Travis’s smile is impossible to miss. The active ten-year-old loves sports, reading books aloud and anything involving Marvel characters.
But behind that bright smile is a young boy who has already experienced more uncertainty than most children his age could comprehend.
After being separated from his biological mother at the age of six, Travis was placed with Robin and Mark, his loving resource family. Like many children who have experienced trauma, he struggled to understand and manage overwhelming emotions, especially when visits with his mother became inconsistent or did not happen as expected.
When Travis felt overwhelmed, he did not always have the words to explain what he was experiencing. His distress sometimes came out through behaviors such as throwing things, kicking or struggling to calm his body. He also lashed out at Robin and Mark’s older daughter, Ava. These moments were not a reflection of who Travis was; they were signs that he needed support learning how to process big feelings and communicate his needs.
Travis and his resource family were referred to Casa Pacifica’s Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) program, a specialized service designed to help children and families remain together by addressing challenging behaviors, building new skills and recognizing each child’s unique strengths.
Through TBS, Travis has been learning something transformative: how to identify his emotions, express his needs and find healthy ways to cope during difficult moments. Robin also gained new trauma-informed parenting strategies to help Travis feel understood and supported. Today, instead of becoming overwhelmed, Travis can tell the adults who care for him, “I’m sad because I miss my mom.”
Together, Travis and Robin, along with big sister Ava, have created routines that bring connection and joy into their home, including monthly trips to their local library where Travis can explore new stories and share his love of reading. These everyday moments are helping create a loving and stronger bond between them.
“Travis always had an amazing, light up the room smile. But today, that smile means something else: a boy who is learning to express his emotions and trust the adults who care for him,” explains John Pineda, Therapeutic Behavioral Specialist Program Lead, Casa Pacifica. “Change takes time and partnership. Through TBS, we help kids develop healthier ways to express themselves while coaching caregivers on strategies that strengthen relationships and reduce challenging behaviors. By supporting the entire family, we’re able to create lasting progress, not just short-term success.”
Travis’s journey is still unfolding, but every breakthrough is a reminder that healing happens when children have caring adults, specialized support and a community that believes in them.
Because of compassionate donors, children like Travis receive the tools, support and hope they need to heal. Thank you for making stories like his possible.
About Casa Pacifica
Headquartered in Camarillo, California, Casa Pacifica is the largest nonprofit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Our nationally accredited programs include residential treatment, therapeutic behavioral services, wraparound care, transitional youth services, school-based mental health services and foster care support, along with a fully certified, diploma-granting Non-Public School serving grades K–12. Casa Pacifica specializes in treating youth facing complex mental health challenges such as anxiety, depression, and emotional dysregulation. Since 1994, Casa Pacifica has helped transform the lives of nearly 54,600 at-risk children and youth.
For more information or to get involved, email info@casapacifica.org or call 805-366-4040.