About FSA
Our mission is to strengthen and advocate for families and individuals of all ages and diversities, helping to create and preserve a healthy community.
Family Service Agency (FSA) has long been regarded as one of Santa Barbara County’s most reliable and effective nonprofit human service organizations. Established in 1899, FSA improves the health and well-being of our community’s most vulnerable children, families and seniors by ensuring access to food, shelter and other basic needs, as well as providing case management, advocacy, and mental health programs. Our transformative and essential programs include:
- Family Support Services
- School Counseling Services
- School Outreach Mentors
- Youth & Family Behavioral Health
- Holistic Defense
- Senior Services
- Long-Term Care Ombudsman
Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County merged operations with two North County organizations: Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center (SMVYFC) in 2017 and Guadalupe’s Little House by the Park (LHP) in 2019.
What this means for our community…
- Easier access to services— most services will now be available countywide
- Greater financial stability and organizational efficiency
- Combined staff expertise creating a hub of service excellence
We are committed to providing services where they are needed most: in the community. Eighty percent of our services are delivered on school campuses, at community centers and in clients’ homes. Our programs, which serve more than 28,000 people annually, combine clinical expertise, bilingual and bicultural staff, and close collaboration with other agencies.
At FSA, no one will be denied access to services due to inability to pay. FSA’s Sliding Fee Discount Program is designed to provide free or discounted mental health care based on family size and income and is adjusted down for rent/mortgage.