Press Releases

Tips on How to Address Trauma with Children

By Sara Pineda, El Centro de Amistad Program Director After being exposed to the news, world events including natural disasters and violent tragedies that impact our lives, it’s not uncommon for children and adults to experience some fear, anxiety, or depression. For some parents it may be difficult to talk to their children to address some of […]

Setting Goals to Ensure Greater Impact

July marks El Centro de Amistad’s board of directors’ installation, and the board members have much to be proud of for their previous year of accomplishments. Under the leadership of Luis Cervantes, who is serving as the president for the third year, the agency has seen significant growth. Some accomplishments Luis cites are policy changes […]

3 Ways to Reduce Your Child’s Anxiety in the Upcoming School Year

The new school year can be exciting for some children yet it can also trigger feelings of anxiety for others. A new classroom. A new teacher. A new set of classmates. A new set of expectations. These factors can contribute to a child’s school anxiety. To plan for the upcoming school year, we reached out […]

Why Asking This Question Can Open a World of Hope

“What is the reason you are seeking services?” This question is the entry for many individuals who are desperately looking to change their lives and better their futures. Fortunately for El Centro de Amistad, Flaviola Garcia, intake specialist for nearly three years, is one of the first persons that they speak to who asks this […]

Risky Business can be a Sign to Mental Health Problems

May is Mental Health Awareness Month and to kick off our social media presence on Facebook, we’ll be sharing 40 mental health tips and tidbits in the next 40 days beginning on May 1. This year’s Mental Health America theme is “Risky Business.” The organization’s website states, “We believe it’s important to educate people about […]

Connecting Families to Community Services for the Summer

As part of Mental Health Awareness Month in May El Centro de Amistad (ECDA) is partnering with Pacoima Charter Elementary School for the school’s first ever community resource fair in late May. The school, which serves 1,450 students who are in high need of services, will host the event during its annual spring open house […]