ECS Recognized at SDBJ 40 Under 40 Awards

SAN DIEGO — On July 18, the San Diego Business Journal (SDBJ) held its award ceremony for its 40 Next Top Business Leaders Under Forty 2023 awards. The 40 Under 40 awards highlighted the next generation of leaders, change-makers, and innovators in the San Diego community.

ECS was thrilled to have three finalists make SDBJ’s list; Rosa Cabrera-Jaime, Director of Early Education & Family Services; Leslie Manriquez, Para Las Familias Program Manager; and Angel Ibarra, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships & Government Affairs, who was also selected as one of the Top 40 Under 40 award winners!

Congratulations to our outstanding finalists and winner. ECS is proud to have such talent within our organization, and we look forward to seeing these professionals continue to thrive in their careers and inspire community change.

Angel Ibarra, Assoc. Director of Strategic Partnerships & Government Affairs, poses with his 40 Under 40 award. July 2023.

(From left to right) Leslie Manriquez, PLF Program Manager; Stacie Perez, VP of Programs; Angel Ibarra, Assoc. Director of Strategic Partnerships & Government Affairs; Rosa Cabrera-Jaime, Director of Early Education & Family Services; and Tim Whipple, Development Director at SDBJ’s 40 Under 40 award ceremony. July 2023.

A Healthy Collaboration with Community Doc Talks

Head Start families engage with Community Doc Talks’ lessons. *July 2023.

SAN DIEGO — Over the past academic year, the ECS Early Head Start/Head Start Home-Based program has collaborated with Rady Children’s Hospital San Diego and the San Diego Regional Center, which allowed us to extend our resource base and offer vital training to our Head Start families.

Among the most prominent initiatives in this partnership is the Community Doc Talks program, a health education initiative catered to families with under-resourced children aged 0-5. Volunteer pediatricians from Rady’s are brought directly into the communities they serve, fostering a deeper understanding of the unique challenges these families encounter in their pursuit of a healthy lifestyle.

The Community Doc Talks program addresses key child health issues, including sleep, health and oral health, physical activity, conflict resolution, bonding, nutrition, and parental support. The volunteer clinicians lead interactive discussions in a lively, engaging environment to build parental trust and boost their confidence in their child interactions and parenting skills.

San Diego Regional Center and ECS Early Head Start Home-Based Staff at the 4th and D Center May Socialization. May 2023.

Additionally, Doc Talks functions as a bridge, connecting families with local resources tailored to meet their health, social, and behavioral needs. It employs a “train the trainer” philosophy, wherein our Home-Based staff received specialized training on the curriculum. They were also equipped with 70 children’s books, curriculum copies, handouts, and short educational videos from Rady’s pediatricians.

Alongside our work with Rady’s, the San Diego Regional Center contributed to the Early Head Start May Socialization event by offering the students developmental evaluations. This initiative led to 11 students being referred to Early Intervention Services, reinforcing the value of this collaboration.

Moving forward, the Early Head Start/Head Start Home-Based program is committed to strengthening ties with various community partners to enhance the resources and opportunities available to Head Start families, ensuring they receive the best support. Visit Head Start & Early Head Start — Episcopal Community Services (ecscalifornia.org) to learn more about ECS Head Start.

*Caption date may not be accurate

ECS Participates at San Diego Pride

(From left to right) Rev. Richard Lee, ECS Board Member; Lizet Nunez, Administrative Assistant; Angel Ibarra, Assoc. Director of Strategic Partnerships & Gov. Affairs; Sherri Kelly, Exec. Admin. & Chief of Staff; Tim Whipple, Development Director; and Maria Simpson, Media & Journalism Intern at the ECS Recovery Village booth. July 2023.

SAN DIEGO — Over the July 15-16 weekend, San Diego hosted its annual Pride Festival, a celebration filled with parades, parties, and a rainbow of fun activities. One unique festival element was the ‘Recovery Village,’ a sober space with resources for those on their recovery journey. ECS was excited to participate in the Recovery Village for the second consecutive year.

During the event, ECS had the opportunity to speak with Richard Correale, the Recovery Village coordinator. According to Correale, Pride represents a time of celebration for many, but for those in recovery, it could pose life-threatening risks of relapse. Hence, the importance of Recovery Village at the Pride Festival.

Correale recounted the genesis of Recovery Village, revealing its original vision: an area where individuals pursuing sobriety could connect, find resources, and celebrate with like-minded people. Since its inception, the project has seen remarkable growth. In 2023, Recovery Village boasted 14 community partners, offered four daily meetings (two of which were ASL interpreted), and three enlightening workshops on topics like basic ASL and harm reduction. 

Two Pride attendees sign off their game cards after playing Tip the Troll at the ECS booth. July 2023.

Correale could hardly contain his excitement as he shared the project’s impact, observing that the area was busy with attendees who were having a great time. “This area right now...is packed,” Correale pointed out, grinning at the apparent effectiveness of the village. “People are smiling; people are having fun; [and] there are lines at each booth.”

Correale’s passion for Recovery Village is evident. His eyes lit up when he shared the impact he’d seen through the project. “That feeling of usefulness and fulfilling the vision and seeing the value...that just really opens my heart,” he said.

