African descent. The exhibition reflects on how Bahia, an epicenter of the African diaspora that is located in northeast Brazil, has fueled their work and changed their understanding of themselves. Bahia was the first point of entry of enslaved Africans into the Americas and remains the center of Afro-Brazilian culture to this day.
	The Museum of African American Art The MAAA in Los Angeles educates visitors of all ages and identities about the arts through the lens of African American culture. Exhibits and programs at MAAA allow artists and their work to inspire new thinking about issues that intersect with the shared experiences of people across the African diaspora and beyond. The museum’s uniquely accessible art space allows us to exhibit the work of extraordinary local artists and bring meaningful art experiences to the public. MAAA proudly welcomes all visitors with FREE admission, serves as an important community gathering space, and creates educational experiences for students and lifelong learners.
	Skirball Cultural Center – This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement Find hope in our capacity for collective action. This Light of Ours: Activist Photographers of the Civil Rights Movement showcases more than 150 photographs that reveal the vital work undertaken by a broad coalition of young organizers and everyday people who fashioned a movement that changed America. The exhibition highlights the work of nine photographers primarily affiliated with the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) in the 1960s: Bob Adelman, George “Elfie” Ballis, Bob Fitch, Bob Fletcher, Matt Herron, David Prince, Herbert Randall, Maria Varela, and Tamio Wakayama.
	Los Angeles Public Library – Black History Month Event Series Engage in a number of artistic endeavors celebrating Black History Month with the LA Public Library. Activities include film screenings of Summer of Soul, Eve’s Bayou, and Black Panther. Engage in books discussions around “Black Cake” by Charmaine Wilkerson and “Kindred” by Octavia Butler. Enjoy a program showcasing African dance rhythms or take a fabric and painting workshop with the whole family.

Alarming Suicide Rates Impacting Latino Youth – NBC News Featuring CII

Posted on January 31, 2024 at 10:02 am.

Written by Hyesun Ahn

NBC News recently published an article reporting on the increase in youth suicide rates, featuring insights by Dr. Diane Elias, Vice President of Behavioral Health at Children’s Institute (CII). While the findings may not be surprising, especially to those familiar with recent mental and behavioral health trends, it serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of understanding and bringing awareness to this complex youth mental health crisis.

The rising rates of youth suicide and suicidal ideation can be seen locally in Los Angeles but also nationally, affecting rural, suburban, and urban areas, alike. What is interesting about the statistic is that not all groups are affected equally. According to NBC News, the suicide rate for Hispanic people in the United States has increased significantly over the past decade. Even elementary school-aged Hispanic children have tried to harm themselves or expressed suicidal thoughts.

The statistics show that the rise in youth suicide has been more pronounced in communities of color, including Latino communities, where there’s been a staggering 92.3% increase in suicide among Hispanic children 12 and younger from 2010 to 2019. There is a significant increase in emergency room visits and hospitalizations among young people for risky behavior and suicidal thoughts. Children as young as eight have required hospitalization for attempting to harm themselves, said Dr. Elias.

What makes this issue even more complex is that often, there are multiple layers and contributing factors and no one-size-fits-all solution. Issues including anxiety, a sense of uncertainty, a lack of access to mental health resources, and underlying mental health issues can exacerbate the problem but there are other factors that are unique to certain ethnic and racial groups that act as obstacles including, but not limited to, cultural and language barriers, stigma surrounding mental health, and even societal and economic pressures attributed to one’s residency status. The article states that, about one in five Spanish-language calls ended with the scheduler hanging up or informing the caller that no one was available to assist in Spanish, further proving how mental health care is often difficult to access. It’s critical to note these cultural and language factors in providing the right access to care.

Children’s Institute is keenly aware of and considers these factors when developing specialized approaches to treatment. According to Dr. Elias, Children’s Institute’s approach includes the following methods & services:

Trauma-Informed Care: addresses underlying issues and appropriately responds to the impact of trauma on mental health.
Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT): identifies and focuses on building coping skills and resilience.
Family Therapy: strengthens family support systems and communication within the family structure.
Crisis Intervention: provides immediate support and develops safety plans catered to the individual’s needs.
Collaborative Care: coordinates efforts with schools, other healthcare professionals, and community services for comprehensive care.
Holistic Approach: explores creative therapies, mindfulness, and self-care practices.
Culturally Competent Services: aligns with cultural sensitivities and beliefs held within different groups.

