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 […]

The legal system can be challenging to navigate. Fortunately, El Centro de Amistad clients have a place to go to help them. Longtime supporter of our organization, Mark Ozzello, attorney at Markun Zusman Freniere & Compton LLP, volunteers several hours a month at a legal clinic the firm set up in partnership with El Centro […]

According to Mental Health America’s website, the House and Senate Health Committees had passed bills reauthorizing Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), the primary health insurance for pregnant women and children whose income disqualifies them from Medicaid insurance. But, neither chamber acted to vote on the bills before the expiration of CHIP at the end of […]

To keep families together, El Centro de Amistad was contracted by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) to help to empower families to become self-sufficient and reduce future reliance on agency interventions. The Family Preservation program began in September and so far 24 families have been enrolled. Families, who are at risk of […]

While parenting can be stressful at times, it also has its rewards. Maira Lopez, El Centro de Amistad case manager, discovered the joy of teaching parenting to a group of mothers whose children attend Telfair Elementary in Pacoima. For 13 weeks, participants come together to learn child development basics, communications skills, anger management techniques, self-care, […]