For more than 100 years, Children’s Institute (CII) has supported children and families in healing from traumatic experiences. Every year, CII impacts the lives of 30,000 children and families across Los Angeles, where decades of underinvestment and racist policies have resulted in poverty and lack of opportunity — from Echo Park to Watts to Long Beach. Our two-generation model includes high-quality early education and youth programs, counseling services, parenting supports and advocacy for community investment where it is needed most. But there is more work to be done so that all children have equitable access to opportunities, families have pathways to prosperity, and communities are healthy and safe.

This May, let’s work together to challenge the stigma around mental health, break generational cycles of trauma, and ensure that kids and families in Los Angeles have equitable access to high-quality, culturally competent mental health care.

Download graphics below to share on your social media channels.

You can mix and match or share them all. Copy and paste the template captions or write your own. Whatever you decide, thank you for playing your part in destigmatizing mental health care!

Tag us on Twitter: @ChildrensInstLA, Instagram: @childrensinstitutela, or Facebook: @ChildrensInstituteLA.

MENTAL HEALTH MONTH AWARENESS

Template Captions:

• Did you know that May is #MentalHealthMonth? Join me in spreading the word so that we can challenge stigmas surrounding mental health, because no one should have to struggle alone. Together, we can promote healing and prioritize wellness. childrensinstitute.org
• May is #MentalHealthMonth! Let’s work together to challenge stigmas around mental health and break the cycle of generational trauma. Learn more: childrensinstitute.org

 

Calls to action: GETTING HELP & GIVING SUPPORT

Template Captions:

• May is #MentalHealthMonth, and I support equitable access to mental health care for children and families in our Los Angeles community. Learn how you can help: childrensinstitute.org/donate
• May is #MentalHealthMonth and no one should struggle alone. Together, we can break the cycle of generational trauma within our communities. If you need support, get in touch at childrensinstitute.org/contact
• Did you know pediatric orgs declared a national emergency in youth mental health due to the pandemic & ongoing structural injustices? May is #MentalHealthMonth & I support equitable access to mental health care for kids in our Los Angeles community. childrensinstitute.org

 

INFORMATION ABOUT TRAUMA

Template Captions:

• May is #MentalHealthMonth and no one should have to struggle alone. Take some time to check in with yourself and recognize the different ways stress and trauma can affect our minds and bodies. When you’re ready, reach out for help: childrensinstitute.org/contact
• May is #MentalHealthMonth and its important to recognize the many causes of trauma, including violence, discrimination and poverty. Together, we can make a difference: childrensinstitute.org/donate

 

TIPS ON HOW TO DEAL WITH SYMPTOMS OF TRAUMA

Template Captions:

• May is #MentalHealthMonth and no one should have to struggle alone. Check out these tips on how to deal with symptoms of trauma. If you’re looking for support, reach out: childrensinstitute.org/contact

 

SIGNS YOU MIGHT NOT BE OKAY (AND IT’S OKAY TO NOT BE OKAY!)

Template Captions:

• May is #MentalHealthMonth, take some time to check in with yourself and recognize the different ways stress and trauma can affect our minds and bodies. When you’re ready, reach out for help: childrensinstitute.org/contact

Dear CII Family,

Today is International Women’s Day, an opportunity to celebrate the social, economic, cultural, and political contributions women make to society. It’s also a call to action for people around to world to advocate for women’s equality. This year’s theme is #BreaktheBias, imagining a world free of bias, stereotypes and discrimination against women.

What a great theme for CII, which was created in 1906, before women had the right to vote. Our founder, Minnie Barton, wanted to provide shelter to women who had been disparaged by a society that looked down on single mothers, divorcees, sex workers, and the formerly incarcerated. Minnie’s work was funded by women’s groups who knew that it was up to them to care for those deemed unworthy of societal support.