Additionally, Children’s Institute aims to support families and youth in reducing the risk of suicidal ideation by providing comprehensive mental health services. Individuals seeking help or those looking to support someone in need can benefit from Children’s Institute’s diverse and personalized approach to mental health and well-being. To start the process, you can call 213-260-7600.

It is critical to approach any warning sign seriously and with compassion. If you or someone you know is experiencing these signs, seek help immediately. Reach out to mental health professionals for support and guidance and if there is an immediate risk of harm, call emergency services or go to your nearest emergency room.

If you are someone you know is struggling with suicidal thoughts or ideation, it’s crucial to seek immediate help.

Steps to Reduce the Risk of Suicidal Ideations and Suicide for Families and Youth:

Open Communication:

Encourage open and honest communication within the family.
Create a safe space for youth to express their feelings without judgment.

Establish Support Networks:

Build strong support networks involving family, friends, and community.
Foster connections that provide emotional support during difficult times.

Encourage Professional Help:

Promote the importance of seeking professional help including counseling/therapeutic services.
Find mental health professionals and organizations that can provide support.

Identify Warning Signs:

Changes in behavior such as sudden withdrawal from friends, family, or activities previously enjoyed.
Communicating a sense of hopelessness
Engaging in reckless or impulsive behaviors without regard for consequences
Avoiding social interactions and isolation
Persistent feelings of sadness, hopelessness, or sudden unexplained mood swings

Additional Resources and Other Steps to Take:

Suicide Prevention | CDC

Suicide Prevention: 12 Things Parents Can Do

Rising Latino Suicide Rates Worry Community Leaders | NBC News

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: Call 1-800-273-TALK (1-800-273-8255) for free and confidential support 24/7. This Lifeline provides crisis intervention and emotional support for people in distress or for those around them.

988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline: Call or text 988 if you or someone you know is struggling or in crisis. Help is available.

Crisis Text Line: Text HOME to 741741 in the United States to connect with a trained crisis counselor. This service is available 24/7 and provides support via text message.

Emergency Services: If the situation is urgent or life-threatening, call emergency services (911 in the United States) immediately.

2023 Holiday Season Rewind

Posted on January 12, 2024 at 3:31 pm.

Written by Michelle Vazquez

The 2023 holiday season was nothing short of a whirlwind and at Children’s Institute, it was no different. We kicked off the holidays with our Staff Thanksgiving Luncheons and culminated with our Project Fatherhood Gingerbread making event, with several events in-between, including our annual Winter Festivals!

Take a walk down candy cane lane with us as we look back on some incredible highlights from this past holiday season.

2023 Staff Thanksgiving Luncheons

Turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, and yams were aplenty at our Staff Thanksgiving Luncheons held at our Watts, Otis Booth, and Figueroa offices. Each year, we invite all CII staff to gather around for food, games, giveaways, and this year was no exception. Thanks to Country Boy Catering, we had our fill of Thanksgiving Day classics while enjoying each other’s company and reminiscing on our accomplishments. Who’s ready for another serving of banana pudding?

Watts Community Thanksgiving

At this year’s Watts Community Thanksgiving event hosted at the Watts Campus, families were invited to enjoy a delicious meal by Dulan’s Soul Food Kitchen and stay for magic by California Joe, giveaways, and community resources.

Special thanks to our amazing volunteers and to the organizations that tabled and generously shared resources with our community. We couldn’t do this without you!

A “December to Remember” Foster Youth Holiday Party

Last month, we held the “December to Remember” holiday celebration for 100+ foster youth and their guests at our Otis Booth Campus! The celebration was filled with magical moments, great food by Country Boy catering, lively music by DJ Lani Love, and even snow— a holiday miracle!

Thank you to our generous donors, funders, and community partners who supported this event, including ONE | A Potter’s House Church, the Dream Center, Alex & Tiffany Tuttle, and Tae and Tray Thompson of Twinspire, among many others. We appreciate all the support!

Winter Festival- Long Beach

From business park to winter wonderland, we transformed our Long Beach office for families to enjoy wreath making, gingerbread house building, face painting and more! As families entered through a fantastic balloon arch, they were invited to enjoy the snacks and arts & crafts, then visit the elves who were ready to deliver gifts to all the children. Finally, families were sent home with goodies and a full grocery bag, thanks to our partnership with South LA Café. Thank you to all who participated!

