CFGC Winter 2014 Newsletter

DONATE TODAY NEWSLETTER WINTER 2014 VOLUME4: ISSUE3

WHAT’S INSIDE Wellness Center Breaks Ground..................................................... 2 Child Psychiatric Evaluation Preparation....................................... 3 Bug Improves Parent-Child Relationships................................3 - 4 CFGC Reunites Families.............................................................4 -5

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Donor Spotlight............................................................................ 5 Donor List.................................................................................6 - 7 MENTAL HEALTH FACT

We envision children and families flourishing in vibrant communities.

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Adults living with serious mental illness die on average 25 years earlier than other Americans

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CREDITS Brandon Smith Editor Michele Johnsen Copywriter Arlet Avanossian Graphic Designer

CONTRIBUTORS Alpa Patel, MD Director of Psychiatric Services Ana Ramirez PCIT Coordinator and Trainer Christina Solanet, LMFT CFC Division Manager

EXECUTIVE STAFF Roy Marshall, M.P.A. President/CEO Jeff Adler, Ph.D. Director of Operations Duc Tu Director of Finance Kathleen Welch-Torres, Ph.D. Director of Programs

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Newsletter | Winter 2014

GROUNDBREAKING NORTH HILLS WELLNESS CENTER IS COMING TO MONROE HIGH SCHOOL

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he union of mental and physical healthcare is here, and CFGC is already working to bring behavioral health programs and primary care services to children and families who are in need in our community. Our new North Hills Wellness Center broke ground January 22, 2014 on Monroe High School’s campus in a ceremony that highlighted the significance of pairing mental and physical healthcare.

More than 10,000 children, youth and families will now have access to coordinated healthcare that includes crisis intervention, substance abuse treatment, dental care, optometry and a teen clinic – just to name a few of the more than 50 health services that will be provided.

CFGC is excited to offer these services in partnership with Valley Community Clinic and Monroe High School.

“CFGC has always taken a leading role in advocating for and introducing innovative programs based on community need,” said Roy Marshall, President/CEO. “We seek reciprocal relationships when implementing new approaches and are committed to providing evidence-based practices that achieve measurable outcomes.”

HOW TO PREPARE YOUR CHILD FOR A PSYCHIATRIC EVALUATION

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hen parents take a little time to prepare before bringing their children in for an evaluation by a psychiatrist, they are giving their kids the best possible opportunity to benefit from the consultation. A psychiatrist is a trained medical doctor with the skills and expertise to determine the best therapies, services and/or medications for children with mental health concerns.

Here are some simple tips to help parents make the most of their time with a psychiatrist: 1. Make sure to bring previous records of your child’s testing

and evaluations.

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2. Have a pediatrician complete a full physical exam and

let the psychiatrist know if your child has any medical conditions.

3. Bring school report cards so that the psychiatrist can

evaluate your child’s academic progress.

4. It’s easy to forget to ask questions while you are in the

psychiatrist’s office, so come with your questions and/or concerns written down.

For more information about CFGC’s psychiatric services, please call 818.739.5250 | 661.265.8627 or visit our web site at childguidance.org.

PCIT – A LITTLE “BUG” IMPROVES PARENT-CHILD RELATIONSHIPS

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arenting can be challenging. Imagine if parents could have a little “bug” in their ear where they receive advice from a children’s mental health professional while they are interacting with their children. It’s possible at CFGC in our Parent-Child Interaction Therapy (PCIT) program.

PCIT is a mode of therapy for parents of young children with behavioral problems such as aggression, defiance and temper tantrums. It is a unique type of treatment that successfully develops positive and healthy parent-child relationships while teaching parents effective parenting and behavior management skills.

CFGC’s 2013 Annual Holiday Toy and Food Drive We are thankful to all the organizations, individuals and community groups who made a donation or helped to organize and collect toys for CFGC. Your time and energy made a difference in so many people’s lives.