CII’s support groups, whose members are all women, continue to play a very powerful role. These three loyal and longstanding groups—the Colleagues, Les Amies and The C.H.I.P.S –consist of 250 members who raise very significant funds and volunteer on behalf of our children. In addition, women make up 52 percent of CII’s Board of Trustees, with two-thirds being women of color. Women also represent 88 percent of our staff, 92 percent of whom are women of color.

In 2022, it is undeniable that bias and discrimination continue to play a role in the limited opportunities available to women and minority groups. According to McKinsey, “Women make up 39 percent of global employment but account for 54 percent of overall job losses [due to the pandemic].” Immigrant women in the US were particularly hard hit during the pandemic, according to USC’s State of Immigrants in Los Angeles 2021 report.

Women disproportionately continue to be the child and elder caregivers in their families, which compromises their ability to work outside the home. As a result, underemployment among women often leads to lower incomes, higher poverty rates, and a reliance on government assistance.

Women overall make 80 cents for every dollar earned by their male counterparts. However, the pay gap is even wider for racial, ethnic and gender minorities, with Black women earning 64 cents, trans women earning 60 cents, and Hispanic women earning just 57 cents for every dollar earned by their white, non-Hispanic male counterparts.

The good news? You.

Supporters of our organization continue to honor the legacy of Minnie Barton and her empathy for women pushed to the margins of society. Our programs offer high quality early education for children from birth to 5 years old; counseling for the intergenerational trauma caused by poverty, prejudice and violence; and pathways to economic stability through material support and employment resources.

Together, we will continue to advocate for women and their families.

With gratitude,

Martine Singer
President & CEO

Dear CII Family,

At CII, our programs have been designed to address the long-term effects of inter-generational trauma stemming from poverty, prejudice and violence here in Los Angeles.

Children in Ukraine have lived under the threat of war for more than eight years—most of their lives—while their parents lived through the young country’s fight for independence. Right now, children are caught in the middle of armed conflict; many have been separated from their parents and caregivers; damaged infrastructure threatens access to food, water and shelter; and activities that once brought comfort and stability, like learning and play, have been halted.

Through our work, we know that such adversity without support can profoundly impact a child’s ability to realize their full potential.

It is reasonable to see all of this injustice—across the world, in our country, down the street—and be overwhelmed. But if there is anything to gain from these collective experiences, it is the understanding that we are inescapably connected. The fate of all of our children hinges on our everyday decisions to stand up for what is right and to help instead of harm.

Here are some things that we can do, together, to make a difference:

• Understanding leads to empathy: Read, listen to and watch the stories of families experiencing displacement.
• Check in with yourself & loved ones: Learn how to talk to your children about war and discover ways to cope during hard times.
• Give when you can: Organizations like World Central Kitchen and International Rescue Committee are on the ground providing food and shelter to Ukrainian families fleeing the war zone.

Remember that no act of kindness—even to yourself—is too small to impact the bigger picture.

In community,

Martine Singer

This Black History Month, we featured #BlackExcellence in our CII Community. Recommended by their leaders and peers, we featured six of our colleagues who are making a huge impact for their community.

 

Dr. Brandi Eichstedt has been with CII for five years and is a Behavioral Health and Wellness Manager. Dr. Eichstedt manages the behavior and wellness component of CII’s Early Head Start and Head Start programs, which consists of the disabilities and mental health content areas.

Her deep love for forensic psychology and passion for the healing power of early intervention allows her to help youth recover from stress and trauma.

One thing she wants you to know is that she too was in Head Start. She shares, “that experience had a profound impact on me and my family! My love of learning came from my Head Start teacher, and I don’t think that I would be a doctor today if I had not been in the program.”

 

Crystal Williams-Dottin, MSW has been at CII for six years and is a Family and Community Partnership Manager. Crystal makes connections with community partners to ensure that resources and services are readily available for our families.

Raising her son as a single mom inspired her to learn more about child development, and as a native of South Los Angeles and former recipient of public-funded services, providing services for other families solidified her desire to become a social worker from a strength-based lens.