Winter Festival- Watts and Otis Booth

On Saturday, December 9, 2023, we enjoyed a Winter Fest double-feature at our Watts and Otis Booth campuses. The Watts community enjoyed face-painting, arts and crafts, a bounce house, and more. Special guests: the LA Rams cheer team and mascot made an appearance as well! Santa even took some time out of his busy schedule to join the festivities.

The magic extended to Echo Park that day at our Otis Booth campus. Music and laughter filled the air as families enjoyed wreath making, gingerbread houses, and gifts for all the children. Between Watts, Echo Park, Compton, Wilmington, and Long Beach we hosted over 2K children & families at our Winter Festivals this year and we couldn’t be happier about it!

Project Fatherhood’s Operation Gingerbread

To conclude the 2023 holiday season, we held one more event at our Watts Campus hosted by Project Fatherhood. Fathers were invited to bring their little ones to decorate gingerbread houses together. We had treats for all, and even a riveting giveaway . A few lucky kids went home with a brand new bike, but all kids went home with full stockings and great memories with their dad. Thanks to all who participated and thank you to Goofy for making a pit stop before heading home to Max (his son)!

We were delighted to include a photo spot provided by Showtime Photo Booth, the go-to photo booth rental. Their unique touch added an enjoyable element to our Winter Festival.

Children’s Institute Changed My Life

Posted on December 13, 2023 at 8:24 pm.

Written by Pilar Padilla

GIVE TODAY

Thank you in advance for your tax-deductible donation!

Dear CII Family,

My name is Anjelica and I want to share my story about how Children’s Institute (CII) changed my life.

My daughter was born during the pandemic and her whole world was me, her dad, and her brother. My son was at home doing virtual learning and my daughter became really interested in his lessons. I knew I had to look for opportunities for her to get a head start. That’s how I found CII’s Home Visitation program.

Our home visitor, Ms. Janet, taught me so much about healthy child development. Not only did she help my daughter learn to write, draw, and communicate her feelings, but she also taught her self-regulation skills. During frustrating times at home, my little one reminded me to relax and breathe.

So, I thought to myself, “She’s getting help. What am I doing to help myself?”

I spoke to Ms. Janet, and she told me about counseling services at CII. Together, we learned how to break the cycle of difficult emotional issues I grew up with and this gave me the confidence to go back to school to complete my GED. CII and Ms. Janet were with me every step of the way, encouraging me to achieve my goals.

I hope to be an example for my children. I want my children to be brave, to see the struggles that I’ve been through and say, “Mom did it, so can I.” I hope that they never stop learning, never stop helping others, and know that I never stopped, for them.

Your support for CII ensures parents like me can find the support they need for their whole family.

Please consider giving generously this holiday season.

With Gratitude,

Anjelica Luna

Medi-Cal: Keep Yourself and Your Family Covered

Posted on December 11, 2023 at 3:29 pm.

Written by Hyesun Ahn

MEDI-CAL: 3 STEPS TO KEEP COVERAGE

To avoid a gap in your Medi-Cal coverage, please see important information below. Please share these details with your friends, family, and community.

ONE | Make sure your information is up to date.

Log into your Medi-Cal account and report any new changes to your name, address, phone number, and email address, so your county can contact you.

TWO | Check your email.

Counties will mail you a letter about your Medi-Cal eligibility. The letter will tell you if you need to complete a renewal form to see if you still qualify for Medi-Cal.

THREE | Complete your renewal form.

If you received a renewal form, submit your information by mail, phone, in person, or online to help avoid a gap in your coverage.

For more information on how to complete your Medi-Cal renewal form, please see links below:

5 Ways to Give this Holiday Season

Posted on December 5, 2023 at 1:43 pm.

Written by Pilar Padilla

We wish you JOY!

JOY Is an essential companion of justice.
Your advocacy and support provides thousands of children and families across Los Angeles the opportunity to find their strengths, build networks of support and celebrate their progress. Join us in creating a more just and joyful Los Angeles.

5 WAYS TO GIVE THIS HOLIDAY SEASON

ONE | Make a donation to CII and ensure 30,000 children and families have access to life-changing services this year.
childrensinstitute.org/donate

TWO | Help us feed bodies and minds by purchasing items from our holiday registries for families.
Target: tgt.gifts/CIIHolidays | Amazon: bit.ly/CIIWF

THREE | Host an end-of-year giving fundraiser on Facebook or Instagram.
facebook.com/fundraisers

FOUR | Volunteer at CII’s holiday events.
childrensinstitute.org/volunteers

FIVE | In lieu of receiving a holiday gift this year, ask your family and friends to support CII on your behalf.

