Episcopal Community Services Awarded $50,000 Prebys Foundation Grant for Youth Behavioral & Mental Health Initiatives

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Episcopal Community Services Awarded $50,000 Prebys Foundation Grant
for Youth Behavioral & Mental Health Initiatives

San Diego, CA – Jan. 9, 2024 – Episcopal Community Services (ECS), an award-winning nonprofit organization committed to breaking barriers and transforming communities, proudly announces the receipt of a significant $50,000 grant from the Prebys Foundation. This generous contribution, earmarked for initiatives under ECS's Para Las Familias (PLF) program, represents a vote of confidence in the effectiveness and impact of ECS's work in the field of youth behavioral and mental health services.

ECS PLF will continue to change lives with the Presbys Foundation’s generous grant. January 2024.

The Prebys Foundation, a leading philanthropic organization in San Diego County, has recently allocated $30.6 million in grants across 147 organizations, demonstrating its dedication to visual and performing arts, medical research, healthcare, and youth success and financial stability. The substantial grant awarded to ECS aligns with the Foundation's focused efforts and underlines the critical role of mental health in fostering the development and well-being of young people within the community.

“This investment from The Prebys Foundation enables ECS to meet the growing demand for behavioral and mental health support for young children in our community,” said ECS CEO Elizabeth Fitzsimons. “ECS is grateful to the Foundation for recognizing this need and ECS’ role in delivering critical care to children and their caregivers.”

ECS Para Las Familias

Para Las Familias, a dedicated outpatient clinic, offers bilingual behavioral and mental health services to children in the under-resourced communities of the South Bay area. Focusing on the developmental needs of low-income children from birth to 12 years old, PLF plays a crucial role in their wellbeing. The recent grant stands to greatly enhance PLF's ability to extend its services and improve care quality, making a substantial impact on the lives of numerous children within these communities.

About Episcopal Community Services

ECS provides $38 million in comprehensive health and human services across the San Diego region. Through a range of wraparound programs encompassing early childhood education, mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, and homelessness services, ECS tailors its approach to meet each client’s unique needs. Annually supporting over 7,000 individuals, the organization leverages deep professional expertise and lived experiences to assist clients in realizing their full potential. To learn more about ECS’s transformative impact, please visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/.

About Prebys Foundation

The Prebys Foundation is the largest independent private foundation in San Diego County, working tirelessly to create an inclusive, equitable, and dynamic future for all San Diegans. In 2023 alone, the foundation awarded 214 grants totaling over $57 Million across various sectors. Visit www.prebysfdn.org/ to learn more.

Media Contact:
Adrienne Wilkerson
ECS Communications Director
awilkerson@ecscalifornia.org. ###

A Transformative Mission in SUD Recovery

Paula, ACCORD SUD Counselor, finds purpose in her career. *December 2023.

SAN DIEGO – Paula is an SUD (substance use disorder) Counselor at ECS’ ACCORD DUI Treatment Program. Although she has worked in the SUD field for 28 years, Paula is no stranger to addiction. She struggled with a substance use disorder for many years. The challenges her clients deal with are often challenges she faced in the past. And it’s her lived experience that makes her such a compassionate counselor. 

“I did things that I would have never imagined. Who am I to judge anybody that sits here [at ACCORD]? Cause what I do know is that everybody who sits here is good people. You made a bad choice, right? So, give yourself some grace because God gives us grace all the time. And that’s why I do what I do,” Niemeyer explained.  

The way she treats her clients reflects this mindset.  

“I don’t ever come to work and tell my people, ‘You need to stop drinking…’ and ‘don’t do that’ cause I had that. I had people pointing a finger at me and telling me what a shame I was all the time. I don’t do that.” 

Paula grew up in what she described as an alcoholic and violent family setting, which made it difficult to be trusting and comfortable. This environment was also a factor in her struggle with substance abuse. 

“I started using my own mother’s Valium… I found out that when she would hit me, they were just like little slaps, and so I could take it, right? And so, it didn’t matter, so I would steal the Valiums, I would take them, and I knew when I would come home if she beat me, she beat me,” Paula said. “The drug covered up the emotional feeling.” 

At 18, Paula left home and met her husband shortly after. She got pregnant and then gave birth to a daughter who passed away at the tender age of only 88 days. This event would be the catalyst that sparked her heroin addiction.  

