Message from the Executive Director

Dear Friends,

Over many years of service Valley Family Center has become a well-known and highly valued agency in the Northeast San Fernando Valley. Founded as an agency that is totally dedicated to providing assistance to people who could not afford it elsewhere, the Center has remained true to this founding vision, through very difficult times. As the present Executive Director of the Center it is my firm belief that in helping one person deal with issues affecting his/her life we are in fact helping develop a healthier more wholesome community. Changing behavior patterns that have severe negative effects on families and the local community in which they live, is of primary concern to the Staff of Valley Family Center. Families dealing with domestic abuse, very often involving both spouses as well as boyfriend-girlfriend relationships is common in the communities from which clients come to Valley Family Center. These issues are exacerbated in families where minimum wage is earned - a minimum wage that today does not match that of other developed countries. In times of financial stress and lack of good jobs, parents very often have to hold down multiple jobs in order to make ends meet. As a result of this, along with broken marriages, children are often not sure as to who is the authority figure in their lives. This necessitates intervention in the areas of learning, developing attention to academics, and building basic skills. Offering alternative futures to our children and youth in a happy carefree environment is what the Learning Center at Valley Family Center strives to achieve. We have seen many wonderful results over the years with students successfully completing high school and going on to four-year colleges. We are also very proud of students who have returned to the Center to assist those coming after them.

The commitment of the staff to the work of Valley Family Center is remarkable - to a person, they are superb! The clients who come to the Center know that they are blessed to have such dedicated and qualified people ready to assist them in their issues and difficulties. In turn the clients themselves constantly tell us how respected they feel here. This is proven true in the enormous changes and daily miracles that take place in people’s lives through the programs offered at Valley Family Center. I am honored to work with such a staff and to assist in facilitating a team approach to the work that we do in being of service to this wonderful community that is seeking change. It is part of the vision of the Center to provide these services in a beautiful and attractive environment where people know, as soon as they cross the threshold, that they are respected and valued.


Sincerely,
Sr. Carmel Somers, Executive Director