Commencement: Untold Story

The Hillsides Education Center had its 29^th graduation on Tuesday, June 4. One of the graduates chose a quote from Maya Angelou to describe what motivates her: “There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you.” Graduation is all about achievement, but often the achievements are not just academic for the students at HEC. Their achievements have to do with the ability to tell an untold story that resides deep within and longs to be expressed. Untold, a story has the power to hold a person captive, however, when spoken it losses its power to hold and instead becomes an expression of a truth and reality. Sometimes what may be expressed is a hurt, an embarrassment, even anger, but inevitably the telling of the untold story is cathartic and life giving.

As our Education Director, Jay Bechtol, reminded the assembly, each graduating student at Hillsides is a valedictorian and given the opportunity to address those gathered for the graduation. As each student took their place at the podium, they had an opportunity to tell their story, a story of challenges, but also of resolve to see their way to this significant milestone equipped to look beyond this moment and set a direction for their lives.

As they head out on this next chapter, they do so confident of who they are, their abilities, even their limitations, not overwhelmed, but rather determined to be happy and successful.

I sometimes wonder what happens to the many aspirations that are shared at graduation, whether they are achieved or altered by harsh realities. Just as I was reflecting on this thought, I encountered a former student who had come by for the graduation. She was happy to reconnect with friends and staff at HEC and with great excitement  filled them in on what was going on in her life at this time. I’m not sure what aspiration she had when she graduated, but it seemed to me from the encounter that some of them have been realized

As important as goals are, it’s the dedication to achieve them that makes all the difference. Inevitably goals change, lessons are learned along the way and hopefully a direction is set, and much is achieved. As another graduate summed it up with a quote from Robert Frost: “In three words I can sum up everything I’ve learned about life: It goes on.”

Life indeed does go on with the help of so many family members and friends who support these graduates and walk along with them. To the graduates, their families and friends, the incredible staff of HEC, and all those who passionately support our mission, congratulations and thank you!

Very Scary

More frightening than the Halloween haunted house at Hillsides is that we are just a week away from going to the polls. And aside from the presidential election, Californians are being asked to remedy the woefully underfunded public education system by choosing between two propositions, each flawed in many ways.

Once again California's children are held hostage by the political maneuvering of both sides and the voter is asked to play "Solomon." The reality is that the state budget in part has been balanced by sacrificing public education at all levels. The result is poor families and their children are disproportionately affected by these cuts. School systems throughout the state are burden to provide more with less, stifling efforts to provide an education for those who are most dependent on the system. Add to this the imperative to address the needs of students with learning challenges and the result is an overburdened system left to manage with little resources and very poor options.

Why is it that, once again, education and social services programs are the target of budget balancing efforts?  I suggest it is because it is easy to dismiss those, who for any number of reasons, do not vote.  There are more powerful forces at play that inevitably prevail. In spite of all the rhetoric that expresses support for our children, their education and the need to maintain a "safety net" for the poor, it is precisely the most vulnerable that are first to feel the impact of budget cuts. 

There are no easy solutions and, unfortunately, only poor choices. Additional funding is not necessarily the solution and increasing deficits are a path to ruin. More than anything else what is needed is political resolve to set priorities that take into account not only our fiscal constraints, but also the needs of the most vulnerable while offering a sustainable pathway to opportunity for all people.

Intelligent and good people will differ on which direction to take. I hope at some point victors and losers can put aside the partisanship and commit to what is best for our nation and society. But this will take extraordinary courage.

I wouldn't dare to suggest any candidate or ballot initiative over an other. My only plea is that you vote one way or another, in spite of the difficult choices. As you do keep in mind those who do not vote, whose voices are easily drowned out and are never-the-less affected by your ballot choices.

Teacher Exemplifies Excellence

The news is filled with information about teachers these days. In Chicago, teachers are on strike to resist reforms that introduce new measurements of their teaching achievement. In Los Angeles, teachers will be considering reforms agreed upon by school officials and administrators to also establish new norms with which to evaluate teacher performance. Like in social services, some members of the teaching profession have resisted the efforts to quantify performance, arguing student achievement is dependent on so many factors that it is inordinate to tie teacher performance to student achievement.

No matter where you stand on this issue, everyone agrees it is imperative to provide a high quality, effective public education system if we hope to prosper and offer students a pathway to lifelong success. May I suggest that what impedes achieving this noble ambition has more to do with the easily bruised egos of teaching professionals, academic theorists, and politicians than a sincere interest in what is most effective for students.

