info@mysite.com
123-456-7890
500 Terry Francine Street,
San Francisco, CA 94158
info@mysite.com
123-456-7890
500 Terry Francine Street,
San Francisco, CA 94158
In-House Therapeutic
Wellness Pilot Program:
Families Inspired To Thrive (FIT)
The Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley is proud to announce the launch of a groundbreaking therapeutic wellness and family resource pilot program, called Families Inspired To Thrive (FIT). It is designed to support families in navigating mental health, financial issues, food and housing scarcity, and everyday life and parenting challenges. It is a brand new wellness initiative, based on our in-house experts’ observations of Club members’ needs, and feedback from parents. The entire program is voluntary and open to all Club members and their families.
The Club contracted with the Department of Children and Family Services to provide a successful Family Preservation Program for 30 years. Our new program is independent of DCFS, and participants do not have to have an open cases within that infrastructure to participate. This allows us to serve more youth and families in our community who also need the services we can offer to support and preserve families.
Since its inception this past September 2024, our program has successfully served 30 families in an ongoing model, underscoring our mission to provide inclusive support and resources within the community.
Our dedicated team of professionals/ paraprofessionals, including licensed therapists, a community resource specialist, and a parent educator came together to lay the foundation for this initiative. After meticulous planning, we gave parents whose children attend the Club an in-person survey, to assess which services would benefit them the most. This process helped us gained critical insights about how to best serve the community.
The program currently offers
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Parenting education
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Individual counselling for parents with licensed therapists
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Connection to community resources (food banks, utility bill help etc.)
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Informal counseling for youth with licensed therapists
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Social skills development group for youth
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Teen development and support
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In-service training for staff and volunteers
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Collaboration with community agencies
Our ongoing effort to connect families with community resources has already benefited 10 parents, offering vital assistance like food, clothing, and educational support. Thirty parents have already sought assistance with education workshops and individual counseling services, signaling a strong demand for these resources.
In alignment with our goals, the program employs licensed therapists to support both the youth and staff within Club facilities. Daily informal check-ins, trusted relationships, and ongoing assessments form the core of the therapeutic work being done with Club youth and staff alike.
The Boys & Girls Club of San Fernando Valley is dedicated to strengthening families and creating resilient communities. As the program develops and grows, we will eventually offer services to local community members. For the time being, we are slowly rolling out this initiative, and tailoring it to the specific needs of youth and their families who are currently involved with the Club.
For further information on the program or involvement inquiries, please contact
Teri Cortes, Program Manager
(818) 896-5261
Individual counseling sessions further expand the reach of the program. Collaborative efforts with partner organizations, like Sycamores Mental Health Agency and local schools, enrich the support structure for teens dealing with high-risk behaviors and academic challenges. Plans for training staff on critical topics, such as self-harm identification and mandated reporting, are in the works, emphasizing our commitment to fostering a safe and nurturing environment for all members.