Thank You to the Angell Foundation

As many of you know, we are one of the beneficiaries of the Angell Foundation, established after the deaths of both Lynn and David Angell who perished on one of the 9/11 plane crashes. This week we were able to show our gratitude by welcoming the Foundation’s Advisory Board to spend the day on campus while they met to consider initiatives that are being entrained by the Foundation.

Lynn and David were the best examples of what good volunteers are all about. They were motivated to make a difference, understood what the commitment entailed, and were faithful. For Lynn Angell, Hillsides’ library was her way of providing a lasting impact on the lives of the children we serve. She was the driving force behind developing a library service for our students and residents. She understood the fiscal constraints and set out to engage other volunteers and solicit the support and resources necessary to make the library a reality. Established by her, Hillsides’ library continues today to be one of the many programs that distinguishes us among other residential services providers. 

The library not only serves as a refuge on campus from the frenetic activity associated with both the school and the residential program, but it also continues to be a tremendous draw for many to volunteer with our residents. Whether it is reading, tutoring or visiting with a child, many volunteers find the library as a place where they can easily and yet profoundly impact the lives of those we serve.

The Angells had a vision and the Foundation established on their behalf has embedded that vision in its grant making endeavors. Here at Hillsides we have benefited not only from their support for the library, but also for many other services we offer including our outreach to transition aged youth at Youth Moving On.

As we acknowledge the Angells and the Foundation, we call upon the community to consider volunteering here at Hillsides. There are many wonderful opportunities to touch the lives of our kids and help them and their families through a very challenging time. If interested, please contact Laura Kelso, director of community resources, at 323-254-2274 ext. 251. What greater tribute can we provide to Lynn and David Angell, but to serve as they did! Join us!

Graduation: Stepping into the Future

On June 21, Hillsides Education Center hosted its graduation ceremony. HEC is a small non-public school serving not only many of the Hillsides residents, but also students from the greater Pasadena area. This year four seniors graduated. A long standing custom at the graduation is to give graduates the opportunity to address the assembly and offer some reflection on this milestone. In describing his hopes beyond Hillsides, one graduate mentioned a quote worth spending some time considering. He said, “Those who are stuck in the past risk missing the future.” How true!

For all the students at HEC, they address not just their particular learning challenges, but a myriad of issues. For many, those challenges are only complicated by emotional and behavioral issues that are considerable. As much as these students achieve academically, they also see their other issues ameliorated, their confidence restored--so much that they can step away from the past into the future. 

For all of these graduates, graduation is a moment when they come to a fork in the road and a direction must be taken. And as often is the case, they will never have this opportunity again. Hopefully, as they set out on the road they are less burdened, more assured and excited for the journey that lies ahead.

They reach this moment assisted by so many who care for them. Their families, who regardless of the challenges, hold in their hearts great hope for their children. Accompanying their families is the extraordinary staff from both HEC and Hillsides who together assist these students to be successful. It is very challenging work, but it is moments like graduation that are most gratifying when we can see the sense of accomplishment on the faces of the graduates.

As always, this is also a moment to recognize the extraordinary support that we receive from the community to maintain our educational endeavors. With school districts historically constrained, our reimbursement is significantly less than what it costs to educate the students at HEC. Without your support, we would not be able to sustain HEC. Thank you and know that you play an  important role in making it possible for these students to be set free from the past and step out into the future.

Support the Financial Workout Proposal

June 15 is the deadline for the California Legislature to pass a budget for the coming fiscal year that starts July 1. As in the past several years, no one expects a budget to be approved by the 15th and, indeed, many critical issues are yet to be addressed before a budget can be approved.

The Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce and other business groups have supported Governor Brown's proposal to create a workout plan where taxpayers agree to extend temporary taxes on the condition that the state government fix the underlying conditions that caused California’s economic trouble. For the first time in many years, the gimmicks utilized to "balance" past budgets have been put aside and there seems to be an attempt to address the stark financial realities that confront the state. The LA Chamber also added that it, "disagrees with those who don't see the need for a workout.... who favor an all-cuts budget that will scar California's future as well as those who want tax extensions without the reforms needed to get California out of this mess."

