A Major Grant from BCM Foundation is Matched by First 5 LA to expand The Whole Child’s critical Early Attachments Infant-Toddler Center
WHITTIER, CA(APRIL, 2012) – A premier children’s mental health agency since 1957, The Whole Child has just received a combined $800,000 from two major grants to expand its Early Attachments Infant-Toddler Center, an evidenced-based mental health intervention and prevention program for children ages birth to five in the Greater Whittier area.
$400,000 was granted by the BCM Foundation, a long-time supporter of The Whole Child.The remaining $400,000 was received through a matching grant made by First 5 LA.
“It is only through the philanthropic support of generous donors such as the BCM Foundation and First 5 LA that The Whole Child can expand critically needed services to at-risk children,” said Charlene Dimas-Peinado, CEO, The Whole Child. “We are grateful for their forward thinking and vision to protect the most vulnerable.”
The Whole Child’s Early Attachments program targets infants and toddlers, ages 0-5 who are identified as high risk for abuse and/or neglect as well as those at high risk of adversity due to special needs.It also includes their parent(s) often with a history of mental illness and/or substance abuse.
In 2003, The Whole Child, implemented early intervention and prevention services with First 5 LA –School Readiness Program, via a two million dollar grant over eight years.This new grant will not only allow these preventative and mental health services to be available to protect more infant and toddlers, it will expand the geographic availability.
Key components will include: parent enrichment classes, developmental screenings for infants and toddlers, family therapy, workshops and support groups for children and their parents, and preventative programs for perianatal depression in women. The bilingual staff at The Whole Child will also utilize the grant to train both child care providers and health care providers in identifying and working with mental health issues in young children. The Whole Child, will be collaborating with such local community partners as: Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital Montebello’s Beverly Hospital, and local school districts.
“Today’s research has shown that the first 36 months of life, including those in utero, are the most important months of life when the groundwork is laid for how an individual views him/herself in relation to the world and how safe it is to form healthy relationships with others,” says Dr. Rose Temblador, Director for The Whole Child’s Birth to Five services. “It is critical that we identify relationship issues at their inception, when intervention can have the greatest impact, rather than waiting until those windows of opportunity have closed and greater efforts must be expended with possibly fewer and less effective outcomes resulting in costly intervention, long-term follow-up and less success.”
Several national studies have demonstrated that for every dollar invested in early childhood yields between $3 to $7 in return.Early Attachments provides a full range of mental health services that promotes mental wellness in early childhood, prevent problems in children growing up in high risk environments, decrease the risk for child abuse, and decrease the risk of children exhibiting more severe mental health problems in the future.
The Whole Child is the leader in Southeast Los Angeles in mental health services for children from birth to 18 years old.For more than 50 years, The Whole Child has been committed to providing children and families with the skills and support they need to build emotionally healthy lives.
OUR MISSION - The mission of The Whole Child is to give children of all ages the skills, support and security they need to build emotionally healthy lives and become caring, responsible adults. Our commitment to children includes their parents, whom we empower to create nurturing families. Together, we enrich our community and our world.
OUR VISION - We envision a society that embraces children as its most precious resource and that is actively committed to their safety, emotional well-being and ability to thrive at home, school and play.
The Whole Child 10155 Colima Road, Whittier, CA 90603 (562) 692-0383
