Opinion-Editorial By Maria G. Williams, a Licensed Family and Marriage Therapist and Clinical Supervisor at El Centro de Amistad How many new parents have experienced the anxiety, sadness, and fear when their child is attending their first day of school? Many questions come up at the time that makes us wonder if the experience will harm […]

By Sara Pineda, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist and Program Director for El Centro de Amistad Most of us might have experienced feeling unhappy or feeling “down” at some point in our lives.  We might have experienced not getting the job we were hoping for, a break up, or not getting a good grade on an important […]

Gary Nash, 42, is a survivor. After having had a nervous breakdown that stemmed from losing a job, getting a divorce, and attempting suicide twice, he found himself at Olive View-UCLA Medical Center on a 72-hour hold. He stayed admitted for two weeks and thereafter discharged with a list of places to call for mental […]

It’s not easy wearing different hats every day yet Nicole Salazar, a CalWORKs employment specialist at El Centro de Amistad, manages her accessories well. Her role in this program is to meet with clients and help them progress toward their employment and educational goals. Nicole accomplishes this by removing mental health barriers in order for […]

Tens of thousands of Los Angeles County residents have experienced significant improvements in mental health and wellbeing—including measurable reductions in homelessness and gains in employment—as a direct result of California’s Mental Health Services Act, according to a new RAND Corporation study. The report, commissioned by Los Angeles County, is the first extensive, independent analysis of […]

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Alexandra Patricia Ramos, known as Patty, hit rock bottom before she sought out help. During Patty’s childhood, her parents’ marital problems would eventually lead her mother to leave her husband due to infidelity. Patty from an early age was also exposed to alcohol abuse as her father was an alcoholic. She began using alcohol as a young teenager due […]

On January 24 El Centro de Amistad’s (ECDA) board of directors welcomed two new board members, Danitza Pantoja and Ismael Aguila. Born and raised in San Fernando Valley, both members share a love of the community. Danitza Pantoja School psychologist Danitza is no stranger to El Centro de Amistad. Having been appointed as a commissioner […]