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CONT. PCIT – “BUG” IMPROVES RELATIONSHIPS When parents bring their young children to CFGC to participate in PCIT they make a commitment to play and interact with their child. During each visit a therapist “coaches” the parent via a communication “bug” that is placed in the ear of the parent. PCIT therapists focus on providing parents with information about how to manage their children’s behaviors while offering “in-the-moment” coaching via the “bug in the ear.” Therapists also guide parents through various behavioral scenarios. PCIT increases positive and nurturing parent-child interactions in the home, as well as with peers. Professionals teach parents the importance of setting structure and using effective strategies to guide, support and discipline their children.

CFGC has six PCIT expert therapists on staff and has offered the program for more than a decade. PCIT’s results speak for themselves. Participating parents report long lasting improvements in their children’s mental health and behavior.

Ana Ramirez PCIT Coordinator and Trainer

CFGC’S PARENTING CLASSES HELP REUNITE FAMILIES

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ll children should grow up in happy, healthy families where they are safe and loved. But, in the U.S., state authorities receive more than three million reports a year of suspected child abuse or neglect. Many of these young people must be removed from their family homes for their own protection – yet another painful experience for an already traumatized child. When the Department of Child and Family Services (DCFS) removes a child from his or her home, the court mandates that, among other requirements, the parents must complete a series of parenting classes to ensure that they learn skills to care for their children and provide a safe and healthy environment.

Many parenting classes are available in the community for English speaking parents. But, CFGC is the only agency that offers these vital classes in Spanish and free of cost.

CFGC’s parenting classes are there to help reunite troubled families.

They are offered at the agency’s Community Family Center on Thursday evenings from 5:30pm to 7:00pm. Participating parents learn positive parenting alternatives such as: How to reinforce children’s positive behavior Relationship and trust building Ways to cope with anger And positive discipline techniques 4

Newsletter | Winter 2014

CONTINUE >>

CONT. CFGC REUNITES FAMILIES The group also functions as a support group for parents who are coping with reuniting their families after trauma. Often, when parents complete their court mandated parenting classes, they continue to attend after their children return to their homes, simply because they can see the benefits, and they want their children to thrive.

CFGC’s parenting classes are not only for parents whose children have been removed from their homes. They are open to anyone in the community who wishes to learn skills to become the best parent they can be. Please donate today and help us keep families together.

Cristina Solanet CFC Division Manager

DONOR SPOTLIGHT: JOAN DONALSON’S ENDURING COMMITMENT TO CFGC

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n 1981, Joan Donalson came to CFGC as a volunteer because she wanted to make a difference for children. She was there at the inception of the agency’s first program designed to treat children who had experienced sexual abuse in their homes. When she told her friends and family of her volunteer work, many of them couldn’t imagine enduring the children’s heart breaking stories of betrayal. “How can you do this work?” they asked her. Joan’s answer: “How can I not! I get to see kids get well!”

For Joan, working with children at CFGC became a passion. She loved collaborating with the agency’s staff, who she describes as “top-notch professionals who truly care about children.” As Joan learned more about childhood sexual abuse through her volunteerism at CFGC, she saw the importance of educating the community about this all too common type of abuse. She took what she learned from CFGC’s professional staff and designed an educational presentation about the signs, symptoms and treatment options for childhood sexual abuse. The presentation was given at churches and at other community group meetings.

Today, Joan continues to help children through her ongoing donations to CFGC. She has made financial contributions to the agency for more than a decade, and also provides gifts of toys and clothing for children at CFCG through the annual holiday toy drive. Joan has also made CFGC a recipient of part of her trust. CFGC is very grateful to Joan for providing a refuge for traumatized children in their time of need. Joan, you are a true hero for young people in our community.

BOARD OFFICERS 2013-2014 Eric M. Book, Chair Morgan Stanley Smith Barney Melissa Broadwell, Vice Chair Matadors Community Credit Union Joyce L. Barkin, Treasurer Barkin, Perren, Schwager & Dolan, LLP Deborah M. Neal, Ed. D., Secretary Community Advocate Shekhar Chikhalikar, ESQ SNC Law Office Linda Drescher Travelers Services of Southern California Ramon Escobedo, Jr. Gault Street School Robert Garcia, Jr., ESQ Law Offices of Jeffrey C. McIntyre Nancy Lee Grahn ABC Television Janice Kyser Community Advocate Myles M. Mattenson, ESQ Karineh Moradian Kaiser Permanente Sari Scheer Community Advocate Ken Teasdale LaRue, Corrigan, McCormick & Teasdale LLP Bonnie Weissman Kaiser Permanente Bill Winkelmann Anheuser-Busch Inc.

