Beginning in 2000 and in response to increasing demands for services before children are removed from home, Casa Pacifica extended its services off-campus and into the community. The service delivery model we adopted meant that we go where families are; they do not come to us.
This “seeking” mode (rather than “waiting” in the office) highlights the importance we place on children and their families. It values their time and resources and enables our staff to deliver services where needs occur and where interventions are best developed and implemented. It also means we constantly partner with others to best serve youth. We are not a “silo” intervention – all of our youth are seen as part of the larger context of family, school, and community. Given this philosophy we partner closely with local agencies, both government and private. In particular, we have a history of strong and effective partnerships with the Ventura County Human Services Agency—our founding partner—along with Ventura County Behavioral Health, Probation, Special Education, and local community based organizations such as United Parents, Kids & Families Together, AspiraNet, Interface, and Jewish Family Services.
Though the funding streams and program design differ among the programs, all are directed at the same goal - keeping children who are in jeopardy of “out of home” placement in their own homes and communities. These programs have more than doubled the number of children and families we serve each year and, in terms of staffing and revenue, now account for about a third of our annual budget.
Casa Pacifica’s community services in Ventura County are overseen by Jody Kussin, Ph.D., Director of Casa Pacifica Community Services in Ventura County. Jody leads a staff of 90 who work collaboratively with local government and private agencies to provide hope and help to children and families in the community. In addition, Jody provides oversight and training of graduate students in mental health disciplines to work in community settings, including practicum, social work, marriage and family, and post doctoral psychology fellows.
Jody Kussin, Ph.D., Director of Community Programs - Ventura County
Phone: (805) 366-4300 or (818) 414-2279
E-mail: .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