In the middle of these verbal barrages are earnest students and dedicated teachers who serve as human shields for the various combatants. What are achieved are piecemeal efforts that neither support teachers nor offer effective education. This quagmire threatens the viability of the pubic education system and endangers students.

Rebekah Ruswick with Judge Terry J. Hatter, Jr.

With this as a background story, Hillsides Education Center celebrates this week the extraordinary service of one of its finest teachers, Rebekah Ruswick, who after a distinguished tenure will be moving on to serve in a senior program position with a local school system.  Rebekah exemplifies not only what is a great teacher, but also a great staff member. The list of her attributes is long; I feel the greatest one is her drive to see students succeed, not only academically, but in all aspects of their lives. She will be missed, but her legacy will be students who have been touched by her dedication, advanced academically, and more importantly, moved on from HEC confident because of the care they received through her instruction.

HEC is a great source of pride for all us associated with Hillsides, not just because of its students’ achievements, but also its mission driven staff that sacrifice much for the satisfaction of seeing their students succeed. I am convinced that lessons learned in places like HEC would serve as an excellent primer for those who sincerely espouse academic excellence and professional development in our public school system. Might I be biased?

Labor of Love

This is a notably hectic time at Hillsides. There is a certain seasonal aspect to admissions into our residential program. As some residents complete their treatment to return home and into their community during the summer months, they are replaced with new residents. Typically, these children arrive at Hillsides relatively traumatized and in need of a great deal of attention during their initial period in residential treatment.

As I was walking across the playing field a few weeks ago, a preadolescent boy approached me asking who I was. Before I could introduce myself, another resident quickly mentioned that I was the boss. The new resident was very happy to make my acquaintance and began to question me as to the extent of my influence in the program. He just wanted to make sure he was directing any questions he may have to someone who could do something about it. I found it amusing he thought I had such influence and assured him that he could come to me with any concerns. A week later this incredibly gregarious boy found me as he was frantically running around the campus, clearly anxious and compulsively looking to leave. We talked about how he could address his concerns, and we were joined by staff that continued the conversation until he was less agitated.

As I walked away and returned to my office, I could not help but be grateful for the wonderful staff that so ably attend to our residents. Staff patiently and skillfully assure residents that they are safe, that things will get better, and that we are committed to their success.

This level of commitment is evident every day at Hillsides, whether it is our clinical staff, our school personnel, or any one of our support services employees. The question that drives them is: “what more can we do to assure the success of those we serve and of the organization?” Such unquestionable dedication is contagious and priceless.

The true meaning of Labor Day is often overshadowed by the end of summer festivities. However, it is important to not lose sight of all those, especially in our field, whose fine and hard work are essential to the fulfillment of our mission to make a lasting change in the lives of all we serve. Without them, little would be accomplished; with them, great things are achieved. I am especially grateful for such dedicated co-workers and commit to do everything possible to acknowledge their dedication and secure the resources necessary to maintain them in this field. For all these hardworking people, Labor Day is not just a day off, but rather an opportunity to celebrate what is indeed a labor of love. 

Class is Now in Session

What comes to mind when you think of Hillsides? More often than not, most people think of Hillsides as an “orphanage” or better yet a safe place for “troubled” youth. The fact of the matter is that these terms are insufficient to describe all that Hillsides provides.  In a particular way Hillsides is about education. An integral part of the services offered to our residents is the availability of a fully credentialed educational institution that provides a very individualized instruction oriented around the specific learning challenges of each student.

Of the 75 students enrolled in grades 2-12, 40 are residents of our treatment program and the others are day students from the community. The Hillsides Education Center offers a very comprehensive approach that couples both the academic with an array of support services that address the very specific needs of our students. Classrooms are limited to anywhere from 10-13 students and each is led by a specially certified teacher and two classroom assistants, allowing for a very individualized approach to instruction. The goal, of course, is help students achieve grade level performance and, as soon as possible, return to a less restrictive educational setting.

With the beginning of school comes a certain amount of excitement masking the apprehension that is typical of the start of the academic year. New school clothes, backpacks filled with schools supplies, stories of summer adventures, and reconnections with classmates and teaching staff generates a palpable energy. With that the school year is off to a great start!