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WE GRATEFULLY ACKNOWLEDGE AND APPRECIATE OUR GENEROUS DONORS January 01, 2013 - December 31 , 2013 DONORS Mr & Mrs Herbert Abrams Dr Donald Adler Dr & Mrs Jeffrey Adler Ms Beth Adolph All Action Security Consulting Group Mr Ronald E Altman Mr Hiran Amerasinghe Amgen Foundation Mr Bauback Amini Mr George F Anisman Anonymous Mr & Mrs Eddard Aparcio-Romero Mr & Mrs Wayne Arak Mr & Mrs Thomas Asmar Ms Jodi Baer-Pynes Mr & Mrs Alex Baghdassarian Mr & Mrs Mark Balkin Ms Joyce Barkin Barkin, Perrin, Schwager & Dolan Ms Barbara Jean Baum Mr & Mrs Morris Bekas Mrs Lucille Berkowitz Mr & Mrs Leonard Bernstein Mrs Johanna Bhatia Mr Derrick Blakley Mrs Roberta Bliss Ms Beth R Bloom Ms Terri Bloomgarden Mrs Janice Blumenthal Ms Aviva Bobb Mrs Rosanna Bogart Mr & Mrs Eric M Book Ms Saundra Borie Mrs Eileen Borow Ms Tracie Bowdoin Ms Deborah Bowe Ms Geraldine Boyles Mr Peter Breslin Mr & Mrs Michael P Bridge Mr & Mrs Bill Broadwell Mr & Mrs Jeffrey Broadwell Mr & Mrs Rob Broadwell Mr & Mrs Mal Brook Dr & Mrs Jonathan Brown Ms Shirley Brown Mr & Mrs James Brueggemann Mr & Mrs Leonard C Bunyan Mr & Mrs Richard Burns Ms Jodi Bynder Ms Antonia Hernandez Ms Gwen Campbell Dr & Mrs Stanton R Canter Dr & Mrs Robert Caraway Ms Jennifer Carmona Ms Melody Carnes Mr & Mrs Louis Casas Ms Alexis Casillas Mr & Mrs Emelio Castaneda

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Newsletter | Winter 2014

Mr & Mrs Abelardo Cervantes Mr & Mrs Daniel Chernin Ms Rachelle Cohen Mr & Mrs Ronald Cohen Ms Patricia Colby Ms Wendy Collie Ms Alida Comtois Dr Craig F Conlon & Marcia Glick Mr Ernest Contreras Mr Rick Pearson Mrs Evelyn Cronan Ms Christine A Culler Ms Darla K Cunningham Mr & Mrs Frank Damon Dr Mark DeAntonio Mrs Barbara Dickson Mr Michael Diehl Mr Erwin Diller & Molly Forrest Mrs Claire Doctrow Mr & Mrs Dale Donalson Mrs Barbara Dorfman Ms Arlene Dorn Mrs Linda Drescher Mr Armen Dumas Mr Dunn & Associates Ms Sylvia Duran Mrs Marilyn T Durbin Mr & Mrs Bruce Elkins Ms Rochelle Elkins Mr & Mrs Richard Elman The Honorable Mitchell Englander Mr & Mrs Ivan Faggen Ms Kathy Fergen Dr Maurice Fields Ms Rachel Rae Finegood Ms Constance Firring Mrs Evaline Fishman Ms Kelly Foster Mr & Mrs Raymond Freed Ms Linda Friedman Mr & Mrs James Galbraith Dr & Mrs Bruce Gale Mr Joseph Gambrell Mr & Mrs Dana Karlin Ms Mary Beth Garber Mr & Mrs Robert Garcia Ms Lisa Garey Mr David German Ms Linda Gilbert Ms Valerie Gilpeer Debra Gold & Dr Peter Spitzer Mrs Coralie R Goldsmith Mrs Evelyn Goldstein Mrs Bella Goldstine Mr & Mrs Rolf Gompertz David Gordon & Donna Schwarzbach Mr Larry Gottlieb Mr & Mrs Mark S Gottlieb Ms Laura Graff Ms Nancy Lee Grahn

