African American Family Studies Program Information Session

Based on the principle of Ujima, this one-of-a-kind African American Family Studies Program utilizes the strengths of the African American family-centered culture as its basis for a collective learning experience and pedagogical model for culturally relevant curriculum. The program seeks to recruit, educate and develop mental health professionals who will possess cultural sensitivity and a clear, in-depth understanding of the specific mental health needs of the African American community. PLEASE RSVP AT Online: PacificOaks.edu (Under Events) Phone: (800) 684 0900

PROGRAM FEATURES One-of-a-kind Master's Degree Program 62-units, including California Board of Behavioral Sciences (BBS) MFT Trainee requirements Culture-centered Ujima Cohort Model Classes Friday, Saturday & Sunday, (approx. 6 weekends per semester) Full accredited by WASC and CA BBS Courses Include: African American History and Culture; Evidence Based Practice; Substance Use, Co-Occurring Disorders and Addictions; Clinical Skills in Family Therapy; Advocacy in the African American Community; African American Families, Historical Trauma & Recovery; Theories of Marital and Family Therapy; Psychopathology of the Adult.

13th Annual Healthy Start Baby Shower Celebration

“Precious and Priceless”

SHIELDS for Families Healthy Start Program
Healthy Start provides services to the communities most at-risk in order to lower high rates of infant mortality and low birth weight while improving the health of pregnant and parenting women with children 0-2 years of age.

SHIELDS for Families was granted a Healthy Start Program in 1998 and is now one of 105 programs in the nation. SHIELDS Healthy Start program is unique due to the fact we are the “only”

Healthy Start program that specifically serves substance abusing pregnant and parenting women.

SHIELDS Healthy Start has also made significant strides in decreasing disparities in the health of mothers and infant that have experiences racial and ethnic challenges faced in urban communities.

Healthy Start core services include:

• Outreach and Recruitment
• Comprehensive Case Management
• Depression Screening
• Health Education
• Child Development Services
• Community Consortium

SHIELDS Healthy Start Program also provides an on-site early intervention substance abuse treatment program and child development center.

The Baby Shower is an annual SHIELDS Healthy Start event to honor and celebrate the Healthy Start clients that have remained compliant during the last program year. Working with their Case Manager all clients strive to attend their prenatal and post-partum appointments, regular well-women health appointments, ensure their children receive their immunization schedule (on time), complete their family service plan, attend all mental health appointments, participate in the Edinburgh Depression Scale, participate in administering the Denver II and Ages & Stages developmental screenings, in addition to many other services.

This year 40 clients were “showered” with gifts, individual trophies & plaques, gift baskets, and a special “SHIELDS for Families” Baby Bag filled with goodies.

A wonderful meal was enjoyed by all with fun-filled games and certificates awarded as part of the festivities. 

Kudos to the entire Healthy Start Staff! Thank you for your ongoing commitment and dedication for our families!

Jordan Downs Update: SHIELDS Helps Families

We want to thank you for your support and to bring you good news regarding new HACLA leadership as well as progress on Jordan Downs Redevelopment.


Master Developer Selected

 

Reaching a major milestone in Jordan Downs Redevelopment, the Housing Authority of the City of Los Angeles (HACLA) has entered into a Master Developer Agreement with The Michaels Organization and BRIDGE Housing Corporation.  Both entities are industry leaders.  The Michaels Organization has worked with 20 public housing authorities on large-scale transformations of distressed public housing into modern, sustainable, mixed-income communities affordable to families.  BRIDGE Housing Corporation is a premier nonprofit developer of affordable housing, creates and manages a range of high-quality, affordable homes for working families and seniors.

This is a significant accomplishment.  For several years, HACLA has engaged residents and stakeholders in developing the plans for transforming Jordan Downs.  This nationally recognized team, with a proven track record of successful public housing redevelopment and affordable housing development, will implement the plan.

For more information, please visit http://www.hacla.org/attachments/wysiwyg/10/MDA.pdf .

On the Road to Economic Self-Sufficiency: SHIELDS for Families at Jordan Downs 

The cornerstone of our investment in Jordan Downs residents, SHIELDS for Families (SHIELDS) was selected to provide a one-stop shop for services to help residents become more economically self-sufficient.  With a consortium of agencies, SHIELDS works with Jordan Downs residents to increase family self-sufficiency and to improve academic achievement.  Specifically this consists of: (1) comprehensive family needs assessments, (2) development of family action plans and (3) coordination of services and tracking of progress.  Incorporated in 1991, SHIELDS For Families is a non-profit agency dedicated to developing, delivering and evaluating culturally sensitive comprehensive services models.

New HACLA President & CEO
After a national search, the HACLA Board of Commissioners selected Doug Guthrie to serve as HACLA’s President & CEO.  Doug had been serving as Interim President and CEO of HACLA since December 2011.  He joined the City as the General Manager of the Los Angeles Housing Department in December 2009.  In that capacity, he managed the City’s primary affordable housing development programs.  Just prior, he was the President of Kimball Hill Urban Centers, a developer of large scale mixed use and mixed income housing developments in Chicago.  Doug also held various positions in the City of Chicago, including Chief Operating Officer of the Chicago Housing Authority and Deputy Housing Commissioner.

For more information, please visit http://www.hacla.org/attachments/wysiwyg/10/HACLA_CEO.pdf

For more information about any of the above, contact john.king@hacla.org/213-252-5464 or Susan Kim at susan.kim@hacla.org/213-252-1873.

And remember, WATTS IS WORTH IT!!!

 

Please visit KPI's website at www.kidsprogressinc.org

 

Kids Progress, Inc. ensures that high-risk children, youth and families living within the city’s public housing developments receive the full social, health, safety, educational and work opportunities to which they are entitled. The goal is to give children and youth the tools to develop stable and productive lifestyles and to offer them a chance at a positive and rewarding future.       

 

SHIELDS Kathryn Icenhower Starts LA Galaxy Game

On Saturday June 23, LA Galaxy teamed up with First 5 California to sponsor ‘Healthy Kids Night Out”, a celebration to help curb childhood obesity by sharing ways to get kids eating healthy and staying active. In addition to distributing “Healthy Kids Night Out” souvenirs a “Hands-On Health Express” bilingual children’s exhibit that inspired families to eat right and stay physically active was available for all families on the main concourse in Soccerfest.

The LA Galaxy played the Vancouver Whitecaps FC and SHIELDS Chief Executive Office, Kathryn Icenhower was on hand to represent First 5 California and to flip the coin to determine which team would kick off the beginning of the game. There were over 21,000 fans in attendance and First 5 California was able to share helpful tips and information about living healthy lifestyles with them all.

Kathy’s grandson Dillion was also in attendance to help show the audience one of the fun ways to keep kids active in a game of musical chairs.

We salute the LA Galaxy and First 5 California for their efforts in keeping families healthy, safe, and strong.