Fear Shouldnā€™t Keep Children from Safety and Care

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Across Los Angeles, fear is destroying childhood.

At Childrenā€™s Institute, we see it every day in the faces of the children and families we serve. Since the beginning of 2025, fear of immigration enforcement has become a daily realityā€”disrupting school routines, upending family rhythms, and weakening the sense of safety that children need to grow and thrive.

As journalist Jenny Gold recently reported in the Los Angeles Times, early learning and care providers in Los Angeles face a tidal wave of fear.

This is not an abstract fear. Itā€™s the real, lived experience of a mother afraid to walk her child to one of our Head Start preschools. A parent rushing to one of our centers to pick up her child because ICE is in the neighborhood. A child scanning the door at pickup time after a day at summer camp, unsure if his parent will return. Attendance has dropped in our preschools, our clinics and at community events. Many families feel isolated and without support.

When attendance drops, itā€™s more than just empty seatsā€”it’s children not getting meals, not attending counseling appointments, and losing access to safe spaces that buffer them from trauma. And families, especially those already living in poverty, are left without the lifelines that help them survive day-to-day. Parents often must stay home with children who can no longer safely attend programs, destabilizing household incomes and pushing families further into economic insecurity.

Weā€™ve seen this before. The COVID-19 pandemic taught us how fragile the infrastructure of care and education can beā€”and how quickly families can slip through the cracks. We cannot let that happen again.

Invest in Childrenā€™s Institute now. The safety net is shrinking, and the number of children and families who need itā€”and rely on it as an essential support ā€”is growing every day.

At Childrenā€™s Institute, we are dedicated to maintaining this vital safety net, but we cannot do it without your support.

Your generosity powers our ability to:
ā€¢ Keep our early learning programs open and accessible
ā€¢ Reduce barriers to mental health services and care navigation
ā€¢ Provide emergency reliefā€”including in-kind donationsā€”for families facing displacement, fear, and economic loss

This is not a moment for business as usual. It is a moment to meet fear with care, and uncertainty with action.

Letā€™s ensure that fear does not become the new normal for Los Angelesā€™ children. Letā€™s make sure they have what they need: a place to learn, people to trust, and a path forward.

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy at CII

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What is Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT)?

Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy is a structured, short-term evidence-based treatment developed by Drs. Anthony Mannarino, Judith Cohen and Esther Deblinger that effectively improves a range of trauma-related outcomes in 8-25 sessions with the child/adolescent and caregiver. This form of therapy can be useful for a variety of experiences and traumas and has proven to be highly effective at improving youth post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms and diagnosis (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 2024).

Currently, 25 randomized controlled trials have been conducted in the U.S., Europe and Africa, comparing TF-CBT to other active treatment conditions. The totality of this research is what distinguishes TF-CBT from other child trauma interventions and finding it superior for improving childrenā€™s trauma symptoms and responses (Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, 2024).

At Childrenā€™s Institute, TF-CBT can be an important tool in helping children and families who have experienced trauma and/or violence in their life.

First-Hand Experience from Ingrid E. MĆ¼rrle, LMFT, CII Therapist and Training Center Clinical Manager

ā€œOne of the adjunct benefits of TF-CBT is caregiver involvement. Studies have shown that the more involved a caregiver is in treatment, the better the outcome.

In one case, we had a caregiver who was feeling hopeless; yet she came to our sessions each week. I had the opportunity to work closely with her and we went through each of the TF-CBT components just like we did with the child, both separately and together. During the treatment, we began to look at how thoughts can impact behaviors which impact feelings. This is an intervention we use with the kids and with caregivers. We approached it little differently by helping them work backwards from what they see to what the child is experiencing.

With this caregiver, we made a list of the childā€™s behaviors that were challenging. After going through the list, I challenged this caregiver to think about the internal effect a child behaving in those ways would feel. The last step was to imagine what someone with all these behaviors and feelings would be thinking of themselves. The caregiver began to cry as she realized that the child was feeling unworthy, unloved, and unimportant. It was one of those sessions where you walk out drained yet knowing something powerful had just happened.ā€

At CII, Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy has been proven to help children and their families process and heal from the effects of traumatic experiences. If you would like to learn more about TF-CBT as a clinician or parent, please visit tfcbt.org.

Resources:

Children’s Institute will be at the Festival of Books April 20-21!

