Optimist Youth Homes and Family Services Continues Important Work With At-Risk Foster Youth

Los Angeles, CA. “It has been a difficult time, to say the least,” says Silvio Orlando, CEO of Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services. During the beginning of the pandemic, purchasing personal protective equipment was no easy feat. Still, resident students have been able to stay on campus while taking classes remotely. Prior to the pandemic, they’d walk from class to class, as seen above. Online learning is one of the many challenges faced by the organization. However, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services remains devoted to the mental, educational, and physical wellbeing of all the foster children, young adults, and families they serve.

Covid-19 continues to impact the lives of millions of American schoolchildren, including the at-risk and foster youth at Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services.

In June of 2020, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services was forced into lockdown when several students and staff members became infected. “The virus not brought in by a student but a staff member,” says Silvio. Continuously educating the staff on Covid-19 and how to prevent the spread remains a top priority. Since the outbreak staff have become more compliant. Working with the Public Health Department and County to ensure the health and safety of students and staff has been a tremendous success. The Public Health Department stated Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services was “doing great.” There have been no outbreaks since.

Foundation grants have been made more readily available and leniency has been given during this time. While cash donations have not seen an increase, non-cash donations have. The non-cash supplies have included face masks and hand sanitizers.

Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services have a lot of committed mentors and volunteers who work with and for the students. Unfortunately, “volunteers would like to be involved at this time,” says Silvio but due to the safety measures put in place for the children and staff, no volunteers have been allowed.

“We are coping, and our spirits continue to stay high,” as the holiday season is around the corner and major events such as the Mentor Award Gala maybe postponed or canceled. “Major events that raise money are no more,” says Silvio. The decline in monetary donations has sparked the robust creativity by Annie Nuttall, Chief Advancement and Communications Officer and staff leading to new opportunities such as drive-in events, and this year’s Holiday Wish List.

Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services continues to combat the stigmas surrounding mental health. Highly trained therapists provide a variety of integral therapeutic services tailoring to each person’s needs. Offering a wide variety of residential and community therapy programs. These programs are essential to the development and well-being of the children, young adults, and families they serve. Outpatient therapists have been a vital resource during the pandemic. Therapy sessions over zoom have worked exceedingly well. Virtual therapy sessions are safer and some clients find the alternative more enjoyable. Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services is working to keep the virtual services and outreach on mental wellness, well into the future even after the pandemic.

From Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services:

With your help, Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services can continue to provide, care for and transform the lives of the at-risk foster youth, children,  young adults, and the families in the community they serve.

Visit Optimist Youth Homes & Family Services for more information. Also, see their donation page, and this year’s Holiday Wish List.