For all the challenges that our students confront, the school districts that refer them are likewise challenged to meet the cost of providing needed services in an extraordinarily fiscally constrained environment. As partners with the school districts, we, too, are also challenged to sustain quality instruction with no hope of being fully compensated for what it costs to educate each student. Instruction at Hillsides Education Center costs approximately $145 a day per student and the reimbursement averages only about $125. As you can see, the difference in cost multiplied by the days of instruction per student quickly adds up to a significant structural deficit that can only be addressed by the generous support we receive from individuals and foundations who value this important component of care we offer.

What is the solution to the underfunding of our public education system? I don’t pretend to know the answer and strive mightily to not grow cynical when listening to the empty rhetoric of public officials who promote a quality public education and yet seem totally ineffective at generating and allocating the needed resources. I can say, however, the reliance on private funds to supplant these essential educational services is not a good or sustainable solution and have a limited impact because of the significant gap.

The solution, I suggest, has to do with the resolve necessary to sustain the  sacrifices needed to truly make the education of all our children a valued priority. Here at Hillsides it is priority and we have the resolve to raise approximately $250,000 a year to sustain our educational services. It is a great sacrifice, but we are convinced that it is also worthwhile. What greater contribution can we make to the life of a student than to see them achieve in spite of a learning challenge, become confident in the classroom, and perhaps for the first time enjoy learning!

Hillsides Education Center Begins Accreditation Process

School is out for the summer. Tuesday was the last day of classes for students enrolled in our summer school program at Hillsides Education Center. You could feel the relief of both students and staff as they look forward to a less structured remainder of the summer. Teachers are able to take some time off and get reinvigorated for the school year start at the end of August. Students are anticipating more leisurely mornings and various recreational activities both on and off campus that will allow them a break from school work while keeping them never-the-less engaged and ready for the new school year.

HEC is such an extraordinary school, not just because of the array of services it offers students, the high instructor to student ratio, the individualized approach it provides or excellent facilities. More than anything else, HEC provides an approach that regards each student as capable of success and a universally dedicated staff committed to academic achievement for all its students. Just the other day, touring the school with a local school psychologist, he noted that the environment we are able to maintain within the school is marketedly different from other similar schools. We are convinced that our approach and commitment is what helps HEC stand out and be a school of choice for many parents and referring school districts.

As part of an on-going effort throughout all our programs to achieve national accreditation, HEC embarked this year in preparing to be accredited by the Western Association of School and Colleges, WASC, the premier accrediting body for schools.

The challenges are great since HEC does not present as a typical school, but in spite of this, preparations were made and a group of reviewers spent a few days here recently to determine HEC’s appropriateness as a candidate for WASC accreditation. Last week we received word that HEC had successfully completed this first phase in the process and is officially designated as a candidate for WASC accreditation. This is the next step in a three-year process that hopefully will culminate in accreditation.

This is such a wonderful validation of the great work provided by HEC and certainly an opportunity for us to congratulate Jay Bechtol, HEC director, and all the staff for their fine work.

As you know the public education system in California is woefully underfunded; it is a struggle for our referring school districts to meet the cost of tuition. But the sacrifice is worth it, for the success that our students enjoy today places them on the path of even greater opportunities.

Join us in congratulating HEC for achieving this level of recognition by WASC and help us by your generous support to maintain this important service that we offer to Hillsides residents and community students alike. 

Arroyo Enchantment

Pasadena is an extraordinary community in many ways. Nestled in the foothills, Pasadena has provided a refuge from the hassle of Los Angeles from its very beginning. You get a sense of its allure from the top of the arroyo looking down to the city in the distance. Lining the arroyo canyon are wonderful wooded hills dotted with beautiful estates. It was at such an estate that the annual H100 Farm to Table event celebrated its third anniversary.

From the citrus and Zen gardens to the infinity pool overlooking the arroyo, two long family-style tables were adorned with simple, lemon bouquets waiting to welcome guests. Set at the home of Mark and Phaedra Ledbetter, the grounds of this magnificent estate illustrated the volunteer group’s philosophy of providing the dinner guests with an evening that supported a food culture made up of fresh, locally grown, seasonal items. 

Alexandra Poer Sheridan of Alexandra's Table created a feast incorporating many of the fruits, vegetables and herbs available to her from the estate’s garden, as well as sourcing local ranches for fresh, grass fed meats.  During the cocktail hour, hands passed hors d’oeuvres were paired with refreshing libations.

Aside from being an extraordinary event in a magnificent setting, it was an opportunity for us to, once again, share with our supporters Hillsides’ compelling mission. Jay Bechtol, director of Hillsides Education Center, addressed the challenges of providing much needed, but woefully funded, individualized educational services to children and youth who have been significantly traumatized. In spite of the challenges, our successful interventions have made such a difference in the lives of the students served at the education center, allowing them to achieve academically, improve their behaviors and return confidently to their local schools. These interventions have allowed these students to, once again, take their place within their homes after years of feeling alienated and marginalized.