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The L.A. Times Festival of Books is the largest book festival in the nation and this year, Childrenā€™s Institute will be an exhibitor! Held at the University of Southern California (USC) campus from April 20-21, we are honored and excited to have our own booth alongside hundreds of other exhibitors, including NASA, Harper Collins Publishing and Vromanā€™s Bookstore ā€“ just to name a few.

This is a free, family-friendly event with indoor and outdoor activities. We are excited to be a part of this event because we hope to inspire a love for reading in the hearts of our youth. Reading opens hearts and minds to other worlds and endless possibilities while stimulating creativity.

Make sure to mark your calendars for April 20-21, 2024 to meet us at Booth #732 for books, games and info on Childrenā€™s Institute!

ā€œThere are many little ways to enlarge your world. Love of books is the best of all.ā€ ā€“ Jacqueline Kennedy

2023 Holiday Season Rewind

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The 2023 holiday season was nothing short of a whirlwind and at Childrenā€™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 otherā€™s company and reminiscing on our accomplishments. Whoā€™s ready for another serving of banana pudding?

 

Watts Community Thanksgiving

At this yearā€™s Watts Community Thanksgiving event hosted at the Watts Campus, families were invited to enjoy a delicious meal by Dulanā€™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 ā€œDecember to Rememberā€ 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 snowā€” a holiday miracle!

Thank you to our generous donors, funders, and community partners who supported this event, including ONE | A Potterā€™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 CafƩ. 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 couldnā€™t be happier about it!

Project Fatherhoodā€™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.

Back-to-School Advice for Parents and Caregivers

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For many parents, caregivers, and children alike, the back-to-school season is rarely synonymous with an easy time. Instead, this time often entails a transition from long summer days to structured school hours, which for many can be exciting, but also anxiety-inducing and even chaotic for some families. Understandably so, from as early as 0-5 years old, kids can have a hard time adjusting to new routines, which can add stress to family dynamics. Given this, weā€™d like to provide caregivers with information and advice on how to help ease their child and themselves during this time of year and beyond.

Beginning with the little ones, ages 0 to 5, the back-to-school transition is just as much a new experience for the kids as it is for the parents. Up until then, many of the kids havenā€™t left their caregiverā€™s side for extended periods of time, so this can be a jarring change for all parties involved. According to Odalys DeLeon, ASW, CIIā€™s Behavioral Health and Wellness Specialist, it is important for parents to observe and note their childā€™s temperament and consider sharing this with their teacher. Are they easy going or slow to warm up? Are they receptive to new experiences or do they take time to adapt? What is their frustration tolerance? These are all great questions Ms. DeLeon recommends you keep in mind during this time of year.

In some cases, little kids can start off very excited for the new year and new experiences, but as the year progresses and they settle into the routine, they may become increasingly dysregulated both at school and at home. Some warning signs include having a hard time with the morning routine and if there are tantrums before school and/or afterschool. These signs as far as one or two months into the school year should raise some alarms.

So, what can be done if a child is not adjusting that far into the school year? ā€œSomething to keep in mind,ā€ Ms. DeLeon mentions, ā€œis that consistency creates a sense of safety. Bedtime and morning routines can help with anxiety about school.ā€ Creating a social story can allow a child to visualize these daily routines and ultimately feel grounded when they are doing their routines in real-time. To create a social story, first ensure that the child is in an emotionally regulated state. Then, allow the child to draw themselves during each stage of their daily routines and caption the images with a few words about what they are doing. Example, ask the child to draw a picture of themselves brushing their teeth and write ā€œwhen I wake up, I brush my teeth.ā€ Other helpful activities include exposing them to media which portrays school in a positive way, such as Bluey or Sesame Street, or allowing them to bring a small item or token with them to school that reminds them of their caregiver.

Though we can expect children to become more resilient as they grow older, it can still be hard for kids in higher grade levels to feel integrated, especially if they are starting at a new school. According to Dr. Karla Harness Brown, Inglewood Unified School Districtā€™s Child Welfare and Attendance Advisor, something to look out for in teens and pre-teens is ā€œspill-overā€ from the school day into the evening time. This can look differently depending on the child, but some signs include withdrawal from social situations, wanting to stay in their room all the time, having negative conversations about school, and becoming heavily involved with the internet. Overall, the child is communicating that they had a hard time at school during the day.

