Press Releases

Client Success Story: Reclaiming Health, Hope, and Confidence

At El Centro de Amistad, we are honored to walk alongside individuals on their journey toward healing and self-discovery. Luis’s story is a powerful example of resilience, growth, and the impact of compassionate care.   Luis, a 50-year-old immigrant from El Salvador, sought support after being diagnosed with diabetes and experiencing symptoms of depression. Encouraged […]

Enhanced Care Management: A New Free Service to Support You

El Centro de Amistad is proud to introduce Enhanced Care Management (ECM), a new, free service designed to help individuals better navigate their mental and physical health needs.   Taking care of your health can feel overwhelming, but you don’t have to do it alone. ECM provides personalized, compassionate support through a dedicated care team […]

Registration Now Open: 6th Annual Mental Health Conference

El Centro de Amistad is proud to announce that registration is now open for the 6th Uncertain Times, taking place on May 13, 2026, from 8:30 AM – 3:00 PM.Annual Mental Health Conference , Healing Hearts: Restoring Hope in   Now in its sixth year, this free conference brings together mental health professionals, community partners, […]

BREAKING THE STIGMA & NORMALIZING CONVERSATION

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 […]

A Season of Gratitude, Giving, and Community

This holiday season, El Centro de Amistad was proud to bring hope, nourishment, and joy to hundreds of families across the San Fernando Valley through two of our most meaningful annual traditions, our Thanksgiving Distribution and Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program.   On Saturday, November 22, our community came together for a successful Thanksgiving Distribution that served […]

Helping Our Children Feel Safe in an Uncertain World

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 […]

ECDA’s Community Baby Showers: Nurturing New Beginnings

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 […]

Turning Challenges Into New Beginnings

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 […]

Helping a Young Boy Overcome Anxiety

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 […]

Give Hope This Holiday Season

As the holidays approach, El Centro de Amistad (ECDA) is once again launching our annual Thanksgiving Food Basket & Gift Card Drive and Adopt-A-Family Christmas Program. These two campaigns are at the heart of our mission to support families in need throughout the San Fernando Valley, bringing warmth, hope, and joy to those facing financial […]