Social Services Commission & Directory

The Social Services Commission and the Community Services Department are responsible for identifying and addressing community needs and coordinating social service programs within the city. The provision of information and referral services and recommending funding for social service programs that are administered by non-profit agencies in the Whittier community are important components of the Social Service efforts.

Local non-profit agencies are funded through grants allocated annually in five major categories: Small Grants, Matching Funds, Contingency and Request for Proposal. The Social Services Commission focuses on violence prevention programs for young people, homelessness programs; youth services including child care; substance abuse prevention programs; affordable housing; community counseling and juvenile delinquency prevention.

The Social Services funding program is supported by the City's General Fund and HUD Community Development Block Grant funds. The Commission and staff continue to work with the Whittier Area Interfaith Council, the Uptown Business Association and the community regarding concerns about homelessness and panhandling. The City Council has created a sub-committee to investigate, funding opportunities and locations to create a regional "One-Stop Center" to address community and homeless needs.

Commission Goals

Information and Referral

The Information and Referral office is located at the Whittier Senior Center. City staff and trained volunteers provide residents with information on social service agencies in the area and the services they provide. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. and is located at 13225 Walnut Street, Whittier, CA 90602. They may be reached at (562) 464-3368.

The Commission publishes a Social Services Directory. The directory is available for purchase at the Senior Center. To download the complete 2007 Social Services Directory in pdf format click here. Adobe Acrobat Reader is required to read or print the directory.

2008-09 Social Services Funded Agencies

American Red Cross (www.arcriohondo.org)
The American Red Cross has been serving Whittier residents for over 90 years. The American Red Cross provides on-going services for Health and Safety Education and disaster victims and help people prepare, prevent and respond to emergencies. The Community Services program is to ensure the continuation of high quality, free of charge, services to the citizens of Whittier and to the other eight cities we serve. Volunteers are recruited and trained free of charge and assigned to the various programs. The Chapter's Community Services benefit a large number of cities, nonprofit organizations, service organizations, schools and individual residents.

American Indian Healing Center
The American Indian Healing Center provides high quality, culturally sensitive and appropriate primary medical care to Native Americans lining in L.A. County and t empower our patients to attain the highest level of health possible through extensive health education. The Native American Domestic Violence Treatment and Prevention Program focuses on testing and counseling for individuals referred to the clinic, increased advocacy and awareness of this issue, and training and education to increase cultural sensitivity and awareness to better identify treat and counsel victims of domestic violence.

Boys and Girls Club of Whittier (www.bgclubwhittier.org)
The Boys & Girls Club of Whittier is to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to realize their full potential as productive, responsible, and caring citizens. Awarded funds will be used for the program "The Club", the new teen program that will expand upon the current teen programming at the Boys and Girls Club. It is designed to work collaboratively with local agencies to provide academic and enrichment activities that meet the uniquely specific needs of the teen community.

Bridge of Faith H.O.M.E
Bridge of Faith H.O.M.E program has been called a model for the nation. This is a place with great success; developing personal improvement, self care, life skills, esteem building, higher educational assistance and employment maintenance. Girls leaving foster care are the highest at risk group, mental/emotional stability is vital for breaking the generational cycle. We do not have an age or time frame attached to the girls stay at the HOME, they can stay until they know they are ready to be on their own. We have girls they have left and then returned back to us, this is a healthy choice.

CAPC, Inc. (www.capcinc.org)
CAPC, Inc.’s (Community Advocated for People’s Choice) mission is to empower individuals with disabilities to maximize the quality of their lives in their home communities. The “Self Employment Support Services program is to assist individual’s with disabilities to explore, discover, and define their personal employment goals. Also, assist them with accessing community resources and build a network of support to advise him/her about the feasibility and development of operating a business. This program would assist individuals with disabilities who desire to begin their own small business and to aid in their developing a successful and self sustaining business.

