Champions In Service San Fernando Valley And Greater Los Angeles

PROVIDE COUNSELING, GANG PREVENTION AND INTERVENTION SERVICES, CASE MANAGEMENT, ATHLETIC ACTIVITIES, JOB READINESS TRAINING AND DEVELOPMENT AND OTHER SERVICES TO DISADVANTAGED YOUTH IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY AND GREATER LOS ANGELES AREA.

THE YEAR 2021 WAS FILLED WITH MANY CHALLENGES AS CIS ENDEAVORED TO CONTINUE PROVIDING INTENSIVE INTEGRATIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES, MOTIVATIONS, AND HOPE, TO PRIMARILY THE NORTHEAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY. THOUGH THE REPORT WILL INDICATE WE HAVE HAD A NUMBER OF ACCOMPLISHMENTS, THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECT OF OUR WORK WAS CREATING HOPE IN OUR COMMUNITY IMPACTED NOT ONLY BY COVID-19, BUT THE REALITIES OF POVERTY, DRUG ADDICTION, AND GANG VIOLENCE. THE FOLLOWING REPRESENTS A SYNOPSIS OF THE ACTIVITIES THROUGH THE VARIOUS SERVICES THAT CIS PROVIDES:GANG REDUCTION YOUTH DEVELOPMENT (GRYD) - NOW IN OUR 13TH YEAR OF PROVIDINGGANG INTERVENTION SERVICES TO THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY, IN PARTICULAR FOOTHILL AND MISSION POLICE DIVISIONS RESPECTIVELY, OUR 10 COMMUNITY INTERVENTION WORKERS AND FIVE CASE MANAGERS SUCCEEDED IN PROVIDING OUR OVER 90 CLIENTS IN THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: CONTINUING TO SEE CLIENTS DURING THE PANDEMIC THROUGH STAFF ADAPTATION AND DEVELOPMENT OF ACCOUNTABILITY PROTOCOLS FOR VIRTUAL SERVICES, SUCH AS ZOOM, TELECOUNSELING, AND STRATEGIC RESOURCE DROP-OFF TO CLIENTS, INCLUDING FOOD AND HYGIENE PRODUCTS, PROVIDING RESOURCES TO KEEP CLIENTS HOUSED DURING HEIGHTENED PERIOD OF UNEMPLOYMENT THROUGH FINDING JOB OPPORTUNITIES AND PAYING UTILITIES BILLS, SUPPORTING STUDENTS WITH VIRTUAL LEARNING AT VARIOUS CHARTER SCHOOL PARTNERSHIPS AND PROVIDING SAFE PASSAGES TO AND FROM SCHOOLS, AND INITIATING A COMMUNITY GARDEN INITIATIVE AT THE PACOIMA OFFICE TO PROVIDE FRUITS AND VEGETABLES TO CLIENTS.YOUTH DIVERSION AND DEVELOPMENT (YDD) - IN THE THIRD YEAR OF THE PROGRAM, THE CISYDD PROGRAM HAS BEEN ABLE TO SUCCESSFULLY FULFILL ITS CONTRACTUAL OBLIGATIONS WITH THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE AND CONTINUE PROVIDING SERVICES TO 93 YOUTH IN THE YEAR 2021. IN THE 2021 CONTRACTUAL YEAR, THE YDD PROGRAM WAS ABLE TO BRING IN $324,000, ALLOWING THEM TO TAKE THE LEAD ON PROGRAMMATIC RECOMMENDATIONS FOR THE YOUTH. THE YDD PROGRAM AT CIS IS THE LEADING AGENCY IN DOCUMENTATON AND DATARETRIEVAL, AS WELL AS NUMBER OF REFERRALS, FURTHERING OUR SUCCESSFUL PARTNERSHIP WITH THE DISTRICT ATTORNEYS OFFICE OUT OF SYLMAR JUVENILLE HALL, SPECIFICALLY WORKING WITH SAN FERNANDO VALLEYS DAS ROBERT RABBANI AND NICOL WALGREN, ALONG WITH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH CAPTAIN NATALIE CORTEZ OF THE LOS ANGELES MISSION POLICE DIVISION. CIS HAS DEVELOPED THE MOST COMPREHENSIVE OUTCOME ORIENTED BETWEEN YDD CONTRACTORS AND LAW ENFORCEMENT.SURVIVORS R.I.S.E. - IN THE YEAR 2021, SURVIVORS R.I.S.E. PROUDLY SERVED APPROXIMATELY 45 CLIENTS AND WAS ABLE TO OFFER VARIOUS ACTIVITIES AND TRAUMA-INFORMED PROGRAMS TO ITS PARTICIPANTS. THE PROGRAMS INCLUDED: TRAUMA-INFORMED YOGA WITH A CERTIFIED INSTRUCTOR, CULTURALLY RELEVANT HEALTHY EATING AND NUTRITION CLASSES WITH A CERTIFIED NUTRITION COUNSELOR, RESILIENCE CIRCLES THAT ALLOWED WOMEN