As an African-American woman, her story of perseverance brings greater meaning to representation. She says, “I represent women of color, working professionals, parents, and most importantly anyone who has risen from adversity and challenges to accomplish great things!”

 

Carmelita Shorts has been at CII for eight years and is now a Site Supervisor.

Carmelita provides a safe, fun and healthy place for children to learn and play each day. She is motivated by her love of seeing children grow, and getting to share their lives day to day with their teachers.

She has over 20 years of experience working with young children, and says “it’s my calling, and my yearly goal is to see the children happy and to keep them safe.”

 

Thresa Offord has been at CII for eight years and is an Education Coaching Manager.

Thresa’s role allows her to supervise Education Specialists, providing support and guidance as they mentor and coach teachers. She is passionate about teachers seeing their own strengths and gaining ground to move to the next level.

One thing she wants the community to know is that who they are and what they represent matters. She says, “they are seen, and we want to be advocates to identify their strengths, help them reach their dreams for themselves and their children. I believe there is nothing our community can’t do as long as we show them we believe in them, and we are here to take the ride beside them and with them.”

 

Georgette Bradley has been at CII for eight years and is now a Site Supervisor.

Georgette supports the growth and wellness of all children, families and staff in her care. She is always there for her team and is available to listen and respond to any of their needs.

She has been motivated to be an efficient and effective leader since she was 16, when she worked in a family daycare center. “I’m most proud of my ability to bring people together,” she says.

 

Francis Jenkins has been at CII for seven years and is an Education Specialist. She works with teachers to ensure that all lesson plans, activities and materials are developmentally appropriate, and she works with colleagues to plan integrated training for teachers.

Early childhood became a calling for Francis when she took her son to his first day of preschool at a Head Start in South Los Angeles. She was able to stay and support his transition to a new environment, which made him feel comfortable and know he was safe. She says, “I always felt welcomed and appreciated, which made me want to share that same feeling with others. So I started to volunteer, and my passion for nurturing the young grew into a 42-year career.”

Dear Friends,

Every year, the Association for the Study of African American Life and History designates a theme for Black History Month, and in 2022, we are lifting up Black Health and Wellness. At this point in our nation’s history, our understanding of Black health and wellness is broader and more nuanced than ever. Not only have we had a devastating look into health disparities through the COVID-19 pandemic, but we also have more Black professionals and influencers than ever speaking on the importance of mental and physical wellness.

Black practitioners have forged pathways of their own where institutions have failed and systemic barriers persist. Ala Stanford, MD and the Black Doctor’s COVID Consortium found ways to reach vaccine-hesitant communities by providing guidance from physicians who look like them, go to the same churches that they do, who have the same life experience and historical context as they do when navigating decisions about their health care.

Superstars like Beyoncé and Serena Williams have brought attention to bias in health care that leads to the high Black maternal mortality rate in the United States. These high-profile stories have been central to many recent discussions led by Black clinicians to address the issue and to unite others working to improve outcomes through organizations like the Black Mamas Matter Alliance.

Many Black leaders have shown their support for mental health care in their communities and led by example in prioritizing their own self-care. Perhaps the most high-profile instance of promoting self-care has been Simone Biles’ withdrawal from events at last year’s Olympic Games. “Simone Biles teaches us that we are truly, intrinsically worthy beyond the entertainment and expectation of others,” said Linda James Myers, PhD, of the Association of Black Psychologists.

While CII celebrates the contributions of our Black colleagues year-round, we want to take this opportunity to raise them up once again: The number of Black families CII supports through our programming continues to increase, and our Black colleagues’ work and visibility in our organization are so important. Black clinicians, teachers and staff who promote mental wellness help to destigmatize mental health care in our communities. Families in their care are comforted by their presence and expertise.

And I thank them for all that they do.

With gratitude,

Martine Singer
President & CEO

Dear Friends,

Now more than ever, LA’s kids need your help.