City of Whittier Community Services Department
City of Whittier Community Services Department provides opportunities for families to enhance their quality of life by creating community through people, parks and programs. The Social Services Commission Scholarship Program. is to provide opportunities to those meeting the Community Development Block Grant income guidelines to participate in Community Services Department recreation programs. The program provides quality leisure services and activities to lower income residents and to allow many individuals who would not otherwise be able to participate in constructive recreation programs.

C.R.C. Inc. (Center for Recovery from Compulsivities, Inc.)
The Center for Recovery from Compulsivities, Inc. objectives are to reinforce and strengthen the resident’s understanding and us of a recovery program and to assist them in stabilizing emotionally. Funds will be utilized to support the HOW House program, a sober living environment for recovering alcohol and drug-addicted men 18 and over. The goal for each resident is that they leave the house sober, stable, employed and able to transition into an independent living situation. Also to education family members, to improve our capabilities to inform donors and other interested parties about the program, and to improve the capability of supervising counseling staff and interns, with required education.

Hispanic Outreach Taskforce
Hispanic Outreach Taskforce believes that education is the key to success, therefore, besides providing a Parent Education Workshop annually, HOT also awards scholarships to deserving high school seniors to assist them in their costs to fund a college education. The program provides scholarships of $1000, awarded to local area high school seniors.

Homework House (www.heavypen.com/homework/)
Homework House provides free mentoring and tutoring for at-risk children. The one-on-one style of the program further enhances mentoring by tutors, evaluation by credentialed teacher of skills needed by the individual child, consistent practice of the identified skills, and the discovery that learning can be fun. Funds are allocated for books, supplies, and copies for the program. The goal is to provide a very caring environment in which the children can be comfortable to practice consistently and improve their performance in school. Ultimately we strive to plant the seeds of getting a college education.

Intercommunity Counseling Center, Inc.
The Intercommunity Counseling Center provides professional counseling, sensitive to the spiritual needs of clients of every race, creed, and color to meet the diversified needs of the Whittier community and surrounding areas. Funding will be utilized to provide over 240 hours of professional psychotherapy services to 50 or more individuals. There will be both crisis intervention and short-term treatment as a part of this program. The goal of this program is to increase access to health resources in a timely manner.

Intercommunity Child Guidance Center
Intercommunity Child Guidance Center's goal is to provide comprehensive mental health and social services to children and their families. Developing alternatives to abuse and violence, addressing emotional and behavioral challenges, results in healthy children, families and communities. The goal of the Crisis Counseling Program is to convey support to children and families in crisis by recognize the problem, acknowledge the crisis, facilitate understanding, encourage adaptive coping, restore autonomous functioning, reestablish self-control, reaffirm life direction and assist parents in assessing and supporting the child's needs.

Interfaith Food Center
Interfaith Food Center is a compassionate organization committed to serving the food needs of the hungry, disadvantaged, and homeless population of Whittier and La Mirada. The mission is to provide supplemental food to as many needy, hungry, and homeless individuals as resources allow through the distribution of supplementary food bags/ constantly seek out new sources of donated food; continue to recruit and effectively use the time and talents of a cadre of volunteers who pick up, sort and shelve, pack and distribute food to IFC clients; and seek and secure on going funding to pay for rent, vehicles, staff, and food items that complement donated goods.

L.A. Center for Alcohol & Drug Abuse(www.lacada.com)
Los Angeles Center for Alcohol and Drug Abuse provides healthy living and addiction counseling that saves lives and unites families. The Outpatient and Residential Treatment for Substance Abuse provide comprehensive services for individuals and families with a primary substance abuse problem in office based and live in settings. Professional and paraprofessional staff provides crisis intervention, evaluation, assessment, psycho education, psychotherapy, drug counseling, recreational counseling, vocational counseling, and case management. The goal is to increase public safety, reduce crime, ensure recovery for addictions, prevent addictions in youth, reduce transmission of the HIV virus, reduce family violence, and increase positive coping skills along with productive independent lifestyles for community members.

