“If it weren’t for Hathaway-Sycamores, our campuses would not be nearly as successful. Please know how much we appreciate your school-based services and the staff that provides these necessary and invaluable services day in and day out.”

These words of praise were part of a thank you note—penned just last month—by Alhambra Unified School District’s Student Services Director Dr. Laurel Bear. Bear was referring to Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services and the innovative, on-campus, mental-health services that the agency provides to elementary, junior-high, and high-school students in the Alhambra Unified School District. Hathaway-Sycamores also is an on-campus, mental-health services provider for schools in the Pasadena Unified School District and the Los Angeles Unified School District.

With National Children’s Mental Health Awareness Day being recognized on May 9, we’re proud to spotlight these partnership programs that have had a measurable and extremely positive impact on students in need of therapeutic services. For example, a recent report compiled by the Alhambra Unified School District compared the 2009/2010 and 2010/2011 school years and found that:

•  Elementary suspensions (# of days) decreased from 517 to 211
•  Elementary expulsions (# of students) fell from 37 to 15
•  High-School suspensions (# of days) dropped from 1,087 to 572
•  High-School expulsions (# of students) decreased from 83 to 42

The District attributes these dramatic decreases to the on-campus, mental-health services program. According to Hathaway-Sycamores’ Assistant Vice President for School Based Services Tim Blatt, the program’s success can be traced to several factors. “First, our clinicians and youth counselors are part of each school’s fabric. They have offices on campus, and they’re onsite full time, year-round, whereas the staffs of many other programs drop in and out.” Blatt also points to Hathaway-Sycamores’ expansive menu of onsite services, including one-on-one, group and family counseling, as well as assessment services to help students manage stress and excel academically. Focus is further placed on helping students develop social skills, anger-management skills, conflict-resolution skills, and coping skills. A psychiatrist is available for medication consultations, and the Hathaway-Sycamores’ team is additionally available for crisis intervention, as was the case just last month at Alhambra’s Northrup Elementary where a student suddenly passed away. “We also strive to be innovative,” says Blatt, pointing to a “Fresh Start Group” initiative that helps at-risk eighth graders transition successfully to ninth grade and to a workshop for parents titled “The ABC’s of Bullying.” For more information on Hathaway-Sycamores School-Based Services, click here.

May is National Foster Care Month—an ideal time to consider making a difference

in the life of a youngster in need.

By Renée LaBran, Chair, Board of Directors
Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services

As the mother of two teenage sons, each of whom I carried for nine months, and with whom I have shared virtually every day since, it is almost inconceivable to me that there currently are nearly 16,000 Los Angeles area children who have been removed from the homes of their biological parents. Even more tragic are the reasons behind such removals—reasons that all too frequently include unimaginable abuse and unforgiveable neglect.

Similarly, my sons—who have only known the stability of a loving home and the safety of our close-knit La Cañada community—would find it equally inconceivable to find themselves living somewhere other than with  their father and me. Yet, this is precisely the position in which some 60,000 youngsters in California—along with more than 400,000 nationwide—find themselves.

The heart-wrenching issue of children in foster care is on my mind for two reasons: 1) May is National Foster Care Month; and 2) I’m serving as Chair of Hathaway-Sycamores Child and Family Services’ Board of Directors. For those unfamiliar, Hathaway-Sycamores is Los Angeles County’s largest provider of children’s mental-health and other support services. Many of those served by the agency are foster youth who are either living in residential care at Hathaway-Sycamores’ El Nido campus or with one of our foster families.

The need for foster families is particularly pressing, and I am urging anyone who has ever considered opening their heart and home to a foster child to contact Hathaway-Sycamores at (626) 243-9043 or e-mail Susan Fierberg. It’s important to know that foster families come in many forms—different races, lifestyles, income and education levels, married, single—to cite just a few examples. It’s also important to know that Hathaway-Sycamores trains, certifies, supervises and supports its foster families, including weekly social-worker visits along with virtually any in-home services that are needed. Additionally, foster parents—as well as those who adopt foster children—receive a monthly stipend for providing care.

If foster parenting isn’t for you, there are numerous other ways that you can brighten these youngsters’ lives. Hathaway-Sycamores offers many volunteer opportunities and is always in needs of donations—particularly during the December holidays. For additional information about these opportunities, contact Andi Sica at (626) 395-7100 ext. 2516 or e-mail Andi Sica. With the support of caring community members, foster children can heal, thrive and rebuild their lives.

Hathaway-Sycamores’ sponsor Pelican Hill invites you to enjoy seasonal activities and experiences at the resort this May.

This Mother’s Day, treat the woman in your life to the luxury of Pelican Hill!  Enjoy spectacular ocean views at the Mother’s Day Ballroom Brunch or delight in a traditional afternoon Mother’s Day Tea in the Great Room.

The “Mother’s Daycation” spa package, is perfect for Mother’s Day but available throughout the spring season at The Spa.  Indulge in our new Two-Day Spring Fashion and Beauty Retreat, or the Blossoms & Blooms spa experience.

Pelican Hill’s youngest guests are invited to participate in the Children’s Resort Etiquette Class, an educational day of fun where participants will learn a charming set of skills in time for the summer travel season.

Tune-up your golf game this month at the Golf Academy, designed by Golf Magazine “Top 100 Teacher” Glenn Deck.  Take advantage of the Adult & Junior Golfer offer and receive one complimentary evening round for golfers ages  8- 18.

Download the Activities Flyer as a pdf

The good news at Hathaway-Sycamores Learning Lab keeps getting better.

