Dream come true

As part of our centennial celebrations, we did some research on the founder of Hillsides, Deaconess Evelyn Wile. We discovered she was a true pioneer in her field and that although she died when she was only 49, in her lifetime she achieved much--certainly more than perhaps she ever imagined.

Evelyn Wile was born in 1877 in Boston, Massachusetts. She was, however, an adventurer and before settling in Pasadena traveled and worked in South Carolina, San Diego, New York, and Hawaii. This amount of travel was a considerable feat at that time. These travels seem to point to her professional development in the field of child care. With each stop in her journey, the deaconess grew in her conviction of what was best for children who for whatever reason were without their families. It is fair to say that she was not just driven by professional interests, but by a strong conviction that her work was indeed a calling rooted in her religious beliefs.  So strong was her commitment that she dedicated herself exclusively to those in her care.

Part of the legacy Deaconess Wile left to Hillsides is an ethic that persists to this day, embraced by subsequent leaders like my predecessor John Hitchcock who insisted that children, their well-being, and success comes first. All that she did was ultimately a refection of what was best for those she served. We see this in her insistence that the organization, although founded in East Los Angeles, find its permanent home in the countryside free from the stressor of the city. Another example was her commitment to conduct this important work in a less institutionalized setting than what was common in her era, favoring a more home-like cottage living environment.

 

As much as she was driven by a strong sense of mission, she was quite accomplished as an administrator and fundraiser. Documents that capture the early activities of the governing body indicate how savvy she was at securing some very influential members of the community to provide the financial support required to establish the organization. In the thirteen years during which she established and led the organization, she managed to lay the foundation for not only an array of services for those in her care, but also provided the vision for the organization that endures to this day.

Deaconess Wile measured her success when a child in her care had the confidence and ability to move on to independence. The same is true today. In addition to the success of creating a lasting change for all those we serve we also consider ourselves successful to the extent that we fulfill Wile’s dream of being an indispensible resource for very vulnerable children.

Deaconess Wile had many who shared her dream and lent their support to see it fulfilled. The same is true for us today. The recent 100 Faces campaign captured some of those who continue to help us fulfill the great mission of Hillsides to create a lasting change for the children, youth,  and families we serve.

All this will be celebrated in a very special way with our Founder’s Day event that will be held this Sunday, September 15, from 2:00 PM to 4:30 PM on the Hillsides Campus on Avenue 64. Please join us as we recall Deaconess Wile’s dream and our celebration of how it continues to be fulfilled in all we do.

Dream day

Where were you 50 years ago when Martin Luther King, Jr. led that historic march on Washington, D.C. and shared his famous “I Have a Dream” speech? I was getting ready to enter 8^th grade and had no clue how momentous that march was and the impact it would have for civil rights in this country. Much has changed in 50 years and yet the struggle for civil rights continues. Equality is illusive and freedom requires constant vigilance and effort. As much as some dreams have been fulfilled, others are still denied.

On the anniversary of this great speech, many are asking, “What is your dream?” At Hillsides we ask, “What is the dream for ourselves as an organization and for the children, youth, and families we serve?”

Given the most recent article in the Los Angeles Times addressing the crisis in foster care in the county, my dream is that every child will be kept safe and every child along with their family will receive the support they need to be successful.  In a previous blog, I introduced you to a young boy that was admitted to Hillsides from one of the children’s holding centers mentioned in the article. I wonder what his dreams are? What responsibility does the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) have in putting him in the right path to achieve dreams? How are we helping him fulfill them?

The article reported that DCFS has reached a crisis point because of a severe lack of foster homes and other resources for children and youth in their care. A combination of an increased number of vulnerable families, shortsighted attempts to employ best practices, and a bottomline approach has led to this crisis, which is a long time in coming. As a result, there is a severe shortage of qualified foster homes. County social workers are stretched beyond a reasonable capacity. Providers are forced to do more with far less resources than is necessary. This is a disaster that puts children at risk and caregivers alike.

Dreams are dashed in such an overwhelming environment. But just as with the civil rights struggle, exposing the truth and insisting on improvement are required. There is no magic bullet, but the solutions are known. More resources are needed. Better assessments and measurable, achievable treatment plans must be developed as part of the initial intervention with these children. Early intervention that supports the role of family is essential to long-term success and stability. Effective recruitment of qualified foster homes is imperative. Perhaps if we can strive to improve in these areas, every child’s dream is closer to being fulfilled as they traverse the foster care system.

Increased funding is not the only solution; proven and effective interventions are also necessary. However, the care of the most vulnerable children should not be subject to the budget balancing exercises that often seem to drive decisions regarding their care. It is unacceptable and the result is a system that fails its mission to protect and improve the lives of those it serves.

I have a dream that some day soon we will have created communities that safeguard its children, supports its families, and assures the basic rights of all, especially the most vulnerable.  My dream for the young boy in our care is that we will be a resource for him and his family. By doing so, he will dream of great things for himself and be confident enough to pursue them.

Dreams are just fantasies if there is no reason to hope that they will be realized. One hundred years ago this coming month, a courageous woman acted on her dream to provide a safe and secure home for children whose families no longer were able to provide for them. Each day we take up that dream and commit anew to creating a lasting change for all we serve. Dream with us!

Housewarming to replace damaged items

On Tuesday, July 16, a main water pipe burst in one of our cottages, flooding the place and displacing the 10 adolescent girls who call that cottage home. By the time we were able to stop the flow of water, significant damage had been done. At least a couple of inches of water was everywhere, requiring major repairs to flooring and walls. Although the majority of furnishings were salvaged, some of the girls’ personal items were ruined.

This kind of disaster is terrible, but it quickly became more of a nuisance than anything else. However, for these young girls, vulnerable and easily traumatized, this incident was very disruptive. The loss of their personal space and some belongings as well as the need to relocate to a makeshift dormitory was truly traumatizing for them.

Luckily, most of the residents affected and their staff made the best of the situation. We needed to act quickly to restore the cottage and get these girls back into their own space.

We are very fortunate our insurance broker and carrier were quick to assess the damage and facilitate the claims process so that we could begin repairs immediately. All the flooring had to be replaced. Four inches at the bottom of each wall had to be cut out to assess the water damage and begin the drying process. Once the cottage was dry and free from any mold, the walls were repaired and painted before the flooring could be installed. Less than a month later, the girls are at least back in their own bedrooms while we complete the rest of the cottage. We are indebted to everyone who came to our aid at this time. In a particular way, this incident tested our disaster readiness and, once again, demonstrated how extraordinary our residential and maintenance staff are.

Insurance coverage will address expenses related to restoring the cottage to good working order. But it will not provide for the loss of personal items that the girls experienced, like comforters, pillows, stuffed animals, electronics, clothing, and especially shoes. We want to replace these items to help the girls, once again, feel at home in this cottage.

We are hoping that via this blog we can solicit your support to replace these personal items. The list is available online with instructions on how to donate. As always, gift certificates are welcomed and serve as a great way to engage the girls in selecting the replacements items. There is no better remedy to recover from this traumatic event than to provide these girls with some shopping therapy!

As always, thanks for the support you offer and know that your assistance will go a long way in helping these young girls feel at home. We encourage you to please share this blog with your family and friends in hopes that they, too, can help spread the word on how we need support to help replace the personal belongings for these girls.