Phaedra Ledbetter summed it up best when she encouraged those in attendance to share from their bounty to support Hillsides’ efforts to provide a bountiful future for all we serve.

We thank the Ledbetters for their great hospitality and we are grateful indeed for all those who joined us for this enchanted event and made it possible. This is yet another example of many who join with us as we walk along with those we serve on a path to a fuller life. Get more information about our service initiatives and how you can help us together on the path.

Photo credit: Dana Pepper Bouton

Teacher of the Year

One of the hallmarks of Hillsides is the longevity of its staff. This past week we celebrated the 30^th anniversary of one of our teachers, Debi Szilagi-Johnson. As one of the very first teachers at Hillsides Education Center, Debi, like no one else, can tell the story of the school’s evolution, attempting to be responsive to the constantly changing needs of its students.

Recently, flooding in the school building impacted Debi’s classroom. As I walked through the school assessing the damage, it was clear to me that Debi was very upset. I attempted to reassure her that we would replace what had been damaged, but soon I realized what upset her more than anything else. It was not the supplies that could easily be replaced, but rather it was the “priceless” mementos of the past thirty years that were irreplaceable. Aside from being a great teacher, she is de facto our archivist, cataloguing the many pieces of treasure from the last thirty years. These treasures in her classroom told the story not only of her career and the evolution of instruction at the school, but more importantly served as the repository for the memorabilia of countless students.

Inevitably when alums return to visit, they make their way to Debi’s classroom to recall those formative experiences and, once again, take pride in the achievements they were able to make while at HEC. She is one of those memorable teachers that leave an imprint on the lives of those she instructs, an indelible mark that lasts a life time…a truly great teacher!

Debi’s style is a great example of the approach that we take at Hillsides with all those we serve–to be an essential resource for them, driven by a desire to see them achieve success. This year’s annual fund appeal, Together on the Path, reflects our hope that those we serve will move beyond the trauma they have experienced to being restored to an unencumbered and full life.

This great mission requires resources that go beyond the public funding we receive. Hillsides Education Center alone requires about $250,000 a year to maintain the quality instruction it provides because of the growing funding gap resulting from significant cuts to public education.

Support Debi and so many other dedicated staff members like her by contributing to our annual appeal. Your support makes a big difference in our efforts to together walk the path that leads to achievement and success for all we serve. Thank you!

Commencement 2012

With the largest class of graduates in recent history, 2012 is a banner year for Hillsides Education Center. Six students who participated in commencement exercises last Thursday joined three peers who received their high school diplomas in January. In addition to the high school graduates, 14 8th grade graduates had their own celebration on June 1^st. These celebrations are made possible by the extraordinary commitment of their teachers and classroom staff, led by Jay Bechtol, a longtime Hillsides staff member and director of the Education Center. It is their commitment and unwavering belief in the potential of these students that make it all possible. Our hats are off to all the graduates who have indeed lived up to the great expectations that have been placed upon them. 

This is a time to celebrate the achievements of the graduates.  I am happy to cheer them on from the side lines and honored to be called upon to confer the diplomas. As I milled about the post graduation celebration, the mother of one of the graduates came up to me to introduce herself and then proceeded to tell me how grateful she is for all that her son has achieved while at Hillsides. He joined us and she continued to acknowledge with great pride his accomplishments. I remembered the first time I met him; his cocky self assurance masked his vulnerability. In the course of several months, he has come to grow in a sense of achievement and become truly confident.

Among our graduates, we have some who are college bound, one off to a music institute, while others are still entertaining their options. However, all of them leave with a sense of pride that will serve them well in life and hopefully provide a foundation for their success.

What can you say to graduates that has not all ready been said? I would only add that I hope they know they can count on Hillsides to continue to support them. Our commitment to those we serve is not defined by their length of time in care, but rather by our resolve to be a resource for them and their families whenever they call upon us.

Jay Bechtol challenged the graduates to stay in touch. He suggested they come back to next year’s graduation to share what has happened to them during the year with another group of graduates as a way to encourage another class to hope, dream and achieve.