Granada Hills Woman’s Club Mr & Mrs Lawrence Green Mr Ben Greenberg Mrs Marilyn Greenberg Mr Steven Greenwald Mr Earl Greinetz Mrs Kathy Gribin Ms Gaynor Grubbs Ms Irene Gutwirth Mrs Shirley Haiman Ms Carol Halperin Ms Katie Hamari Hamer Toyota Mrs Amy Hanrahan Mr Colin Hay & Cecelia Noel Mr Alvin J Hayes Mrs Phyllis Hayes Mrs Joan Haywood Health Net of California, Inc. Mr & Mrs Ron Hein Ms Doreen Hill Mrs Marion Hillman Conrad N. Hilton Foundation Ms Hope Lash Ms Arlene Hirschler Mr & Mrs Burt Homonoff Hooper, Lundy & Bookman Mr Harry Horowitz Mrs Eunice Horwitz Ms Marilyn Howard Dr Stephen J Howard Hub International Dr & Mrs Richard Hunnewell Ms Sheila Irani Mr & Mrs David Jackson Ms Jennifer Johanson Mr & Mrs John Johnsen Ms Ebony Jones Dr & Mrs Lester Kahn Kaiser Permanente Ms Diana Kalanz Mr & Mrs Jerome Kaleko Mrs Lilli Kalmenson & Sid Rosenbloom Mr & Mrs Solomon Kamm Mr & Mrs Hal Kassner Mr & Mrs Robert F Katz Ms Evelyn Kazick Mr Eddie Keller Kenn Cleaners Ms Jan Kepes Ms Roberta Kessler Mr Kaye R Kiddoo Kids Charities of the Antelope Valley Mr Lester Kiss & Mr Nicholas Collier Mr & Mrs Jim Klescz Dr Paul Klinger Mrs Barbara Kostin Mr Scott London Mrs Barbara Kramer Ms Donna Kramer

M DONORS CONTINUED...

Ms Bette A Krushell Mr & Mrs David Kung Mrs Geraldine Kurnick Mrs Janice Kyser Ms Estelyn La Hive Mr & Mrs Randy Lapin Mrs Barbara Larsen LaRue, Corrigan, McCormick & Teasdale Ms Hope Lash Dr & Mrs Joseph Lassman Mr & Mrs Don Lautenschlager Mrs Elaine Lax Mr & Mrs Victor LeBreton Mrs Cecily Lerner Ms Elaine Levin Mr & Mrs Michael Levine Ms Michele Licht Mr & Mrs Clifford Lindeman Ms Nancy Linn Mr Steven Lipton Mr Martin Lipton & Robbin Mashbein Ms Beverly Little-Lofton Mrs Marion Litzer Mrs Judy Livingston Mrs Martha Livingston Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Employees’ Reaching Out Club Mrs Sandra Locks Ms Evelyn Lowe Mrs Etiennette Lowen Mrs Tamra Lutzker Ms Marguerite Lyon Ms Norma Magee Ms Annie Mardonian Mrs Rhea Markenson Matadors Community Credit Union Mr Roy Marshall & Eileen Lopez Ms Loraine S Mason Mr Myles M Mattenson Ms Kelly Matthews Mr & Mrs WilliamMayman Mr & Mrs William McAuley Jean McCalla Ms Patricia McCaughan Mr James McCracken Ms Nicole McKeown Ms Karen McTier & Hugh Colvin Mrs Dina Mead Melaleuca The Wellness Company Mr Huey Merchant Mrs Linda Milder Mr & Mrs Corrado Militi Mr Allan Miller Mr & Mrs Steve Miller Mr & Mrs Zelber Minnix Mr Ken Mintz Ms Darien Morea Mrs Harriet Moretzsky

ISSION: CFGC empowers children and families to achieve health and wellbeing through innovative mental health services and community programs.

