Press Releases

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 […]

Swing for Hope: A Milestone Tournament for ECDA

Through every swing, THANK YOU to everyone who helped make El Centro de Amistad’s inaugural Swing for Hope Golf Tournament such a success!   As our very first tournament, this milestone event was only possible because of the dedication of our amazing players and the generosity of our sponsors. Together, we raised vital funds that […]

Cultivating the Next Generation of Community Psychologists: The ECDA Doctoral Psychology Training Program

El Centro de Amistad (ECDA) created its Doctoral Psychology Training Program to help train future psychologists while giving the community access to quality, culturally sensitive mental health care. The program blends learning, compassion, and cultural understanding—values that have always guided ECDA’s work. Since becoming a training site in 2023, ECDA has welcomed students from universities […]

Talking to Children About Community Crisis Situations

Our community has faced a series of devastating crises—from the wildfires in January to the ongoing ICE raids across Los Angeles County. These events have raised deep concerns and anxiety for many of us. Children, too, are exposed to these stressful and often frightening experiences, which can profoundly affect their sense of safety and emotional […]

A Fresh Start for Emma and Her Children

Emma is a single mother of four who, at the time of enrollment, was navigating significant life challenges while living in an overcrowded apartment with multiple family members. The tight living conditions made daily life stressful—not just for her, but also for her children, who needed space to grow, learn, and thrive.   Determined to […]

Breaking Barriers, Building Futures: 2025 Virtual Conference Recap

Hosted by: El Centro de Amistad Date Hosted: May 14–15, 2025 Time Hosted: 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM PST Location: Virtual   El Centro de Amistad proudly hosted its 2025 virtual conference, Building Bridges: Supporting Children Through Transdisciplinary Work—a two-day interactive event designed to strengthen collaboration across disciplines in child development.   We were honored […]

Gabriela’s Journey Toward Healing and Empowerment

At El Centro de Amistad (ECDA), we are committed to walking alongside those we serve as they navigate life’s challenges and work toward personal growth and healing. One powerful example of this transformation is Gabriela, a 32-year-old who reached out to ECDA for support with overwhelming emotions that were impacting her daily life and relationships. […]

Join Our Two-Day Virtual Mental Health Conference

Join El Centro de Amistad for an enriching two-day virtual experience at our upcoming 2025 conference: “Building Bridges: Supporting Children Through Transdisciplinary Work,” scheduled for May 14th and 15th from 9 am to 12 pm PST. This year’s two-day conference will offer an insightful and interactive event focused on the importance of Transdisciplinary Work in […]