SHIELDS Believes in Family

Congresswoman Karen Bass honors an Angel in Adoption from SHIELDS

Proud to honor Gerri Lavonda, a grandparent and kinship care provider, with the 37th Congressional District's Angel in Adoption award this year. Each year, the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute's Angels in Adoption program provides an opportunity for all Members of Congress to honor constituents who demonstrate a deep commitment to foster youth and families in the United States and abroad.

Gerri became even more active in our community when she participated in and assisted with the Adoption Promotion and Support Services Program at SHIELDS for Families. After years of working tirelessly to ensure that she provided the best environment for her grandchildren, she is now going back to school for a degree in child development. She is very deserving of this year's Angel in Adoption Award. Congratulations, Gerri!

A Word From Gerri Lavonda

"It was a privilege to be nominated and awarded as an Angel In Adoption. It was an amazing opportunity to visit Washington D.C. and I cannot put into the words the things I experienced. Congresswoman Karen Bass took me under her wing to present to the floor the problems of my past along with the joys experienced alongside the SHIELDS team - especially my case manager Ana Velasco. 

 I only wish that each person would have the opportunity to visit our government in Washington D.C. to see the hard work that is done on behalf of citizens. I am forever thankful for my SHIELDS family who has been my support when I needed them the most." 

SHIELDS for Families serves 10,000 children and families annually!

This Holiday Season, help angels like Gerri…

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www.shieldsforfamilies.org

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11601 S. Western Avenue

Los Angeles CA 90047
# (323) 242 – 5000 x1209

PARTNER
Interested in “adopting” a program, hosting a toy drive, or other ways to donate?
Contact Stephanie Moss at smoss@shieldsforfamilies.org or #(323) 242 – 5000 ext.1209

SHIELDS for Families, Inc. is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. Therefore, donations are tax-deductible according to local tax laws.

 

SHIELDS Believes in Justice

SHIELDS partners with Public Counsel to provide critical legal services for our clients and children!

SHIELDS for Families works closely with Public Counsel, the largest non-profit law firm in the country, to provide legal services to undocumented victims of crime.  Gina Amato Lough, Senior Staff Attorney in Public Counsel's Immigrants' Rights Project provides legal services on Mondays, on-site at the SHIELDS ASK Resource Center.  Ms. Amato assists undocumented individuals who have been victims of serious crimes, including domestic violence and sexual abuse, in obtaining U Visas.  The U Visa allows an individual to remain in the U.S. in lawful status, obtain a job and driver's license, and work toward legal, permanent residency. 

Recently, Ms. Amato filed a U Visa application for a man who was shot at a party in 1976 by an unknown assailant.  The random shooting resulted in the death of his cousin and left him a paraplegic.  For nearly forty years, the shooting victim has struggled to access the necessary medical and social services due to his lack of lawful status in the U.S.  It was not until he accessed the legal services at SHIELDS that he realized that he qualifies for a U Visa, which will provide him with lawful status and access to public benefits.  This case will be the oldest that the immigration service has adjudicated to date.   
 

SHIELDS for Families serves 10,000 children and families annually!

Help families like those that Ms. Amato serves…

GIVE ONLINE

www.shieldsforfamilies.org

DROP OFF
New toys, gift cards, and financial contributions
11601 S. Western Avenue

Los Angeles CA 90047
# (323) 242 – 5000 x1209

PARTNER
Interested in “adopting” a program, hosting a toy drive, or other ways to donate?
Contact Stephanie Moss at smoss@shieldsforfamilies.org or #(323) 242 – 5000 ext.1209

SHIELDS for Families, Inc. is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. Therefore, donations are tax-deductible according to local tax laws.

 

SHIELDS Believes In Self-Sufficiency

Did you know? Working helps further recovery more than any other single thing – more than therapy, case management or medication alone…

I am Martha, a 33 year old single mother of two wonderful children, Jesse (13yo) and Abigail (8yo) who are my inspiration for a better life and future for our family.

Earlier in 2013, I graduated with an AA degree in Culinary Arts and secured a job. Unfortunately, I lost my job and we became homeless. Our family experienced difficult times and got entangled in the web of systems impacting our ability to move forward.

That is when I came to SHIELDS for Families. I enrolled in their Homeless CalWORKs Families Project (HCFP), and participated in the Individual Placement and Support (IPS) component. SHIELDS, HCFP and IPS provided me with the support I needed for my family to become self-sufficient again. We moved into a shelter for a year, received therapy, case management, and employment services such as educational training, resume workshops, interviewing skills, job training and linkage. All the services and support paid off…

My job developer helped me secure a few short-term employment opportunities while I participated in IPS services. Recently, I applied for a position with the Los Angeles County Department of Public and Social Services (DPSS) and my application was accepted! I am so excited to have secured a long-term, stable career to provide for my family.

I cannot imagine where my children and I would be today, or what could have happened to us, without the support of SHIELDS, HCFP, and the IPS component. Thank you to all those who believed in me from the beginning and provided me with support through all the difficult times until the end; Jeremy Argo, Shelia Nelson, Joyce stone, Ana Gamez, Martha Ascencio, Torrie Wallace, and Angelica Sanchez-Enriquez.

Thanks to your assistance and encouragement, I can be proud of the example I set to my children by navigating various systems to advocate for our futures and I am confident that I can overcome any challenge facing my family. I will never give up and will always keep love, faith, and God as the important things in my daily life.

SHIELDS for Families serves 10,000 children and families annually!

Help families like Martha’s this holiday season…

GIVE ONLINE

www.shieldsforfamilies.org

DROP OFF
New toys, gift cards, and financial contributions
11601 S. Western Avenue

Los Angeles CA 90047
# (323) 242 – 5000 x1209

PARTNER
Interested in “adopting” a program, hosting a toy drive, or other ways to donate?
Contact Stephanie Moss at smoss@shieldsforfamilies.org or #(323) 242 – 5000 ext.1209

SHIELDS for Families, Inc. is a 501c3 Non-Profit Organization. Therefore, donations are tax-deductible according to local tax laws.