Hillsides

Today, we're coming together at the Open Minds Institute for Operational Excellence to foster connections and discuss how we can improve care coordination, well-being, and health outcomes. It's all about finding innovative solutions for a bright future in behavioral healthcare.

A huge THANK YOU to our Dream Backpack Stuffing Team and all our incredible donors, including the amazing Friends of Foster Children! 🎒We've already packed over 300 backpacks for children and we're not stopping there! Together, we're making sure hundreds of students are ready to learn this school year. 📚

🌿 Wellness Tip of the Week 🌿 They say patience is a virtue, and it couldn't be more true! Taking time to pause and practice patience can make you a better friend, family member, and colleague. Embracing patience creates confidence, decisiveness, and a rational outlook. Let's all take a moment to slow down and enjoy the journey.

It's okay to feel this way. At Hillsides, we believe in honoring and embracing all emotions. Whether you're a child in our residential treatment program or an adult in our community-based mental health programs, taking the time to recognize your feelings is meaningful. Let's support each other on this journey of self-discovery and healing. 🌿

🐍 It's a reptile party! Huge shoutout to the Hillsides Guild for treating the children and youth of Hillsides to a slithery, scaly, and shell-tastic afternoon. The lizards, snakes, and turtles stole the show - what a wild day!🦎

Families of all kinds face significant challenges. During these times of crisis, Hillsides is a pillar of support, providing compassionate assistance, lifesaving interventions and access to vital programs to guide families through trauma toward the path of healing.

You can get help today if you or your child are experiencing:

🟢 Feelings of sadness and hopelessness
🟠 Changes in appetite and sleep
🟣 Struggling at work or school
🟡 Using drugs and alcohol often
🔵 Suspension from school
🟢Previous hospitalization for mental health reasons
🟠Homelessness

Click here to learn more: https://hillsides.org/community-based-mental-health-services/

Have you ever considered opening your heart and home to a child? It's an incredibly rewarding experience that can change lives forever. Mary and Juan know firsthand the joy of fostering and adopting, and they've created a beautiful forever family. All it takes is a stable home environment and a love for children to make a difference. 💕🏡

Bienvenidos Foster Care and Adoption

Get ready to rock this school year with our backpack giveaway event! 🎒✏️ Join us next week for a fun-filled day of arts and crafts, games, live music, and of course, snag a backpack filled with all the essentials! Don't miss out on the back to school fun!

🟣 Friday, July 26
🟠 5pm to 7pm
🔵 Loma Alta Park: 3330 N. Lincoln Ave, Altadena, CA 91001

See you there!

Anger is a natural human emotion, but learning how to recognize and manage it can be challenging for many adolescents. HillsidesCares helps children and youth develop the ability to channel their emotions more effectively and create methods for finding constructive ways to balance their emotions.

Read on for five signs that a child may need help managing anger. 💚

https://www.hillsidescares.org/mental-health-blog/5-signs-your-child-needs-help-managing-anger/

💜Wellness Tip of the Week💜

Feeling stressed and worn out? Take a walk! Not only does it boost your mood by releasing those feel-good endorphins, but it also helps to relieve stress and lower your blood pressure. Just 5-10 minutes can make a world of difference in combatting the everyday struggles we all face. So lace up those sneakers and take a stroll for some much-needed self-care!👟 🌿

Join us in bringing some joy into the lives of the children and youth in our residential treatment program! The Hillsides Volunteer Network hosts fun events to give these children a chance to just be kids. You can help too by supporting our peer-to-peer fundraising campaign and donating at any level. Let's make a difference together!🌟

https://ow.ly/9mfU50SACbK

A huge shoutout to Assistance League Pasadena for their incredible generosity! Thanks to their donation, our Youth Moving On program was able to provide young adults with essential tools like laptops, printers, and metro passes as they navigate their next chapter in life. We are so grateful for your support! 💻🚇

📚✏️ Ready to make a difference in a child's life? Join us in supporting Hillsides' Back to School Donation Drive! We're aiming to help 600 children and youth by providing them with backpacks filled with essential supplies. Your contribution can make a huge impact as they start the school year. Let's come together and give these kids the tools they need to succeed!

➡️https://ow.ly/Io7h50Su4ze

On this , we are filled with gratitude for QueensCare and their incredible support of our residential treatment programs and Youth Moving On division. Your generous grant truly makes a difference in our community, helping people to heal, grow, and thrive. Thank you! 💜

What do we care about as a community? ❤️As a member of our family, we know you care about children facing life-threatening mental health crises, young adults who are displaced, and youth who need a loving home.

With each change the world brings, our generous donors are by our side to help us innovate, meet families where they are, and deliver compassionate care to together.

Today is an opportunity to be a catalyst for that change. Please make a donation to our annual fund to help our community heal, grow, and thrive. 🌿

➡️https://hillsides.org/

🍽️ Take a moment to savor each bite and truly taste the food you're eating. Mindful eating isn't just about what's on your plate, it's about being present in the moment and listening to your body. Give yourself the gift of truly enjoying every meal!