“I needed something that numbed that,” Paula said, pointing to her head, “and numbed this,” pointing to her heart. 

Perhaps by God’s design, seven years later to the exact day that her first daughter was born, Paula gave birth to her son. “The whole night, I just watched him – the whole night. I was just so scared,” she said. 

Even after the birth of her son, Paula still struggled to break free from addiction. She described the moment everything became clear for her as an “out-of-body experience.” 

“I can see myself sitting at this table, literally, like I can see, looking down, I can see the table and myself sitting there. And it was like two movies that went frame by frame,” she explained.  

She gestured to one side of her head. “This one here, I could see myself being led back into CIW (California Institution for Women), which is a prison. I could see the tower, the gate,” she said. Then, gesturing to the other side, “This one here, I can see a casket and a man, and to me, it was a funeral. The only person there was the man that was performing the service. And I felt like God was saying ‘Take your pick. Which one do you want, Paula?’ That’s a tough pick, which one do you pick? I didn’t want either one. So, I don’t know how much time went by… I just know when I came back into my body, I said, excuse my French, I said ‘[expletive] this, I can’t do this no more.’ And I called Narcotics Anonymous.” 

Paula with her grandchildren. *December 2023.

Today, Paula is 30 years sober, and her son is a Chief in the Navy. Paula also has three grandchildren, whose pictures hang proudly in her office. “Wherever they may go, I will follow,” she said of her family. “That’s what I got in my life.” 

Paula cut ties with her parents and siblings, but in losing that family she gained another. “I remember when I got clean, my sponsor asked me to write a list of everything I wanted God to give me. I remember the first thing on there was my family,” Paula said. She found unconditional love in the family she built. 

Paula draws from her challenges, experiences, and growth to help teach her clients and extend much-needed empathy to them. 

Paula feels love and acceptance from her family. *December 2023.

She stated, “I know everything that I experienced in my life brought me to where I am today, made me who I am today.” 

The decision to stay in the SUD field was not always easy for Paula. But her trust in God continually guided her on the right path. 

“I remember I was 40 years old sitting at my desk… and it was just like God was talking to me. And I said, ‘Why? Why am I here? Why do you have me in this place?’” Paula said. “And it was like God was talking to me like I’m talking to you right now. He said, ‘Paula, you’re here because you’re supposed to help people. And if you help one person, you’ve done your job.’” 

Paula recalled that even when she left the SUD field to pursue a different job, “God would say, ‘Oh, no Paula, I need you over here.’ And he’d take me, and he’d drop me back off somewhere else.” Now, she is certain that SUD counseling is her true calling. 

In 2021, Paula joined the team at ECS ACCORD and said she has felt very welcomed and supported in the organization. She continues to feel passionate about her work, even after so many years. She described seeing lives change through the program as her “emotional paycheck.”  

“When a person comes into residential treatment, they come in like a very dried up, withered weed,” Paula said. “They come in, you nurture them, you give them support, you water them, and then when they leave, they turn out to be this very beautiful bouquet as they exit the door. That’s what I like to see.” 

Paula’s dedication and knowledge helps shape lives every day, and as long as she follows God’s plan, she won’t be retiring any time soon. 

ECS ACCORD is a state licensed DUI Treatment Program supporting individuals with DUI offenses, offering educational classes on substance abuse effects, and group and individual counseling sessions in a confidential environment. Its goal is to reduce DUI incidents and mitigate their impact on individuals, families, and the community. Approximately 95% of clients state their experience at ACCORD has positively impacted their lives. 

*Caption dates may not be exact. 

Episcopal Community Services Celebrates Success of Family-to-Family for the Holidays Gift-Giving Program

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

Episcopal Community Services Celebrates Success of
Family-to-Family for the Holidays Gift-Giving Program

San Diego, CA – Dec. 27, 2023 – Episcopal Community Services (ECS) is proud to announce the successful conclusion of its annual Family-to-Family for the Holidays gift-giving program. This heartwarming initiative brought joy and Christmas cheer to many San Diego families in need, touching the lives of 315 individuals across 70 client families.

An ECS family receives gifts from Family-to-Family. December 2023.

Each family sponsored through this program includes at least one client receiving critical services from ECS in areas such as early childhood education, mental and behavioral health, and substance use disorder treatment. This year's program witnessed not only an outpouring of generosity from the community but also remarkable stories of hope and resilience.