“I spoke to my daughter’s teacher at CII about therapy, and she supported me every step of the way, including when I went back to school. I hope to be a positive example for my children, so that they never stop learning. It’s important for them to see that I never stopped, for them.”

Anjelica, CII Home Visitation Parent

Help Spread the Word on Social Media!

Download the graphics below and post them to your social media accounts.

2023 Trauma-Informed Care Conference

Posted on September 29, 2023 at 12:22 pm.

Written by Pilar Padilla

“Imagination is central to recovery. Without an inner imagination of an alternative future, there is no place to go.”

Bessel van der Kolk, MD
2023 Keynote Speaker

Thank you to all who attended CII’s 2023 Trauma-Informed Care Conference, in partnership with the UCLA Pritzker Center for Strengthening Children and Families! Your participation helps create awareness about the impact of trauma in the lives of children, families, and communities. We hope you’ll take the knowledge and insights from yesterday to inform and guide your practice and advocacy work.

Special thanks to this year’s speakers, including California Surgeon General, Diana Ramos, MD, UCLA Professor of Psychiatry, Eraka Bath, MD, and keynote speaker, renowned researcher, and New York Times best-selling author, Bessel van der Kolk, MD. Conversations touched on valuable topics including investment in youth mental health, the impact of Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), and imagining a path forward for Californians most impacted by toxic stress.

“I’ve witnessed firsthand the profound impact of safe, stable, and nurturing relationships on a child’s health,” said California Surgeon General Diana Ramos, MD. “California is making significant investments to providing more support for communities and families so that all children have an opportunity to lead healthy, thriving lives.”

“Childhood trauma is probably the largest single public health issue facing us as a nation.,” said keynote Bessel van der Kolk, MD, “Learning self-regulation through attuned interactions, play & awareness of self and others are at the core of any effective intervention in any system that deals with children & adolescents.”

Thank you to our conference moderators and panelists, including LAist Senior Reporter, Mariana Dale, the Lived Experience Panel, including moderator Jesús Parra, LMFT, and panelists Kahlila Williams, Clarissa Morales Hernandez, and Terry Hayward, in addition to all conference breakout session moderators: Ana Amador, LCSW, Evelyn Barycki, Jaicy Bautista Gonzalez, M.A., Jessica Cardenas, M.A., Charmaine Dorsey, MSW, LCSW, Dr. Jonathan Goldfinger, Rachel Gilgoff, MD, Monique Holguin LCSW PhD, Kelly Hwang, MA, LMFT, Stefani Marte, Kristin Miller, LCSW, Thresa Offord, MS, Ms. Chantel Palmer, Riley Solorzano, MAT, Demontea “Tae” Thompson, Nina Thompson, Marisela Villalobos-Jimenez, M.A., Tanya Marin-Lopez, Jamie Ruize, and Amy Shekarchi. You all contributed to making this conference a renewing and enlightening experience!

Resources from Conference Presenters

How Trauma-Informed is your practice?

Presenters: Monique Holguin, LCSW PhD, Ana Amador, LCSW, and Charmaine Dorsey, MSW, LCSW – UCAAN

Cells to Solutions: exploring multidisciplinary, physiology-based healing strategies for toxic stress as part of routine clinical care

Presenter: Rachel Gilgoff, MD – UCAAN

Be THE Change…Join Us for The Power of Conscious Discipline!

Presenter: Jessica Cardenas, Jaicy Bautista Gonzalez, and Thresa Offord

Redefining Care with CalAIM: Exploring the intersection of trauma-informed care and healthcare systems

Presenter: Jesus Parra and Jonathon Goldfinger, CII

Implementing Trauma-Informed Tools to Change School Culture and Climate

Presenter: Riley Solorzano, Stefani Marte, & Kelly Hwang, CII

Will SB307 Help Foster Youth Finish College?

Posted on August 11, 2023 at 4:33 pm.

Written by Michelle Vazquez

An exciting new opportunity for foster youth with postsecondary education aspirations was announced last month (July) with Senate Bill 307 being signed into the state budget. This new legislation expands financial aid for foster youth to not only support the cost of tuition, but the cost of living as well! Although this marks significant progress toward supporting foster youth with postsecondary education attainment, barriers such as lack of a supportive network continue to hinder this population in earning their college degree. Children’s Institute (CII) has worked diligently with Transition Aged Foster Youth (TAY) for many years to support them in identifying their postsecondary educational goals and take the necessary steps to make their dreams a reality.

