When Hazel was having a hard day, it could be difficult to see a way through it. Frustration sometimes turned into conflict, and strong emotions could lead to choices that put her well-being at risk. What she needed was more than help getting through a difficult moment. She needed the chance to learn new ways […]
For a young person in foster care, change can come often and without warning: a new home, a new school, a new set of people learning how to help. For Marah, who recently turned 18, the years since she first came into care have brought one transition after another. At 12, Marah was removed from […]
At 8 years old, Daniel is a talented, polite and artistic young boy with a lot to say. But for a time, finding the right way to express what he was feeling wasn’t easy. Daniel began receiving Therapeutic Behavioral Services (TBS) from Casa Pacifica at the age of seven, during a period of significant transition […]
A new pollinator garden is growing lessons in nature, teamwork and community Connection is at the heart of healing. For young people navigating emotional and behavioral challenges, learning to connect—with themselves, with others and with the world around them—can be an important part of their journey. That’s why a new pollinator garden at Casa Pacifica […]
The Balay Ko Foundation’s generosity creates welcoming places for connection and healing at Casa Pacifica Casa Pacifica recently celebrated the completion of two campus improvement projects made possible through the generosity of The Balay Ko Foundation. Designed to foster connection, recreation and healing, the new outdoor spaces provide youth, young adults and families with welcoming […]
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 […]
At 19 years old, Sienna is learning something many young adults take for granted: how to build a future. After an unsteady childhood, coupled with mental health challenges and substance use, Sienna entered Casa Pacifica’s Transitional Youth Services (TYS) program unsure of herself and her future. Like many young adults who have experienced instability, she […]
As eighteen-year-old Sean waited for his name to be called at graduation, he scanned the audience for the staff members who had helped him reach this moment. Just a few years earlier, graduating high school had felt out of reach. After multiple group home placements, Sean arrived at Casa Pacifica struggling with anger and depression. […]
Leah entered foster care at age ten after her mother’s mental health challenges escalated, making it no longer safe for her to remain at home. While foster care provided immediate physical safety, the stability she needed to heal was still out of reach. Her first two placements were brief, and by the time she moved […]
Volunteer bakers ensure Casa Pacifica students are celebrated on their special day At Casa Pacifica’s Non-Public School (NPS)—which serves students with emotional, behavioral, and mental health needs— milestones like birthdays can carry special meaning. Some students are in foster care or have experienced adversity, and traditional celebrations like birthdays are not always guaranteed. Thanks to […]
