El Centro de Amistad hosted an all staff event on Friday, April 2, 2010 at The California Endowment in the downtown Los Angeles area.  The event focused on team-building and appreciation.  It was the Agency’s way of getting everyone together and thanking the staff and volunteers for their dedication to the Agency and the community at large.  The staff enjoyed a fun-filled day and lunched together in the historic Placita Olvera (Olvera Street)

As mentioned earlier this month, the Girls Scout finally had their cookie sale. The proceeds for this sale will be used to purchase the girls uniforms. The girls were able to reach their cookie sale goal which was roughly 150 boxes. Thanks to all of the El Centro staff members for your support and help. This really meant a lot to the girls.

This month Carmen Tobar, our Learning Center teacher, focused on fostering and developing English language development. This was done by introducing or reviewing the subject of weather. Carmen has a handful of students who are in Spanish speaking classes. They range from as early as pre-kinder through fifth grade. She wants to help them develop their English language and to do this she implemented SDAIE (Specially- Designed Academic Instruction in English) strategies into the unit. Some of these strategies included brainstorming, comprehension checks, graphic organizers, group discussions, and round table. Carmen also made sure to use a lot of visuals so that the students could have examples of what is being taught. Carmen also had them practice their sentences orally as well as writing them. For the little ones they could represent the weather by using an illustration. Carmen also asked the younger students what the picture represented to them, and explained to them that pictures and writing represent a thought or idea.

The class also celebrated St. Patrick’s Day. Carmen read books to them and discussed how the holiday is celebrated. For example, Carmen introduced the concept of leprechauns, pot of gold, luck, and four leaf clovers. The class also decorated four leaf clovers. Most of the student wore their four green leaf clovers on St. Patrick’s Day.

The students are still working building their reading comprehension skills. This month we tried a different strategy.  Students had to draw their favorite scene from a story they read. Along with their illustration, students also wrote a caption to explain what their illustration represented. This was extremely helpful for my preschool students because, although they cannot write, they can recall events that took place in the story and illustrate it. To celebrate Valentine’s Day, the students constructed a chocolate box and decorated it to their liking. Students also made a Valentine’s card to give to their special Valentine’s using the Microsoft Publisher program. The Girl Scouts are very busy as well getting ready for their cookie sale, which will be sometime next month.

El Centro de Amistad is extremely excited to work with five MBA graduate students from California State University Northridge!  The students will develop a proposal and financial analysis regarding the optimal use and development of the Computer Literacy Learning Center.  Thus far, they have met with the agency’s management team, the board of directors, and the primary instructor of the Computer Literacy Learning Center.  We will keep you updated on their strategic planning, as the proposal reaches its closing date, May 7, 2010.

At El Centro de Amistad, we focus in treating the mental health needs of our Latino Population. Most of our therapists are bilingual and bicultural. One of our outstanding therapists began working at El Centro de Amistad a few months. She works with our younger clients, their families. She worked with a fifteen year old Latina that we will call Stephanie (name changed for confidentiality.) She was referred to El Centro De Amistad due to a lack of attendance in school and displaying symptoms of depression such as hypersomnia, hopelessness, lack of motivation and having a hard time concentrating.  Before treatment began at El Centro de Amistad, Stephanie reported using marijuana on a weekly basis to self medicate. She wasn’t happy with her current, chaotic living environment and she was developing poor coping skills.

Stephanie received individual treatment weekly, as well as periodic family sessions. Mother was provided with parenting sessions. Stephanie was able to open up about her thoughts and feelings regarding school and home issues. The therapist was able to assist Stephanie with ways to deal better with her depression and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Stephanie also began medication support and was stabilized. Stephanie said that with medication “I am able to see things clearer.”

After an informative training by the staff of a local substance abuse in patient agency, the therapist was able to link Stephanie to substance abuse treatment. Stephanie is currently receiving in patient treatment for her depression, ADHD, substance abuse issues, and earning her high school diploma.

What is Depression?

Depression is an illness that causes a person to feel sad and hopeless for much of the time. It is different from normal feelings of sadness, grief, or low energy.

Symptoms of Depression:

· Feeling sad and empty

· Reduction of activities that the individual enjoyed

· Sleeping too much or too little

· No energy

· difficulty concentrating, holding a conversation, paying attention, or making decisions

· Suicidal thoughts or intentions.

Tips for Depression:

1. Journal thoughts and feelings

2. Make positive daily affirmations

3. Talk to someone to increase your support system.

4. Become aware of dysfunctional behavior mad make healthier choices.

5. Increase your activity.

If someone you know is experiencing symptoms of depression make sure that they receive a Medical or Psychiatric evaluation.

