D., CIHSS is a 501c (3) social service agency developed to help decrease the number of children being placed in and out of foster care, preserve the family structure and increase the quality of services to youth and adults identified as at-risk. We are a licensed foster family agency, adoption agency, mental health provider and social service provider for developmentally disabled persons. We have
a dedicated 90 member staff that is committed to ensuring "best case practices" throughout our service delivery. The mission of CIHSS is to preserve the family structure and increase the quality of care to children and families within Los Angeles County. CIHSS programs not only serve communities within Los Angeles County, but are inclusive of Lancaster, Palmdale as well as San Bernardino and Riverside communities. We Believe Statement
We believe that all children, youth, adults and families
are worthy and deserving of the highest quality of
professional support and service. We believe that all children, youth, adults and families
are capable of success. We believe that all children, youth, adults and families
should be empowered to pursue their inalienable rights. We believe that all youth in foster care
are human beings first
and their circumstances are secondary to the person. We believe that our adults are people first
and the disabilities that they have are second to the person. Programs & Services:
Children's Way Foster and Adoption Agency. Specializing in the placement of older youth, our Children's Way program is committed to not only finding youth permanent homes, but to providing them with enriched educational, socialization and skill development services needed to stabilize their lives during foster care placement and upon their emancipation. Extending beyond our County contract requirements, our foster youth services include mentoring, academic tutoring and job readiness training. Because Children's Way is also a full-service adoptions agency, our foster/adopt parents receive continuous emotional support from our professional social workers and funds from the agency to help them raise their adopted child to the best of their ability. Children's Support Developmental Disabilities Program works in conjunction with Children's Way Foster Family Agency. It was created to provide nurturing homes for children with developmental disabilities (i.e. Autism, Mental Retardation etc.), as well as to assist, support and train the child (ren) and Certified Parent(s) with the special challenges that they face. Family Way Adult Family Home Agency, licensed in 1998, was developed to provide safe and caring homes to consumers (adults with developmental disabilities) to increase their level of functioning, provide resources and increase their capability to live independently and to improve their quality of life. Services are provided in the Southside and Westside catchments areas. Enlightenment Drug/Medi-cal Program was designed and implemented in 2002 to provide comprehensive drug treatment and alcohol counseling services to individuals whose lives have become unmanageable as a result of drug addiction and alcoholism. Treatment is provided through a social-therapeutic model and includes education, counseling, new lifestyle training and introduction to the recovery community. Alafia Mental Health Institute was designed in October 2003 to provide access to targeted services for children identified as having mental health problems and emotional disturbances. The program prevents placement disruptions and increases the stability of the child in the home, school and community. Alafia provides services including individual, family and group therapy services, crisis intervention, medication assessment, management and support and 24-hour crisis intervention. Parent and Family Enrichment Services provides support to children and their families through Parenting training, Anger Management and Domestic Violence Education services. Parent and Family Enrichment Services provides Project Fatherhood education sessions, Healthy Marriage, HIV/AIDS 101 training sessions and the CIHSS Mentoring program for youth. In addition, CIHSS can provide family support and family preservation services to increase parental capacity and to prevent children from entering the child welfare system.