Elisha will be a featured speaker at next month’s “Shot-at-a-Million” Golf Classic on Friday May 18th. The event raises money to fund the Learning Lab and other programs at Hathaway-Sycamores. We hope you will be at the party to enjoy all of the festivities and to hear Elisha’s story firsthand. And if you would like to spend the afternoon on the green, there is still time to register to play golf. Click here to purchase after-party tickets or to register to golf.

Presenting Sponsor: 
Worley Parsons

Eagle Sponsors: 
David Battaglia
Gibson, Dunn & Crutcher, LLP
Wells Fargo

Birdie Sponsor:
 Paulette & Henry Matson

Par Sponsor:
Centerbeam 
George & Mary Ann Leal Foundation
Dan Rothenberg 

Tee or Green Sponsor:
Roger Stephens
Larry Webb

Marketing Sponsor:
T-3

  Golf Classic:

  Friday May 18, 2012

Participate in the Golf Classic during the day, and/or join us at the 19^th Hole After-Party and take a Shot-at-a-Million at the beautiful Angeles National Golf Club. KCBS news and traffic reporter Whitney Drolen promises to keep the evening’s festivities lively as she emcees the  after-party. Golfers have the option of playing all day in the golf-a-thon format raising funds for the programs and services of Hathaway-Sycamores based on how many holes they play or play in 9-Hole Team Challenge in the afternoon. The event will culminate with the 19^th Hole After-Party for golfers and non-golfers alike.

Location:               Angeles National Golf Club

Itinerary:                      7:00am             Longest Day of Golf begins

                                       3:00pm             9-Hole Team Challenge.

                                       5:00pm             19^th Hole After-Party begins

                                       6:45pm              Shot-at-a-Million Hole-in-one contest finals

                                       7:15pm              Raffle prize drawing

                                       7:30pm              Conclusion
To play golf, to purchase party tickets, raffle tickets, and for general event information, please email or call Andi Sica at (626) 395-7100 ext 2516.

Longest Day of Golf (7 am – 5:30 pm):  Tee off at 7am with your own golf cart and enjoy a full day on the links played at your own pace.  Food and drink are available throughout the day and the golf course is yours!  Each golfer is asked to contribute/raise a minimum of $1,500.  This can be done by personal contribution and/or soliciting sponsorship support from family, friends, business associates, etc.  All golfers receive an invitation for two to attend the 19^th Hole After-Party and one qualifying “Shot-at-a-Million”.

9-Hole Team Challenge (3 – 5:30 pm):  For those golfers who are unable to sneak away for the entire day, this is the event for you!  Grab a partner and join in the 9-Hole Team Challenge.  Teams of two golfers will compete in a 2-man scramble “scratch” format.  So find that friend who can hit it deep off the tee and join the fun!  Cost for the event is $500 per team and includes 2 tickets for each player to the 19^th Hole After-Party and one qualifying Shot-at-a-Million.

19^th Hole After-Party (5:00 – 7:45 pm):  Can’t make it for golf?  Not to worry, the 19^th After-Party is a great way to participate in this fantastic event.  Located on the beautiful back patio overlooking the 18^th green, you can enjoy great food and drink, music, bid on fabulous silent auction packages and watch the golfers take their best shots trying to win $1 Million with a hole-in-one. Click here to preview and bid on the “Shot-at-a-Million” silent auction. In addition, raffle tickets will be sold ($20 each) to win one of two (2) fabulous trips to Hawaii and New York. Click here to download a pdf of the raffle flyer. Tickets to the 19^th Hole After-Party cost $50 per person.

Thank you to our 2012 “Shot-at-a-Million” Golf Classic sponsors. Click here for the list of sponsors. 

For event information please email or call Andi Sica at (626) 395-7100 ext 2516.

Jane Whitmore 
1-888-24-FAMILY
(1-888-243-2645)

Please join us at our next Foster or Adoptive Parent Orientation Meeting:
Thursday May 3, 2012 from 6:30 to 8:00 pm.

Are you: Married? Single? Partnered? Retired? Have kids? Never had kids? Willing to open your home to a child in need? Do you: Own a home? Rent a home? Work/Not work? Have a stable lifestyle? Like kids and feel you have something to offer them? Have room in your heart and home for one more?

Hathaway-Sycamores Foster Family & Adoption Agency will help you decide if becoming a adoptive or foster parent is right for you!

Foster or Adoptive Parent Orientation Meeting

Thursday May 3, 2012    6:30-8:00 pm

2933 N. El Nido Dr., Altadena 91001

Drop in meeting, no appointment needed. Refreshments provided (childcare will not be available for meeting). Professional Support and Assistance at no-cost. For more information, contact: Jane Whitmore  1-888-24-FAMILY (1-888-243-2645)

Award-winning hip hop artist and actor, Common, recently visited our residential center inAltadena. He met with over 100 boys and girls and brought a strong message of hope. After rapping some of his popular songs, he spoke to the youth who ranged in age from 6-18 and many who suffer emotional and mental health issues, about what inspired him as a youth. He told them, “You have to start with your dream. Find your dream, find your gift, something you’re passionate about. Then believe your dream, believe in yourself and work hard. Obstacles will come in life, but you can overcome them and turn obstacles into possibles. Greatness comes when you rise above the trials and tribulations, and don’t stay in a fearful place. And then live your dream.” He ended his visit by freestylin’ to the kids, signing autographs, taking pictures and encouraging the youth to “let your light shine.”