FSA In The News
Santa Barbara Works to Prevent Teen Suicides in the Pandemic
Our School Services Supervisor, Carol Morgan, says that the best way an adult can handle a teen they believe is struggling with depression or suicidal thoughts is to directly confront them about the behaviors they have noticed in a nonjudgmental and supportive way.
Individuals, families assisted through COVID-19 joint response
Read more in the Santa Ynez Valley Star…
United Way is working in partnership with Family Service Agency to distribute individual assistance grants to individuals and families in need on a rolling basis for as long as funds are available.
Local Mental Health Nonprofits Helping with COVID-19-Related Stress
Family Service Agency is providing mental health counseling during the pandemic through telehealth, interfacing with clients via phone or teleconferencing with the consent of clients/parents/guardians. FSA is adhering to standard HIPAA guidelines and using only HIPAA-compliant platforms for providing telehealth.
Nonprofits Are Adapting to Survive, Deliver Services Amid Coronavirus
Read more In Cynder Sinclair’s Noozhawk column…
“FSA’s core services for families and seniors — basic needs assistance and mental health counseling — are needed by even more community members during this crisis and will continue throughout,” Executive Director, Lisa Brabo.
Little House By The Park makes masks while benefiting unemployed
About a dozen unemployed women in North County are working with the Little House by the Park to produce thousands of protective masks for Santa Barbara County residents. The effort is being funding by United Way.
805 Focus: Interview with Lisa Brabo
On this episode, Dr. Cynder Sinclair of NonProfitKinect, interviews Lisa Brabo, Executive Director of the Family Service Agency.
Cynthia MacDuff to Participate in Federal Research Project
Cynthia MacDuff, a Family Support Services Program Manager for Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County, has been invited to participate as a subject matter expert in research being conducted by the Administration for Children and Families (ACF).
Family Service Agency Merges with Little House by the Park
Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County and Guadalupe’s Little House by the Park have merged, effective July 1, 2019. FSA is the legal entity, and Little House by the Park’s identity, vision, and good work in the community continues uninterrupted.
Family Service Agency: Helping Build Strong Families
Read more in the Santa Maria Times…
More than 1,250 families in Lompoc and the Santa Maria Valley received intensive case management, mental health counseling, and educational programs for parenting, healthy relationships, and other life skills through Family Service Agency (FSA) and Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center (SMVYFC) last year. In addition, FSA-SMVYFC provided more than 8,500 families with information and referrals to community resources.
LUSD and Partners Awarded $1 Million for Mental Health Services
Read more in the Santa Maria Times…
Through a grant from the federal Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, FSA will provide mental health counseling for students in fifth through eighth grades in Lompoc public schools with a high level of exposure to violence. Funds also will be used to provide mental health consultation for teachers to support children’s social and emotional development and to address challenging behaviors in the classroom. In addition, the money will fund a program for families at middle schools in an effort to enhance child development and reduce the likelihood of child abuse and neglect.
Senior Expo 2019 Draws Hundreds
Hundreds of seniors are feeling a little healthier this evening after attending the 31st Annual Senior Expo of Santa Barbara at the Earl Warren showgrounds.
Santa Barbara School District Says Mental Health, Drug Counseling Helping Students
Students in the Santa Barbara Unified School District showed improvement in their emotional and behavioral health over the past year as a result of mental health services provided by the Family Service Agency, according to district officials monitoring the progress.
Photo Contest Celebrates ‘The Good Life on the Central Coast’
Family Service Agency (FSA) announces “The Good Life on the Central Coast” Photo Contest for 2019. Santa Barbara County residents of all ages are invited to share their favorite photographs for a chance to win cash prizes. All entries will be eligible for permanent display in the FSA’s Santa Maria Valley Youth & Family Center office.
Family Service Agency Elects New Board Co-Presidents, Officers
Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County announces Robin Doell-Sawaske and Terri Zuniga as co-presidents for its 2019-2020 Board of Directors.
Holistic Defense Program gets $65,000 to help women stabilize their lives
A $65,000 grant has been awarded to the Santa Barbara County Public Defender and the Family Service Agency to expand the Holistic Defense Program which integrates social services and legal representation in an effort to help women stabilize their lives and reduce re-offending.