TO FOCUS ON THE POWER OF RELATIONSHIPS, BUILD COMMUNITY AND SUPPORT SYSTEMS, AND RECOGNIZE THE IMPACT OF TRAUMA ON THE BODY, BACK TO SCHOOL SUPPLY AND HYGIENE GIVEAWAYS, AND AN END OF THE YEAR DEVELOPMENT AND ENGAGEMENT EVENT FOR KIDS AND FAMILIES. ADDITIONALLY, THE SURVIVORS R.I.S.E. PROGRAM WAS AWARDED A GRANT FROM CRIME SURVIVORS FOR SAFETY AND JUSTICE (CSSJ) FOR $10,000, ALLOWING THE 1.5 CASE MANAGERS TO DISTRIBUTE $5,000 DIRECTLY TO PARTICIPANTS SELECTED WITH THE HIGHEST NEEDS AT THE TIME.REENTRY INTEGRATIVE CASE MANAGEMENT SERVICES (R.I.C.M.S.) - THE R.I.C.M.S.PROGRAM SERVED APPROXIMATELY 120 CLIENTS IN THE LOS ANGELES COUNTY AREA IN 2021 WHOREPRESENT EXCLUSIVELY THE REENTRY POPULATION OF THE COUNTY OF LOS ANGELES JAIL SYSTEM. THE STAFF OF FOUR CASE MANAGERS SUCCEEDED IN PROVIDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE FOLLOWING SERVICES: ATTAINING PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION, WHICH ARE ESSENTIAL TO RECEIVING EMPLOYMENT AND ENROLLING IN BENEFITS FOR PUBLIC ASSISTANCE AND CERTIFICATION AND HIGHER EDUCATION PROGRAMS, FINDING STABLE AND SAFE PERMANENT HOUSING, AND ASSIST WITH COURT ORDERED SERVICES TO SUCCESSFULLY MEET REQUIREMENTS OF PROBATION AND PAROLE.TATTOO REMOVAL - A PARTICULAR CIS PROGRAM THAT IS UTILIZED BY VIRTUALLY ALL OF OURPROGRAMS, IS OUR TATTOO REMOVAL EFFORT. CIS IS FORTUNATE TO HAVE STATE OF THE ART REMOVAL EQUIPTMENT AND MEDICAL STAFF THAT HAS PROVIDED THIS SERVICE FOR 10 YEARS, IN WHICH OUR CLIENTS TO RECEIVE THIS NEEDED SERVICE AT NOT COST. WE HAVE SERVICED OVER 200 CLIENTS AND ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT, IN 2021, WE WORKED CLOSELY WITH THE CDC AND THE COUNTY HEALTH DEPARTMENT TO REINSTATE THE PROGRAM AFTER IT WAS SHUT DOWN DUE TO THE PANDEMIC. IN 2021, WE CALIBRATED THE TATTOO REMOVAL MACHINE, PUT IN AN EXHAUST VENT, OUTREACHED TO PREVIOUS CLIENTS, AND COMMUNICATED WITH THE NURSE TO SCHEDULE THE START DATE. WHILE WE ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT WE VETTED THE PROGRAM IN 2021, WE REOPENED THE PROGRAM IN 2022 AND WILL PRIMARILY FOCUS ON TATTOOS THAT CAN BE VISIBLY SEEN ON THE FACE AND HANDS.ADDITIONAL SERVICES:LCSW - AS OF AUGUST 2021, CIS WAS ABLE TO HIRE A FULL-TIME LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIALWORKER (LCSW), SHENI GONZALEZ, TO ASSIST AND SERVE THE CIS CLIENTELE IN PROVIDINGMENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. THROUGH A $200,000 CONTRACT PROVIDED BY CONGRESSMAN TONYCARDENAS, WHICH WAS SECURED IN 2021, CIS WILL IMPLENT A MENTAL HEALTH DEPARTMENT IN2022.MSW INTERNS - FOR THE PAST 27 YEARS, CIS HAS SERVED AS A CIS LOCATION FOR MSWGRADUATE STUDENTS IN NEED OF FULFILLING A FIELD-PLACEMENT EXPERIENCE. LAST YEAR, WEWELCOMED 10 INTERNS REPRESENTING FORDHAM, UCLA, USC, AND CSUN.SAN FERNANTIVE VALLEY COALITION ON GANGS - UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF BOBBY ARIAS,PRESIDENT OF CIS, CIS HAS FACILITATED THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY COALITION ON GANGS, AUNIQUE PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN LAW ENFORCEMENT, PUBLIC SECTOR SERVICE AGENCIES, NON-PROFIT SERVICE AGENCIES, AND PRIVATE ENTITIES, TO CALL THE QUESTION ON EDUCATION, SERVICE DELIVERY, AND YOUTH VIOLENCE IN THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY.LAW ENFORCEMENT TRAININGS - UNDER THE LEADERSHIP OF CIS EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, BLINKYRODRIGUEZ, CIS CONTINUED THEIR ORIENTATION AT THE POLICE ACADEMY FOR A WIDE SPECTRUM OF LAW ENFORCEMENT PERSONAL, INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, SENIOR STAFF, CAPTAINS, GANG DETECTIVES, BEAT COPS, MAYORS OFFICE STAFF, AND NEW LAPD RECRUITS. THE FOCUS OF THE TRAINING SESSIONS WERE TOPICS SUCH AS, WHAT IS INTERVENTION, WHAT IS IT THAT WE DO AND DO NOT DO, AND ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSIONS ON GANG INTERVENTION. TRAUMA INFORMED TRAINING - CIS WORKED WITH A LICENSED CLINICAL SOCIAL WORKER TOESTABLISH A 13-WEEK TRAUMA-FOCUSED CERTIFICATION FOR OUR PRACTITIONERS. ALL 40 FULL TIME EMPLOYEES ATTENDED THIS CERTIFICATION TRAINING COURSE.COMMUNITY MOBLIZATION EVENTS - DESPITE THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, CIS WAS ABLE TOPROVIDE SOME PRIMARY COMMUNITY MOBILIZATION EVENTS, MOST NOTABLY A FATHERS DAYEVENT AT SAN FERNANDO GARDENS HOUSING DEVELOPMENT AND A FITTOWN COMMUNITYCELEBRATION EVENT AT DAVID GONZALES PARK IN PACOIMA. CIS WAS PLEASED TO PROVIDE OVER 50 FULL THANKSGIVING MEALS TO CLIENTELE ACROSS THE VARIOUS PROGRAMS AS WELL AS PARTICIPATE IN OUR CHRISTMAS LIVES EVENT, PROVIDING GIFTS TO FAMILIES IN NEED THROUGH THE DIVERSIFIED CIS PROGRAMS BEING IMPLEMENTED. SHOES, WINTER COATS, SOCKS, AND TOYS WERE PROVIDED AT A COVID-19 SANCTIONED DRIVE-THROUGH EVENT.ESTES PARK, COLORADO PARTNERSHIP - NOW IN OUR 16TH YEAR, CIS CONTINUED OURCOLLABORATION WITH THE HONDA FOUNDATION AND THE EAGLE ROCK ACADEMY IN ESTES PARK,COLORADO, IN WHICH WE SENT FOUR YOUTH FROM THE COMMUNITY TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS OUTDOOR ORIENTED LIVE-IN EXPERIENCE.THOUGH 2021 PRESENTED NUMEROUS OBSTACLES TO OVERCOME, CIS WAS MOST PROUD OF OURACCOMPLISHMENTS IN WHICH WE DEMONSTRATED CREATIVE ALTERNATIVES TO CONTINUING SERVICES WITHIN OUR COMMUNITY.2021 WAS A PROGRAMMATIC ABUNDANT YEAR!WE CONTINUED TO EXPAND OUR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE/ SURVIVORS PROGRAM IN THE NORTHEAST SAN FERNANDO VALLEY SERVING 30 FAMILIES, INCORPORATING A CULTURE ORIENTED NUTRITION PROGRAM, A SELF DEFENSE CLASS. A YOGA RETREAT TO NAME A FEW OF OUR EFFORTS. WE CONTINUED TO IMPLEMENT OUR POST COVID TATTOO PROGRAM, SERVING 20 TO 30 CLIENTS EVERY TWO WEEKS.WE CONTINUED TO SERVE 50 CLIENTS IN BOTH OUR GRYD INTERVENTION FOOTHILL & NORTH HILLS PROGRAMS OUR COUNTY RE ENTRY COUNTY PROGRAM CO TO URDU TO SERVE FORMERLY INCARCERATED CLIENTS PROVIDING INTENSIVE CASE MANAGEMENT EFFORTS(50 CLIENTS).OUR CIS YOUTH DIVERSION SERVED 30 GANG INVOLVED CLIENTS PROVIDING CASEMANAGEMENT SERVICES AND SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SEMINARS.FINALLY ,CIS CHAIRED THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY COALITION ON GANGS VIRTUALLY, CONVENING EVERY FIRST THURSDAY THE MONTH FOR 1 HOUR.LAPD DIVISION CAPTAINS,DCFS, DMH, CHAMBER OF COMMERCE,NON PROFIT SERVICE PROVIDERS ARE IN ATTENDANCE. WE ESSENTIALLY HAVE CALLED THE QUESTION ON SERVICE DELIVERY,EDUCATION & GANG VIOLENCE.WE HAVE CONTINUED OUR PASSION TO MOBILIZE OUR COMMUNITY THROUGH A VARIETY OF EVENTS INCLUDING SPORTING EVENTS BETWEEN NEIGHBORHOODS,SALUTES TO FAMILIES,MOTHERS, FATHERS, ET AL. CIS HAS BEEN PROVIDING GANG INTERVENTION SERVICES FOR THE SAN FERNANDO VALLEY FOR 30YRS. GANG INTERVENTION SPECIALISTS ARE FIRST RESPONDERS TO GANG VIOLENCE