Child Abuse Prevention

 The program provides child abuse services for youth and their families who live in the Antelope Valley, San Fernando and Santa Clarita Valleys. Some services are targeted to the Spanish-speaking community. Services include adolescent/youth counseling, child abuse counseling, child abuse prevention, child guidance, family counseling, outreach programs, technical assistance on child abuse issues, and wraparound facilitation/community support. There are no geographic restrictions.

  Programs include the Family Crisis Center, which provides psychotherapeutic services for youth, age 6 to 18, who have been physically or sexually abused; the Family Stress Center, which includes counseling and guidance for families who have children age 6 and younger, counseling for families with children age 8 or younger in which the children and the parents have been sexually abused, and specialized groups for Spanish-speaking families with children, age 8 and younger, who have been sexually abused. 

  Child abuse education and prevention services for children who have been physically or sexually abused and their families include individual, family and group counseling; and psychological testing. The agency also provides counseling for families which are at-risk for child abuse, and specialized treatment for siblings of abused children.  

  Child abuse prevention education is also available for court ordered individuals. The program teaches parents and caregivers how to avoid potentially abusive situations and how to recognize the signs of abuse.  

  The agency is a provider of Wraparound Services for DCFS referred children, and also accepts school-based referrals for children for the AB3632 program. Wraparound is conducted by a multi-displinary team consisting of a social worker case manager, a therapist and a parent "Partner". Sessions are conducted in the home and may involve just the child or the whole family as needed. The program accepts youth from age 8 to 18, and may continue for one year or longer. The service area is LA County SPAs 1 and 2.

  Outreach prevention services targeted to the Spanish-speaking community include consultations with professional agencies and schools, emergency consultation in crisis situations, parent education and specialized information and referral. Services to professionals include training in the identification of child abuse or neglect and proper referral.