These are tough times and they require tough decisions, not just by some, but by all Californians. For the vulnerable children and families, these financial constraints hit especially hard. Without additional revenues proposed, the minimal support required by the education and the social services systems will additionally be jeopardized, threatening to do irreparable harm and further impair the State as a whole.

More than ever, all of us regardless of political affiliation need to contact our elected officials and voice our support for the proposed financial workout plan with the hope that, in spite of the hardships we will bear, it will help us to find a path to a sustainable future for all Californians.

The Numbers are Against Us

The Los Angeles Times continues to focus on the failures of the Los Angeles County child welfare system to keep children safe and free from risk. Another toddler’s death, Tori Sandoval, on April 24 was reported on Monday. This is just the most recent of seventy deaths in the last three years of children entrusted to the Department of Children and Family Services because of maltreatment. The fact of the matter is that most of these deaths did not get this much attention! If it were not for the spotlight placed on this troubling issue by the Los Angeles Times, these deaths would go un-noticed by the public, lost in the sheer volume of children and families in the child welfare system.

Even though DCFS has reduced the amount of children in the system, the number of children in care is still monumental. As a result, case loads are unrealistic, resources are strained, and the end result is that children and families continue to be at risk. In addition, the system is constricted by a convoluted organization further impeded by mandates and protocols that serve only to bolster a gargantuan bureaucracy.

The solution can not be more of the same, but rather a comprehensive restructuring of how vulnerable children and families are served and a commitment to provide the needed resources even at a time of great fiscal constraint. Otherwise, we need not be shocked and outraged at the next report of a child’s death.

A system that is broken into smaller, more manageable service delivery units is essential. The concern that such a system would generate inconsistency and duplication is outweighed by a structure where children and families are not lost in the crowd, where accountability can be assured, and where resources can be directed more efficiently.

The challenge is enormous, but not insurmountable. Clearly, no one wants to see children placed at risk. Los Angeles has incredible resources from both the public and private sectors that could be marshaled to address this issue. Together, we can create a system of care that keeps children safe, promotes their well-being, and provides a consistent and permanent home in which to thrive.

Not Your Average Graduate

This is the season of graduations. At this time of year parents step back and acknowledge the accomplishment of their children despite the challenges associated with parenting adolescents. It is a time when some dreams are realized and new ones are established. Although we at Hillsides do not attempt to take the place of parents, we can not help, but be proud of our residents when they achieve a significant milestone such as graduating from high school, especially when the achievement comes after confronting considerable obstacles.

This past Friday evening was a momentous occasion for one of our longtime residents. In care for the last several years with only sporadic contact with members of his family, this young man graduated from La Salle High School. Bright, timid and yet determined, he achieved what few of our graduates do--a diploma from one of the more prestigious schools in our area. More than once, staff had shared with me their concerns about his ability to persevere. Nevertheless, they offered him the support that helped him get to this milestone confident and hopeful.

He said to our veteran group home director, Ramona McGee, “with your help I made it.” With our help and his commitment to his studies and addressing the trauma he experienced as a child, he made it. With our help and his determination, he can see beyond his fears to dream of a full life. This young man is not your average graduate.

He now has a high school diploma, a part-time job and will soon move to our transitional housing program at Hillsides Youth Moving On. There will be many more challenges and decisions to make yet he will not address these alone as he will be supported by the Hillsides community. Although we are not a substitute for his true family, we commit to walk alongside him so that, with our continued support, he can achieve even more and fulfill his dreams.

Instrumental in his success has been the fine staff of our boy's group home, who along with Brother DeSales and other staff at LaSalle, never gave up on this young man. Together they surrounded this young man with the care he needed and you could see the result in his beaming smile on graduation night.

Let me take this opportunity to thank LaSalle for their generous support and encourage all of you to never give up hope for the children and families we serve. This young man's graduation is witness to the power of our efforts.