Thankfully, it is possible to intervene when you sense that your child is struggling. Dr. Harness Brown recommends that caregivers use the window of time on the ride or walk home to naturally ask ā€œWhat did you like about school today?ā€ Even if it was just what they had for lunch, this is a good way to help the child feel safe to talk about their day to their caregiver. Also, it is still advised to reach out to their teachers. ā€œTalk to the teacher. Itā€™s okay to do that,ā€ says Dr. Harness Brown, ā€œIn the beginning teachers are doing ice breaker activities that help build bonds between students. During this time of year, teachers can also set up a buddy system for recess and lunch.ā€ If the child is a bit older, you can also encourage them to join clubs and school activities to help them integrate. ā€œItā€™s hard for new students when their classmates have attended the same schools overtime. Ā In this situation, a parent can also connect with other parents at their childā€™s school to help create a social network with their child,ā€ says Dr. Harness Brown. Building a social network of parents can also be very beneficial for neurodivergent children who have a harder time in social situations. If needed, talking with a school counselor is also an option as they can act as the liaison between the parent and the teacher.

Though it may feel natural to stay focused on the childā€™s experience during this time, it is just as important to simultaneously practice self-care as a parent. Both Odalys DeLeon and Dr. Harness Brown recommend finding a mindfulness activity to help parents understand their own feelings and soothe their emotions. Meditation, deep breathing, prayer, and yoga are all great ways to begin this practice. In addition, understanding oneā€™s own triggers is essential to help navigate stressful situations both at home and at school.

Though this time of year brings many changes, it also allows an opportunity for growth and development. As with any transitional period, moments of uncertainty are common. Though tantrums or mood swings are uncomfortable to bear, caregivers are encouraged to approach tough situations with curiosity and know that children may lack the maturity and language to communicate that they are having a hard time adjusting. It is great to know that there are ways to help students integrate and there is a community of adults, including teachers and school counselors, dedicated to helping the child succeed at school and beyond. CII wishes everyone a great 2023-2024 school year!

Will SB307 Help Foster Youth Finish College?

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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. Childrenā€™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 itā€™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.

ā€œI do not want to burden my foster mother to provide transportation. It can be a lot.ā€ 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 havenā€™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 isnā€™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 didnā€™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.

ā€œIā€™mĀ going into my 2nd year of college, and I still feel like a freshman,Ā because Iā€™m not engaged,ā€ said Beatrice, ā€œThere are some people from my old high school that I go with, and even though we are in the same campus now, I still donā€™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 ā€˜dormed,ā€™ but at the same time, growing up, I have always been around family.ā€ 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 CIIā€™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. Childrenā€™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

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Iā€™m delighted to share this piece from todayā€™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.Ā The program providedĀ de-escalation support, mental health services and resource coordination for children and adultsĀ 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 peopleĀ on the streets or in their homes, with enough time and resources to form relationships that led to trust and openness to accept help.Ā Sadly, though there were significant unspent funds, the county chose not to continue the program.

We learned important lessons from the 2Ā½ -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.

Letā€™s celebrate the recognition for the work of CIIā€™s staff and others on the front lines.

Thank you for Celebrating with Us!

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“Today is an opportunity to look ahead with hope and optimism. As you embark on this new journey, may you aspire to achieve even greater things, set audacious goals and protect those goals always.” – Adianna Paul

Dream BIG Keynote SpeakerĀ  |Ā  Listen to her inspiring remarks

This June, Children’s Institute’s Dream BIG Graduation celebrated the incredible youth enrolled in CIIā€™s Individualized Transition Skills Program. The keynote for the evening was educator, Stanford graduate and alumna of CII’s foster youth program, Adianna Paul, who not only delivered an inspiring message to youth but who also sat in their place just a few years ago.

The evening was filled with words of encouragement from CII staff. Guests enjoyed the DJ stylings of Lani Love and a delicious spread of summer foods from In-N-Out and Donny Joubert’s BBQ. Each graduate received a duffel bag with CII swag essentials and a $300 gift card for anything they might need as they move on to career and college. This was made possible by the generous support of The Colleagues, a philanthropic organization that understands that an investment in our youth is an investment in the future of Los Angeles.

We are so thankful to the community who came out to support these amazing young people as they began their next chapter in life.