Together on the Path

One of the annual highlights of the academic year at Hillsides Education Center is the Science and Academic Fair. Last week classrooms were converted into exhibition spaces as each student took their place alongside their particular science or academic project. I never know exactly what to expect, but always leave the event edified and truly proud. Everyone is invited to come to the Science and Academic Fair. Along with staff and volunteers, friends and family, all descend upon the campus on this-mid day extravaganza.

Aside from the opportunity to actually learn something by some obscure fact--my favorite was the utility of worms--it gives me an occasion to meet family members and talk to them about their children. In the midst of the hubbub of the fair, a resident introduced me to his mom, as he went back to expounding upon the role of coyotes in the wild. I was able to ask her how things were going with her son. The challenges that this student faces are great, rooted in early childhood experiences that will mark him for the remainder of his life. Mom acknowledged that she is, in fact, his aunt and had assumed child rearing responsibility for her sister, who is unable to serve as parent because of severe addiction. She worries about his long-term ability to manage well in school or be successfully reintegrated into her home, but is grateful for the care he has received while at Hillsides and the progress he has been able to make in school. These accomplishments give her hope that, with some help, they will be alright once he returns home soon.

Encounters like this one reinforces for me what Hillsides is all about--serving as a resource and ally for families as they address the challenges that their children confront. With them, we move along an uncharted path with many crossroads. It can be daunting, but the support that is received along the way is what makes the journey worthwhile and hopefully successful.

This year the theme of our annual appeal that has just been launched is “Together on the Path.” It was chosen because it is an expression that captures what we do as we join with schools, communities and families to improve the lives of their most vulnerable children and youth. Whether it be through our residential programs, the educational services we offer or the community-based services and outreach that we provide from the Hollywood Hills to the far reaches of the San Gabriel Valley, our mission is the same--to be an exceptional resource that allows those we serve to be successful.

Support us on this journey as all our programs require some level of support from the community if we are to be truly successful. The needs and challenges are great, but the opportunity to touch a child’s life, protect an abandoned youth or to restore a family torn apart by hardship is too great for us to falter. With your help, much is accomplished. So please check out our annual appeal and make your contribution--together we are on a path that leads to a full and better life for all we serve.           

Access to Mental Health is Diverted

This past week I attended the annual meeting of the National Council of Community Behavioral Healthcare. Promoting effective and quality care, the conference gathered an extraordinary array of providers and consumers of mental health services from around the country.

As is often the case, I leave these conferences invigorated and resolved to be evermore committed to the care we offer to all we serve. Almost 60 percent of the revenues of Hillsides' annual operating budget is derived from mental health reimbursable services. The provision of mental health services is the greatest common denominator of care within all our programs and so it is essential to stay current with practice and trends in the delivery of care.

Because perhaps I take for granted the availability of mental health services, I was surprised to learn that only one-third of children in need of mental health care are ever treated. This kind of care denied during childhood and adolescence results in the need for mental health treatment of 50 percent of adults in care!

How is it that only one-third of children in need are treated? More likely than not, it is the result of poor diagnosis or the temptation to minimize any disorder hoping the child will "out grow it." Even when symptoms persist, the stigma associated with mental illness is also a deterrent.

In addition to our predisposition to tolerate, ignore or minimize mental health issues of children, care is also costly, providing yet another reason to avoid treatment. This is a very dangerous combination that results in creating considerable risks for our children. Often it is early intervention and treatment that are most effective in helping children and their families to successfully address the challenges presented because of mental illness.

Beginning in July, the burden of providing mental health services for children in California shifts from the responsibility of the local Mental Health Departments to the local public school systems. Most of these school systems are poorly equipped to take on this responsibility and are lacking the funds necessary to provide the services. At least 15 of our residents will have funding curtailed because of this shift, placing in jeopardy their need for ongoing treatment. Although we may identify some resources to prolong their care for a while longer, the chances of providing needed mental health services for children who may surface in the near future is pretty grim.

When you take all this into account, is it any wonder that only one-third of children in need of treatment receive it?

School systems are inadequately funded to provide these services and are in desperate need of our support. Resources are necessary to help them meet their responsibilities to their students. Although the solution goes beyond just additional funding, every effort must be made to adequately provide our schools with the resources needed to provide the care that our children require. Failure to address our children's mental health needs today only increases the likelihood of their suffering serious disorders as adults.

Just Do It

Recently the conversation in my office was about a student in crisis and the additional supports that the youth needs to get through this challenging period. It is not the first time that we have tailored an individualized program for a child, as a matter of fact, Hillsides and its Education Center are known for making that extra effort and, more often than not, being successful with a very challenging resident. We know the right thing to do, we know how to do it and we have the resolve to do it in spite of limited resources.