One such story comes from John Hoffman, a former client of an ECS transitional housing program. Having faced homelessness and despair after his discharge from the Navy in the early 1990s, John's life was transformed through the support and guidance he received at ECS. His journey from desperation to becoming a critical care RN is a powerful demonstration of the effect of ECS's work, and his return as a donor this year highlights the organization's full-circle impact.

“I was just discharged from the Navy, homeless, and needed help. The manager there, Linda Thomas, saw the desperation in my eyes and took me in. I lived there for 18 months, went to school, saved money, and met some of the kindest counselors who guided and helped me along the way," John shared in an emotional recount to Angel Ibarra, Associate Director of Strategic Partnerships & Government Affairs, and lead of the Family-to-Family initiative.

Family-to-Family helps ensure a magical holiday season for all. December 2023.

Reflecting on John's story, Elizabeth Fitzsimons, ECS CEO, sent a heartfelt message to the staff: "John’s story is a powerful example of the lasting impact ECS makes on the people we serve. Team, thank you for all you do every day to make a difference."

ECS staff members also participated in the program, demonstrating their commitment to the organization's mission. Accompanying this press release are heartwarming photographs showcasing the joy and gratitude of the families involved in the program. These images capture the essence of the holiday spirit fostered by ECS's Family-to-Family program.

About Episcopal Community Services

ECS provides $38 million in comprehensive health and human services, breaking barriers and transforming communities across the San Diego region. Through a range of wraparound programs encompassing early childhood education, mental and behavioral health, substance use disorder treatment, and homelessness services, ECS tailors its approach to meet each client’s unique needs. Annually supporting over 7,000 individuals, the organization leverages deep professional expertise and lived experiences to assist clients in realizing their full potential. To learn more about ECS’s transformative impact, please visit https://www.ecscalifornia.org/.

For more information about ECS or to arrange interviews and further media coverage, please contact Adrienne Wilkerson, Communications Director, at awilkerson@ecscalifornia.org or 619-346-8517. ###

ECS Holiday Party

Uptown Safe Haven, C-HRT Safe Haven, and ECS leadership posing during the festivities. December 2023.

SAN DIEGO – ECS celebrated its first organization-wide Holiday Party last Friday, an event marked by camaraderie, excitement, and holiday cheer. ECS, known for providing essential health and human services to over 7,000 children, adults, and families annually, took this opportunity to show appreciation for the staff’s dedication and hard work. The celebration was attended by almost everyone, including staff from all programs, leadership, and board members, who connected for the joyous occasion.

Festivities included the ECS Connection Game (a fun ice-breaker challenge), aroma therapy crafts, yoga, and games. These activities provided a chance for participants to win raffle prizes.

Head Start staff highlight their holiday cheer with smiles and matching sweaters. December 2023.

Montgomery Head Start teacher Valery Vazquez shared her feelings about the event. “I love [it] when everybody comes together, and we get to have fun,” she said. “It’s just nice to see everybody in the Christmas spirit.”

Patricia Perez, San Ysidro Head Start Associate Teacher, expressed similar sentiments. She enjoyed “gathering with... friends I haven’t seen in a while.” Having been with ECS for 26 years, she stated, “We haven’t had anything like this.”

C-HRT Lead Resident Assistant Taliea Burton also shared her thoughts. “I’m loving the ice breakers and the games. I’m loving... the positive spirits and everybody getting together. I love that there’s no set tables for each program so everybody gets to mingle and meet each other… it’s awesome,” she commented.

ECS staff patiently waiting to enter the holiday party. December 2023.

The festivities continued with an entertaining ugly sweater contest, a lively dance floor, and even a visit from Santa himself.

Jennifer Jow, ECS Board Treasurer, observed the event’s significant impact. “It gives everybody the opportunity to get to know one another,” she said. “People get to meet some of the people that they never ever see.” The party not only served to bring the ECS community together but also provided a well-deserved break. “I think it’s wonderful to give this to all the employees and give everyone the chance to celebrate the holidays together,” Jow noted.

The holiday party was a hit, complemented by perfect San Diego weather: 65 degrees and sunny.

ECS extends its gratitude to the planning committee, all the volunteers who worked diligently before, during, and after the event, and all attendees who made the day unforgettable.

ECS holiday party planning committee and volunteers proudly show off their ugly sweaters. December 2023.