By: Natalie Santoyo, MS, LMFT, Infant & Early Childhood Mental Health Program Manager El Centro de Amistad (ECDA), we believe that fathers and father figures play an irreplaceable role in the earliest chapters of a child’s life. That belief took center stage on Saturday, June 13th, when ECDA partnered with the City of San Fernando […]
By: Maria Williams, MA, LMFT, Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health Program Director This past May, El Centro de Amistad proudly hosted our 6th Annual Mental Health Conference, Healing Hearts: Restoring Hope in Uncertain Times, bringing together 180 mental health professionals, educators, students, and community partners committed to strengthening the well-being of children, families, and […]
By: Diana Jauregui, MSW, LCSW, Clinical Supervisor Back-to-school season brings a lot of emotions for kids and for caregivers. While some children are excited to get back to their friends and routines, others may feel nervous, overwhelmed, or uncertain. All of these reactions are normal. Here are some helpful tips to help kids and caregivers […]
El Centro de Amistad is proud to announce the launch of the Mission Gang Reduction and Youth Development (GRYD) Prevention Program, beginning July 1, 2026. This new program expands our commitment to supporting children, youth, and families by providing prevention services that promote healthy development, strengthen family relationships, and increase protective factors that help youth […]
Honoring Our Legacy. Building Our Future. It is both an honor and a privilege to welcome you to this edition of the El Centro de Amistad newsletter. Having served this remarkable organization for more than 22 years, I have had the opportunity to witness firsthand the compassion, resilience, and dedication that define our mission. I […]
By: Bianca Marinescu, MA, LMFT, Clinical supervisor WHY THIS CONVERSATION MATTERS Every day, people experience anxiety, depression, grief, trauma, burnout, and other mental health challenges while trying to appear fine on the outside. Many stay silent not because they do not want help, but because they fear judgment, misunderstanding, or shame. That is the power […]
By: Dr. Tiffany M. Ortiz, Licensed Clinical Psychologist Many parents are noticing that children today seem more worried, fearful, or emotionally overwhelmed and dysregulated. Through social media, news, and conversations online, children are being exposed to frightening images and stories about violence, immigration fears, discrimination, and domestic and global unrest, often without the emotional tools […]
By: Natalie Santoyo, MS, LMFT At El Centro de Amistad (ECDA), we know that the earliest moments of a child’s life lay the foundation for lifelong health, connection, and resilience. That belief came to life during our recent community baby shower events, where families gathered to celebrate new beginnings, build meaningful connections, and access vital […]
By: Ruchika Puri, MA, LMFT Stephanie, a single mother of three school-aged boys, was referred to El Centro de Amistad through the CalWORKs GAIN program during a particularly challenging time in her life. At intake, she shared that over the past year, she had been struggling to manage daily responsibilities and was seeking support to […]
At just nine years old, “David”, a Latino boy from our community, came to El Centro de Amistad (ECDA) struggling with severe anxiety. His school referred him to treatment after noticing ongoing symptoms that made it difficult for him to thrive.His mother shared that David had always been anxious—often worrying excessively, avoiding new situations, and […]