To help paint the picture of what it’s like for this population, we connected with a recent graduate from our foster youth program, Beatrice, to discuss her experiences during her first year of college and the challenges she faced.

“I do not want to burden my foster mother to provide transportation. It can be a lot.” said Beatrice. Although the college she attends is only about a 30-minute drive, it takes more than an hour and a half and multiple connections for her to get to campus on public transport.

One of the most significant barriers for foster youth in college is the financial resources needed for housing, transportation, food, the cost of books, technology, and supplies. SB 307 addresses this barrier by providing the additional financial support needed to ensure foster youth are successful in meeting their postsecondary education goals.

On a more relational level, foster youth haven’t yet honed self-advocacy skills, nor do they have consistent, supportive adults in their lives to advocate on their behalf. There are a multitude of resources and services both on college campuses and in the community, but this information isn’t always readily apparent. Foster youth need to both know about the existence of those resources and have the confidence to access them. Beatrice shared that even when a resource is shared, on occasion, she didn’t know how to utilize it and needed more hands-on support to take full advantage of services and programs she was entitled to receive. CII provides current and former foster youth with mentors who support learning how to identify and access needed resources. These mentors are trusted adults that assist TAY in navigating the challenges of postsecondary education.

“I’m going into my 2^nd year of college, and I still feel like a freshman, because I’m not engaged,” said Beatrice, “There are some people from my old high school that I go with, and even though we are in the same campus now, I still don’t interact with them. I see them through social media, and they are in their dorm and hanging out with people. I feel like I should have ‘dormed,’ but at the same time, growing up, I have always been around family.” Building community and networking is a vital part of the college experience, but many foster youth face financial challenges surrounding reliable, stable, and safe housing in between college semesters when many dorms are closed.

CII has served almost 300 current and former foster youth in South Los Angeles County between July 2022 and June 2023 in meeting education, employment, and housing goals. CII mentors meet with youth individually and in group settings to provide targeted support around postsecondary education goal identification and attainment. Our mentors support students in researching the best education fit, whether that includes vocational programs, community colleges, or a four-year university. Mentors support with the application process and even the completion of the Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA).

We see these outcomes as a result:

83% of High School Seniors enrolled in CII’s TAY program earned their High School Diploma in 2022
87% of High School Seniors enrolled in the program applied to postsecondary education in June of 2022 and 2023 Compared to California
70% of foster youth earned their High School Diploma by age 19
56% of foster youth were enrolled in an educational program at age 19
58% of foster youth earned their High School Diploma by age 19
48% of foster youth were enrolled in an educational program at age 19

We asked Beatrice what advice she would give other foster youth starting their college journey. She encourages youth to take the opportunity to live in the dorms in order to develop meaningful relationships with peers. She also recommends making time for life on campus, such as clubs to decrease feelings of isolation and get the full college experience.

We need to continue to make efforts to identify barriers impacting foster youth earning their degrees and taking full advantage of the experience they worked so hard to attain, and ensure we create a collaborative effort to effectively overcome those barriers. California continues to progress toward equipping foster youth with the tools to succeed in college. Children’s Institute, and other community-based organizations support foster youth in accessing the resources and support to ensure foster youth have every opportunity to achieve their dreams.

CII’s Outreach Triage Teams featured in the LA Times

Posted on July 31, 2023 at 11:29 am.

Written by Michelle Vazquez

I’m delighted to share this piece from today’s Los Angeles Times that highlights the fine work of our Outreach Triage Teams (OTT/COTT), led by Dee Dee Hitchcock, LMFT and Kristin Miller, LCSW. The program provided de-escalation support, mental health services and resource coordination for children and adults in crisis but who did not meet criteria for psychiatric hospitalization.

OTT/COTT met the needs of so many for whom the usual crisis response system is inadequate and potentially harmful. Our staff met people on the streets or in their homes, with enough time and resources to form relationships that led to trust and openness to accept help. Sadly, though there were significant unspent funds, the county chose not to continue the program.

We learned important lessons from the 2½ -year experience, and will continue to fight for the rights and dignity of people who are suffering and, in many cases, have experienced chronic trauma. We envision broad access to an equitable behavioral health system, inclusive of trusted community-based organizations, that prioritizes preventive, comprehensive, culturally responsive, and accountable care for all individuals.

Let’s celebrate the recognition for the work of CII’s staff and others on the front lines.