FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CASA PACIFICA CENTERS FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES
A California Non-profit 501(C)(3)
Contact: Carrie Hughes
Phone: 805-366-4011
Email: chughes@casapacifica.org
For: Assignment Editor
Casa Pacifica’s “Building New Foundations of Hope” Capital Campaign project breaks ground
Ventura-county based crisis-care center starts begins construction on new substance abuse treatment cottages for youth
CAMARILLO, Calif (Feb. 21, 2017) – On Tuesday, Jan. 10, Casa Pacifica’s — a nonprofit crisis-care and residential treatment facility for at-risk children in the Ventura and Santa Barbara counties — “Building New Foundations of Hope” Capital Campaign, which officially launched in the fall of 2013, broke ground on its Phase 1 construction plans.
The first expansion of permanent structures on Casa Pacifica’s campus facilities since the organization opened its doors in 1994, the project aims to make improvements and enhancements to the campus after evaluating growing community needs to have a centralized location for outpatient services, expanding the health clinic’s medical and psychiatric facilities, and expanding individual, group, and family therapy meeting space.
Despite unpredictable weather and lengthy bouts of rain, tractors are leveling ground, the construction trailer is in place and safety fences surround the first build-site of the project, where the campus’ two new residential substance abuse treatment cottages will be built to support underserved adolescents throughout the Central Coast.
Casa Pacifica’s experience indicates that 75-80 percent of the children served on its campus either suffer from substance use issues or come from families where drugs or alcohol have been a causative factor in their removal from home. Studies show that almost half of foster care youth use illicit substances during their time in foster care – and at least one-third meet criteria for a substance use disorder.
“We are very excited to have this project underway and look forward to the healing and life-changing results the new substance use treatment program will bring for our communities’ addicted youth,” said CEO Steven Elson. “The treatment method that will be implemented in the cottages has demonstrated an 80 percent success rate in programs where it is currently in use.”
The first phase of the “Building New Foundations of Hope” project also includes the construction of a new training institute where Casa Pacifica’s well-respected training programs that teach foster parents, caregivers, and regional and nationwide childcare workers the latest, most effective techniques in working with foster and at-risk youth will be housed. In addition, a new vocational education program for transitional and emancipated foster youth will be located in the new facilities.
Casa Pacifica has reached 97.2 percent of its Phase 1 goal of $16.6 million, leaving a remaining $500,000 needed to complete the first phase. To donate, or to learn more about the “Building New Foundations of Hope” Capital Campaign, please visit www.hopeforcasapacifica.org, or contact the Development Department at 805- 445-7800.
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About Casa Pacifica Center for Children and Families
Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families is a crisis-care and residential treatment facility for abused, neglected, or at-risk children in Ventura and Santa Barbara counties. The agency is the largest nonprofit provider of children’s mental health services in both counties and, along with its campus-based programs, administers a number of community-based programs designed to strengthen families and keep children in their homes. For more information about Casa Pacifica, please visit www.casapacifica.org or call the Development Department at 805 445-7800.