Want to discover some great tools for releasing stress and anxiety? Join HillsidesCares’ Amanda Almendarez and host Marlys Woods, along with other experts and influencers for a free online summit called Finding Freedom Within: Experts Share DIY Tools for Releasing Stress & Anxiety! https://bit.ly/ffw-hc

A huge thank you to Las Candelas for making our day at Hillsides Pasadena campus so special! The children and youth had a blast with the waterslide, shaved ice, and pizza lunch. 🍧🍕Your generosity and support mean the world to them, and to us. 🌈

“Life can only be understood backwards but it must be lived forwards.” – Søren Kierkegaard

💜It’s natural to reflect on the past, it’s shaped who we are today. But dwelling on it can hold us back. Take a moment to identify what’s keeping you tied to the past and think about small steps you can take to break free and embrace your future. You deserve it. 💜

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Did you know that in Los Angeles, there are over 30,000 children who need a loving home? Many of these kids have experienced unimaginable trauma, abuse, and neglect. You can make a difference. Providing home-based family care or adoption can transform their lives and yours. You'll experience the joy of nurturing a child in need and watch them grow. Let's open our hearts and homes to these amazing children! 💙

Foster or Adopt a Child and Create Lasting Change | Hillsides Over 24,000 children in Los Angeles need a loving home. You can foster or adopt and change a child's life forever.

The Foster Care Rate Reform trailer bill threatens California’s full continuum of care. Without adequate rates, children with the highest needs are left without the vital supports that Foster Family Agencies (FFAs) and Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Programs (STRTPs) provide.

When youth cannot be cared for by their relatives, FFAs and STRTPs act as safety nets that provide the stabilization needed to make family reunification and permanency possible.

If the foster care rate proposal is implemented in its current form, many FFAs and STRTPs will be closed by 2026. The new rates in this year's Budget Trailer Bill are insufficient, jeopardizing the future of these essential programs.

Assemblymember Jesse Gabriel Assemblymember Corey Jackson Scott Wiener Senator Caroline Menjivar Gavin Newsom Assemblymember Mike Fong Wendy Carrillo Anthony Portantino Senator Susan Rubio Senator Scott Wilk

Indulging in a culinary journey through Spain at this year's Farm to Table fundraiser was an unforgettable experience! Thank you to the H100 volunteer group for crafting an evening filled with delectable dishes and breathtaking views. Our hearts were touched by an inspiring adoption story that left us feeling grateful and full of love.

If you are interested in joining H100 or another volunteer group at Hillsides, please click here: https://hillsides.org/volunteer/

☀️ Summer is a unique time of year for families. Schedules change, the weather warms up, and the impact on youth mental health can be significant. We spoke with lead therapist Ari Taghdis from HillsidesCares to understand the impact and benefits of focusing on mental wellness during the summer season. 💛

Read on... https://mailchi.mp/b9d570596e53/five-ways-to-honor-mentalhealthawarenessmonth-17973284

A huge thank you to Bank of America for treating the incredible youth we serve to a Los Angeles Dodgers game in honor of . ⚾️

It was a day filled with cheers and connection as we bonded with BofA's leaders including a team member who shared his inspiring journey from foster care to leadership. Thank you for making this unforgettable experience possible!

"We love LA!" 🎶

We are filled with gratitude for our incredible volunteers who make such a difference in our community. 💜Last night, we had the privilege to honor and thank them for their hard work and dedication. A big thanks to our speakers, amazing culinary team, and Nothing Bundt Cakes for making the evening extra sweet.🧁

Did you know that citrus fragrances can actually boost your mood and alleviate stress? Researchers studying depression have found that lemon and orange essential oils can increase levels of norepinephrine, a hormone that affects mood. For a pick-me-up, try sniffing a little essential oil or dabbing some on a piece of fabric to tuck in your pocket.🍋🍊

✨ May is , and we want to extend our deepest gratitude to the incredible resource and adoptive families who open their hearts and homes to children and youth in need. Your decision to support and love a child is truly profound, and we salute each and every one of you for your empathy, compassion, and dedication. Thank you for in the lives of children. 💙

https://hillsides.org/foster-care-and-adoption/

🫧FOAM-tastic Fun! 🫧 Thanks to the incredible Hillsides Volunteer Network, the children and youth had a blast at our foam party this past weekend! Laughter, smiles, and suds filled the air as we celebrated and noshed on tacos with all the fixings - and cupcakes, too. 🧁

We're so grateful for these special moments that create memories to last a lifetime.

It was an honor to be a part of the Greater Los Angeles NAMIWalk and Mental Health Fest this past weekend! We were grateful to walk alongside advocates to spread awareness about mental health and our collective journey toward healing. 💚

Our voices are powerful and together, and we can break the stigma surrounding mental illness. Let's keep the conversation going!