These days, whether walking the halls of Congress in Washington or the Legislature in Sacramento, the talk is about public revenue shortfalls and budget strategies; and I must admit the talk is grim. While some economic indicators may point to stability and perhaps growth, government has not seen any growth in revenues; in California, we are still struggling with what some estimate to be a $20 billion deficit!

In the great Californian spirit of ballot initiatives, November’s ballot may be littered with all sorts of initiatives proposed to remedy our fiscal woes. I’m afraid the result may only be to confuse, further restrict scarce public funds and only frustrate a very desperate situation.

In the meantime, how do we find the resources to address the needs of that student in crisis?

Daily instruction at the Hillsides Education Center costs approximately $145 while the reimbursement averages $125. Multiply that gap by 75 students and the calendar of instruction days and you get a sense of the tremendous challenge to maintain a critical service for not just our residents, but many community day students.

Clearly, the solutions lies in utilizing what limited resources we have in the most effective way possible. The task is not easy because as indicated in the recently released findings of the President’s Commission on Excellence in Special Education (http://www2.ed.gov/inits/commissionsboards/whspecialeducation/reports/summ.html), the education system is part of the problem. It is a system that fails to provide early and appropriate interventions for students with learning challenges; it is a system that is more driven by student failure. Failure only exacerbates the situation, traumatizes the student and leads often to very expensive interventions that are, of course, underfunded.

More than anything else at this time we need to break away from the usual strategy of legislating  solutions offered by special interests groups to utilize instead what we know to be most effective, always driven by the needs of those we serve.

Lunch with Jack, a 10-year Resident

He stands at about 5’6”, a slight build with scruffy facial hair and glasses. An inquisitive glance and an easy smirk draws you to him. My first encounter with Jack came nearly two years ago as I walked the campus with my predecessor John Hitchcock. Without prompting, Jack approach hypothesizing that I might be the new “John Hitchcock.”

And since then, I have discovered that Jack hates vegetables, loves computer games, is a whiz at exotic Japanese card games and enjoys geometry. He has lived at Hillsides for ten years, most recently at one of our off-campus group homes and after diligent effort will graduate from our highschool program on Friday and make a much anticipated return to live with his mother.

Over an Italian lunch at a near by eatery, he shared with me his plans for school, a part-time job, a love interest and the hope of reconnecting with family members. “What do you like most about Hillsides?” I asked, cueing Jack to tell me about his favorite outings, adventures and misadventures alike, friendship that have been created and good people who have supported him during his tenure.

As we ended the luncheon, while Jack suggested to me he approach the manager of the restaurant for a job, I let him know that all of us at Hillsides were very proud of him and reminded him that he could count on us even after he left. He looked over at me with an expression that confirmed for me that he already knew that.

There are not many Jacks left at Hillsides. More and more, the agency is not a place where kids grow up, but rather a resource to address their needs while planning to get them back as soon as possible to their communities and families, and that is a good thing. But Hillsides has also been a great place for kids like Jack who may need a relatively supportive long-termenvironment to help achieve a level of confidence and self-esteem that will serve as the foundation for their success.

I let him know that all of us at Hillsides were very proud of him and reminded him that he could count on us even after he left.

As much as Jack and his family are grateful for all they have received during these very formative years, we, too, are grateful for the privilege to have cared for him during this time as if indeed he was our own.

Join me in congratulating Jack as he dons his cap and gown, receives his well-earned diploma and sets out on many adventures (and misadventures for sure). To him and all those we serve, whether for ten days or ten years, we pledge to do everything possible to restore well-being and hope.

Roaming the Halls in Sacramento

From L to R: Sam Garrison, Joe Costa, Assemblymember Ricardo Lara, Marisol Barrios and Thomas Lee

Yesterday the Los Angeles Times had an article on the proposed budget cuts that Governor Brown will be addressing later this week. And so begins the annual ritual of adjusting the budget to reflect revenues. Given that these revenues do not match the budget’s projected revenue stream, we envision additional cuts to services. As always, this discussion will trigger an acrimonious round of proposals to determine which of the poor options we have will be selected.  Inevitably, these cuts will further erode the already fragile “safety net” that supports education and services to vulnerable children and families.

