Our Mission:

La Familia Counseling Service is an inclusive Latino community-based, multi-cultural organization committed to strengthening the emotional wellness of individuals and the preservation of families.

Our Vision is a vibrant, multi-cultural community where children play safely, families learn collectively and individuals reach their fullest potential.

History:

La Familia Counseling Service was established in response to the urgent need for linguistically relevant culturally sensitive mental health services in Southern Alameda County. First incorporated in May 1975 as the Southern Alameda County Comite Raza for Mental Health, La Familia, later that same year, began providing bilingual/bicultural counseling services to low-income Spanish speaking community.

La Familia has grown over the past 36 years to include a larger clientele as well as a greater variety of services. From its initial counseling and community education and information focus, the agency has expanded to encompass developmental disability case management services, youth and community program activities, and family preservation services.

La familia believes that historically the Raza/Latino people have been excluded from participating and contributing toward the development of thier communities within this society. Consequently, this led to internal conflicts within the individual, the family, and the community manifested as problems with cultural identity, drug-abuse, family disintegration economic difficulties, language barriers, and inaccessibility to educational opportunities.

Recognizing this reality we focus on a "Problems in Living" orientation, utilizing a comprehensive approach to Raza mental health that promotes the integration of the individual and family within the context of our community's psychosocial reality, and is reflective of Raza/Latino cultural values, beliefs and perspectives on life.

It is our belief that in recognizing the range of personal and family problems within the Raza/Latino community it is important to identify the strengths and solutions to problems in the spirit of self-determination, whici allows us to say "SI SE PUEDE Y SI PODEMOS."

Whereas, La Familia Counseling Service began September 1975 as the result of grass-roots community organizing effort to initiate appropriate bilingual/bicultural mental health services for Raza, that is, Hispanics; and

Whereas, La Familia Counseling Services incorporates a philosophy that recognizes the interaction of personal, family, and societal problems in impacting on th state of mental health, and identifies the strengths to resolve these problems as arising from Raza culture, communities, and families working together in the spirit of self-determination for the purpose of achieving the goal of"SI SE PUEDE Y SI PODEMOS-YES, WE CAN DO IT!"

Whereas, La Familia Counseling Service has effectively evlved to better meet the varied needs of the community by providing programs in the areas of counseling and community services, community education and information, "Hijos Del Sol" specialized youth counseling, case management services for the developmentally disabled, and children's day treatment services; and

Whereas, the clientele participating in the programs of La Familia Counseling Services have included a number of different ethnic groups in Alameda County and parts of Contra Costa County who have been characterized by their lack of access to more traditional services due to income restrictions, cultural/social barriers, and stigmas attached to their being emotionally/physically handicapped; and

Whereas, La Familia Counseling Service has received recognition for its service of contribution through receipt of awards and grants from Alameda County, the City of Hayward, the Regional Center of the East Bay, the United Way of the Bay Area, and private foundations and individual donors; now, therefore, be it</span></p>
<p class="p1">Resolved by Assembly Member Johan Klehs and Senator Bill Lockyer, that La Familia Counseling Service be commended and congratulated for its successes an dachcievements in providing comprehensive and effective services to the bilingual/bicultural community on the anniversary celebration of its 10th year of existence on September 21, 1985; and be it further resolved, that a suitably prepared copy of this resolution be transmitted to La Familia Counseling Services.

Members Resolution No. 1601

Dated this 11th day of September, 1985

Donations can be made through PayPal soon. If you would like to donate, please contact the Administrative Office at 510-881-5921 ext 113.

Board Members

Chairman of Board: Clinton Bailey

Vice Chairman/Treasurer: Jaime Almanza

Aaron Ortiz

Eleanor Dwyer

Marlin Foxworth

Andres Connell

Rene Macias