We are so thankful to the community who came out to supportĀ these amazing young people as they began their next chapter in life.

Support life-changing work like CII’s foster youth program. Give Today.Ā 

 

 

 

 

Check out a fun recap reel on Children’s Institute’s Instagram! Follow CII onĀ Facebook,Ā InstagramĀ andĀ TwitterĀ to stay up to date on the latest celebration.

 

 

 

 

Thank you to Wendy BermeoĀ @wendystylezĀ andĀ a special shout-out toĀ @onyxnail_loungeĀ for donating their time and resources to provide hair, makeup andĀ nail tech services to our graduates.

Thank you for supporting the Childrenā€™s Institute at the 2023 Gala!

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Thanks to you, we raised $1,050,000 (and counting) for our LA communities! Itā€™s not just a number; itā€™s hope for 30,000 children and families across our city.

We are deeply grateful to all of you who attended and contributed to our 5th Annual Cape & Gown Gala last night. With the shared goal of creating a more just and equitable Los Angeles, we are thrilled to have raised direct support for programs that create community resilience, thriving families, and healthy children.

We honored four truly heroic individuals:

Paul Kanin, introduced by his three children Maralee, Matt and Max Kanin, was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award for his decades of service to his Los Angeles community as well as many years serving as a trustee and Chair of Children’s Institute’s Board of Trustees.

Anthony “Top Dawg” Tiffith, introduced by Watts Gang Task Force President Donny Joubert and TDE executive Brandon Tiffith, received the Community Champion award for his tireless efforts in his beloved Watts Community.

Derrick Rossi, PhD, introduced by Rob Reiner, received the Children’s Champion Award for his innovative work in stem cell biology and mRNA technology as co-founder of Moderna, saving millions of lives world-wide.

Gelila Assefa Puck, introduced by Wolfgang Puck, received the Children’s Champion Award for her international efforts to provide hope and opportunity to children and families, including through her organization Dream for Future Africa Foundation and as a member of Children’s Institute’s Board of Trustees.

Emceed by actor, director and activist Rob Reiner, the evening featured inspiring stories from CII staff, community members and supporters. Thank you to our incredible Children’s Institute speaker, Adianna Paul, who joined CII’s program for transitional aged foster youth when she was 17 and received the support and mentorship she needed to follow her dreams. Watch Adianna’s incredible journey here. An exciting Live Auction and Fund-a-Future campaign hosted by Emmy winning host Liam Mayclem provided guests the opportunity to take home some fabulous experiences in support of CII’s programs and services. The evening came to a close with an awe-inspiring performance from the LA Inner City Mass Choir.

On behalf of Children’s Institute, thank you to everyone who sponsored, supported and participated in the event.

CII’s Building on Success: A Watts Community Hub

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Our Watts location continues to blossom into a community space! Last June, we celebrated the grand opening of Childrenā€™s Instituteā€™s new Building on Success in Watts, lovingly designed by world-renowned architect Frank Gehry. Since then, CII has hosted many events for children and families, and our staff continues to offer them critical resources and support programs.

Creating a true community hub, a welcoming and accessible convening space, was one of the driving forces behind the Watts building project. That’s why weā€™ve made it easy to reserve space through the online Watts Campus Room Reservation page. Thanks to the Watts community’s support and our South LA teams cultivating meaningful partnerships, we are pleased to report that, in the past nine months, the building has welcomed more than 40 partner organizations and local groups that have held events, workshops or provided services.

If you happen to visit us, you might see young children and families from our Early Head Start program enjoying ā€œtoddler socialization,ā€ or transition-aged foster youth attending office hours with the Children’s Law Center. Or, you might see a Digital Literacy workshop in partnership with EveryoneOn, CII Employment Collective’s Job Ready Bootcamps, and CII Reach Team’s Wellness Wednesdays.Ā  Annual celebrations held at the campus include Gears for Kids, Winter Festival, College Fair, Prom2Go and many more.

Please enjoy some photos posted by our community partners embracing this amazing space.

We are so grateful to be able to share this campus with such passionate people, dedicated to serving their community. Our sincerest thanks to the generous donors and CII support groups who supported the Building on Success campaign, and to all of our community friends, partners, elected officials, businesses and neighbors, who make this a place for learning, connection and healing.