In an effort to play a role in the process, Sam Garrison, Hillsides board member and chair of our Government Affairs and Public Policy Committee, facilitated a round of conversations in Sacramento this past week with staff of our local elected officials. We introduced ourselves and hopefully established the kind of rapport with these policymakers that will keep them sensitive to the needs of all we serve. Besides Sam, Thomas Lee, director of Youth Moving On, and Marisol Barrios, director of communications and advocacy, joined me in these meetings. We met with staff from the offices of Gilbert Cedillo, Kevin de Leon, Ricardo Lara, Roger Hernandez, Carol Liu, and Felipe Fuentes.

There is no way to avoid some very significant cuts in this kind of constrained public funding environment. No elected official relishes making decisions that sacrifices needed services. Our visit last week was an opportunity for us to suggest to the legislators some criteria and priorities to consider in making these very difficult decisions. We can only hope that such advocacy will lead to decisions that support the delivery of care to the most vulnerable.

We advocated the importance of not being shortsighted in what funding reductions must be made--some level of support must be maintained in order to minimally sustain the needs of the most vulnerable. Cuts to avoid would include those that only exacerbate poor situations and eventually lead to more costly solutions, often placing the needy at a greater risk of harm. Certainly from our perspective it is very important to maintain the already significantly reduced funding for education. Fewer school days, more children in a classroom, and further elimination of ancillary and support services for school-aged children only threaten the integrity of the public education system and reduces it to not much more than custodial care.

In addition to advocatingfor support of education, in particular funding for special education, we also informed staff of the need for continued funding of mental health services to support children who have experienced abuse, neglect or violence.  Inadequately funding these kinds of services places these children and families at considerable risk of further harm. As resilient as children can be, they are especially vulnerable when needed services are sacrificed, threatening to weaken the gains that they may have made. Failure to effectively address the needs of these children and youth only opens the door to chronic behaviors and disorders that jeopardizes their long-term well-being and that of our society and community as a whole!

Challenging times require courageous and prudent actions. Legislators are typically receptive to the input of their constituents. As we begin the arduous exercise of balancing the State budget and making very difficult decisions, we ask you to join with us in any way you can to encourage our representatives to hear the voices of the vulnerable children, youth and families as they deliberate in January.

Remembering Rosario Espinoza

This past week Hillsides lost one of its finest staff members to cancer. Her loss is devastating not only because she was far too young and talented, but also because she was such a great example of what it is to be selfless and dedicated.  

Rosario worked at Hillsides since 2003, first as a therapist and, most recently, as the manager of our school-based services in Baldwin Park. Her first role at Hillsides was to provide services for pregnant teens. Rosario’s work was so exceptional that within a short time the principal of the school asked her and Hillsides to consider providing additional services to their students. With that, a whole array of services was launched by Hillsides on the Baldwin Park school’s campus, all of it nurtured by her dedicated and extraordinary commitment to the children, youth and families she served. It serves as a legacy that survives her.

As committed as she was to those she served, she was also dedicated to those she supervised, providing them not just with counsel and guidance, but especially with a tireless example of selfless, professional care.

What impressed me most about Rosario was her perseverance, refusing to allow illness to define her, working hard as long as she could in spite of set backs, hospitalizations and occasional absences.  It was an extraordinary example of her unwavering dedication in spite of significant hardships.

That kind of determination is inspirational not only to all us who experienced it, but especially to those she served. It was a lesson to never give up, in spite of the challenges and to strive each day with all the energy we can muster for a full life.

Inevitably that kind of example leaves a lasting impression and without a doubt encourages others to do the same even if against great odds.

More than anything else, it is the fine work and efforts of so many staff and volunteers that leave lasting impressions about Hillsides on those we serve. So although our sense of loss is great, we are nevertheless grateful for the “lasting impression” that Rosario has left on all of us. Her life is an extraordinary example of one who lived out what we believe--that our efforts are worthwhile and makes a difference.

May she rest in peace!

Happy Birthday Hillsides

According to our documents of incorporation, Hillsides was established on September 8, 1913 making it 98 years old! In just a couple of years we will mark our centennial and there is a committee of our Board of Directors already anticipating the event.

We sometimes find the enterprise of providing services to such vulnerable children and their families very overwhelming, but at least, we have a well established donor community, an organization that is competent with a great reputation, and a publicly funded social service system in place. So I can just imagine how daunting it must have been for Deaconess Wile, our founder, to have begun this work from scratch.