Additional Resources:

Access Hotline: 1-800-854-7771

Tenn Suicide Prevention Hotline 1-714-NEWTEEN OR 1-877-YOUTHLINE

Suicide Hotline: 1-800-SUICIDE OR 1-800-273- TALK

The Trevor Project (In gay and questioning Youth) 1-800-850-8078

911

Dear friends and colleagues:

As the New Year approaches, I would like to extend my thoughts and thanks to all of you who have been loyal supporters of El Centro de Amistad (ECDA). It’s been an eventful 2009 for the entire Agency. For one, we renovated the Canoga Park site; the site renovations included new paint, carpet, reception counter, new desks and counter space and additional individual counseling office’s to accommodate our growing staff. Our wonderful site is a breath

of fresh air and very conducive for staff and clients. Some changes were also made to the San Fernando office, including paint and remodeling. The staff and clients were extremely appreciative of the change.
Appreciation is bountiful this season, ECDA is so very thankful for our partners and for our extended family – our supporters and board members. Their support, encouragement, and commitment make our jobs easier and ensure that we have a positive impact throughout the community. Our 2009 Board President and Vice President, Rich Golish and Barry Levin, have worked with us every step of the way to make sure that we are helping the Agency and community move forward. We are also always thankful for the wonderful community where we work. This is a region with hundreds of dedicated business, academic, government, and nonprofit leaders who care passionately about the community and its future.
And finally, none of this happens without the staff at El Centro de Amistad. These talented, dedicated individuals are committed to making sure that those suffering from mental illness, abuse, and hardship receive services to improve their lives. ECDA staff makes this a great place to come to work every day.

To guarantee that we continue to make such a positive impact on the community we depend on you. We know the economy has also had an impact on the Agency during this past year. Funding has been cut in many Programs and donations have decreased.

At ECDA, we do recognize that the health of our business and the health of the economy are inextricably linked. And we are committed to providing meaningful and impactful support to our community – even during the challenging economic times such as these – because we know that services are even more crucial when families and individuals face significant pressures.
In these times of a tightened economy and increasing jobless rates, the need is even greater to help provide health, mental health, and educational services to individuals and families in our community. It takes a community to make a significant difference in the lives of many. I you wish to contribute to ECDA and need more information on the Agency,, please view our newly revamped website at www.elcentrodeamistad.org. If you wish to talk to someone in person about the Agency and services, the office numbers are (818) 898-0223 and (818) 347-8565.

Please support those in need with a donation to a cause close to your heart.

“We all can make a difference”

Best wishes to all for a safe, healthy, and happy holiday and New Year.

–Edward Viramontes, Executive Director

El Centro de Amistad would like to congratulate Estela Posternak for obtaining her licensure as a Marriage and Family Therapist. After receiving her Master’s degree from The Graduate School of Education and Psychology at Pepperdine University, Estela completed her internship at El Centro de Amistad. Ms. Posternak also has a Masters in Business Administration from the University of Las Americas, in Mexico City. She has been involved with the Latino Community at various levels throughout her career and she is presently providing mental health services to the chronically mentally ill adult population at El Centro de Amistad in the San Fernando Valley, as well as working in her private practice in Encino.  Ms. Posternak was born in Argentina, raised in Mexico and has lived in Los Angeles for the past 20 years.  Her goal is to work in a psychiatric unit with the chronically mentally ill Latino Population.

Thank you to our wonderful staff that is helping to stop the cycle of sexual abuse.
Therapists Liliana Hernandez, Adriana Cervantes, Maria Di Battista and Dr. Jose
Cardenas are all part of ongoing groups that have been addressing issues of sexual
abuse. One group involves both adolescent females and males and the other group
focuses on their caretakers and generations of abuse and family dynamics. Many of
these adolescents initially started treatment and felt like they had no voice. Now
these adolescents are sharing their experiences and having hope towards a brighter
future. The adolescent females have been invited to participate in a 1 week camp in
Georgia that will continue to address their trauma and to further assist with their
healing process. Ms. Hernandez and Ms. Cervantes will be facilitators at the camp.
This is just one of the many examples of loyal and dedicated staff demonstrating their
commitment towards making this world a safer place for those that have been
victimized. We would like to thank Harris & Linda Toibb for their donation of $1000, Ali
Rahimi and John Barle for sponsoring a participant and Alex Padilla for donating care
packages in order to send the girls on their way!