Legal Aid Society of Orange County, dba Community Legal Services
Legal Aid Society of Orange County, dba Community Legal Services provides legal services to low income individuals and seniors and promotes equal access to the justice system through advocacy, legal counseling, innovative self-help services, in-depth legal representation, economic development and community education. The Domestic Violence Prevention Program assists low and moderate income persons obtain restraining orders to protect themselves from domestic violence and civil harassment. This assistance is provided to those required to file their restraining orders at the Norwalk Superior Courthouse, which has jurisdiction over Whittier residents. The goal is to provide legal assistance enabling domestic violence victims to be safe from further abuse and obtain benefits and economic support to live independent from their abuser.

L.U.N.A. Recovery, Inc.
L.U.N.A. Recovery, Inc. strengthens and empowers individuals and families who struggle with substance abuse and addiction. The Adolescent Social Work program empowers and supports adolescents in discovering their “gift within”, providing development of social and communication skills necessary to explore their uniqueness and transformation from a child to an adult. LUNA Recovery integrates varied forms of art in our therapeutic process, allowing participants to express emotions and enhance self-esteem.

Project Sister
Project Sister has a mission is to reduce the trauma and risk of sexual violence and child abuse. The Sexual Assault Crisis Intervention and Prevention Education Services provides services to a minimum of 300 Whittier residents, including 24-hour hotline; advocacy/accompaniment to four Sexual Assault Response Team locations, including Presbyterian Intercommunity Hospital in Whittier; and counseling for survivors, their significant others and non-offending family members. They provide violence prevention education programs including presentations at secondary schools on ways to avoid date and acquaintance rape, and how to avoid abuse through date rape drugs and alcohol.

The Salvation Army Transitional Living Center
The Salvation Army Transitional Living Center's goal is to empower homeless women and their children through education and vocational training, leading to employment and independent housing. The TLC provides housing and comprehensive support services to homeless women and their children and can accommodate 28 families at a time. Services include educational and employment assistance, licensed childcare, counseling, parenting, computer and life skills, meals and healthcare. TLC is able to address the physical, emotional, spiritual and financial needs of families while teaching them strategies that will put them on the road to permanent self-sufficiency.

Salvation Army - Hospitality & Shower (www.redshield.org)
The Salvation Army Hospitality House Emergency Shelter as Shower Program is a safe and clean shelter where clients can reside up to six months rent free. Clients are encouraged to participate in the saving program and other basic life skills that are offered here on site. The Shower Program is open five days a week for anyone in need of a shower. The goal is to educate and assist clients with basic life skills so that when they leave here they will be able to move into permanent housing. Our goal for the shower program is to assist clients with basic personal hygiene that would enable them to go out and seek employment and have the self-confidence in themselves.

Southeast Area Social Service Funding Authority (SASSFA) (www.sassfa.org)
Southeast Area Social Service Funding Authority (SASSFA) –enhances the quality of life in our communities by developing partnerships designed to promote self-sufficiency and independence through coordinated services and comprehensive referrals. The Senior Services program provides services to senior citizens (60+) residing in the Whittier area, helping to prevent premature and unnecessary institutionalization. The services provides include congregate nutrition, home delivered meals, care management, telephone reassurance, homemaking, personal care, homemaker registry, caregiver support groups and community education. A major portion of the requested funding supports our congregate and home delivered meal program.

The SKILLS Foundation (www.skillsfoundation.org)
The SKILLS Foundation exists to create a partnership of parents, schools, businesses, government, and the community to support programs that give every child the opportunity to develop the SKILLS necessary for living and learning successfully. The Friday Forum and Teen 101 program targets middle school aged children living in the Whittier area and their parents. The dance provides a safe, fun, appealing, atmosphere, to encourage peer to peer interaction while exposing them to the community. It provides education on topics such as teen pregnancy, cyber safety, family management, reducing peer pressure and negative influences and AIDS education through a parenting program.

The Southern California Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (SCRS) (www.scrspwi.org)
The Southern California Rehabilitation Services, Inc. (SCRS) promotes independence for persons with disabilities of all ages by empowering them with knowledge, skill and confidence to achieve full participation in their community and promote opportunities for independence. The Southeast Center for Independent Living (SECIL) program provides support services to individuals with disabilities of all ages and the majority of services are provided free of charge. Services include: peer counseling, independent skills and training, benefits counseling, attendant registry, housing assistance, emergency transportation assistance, assistive technology, information and referrals, job development and placement, and disability and sensitivity training on disability issues.