ECS volunteers echoed Correale’s enthusiasm. Their day at Pride began with a parade and a barbeque at St. Paul’s Episcopal Cathedral, followed by distributing resources and playing carnival games at the booth. Tim Whipple, the Development Director, stressed the importance of ECS’ presence at Pride and the need to embrace diversity and inclusivity. “We came together — parishioners, the organizations with the Episcopal Diocese — partnering together to really show up for our LGBTQIA+ community to show that love is love and that everybody is welcome. I think it’s important (especially for ECS) to represent because we serve a variety of people of diverse backgrounds. We welcome everybody, we’re very inclusive, and that’s something that makes me very proud to be a part of this organization,” he stated.

Sherri Kelly, Executive Administrator & Chief of Staff spoke on why ECS’ presence in Recovery Village is crucial. “Many of the persons that would come to ECS, ...might be here.” 

“Just showing up and showing people we’re here for you; we’re here to walk with you; we’re not going to show any judgment; we’re here for you in this process,” added Whipple.

The overall feeling was that integrating recovery with Pride celebrations is beneficial. Kelly summed it up nicely, “Pride is a celebration of each person’s uniqueness. When someone’s going through a recovery process, it doesn’t feel like a celebration, but it is because it’s progress towards a better life, breaking through those barriers, and succeeding.” And, in essence, that is what Pride is all about. 

(From left to right) Katie Tran, ECS Board Member; Stacie Perez, VP of Programs; and Rosa Cabrera-Jaime, Director of Early Education & Family Services, smile from behind ECS’ booth in Recovery Village. July 2023.

ECS volunteers engage Pride attendees with games and discussion of ECS’ programs. July 2023.

A “Head Start” Toward Success

DiMaggio, former Head Start student, receives his diploma from Wagner College. *May 2023.

SAN DIEGO — Before entering the Head Start program, Yanina and her son DiMaggio were trying to get by. They needed resources to help their situation, especially regarding DiMaggio’s education. “My son was at daycare before he started the program,” Yanina said. “Little to nothing was about learning or education.” Luckily, after two years of non-nurturing childcare, Yanina’s family found their way to ECS Head Start. DiMaggio was a Head Start student for three years, and “once he started kindergarten, he was ready and always wanted to learn more,” his mother shared. Yanina expressed how Head Start “helped our son excel in his scholastics and gave him a strong foundation while making learning fun.” 

Now DiMaggio is leading a successful and fulfilling life. He landed scholarships, graduated magna cum laude, and is pursuing his CPA degree. His mother believes that Head Start set DiMaggio up for success and is proud of their participation in the program. One of Yanina’s granddaughters is currently attending Head Start, and she already sees how the program is giving her a strong foundation and setting her on a trajectory of success, just like it did for her uncle.

Heidi Avent (third from left), Family Engagement Specialist, and Rosa Cabrera-Jaime (fourth from left), Director of Early Education and Family Engagement, enjoy themselves with other Head Start staff. September 2022.

Head Start offers quality childcare, education, and wraparound services through Center-Based and Home-Based programs. Rosa Cabrera-Jaime, ECS’ Director of Early Education & Family Services, discussed the quality childcare that ECS provides. “Our classrooms are smaller in ratio, so we really connect and develop relationships,” Cabrera-Jaime stated, explaining how the teachers and staff ensure that “our children are ready, not just academically, but socially and emotionally.”

The program creates a trajectory of success for students and their families. “Head Start is known for removing barriers from families so they can return to the job force,” Cabrera-Jaime explained. One example of this success is Heidi Avent, a former Head Start parent, and the program’s current Family Engagement Specialist. Avent had two sons go through the program, and when they enrolled, she became a volunteer. Now, she’s been working with Head Start for nearly 30 years. “It feels like I haven’t worked a day in 26 years,” Avent said. “I feel like I’m going to my family. That’s what it’s been to me all these years.” Avent expressed her appreciation for how the program helped her learn to advocate for her kids and equip her with the necessary resources.

Montgomery Head Start students play, learn, and grow during class. May 2023.

One of the most significant advantages of Head Start is the resources that assist families like Yanina’s and the Avents. Head Start cares for and educates its students, but the support offered by the program goes further than that. Many who qualify struggle with issues such as accessing healthcare, food, and shelter, finding services for children with disabilities, or combatting domestic violence. Head Start also has many clients receiving public assistance, in foster care, recently migrated, or first-generation U.S. citizens. Wraparound services such as family and community engagement programs, parenting education, child developmental screenings, services for children with disabilities and pregnant women, behavioral health services, and referrals help these difficult situations. 

Yanina shared how helpful these resources were for her. “I’m so grateful and glad I was part of the ECS family,” said Yanina. Heidi Avent certainly reciprocated the feeling. “[Head Start] benefited our whole household,” she said. “They equipped me with the tools to become a better person and parent.” Avent finished off her story by stating, “Head Start works. They broke the cycle of poverty in my family.” Now she is helping do the same for thousands of other families.

Head Start is free for qualifying families. Eligibility includes CalFresh/SNAP recipients, CalWORKs/TANF recipients, SSI recipients, Foster/Kinship families, families experiencing homelessness, and low-income families. The program is available to children ages 0-5, and additional services are offered to pregnant women. “As soon as the mom becomes pregnant, that’s when the education begins, and we work with those parents from prenatal to age five,” Cabrera-Jaime explained.

Head Start is one of several community-based programs offered by ECS. To learn more, visit ecscalifornia.org. 

*Caption date may not be exact.