Mrs Carolyn Morris Mrs Sylvia Morstein Mr George E Moss Ms Kathleen Motoike Ms Sena Naslund Ms Leslie Joan Nathan Mr and Mrs Delmont Neal Ms Amy Newman Ms Susan Ng Mr Richard Conner Mrs Caroline Novack Ms Karen O’Riley Drs David & Laura Pair Panda Restaurant Group, Inc. Dagmar Abarghoei & Lorraine New Mr & Mrs Mark Pash Dr Alpa Patel Mrs Ellen Pearlman Ms Jeanette Peevy Ms France Pelis Rio Phior & Tony Fisch Phoenix Trading Joy and Gerald Picus Mr Eli Pinder Mr & Mrs Ronald Pinkerton Mrs Nadine Polak Steven Poretzky & Patty Woo Ms Maureen Powers Ms Becky Proctor Mr & Mrs Jim Ramo Ms Carolyn Raskin Ms Dorri Z Raskin Revolution Foods Mr & Mrs Howard Richman Ms Karen Riesenfeld Ms Sharon Robinson Mrs Deborah Rodriguez Mrs Adrienne Rosen Ms Lea Rosendahl Mr & Mrs Daniel Rothblatt Mrs Madlyn Rothfield Ms Judith Rothman Mr & Mrs Herbert Rubinstein Sagon Phior Ms Stephanie Ann Saliger Mr Bruce Saltzer Mr & Mrs Jorge A Sandoval Ms Elaine Scheer Mr & Mrs Joseph M Scheer Ms Sari Scheer & Eric Frank Mr & Mrs Robert W Scheibel Scherzer International Mr & Mrs Paul Schneider Ms Sally Schneider Ms Elaine Schreiber Schrillo Family Foundation Ms Brenda Schwartz Dr & Mrs Louis Schwarzbach Mrs Margarita Schweisberger Dr & Mrs Martin Shaperman

Mr & Mrs Gerald Shapiro Sherman Oaks Women’s Club Ms Carol Siembieda Mrs Sandra Sigman Mr & Mrs Charles Silverberg Mr Laurence Simon Mrs Joan Sitnick Mrs Bodil Sivertsen Ms Carol Sookman Mr & Mrs Charles Soter Peter Spitzer & Deborah Gold Mr Robert Stadd Mr & Mrs Steven Steele Mr & Mrs Robert Stein Mr & Mrs Keith Steinbaum Ms Shirely Stern Mrs Sandra Stuart Mrs Barbara Swedelson Ms Renee Symans Ms Susan Talesnick Ms Susan Tam Mr & Mrs Michael Tandy Target Mr & Mrs Rodney Taylor Mr & Mrs Kenneth Teasdale Ms Sandy Tilsen Ms Maxine F Tobey Mr & Mrs Steven R Tomingas Mr & Mrs Duc Tu Selma & Manuel Udko Foundation United Way Ms Cherene Unrau Mr David Vanaman Ms Valerie Vanaman Ms Donna Venezio Ms Julia Voce Ms Carla Waddles Ms Kathaleen Warren Ms Jennifer Warshaw Ms Colleen Weigle Mr & Mrs Donald Weissman Mr & Mrs Herbert Weissman Dr Kathy Welch-Torres & Edward Torres Ms Bobbie Westil Mr & Mrs Alan Whitman Mrs Simona Wildman Mrs Delia Wilkerson Mrs Elizabeth Wilson Mr Charles Winkleman Mr & Mrs Stephen Winston Mrs Francis Wolf Mr & Mrs Louis Wolff Mr Ryan Wunderlich Mr Keith Yamamoto Ms Patrice Yang Dr Maurice Zagha Mr & Mrs Alan Zeitlin Mr & Mrs Fred Zeleznick Mr Robert Zusman

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