SPIRITT Family Services
The SPIRITT Family Services (Skills for Prevention, Intervention, Recovery, Individual Treatment and Training) promotes mental health and well-being through proactive programs of education, prevention, intervention, treatment and recovery, to strengthen the family unit and individual’s self-concept through personal development, taking into consideration the multicultural communities we serve. The youth programs, CLARO (Challenging Latinos to Access Resource Opportunities and SERENA (Self-Empowerment Resources to Educate, Nurture and Advocate) involve weekly support groups for at-risk youth at several school in Whittier. The programs consist of positive engagement of at-risk, low-income youth and their families with an emphasis on education; utilize case management and culturally sensitive programming including role modeling, to promote personal and social responsibility, which will increase public safety.

YMCA of Greater Whitttier (STRIDE)
YMCA of Greater Whittier (STRIDE) is an association of people of all ages united in a common effort to put Judeo Christian principles into daily proactive and to enrich the quality of the spiritual, mental, physical and social life of their families, their community and themselves. The STRIDE program is a community integration program aimed at severely mentally challenged adults. ‘The program provides ongoing education in math and reading, training in personal hygiene and independent living skills. The goal of STRIDE is to enable developmentally disabled adults to function as successfully and independently as possible in the community.

The Whittier Area First Day Coalition (First Day)
The Whittier Area First Day Coalition (First Day) helps the homeless and at-risk individuals transition toward self-sufficiency. The Social Services Program, the prevention from homelessness component, provides direct services, information and referrals and transition management to those in a homeless situation. The objective of the program is to provide the basic life necessities in order to assist the person in the development of an environment to stabilize their life.

Whittier Area Interfaith Council
Whittier Area Interfaith Council provides cold weather shelter for Whittier’s most hard to serve homeless. The Cold Weather Shelter typically houses thirty people a night. Each guest is provided with a sleeping pad and given bedding. Also, dinner and breakfast are provided. The goal is to provide a safe and healthy environment for Whittier homeless people who are not qualified for the residential homeless services of Whittier.

Whittier Area Literacy Council, Inc.
Whittier Area Literacy Council, Inc. provides free literacy and ESL tutoring programs to adults and children who are in need of better skills. We train volunteers to provide these services. The Tutor / Student Retention and Enrichment program goals and objectives are to retain both students and tutors/volunteers by offering better motivation through organizational support and incentives. These programs also serves to make the parents of our students feel more a part of the process and keeps our tutors/volunteers informed and up-to-date with current information on tutoring approaches. These retention and enrichment programs will also help with recruitment efforts.

Whittier Meals on Wheels
Whittier Meals on Wheels sole purpose is to make available tasty, healthy meals to persons having need of this service. Volunteers deliver the meals, consisting of a hot and a cold plate, plus milk or juice and a dessert Monday through Friday around the noon hour. Money received is used for subsidies for those persons in the area served who are in need of nutritional meals and are unable to secure them other than through Meals on Wheels and cannot pay the full cost thereof. An additional valuable benefit of our service is a short visit by our volunteers with the clients. This service has enabled people to speedier recoveries and to adjust more readily to their situations.

Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project (WRHAP)
Whittier Rio Hondo AIDS Project (WRHAP) ministers to the needs of a community impacted by HIV/AIDS by providing support and understanding to individuals and families affected by this disease. Services include healthcare, social services, case management, mental health care and policy advocacy. WRHAP educates youth and the community at large through programs aimed at the prevention of HIV/AIDS, and provides a safe haven at the Christopher Wahl Youth Center, where young people may come together to play, learn and grow in an atmosphere of mutual respect. The Christopher Wahl Youth Center program also provides a variety of services designed to reduce the incidence of Sexually Transmitted Diseases, HIV and teen pregnancy. It helps youth to socialize, develop self-esteem, and learn a variety of life and employment skills.