The pandemic will have lasting effects on our children. 

This year, three major pediatric organizations declared a national emergency in youth mental health, citing the devastating impact of COVID-19 and ongoing structural inequities. The communities CII serves were hit hardest: the CDC estimates that 1 of every 310 Black children and 1 of every 412 Hispanic children experienced the death of a caregiver. In Los Angeles alone, that’s thousands of families left without a partner, a parent, grandparent or other caring adult they loved dearly.

Children’s Institute has been a lifeline for so many—providing more than $2 million in food and other basic necessities, along with virtual learning and telehealth to more than 30,000 children and their families during the pandemic. Yet families struggle to rebound from the economic, academic and emotional losses of the past 18 months, and they continue to need your support. 

Children’s Institute not only provides critical resources and services to those living in underserved communities, but also hope for a better future. Our youngest children were thrilled to return to CII’s bright and welcoming Head Start centers this fall. Youth ageing out of foster care are being supported to graduate from high school and go on to college and careers. Project Fatherhood is helping dads build meaningful relationships with their children. No matter how families connect to CII, we do whatever it takes to set them on pathways to success.

We are one LA community, and together, we can make the season brighter for children and families across our city.

We appreciate your generous support.

With best wishes for a Happy New Year,

Martine Singer
President & CEO

 

Together, we can make the season brighter for children and families.

G I V E   T O D A Y

In December 2021, Children’s Institute held  four Winter Festival Toy Drive-Thru & Walk Ups for the second year in a row. Despite the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, CII staff are still finding ways to safely make the season bright for our children and families across Los Angeles.

Thanks to our incredible sponsors—The Colleagues, Partnership for Families, Shelter Partnership, Good Plus Foundation, UCLA Latino Alumni Association, UCSB’s Chican@/Latinx Alumni Network, Film Craft LA, Film Tools, South LA Café, and countless individual donors—CII was able to distribute thousands of toys and baby items, and hundreds of grocery bags.

6,893 TOYS

570 GROCERY BAGS

1,687 BABY ITEMS 

Hundreds of families drove through 4 different CII locations—in Echo Park, Watts, Long Beach, and Wilmington—to pick up gifts, enjoy festive music and even catch a glimpse of Olaf (from Disney’s Frozen).

We’d like to thank our sponsors and community partners who made these events possible; our staff and volunteers who spent hours preparing, distributing, and cleaning up; and we’d especially like to thank the families who came out to celebrate with us.

Happy holidays to our entire CII community!

To our community:

We see you.

We see you for all that you are—strong, resilient, loving parents and children—and for all of your abundant potential.

As a mother, I know that when our children go out into the world, we want others to see them as we do: beautiful, bright, and full of promise.

And I also recognize the realities of systemic racism. Not everyone’s children are seen as mine are.   Deep-seated bias—expressed in conscious and unconscious ways—carries real consequences, and children of color are criminalized early and all too often.  Recent studies show that Black students in K-12 schools are more likely to be disciplined by school authorities and law enforcement than their peers of other races, even when engaged in identical or similar behaviors.

This, of course, leads to the cycle of racial inequity played out in a justice system that more often protects the privileged. It is difficult to imagine raising children in such an environment, but to do so is a courageous display of hope.  In the words of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.:

… there will be those moments when the buoyancy of hope will be transformed into the fatigue of despair. But difficult and painful as it is, we must walk on in the days ahead with an audacious faith in the future… Let us realize that the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.

Our audacious faith in the future is expressed through our love of children, our commitment to see their abundant potential, and determination to see them achieve their dreams.

At Children’s Institute, we will continue to empower our community with resources that allow them to achieve emotional wellness, educational success and economic mobility. And we are here to help them navigate personal and collective trauma.

If you or your children need support during this difficult time, we’re here for you.

When you are ready, contact us.

With my warmest regards,

Martine Singer

President & CEO