Press Releases

Strength in the Face of Adversity

After facing adversity, Jane, a mother of two, has successfully completed mental health treatment at El Centro de Amistad. Jane was originally referred to us in February by the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS). Her initial involvement came to the attention of DCFS due to intimate partner violence in the home. Jane reported […]

Hope for the Holidays

As part of our tradition of giving back to our community, El Centro de Amistad hosts an annual Thanksgiving Food Drive and Adopt-A-Family campaign during the holiday season. Both of these campaigns are heartwarming initiatives aimed at bringing joy and hope to low-income families struggling with mental health issues. The campaigns seek to create a […]

Assemblywoman Luz Rivas Presents $1 Million to El Centro de Amistad to Expand Facility for More Mental Health Clinicians

In a significant stride towards bolstering community well-being, Assemblywoman Luz Rivas has successfully secured $1 million in funding for El Centro de Amistad (ECDA). This funding aims to facilitate the expansion of ECDA’s existing facilities, fostering increased access to vital mental health, family, and legal services for the local community. El Centro de Amistad, a […]

The Holiday Blues

The holidays bring more than just presents, apple cider, and dinner parties. For many, the holidays are a wonderful time of year that bring joy, but for others, it may bring sentimental memories or stress known as the holiday blues. The holiday blues refers to temporary feelings such as sadness, loneliness, a sense of loss, […]

Thank You for Joining Us at Our Virtual Mental Health Conference!

With over 300 views, our virtual conference was indeed a success! We want to thank you for giving your valuable time and attention during ECDA’s Annual Virtual Mental Health Conference on May 17 in which we explored topics about the impact and effects of Interpersonal Violence (IPV) on BIPOC families and inherent layers of trauma […]

Educational Challenges Turned to a Brighter Road Ahead

Silvia is a client in the Step Care Program who began mental health services with her mental health clinician (MHC) Miriam Guijarro in May of 2023. Silvia is an 11-year-old girl, who lives with her parents and sibling. Silvia’s family originated from Jalisco, Mexico, and through their Catholic religion, they rely on their faith to […]

Off to School, We Go!

It’s almost that time again. Summer break is over, and the children go back to school. Below are some tips that will assist with the beginning of a new school year. Some of the tips below are useful throughout the entire school year. Whether a child is starting a new school year or a new […]

Infant Mental Health and the Benefits of Infant Massage

When we think about who can participate and benefit from mental health services, we may think of school-age children, teens, and/or adults. While mental health services can be beneficial to these age groups, many individuals may not know that infants can also benefit from mental health services as well. At El Centro de Amistad, one […]

ECDA at the California Charter School Conference 2023

El Centro de Amistad attended this year’s California Charter School Conference in March 2023 in Sacramento, California. The team representing ECDA at Sacramento included our Associate Director, Tania Fallert-Del Gatto, IECMH Program Manager, Maria G. Williams, and our Child Therapists, Alina Gonzalez, and Alexis Cabrera. Our staff showcased all the services ECDA provides to the […]