As we prepare for the centennial, we are combing through a lot of memorabilia and, in particular, I am interested in everything and anything that can offer an insight into the life of this remarkable woman. We know she was a woman of remarkable faith and that she saw her dedication to orphaned children as an expression of her beliefs and values. As such even today, although there is no sectarian agenda, the values she espoused continue to serve as the bedrock of the organization. She believed in the singular value of each child no matter what their history or circumstances. She was driven by the dream of providing a home for these underprivileged children and amazingly generated the resources that initiated what is today Hillsides.

Much has changed since 1913, but some things have not--our commitment to all the children and families we serve, helping them to understand their inherent value and their potential for a full and healthy life. Ninety- eight years later the tradition continues of being a resource for the children and families of our day who need assistance in a time of crisis.

Thank you, Deaconess Wile, for your vision, stamina and unwavering commitment. As friends and donors of Hillsides, know that your support continues to honor the dedication of this remarkable woman. She is the best example we have of someone, who in spite of the challenges, persevered and was successful. This hope is precisely what we pass on to all we serve.

Is there an "app" for education?

On September 3, the New York Times published an article entitled, “In Classroom of Future, Stagnant Scores,” about the effectiveness of technology in the classroom. In spite of a significant investment in technology to enhance education and tremendous expectations that technology would improve achievement levels, there is no proof that this investment has resulted in better outcomes. I suppose we can't help, but want to do everything possible to help our students achieve academically. Computers, handheld "smart" devices and software applications are ubiquitous. Somehow in a world of "early adaptors" we have been lulled into think that there is an "app" (application) for everything including education! But alas there is no app for that. There is no substitute for a dedicated teacher, a strong and solid curriculum, and a supportive environment starting with the family.

This is not to say that there isn’t a good reason to provide our students with all the technological bells and whistles that we can. In our very individualized educational program at Hillsides Education Center, we are constantly soliciting support to enhance our instructional technological capacity. But these tools have little impact compared to the extraordinary efforts and commitment of all on our school staff who stay focused on the specific educational and behavioral challenges that our students and residents confront, regardless of whether the smart board is state of the art or not!

I am happy to report that the smart boards are functioning well, that we are "wired" and keen on utilizing all that technology can offer in the educational setting. However, do not be deceived; the greatest factor contributing to the success of our students is the talented and dedicated cadre of teachers and education staff that skillfully leverage all at our disposal to help our students achieve much.

Hillsides Education Center is one of our greatest assets. Without it, we would be significantly handicapped in our efforts to support our residents and day students make it through a very challenging time in their lives. All our efforts to subsidize the inadequate funding we receive from fiscally strapped school districts is worth it when we see a student overcome their phobia of school, develop a sense of academic achievement and, more importantly, grow in their self esteem.

Decisions Postponed

As I prepare this blog I have received word that the President has signed the legislation that extends the debt limit. My immediate reaction is relief--not that we increased our debt ceiling, but that finally the barrage of vitriol inundating the air waves for the last month will perhaps end soon. I am afraid, though, what we have experienced is just a dress rehearsal for the next round of elections. Meanwhile, what some say was a fabricated crisis to advance a particular agenda has kept us as a nation from addressing the needs of the most vulnerable among us, who are truly victims of what was unquestionably the excesses of the last decade.

I will leave to others more versed in these issues to analyze how we got into this situation. We can blame it on the polices of former administrations, the financial meltdown in 2008 or the increased costs of entitlements, but it would seem to me that the balancing of our budget at both the State and Federal level on the backs of the most vulnerable without soliciting  the support of those most able to assist is the most un-American thing I can imagine.  

Some have described the “deal” reached in Washington on the debt limit as a compromise. I suggest that it is rather a tactic in a strategy to build the political momentum that either side needs to address not just the pressing issue of debt reduction, but also entitlements.

Entitlements are the safety net that supports education, services to the needy, and access to health care. How can we consider cutting these crucial services and asking the most vulnerable to sacrifice without soliciting the support and sacrifice of those far less vulnerable? How fair is that in such a great nation?

Let there be no doubt the impact of potential cuts would be significant for the children, youth and families we serve. Further cuts at the federal level to education funding would only make it more difficult for local school districts to provide for children with special learning challenges. Cuts to services for foster care will only further jeopardize children and youth who are already very vulnerable. Reductions in health care would continue to limit access and ironically drive up the costs of providing care.

You don’t have to be an economist to know the solution to this problem. Several examples from our own history demonstrate how we can successfully reduce our national debt while maintaining our commitment to the needy. The solution requires not only prudence and discipline with regard to spending, but also requires fair access to resources to maintain the safety net and invigorate the economy. The sacrifices can not be borne just by some; they must be taken up by all.