Jessica and George Tapia always knew their daughter Leilani was one of a kind. She’s very artistic and especially loves to draw, sing and dance.
“She’s very kind-hearted, and she loves people, loves making friends,” Jessica shares. “When she meets somebody for the first time, it’s like she’s always known them.”
But, like many children, Leilani faced her own challenges. Emotional ups and downs made it difficult for her to focus, and behavioral struggles began to affect her daily life.
That’s when the Tapia family found Para Las Familias, an outpatient clinic run by Episcopal Community Services (ECS).
A Holistic Approach to Support Families
Para Las Familias serves children from infancy to age 12, working not just with the child but with their parents and caregivers as well. The goal is to provide families with a strong foundation so children can thrive in every aspect of their lives – at home, in school and in their communities.
“Our work is really important in order to provide some guidance and support for families that feel very lost,” says Leslie Manriquez, Assistant Director of Children’s Behavioral Health in the Para Las Familias program at ECS.
By focusing on both the child and the caregiver, the program empowers families with the tools they need to navigate challenges and foster a nurturing environment for growth.
“They [parents] just need the skills,” Leslie says. “We try to support them as effectively as we can and wrap around their families with case management services, connecting them to resources in the community, as well as parenting classes.”
Every therapist at Para Las Familias at ECS is bilingual, ensuring they can best support families in South San Diego County.
Growth Through Therapy and Support
For the Tapia family, six months of counseling made a lifetime of impact. Through therapy sessions and ongoing support, they learned how to navigate emotions together.
“It’s been a great experience. We’ve learned a lot,” Jessica reflects. “Leilani has come a long way from how she was in the beginning – at focusing, [and] at controlling her emotions.”
The Tapias say the program helped them become more centered and understanding of their own feelings – while also teaching them how to communicate with their daughter more effectively.
“Listening to her was the most important thing,” Jessica says. “You can’t just keep all that inside. You always need someone on the outside to hear you.”
George echoes these sentiments, acknowledging the emotional impact he felt as a result of therapy and counseling support.
”I’m so grateful for everything. It made me a better father,” George notes. “Even though this counseling was for my daughter, it was counseling for me as well.
It’s outcomes like this that motivate Edith Fematt, a bilingual therapist at ECS, to keep going.
“Just knowing that the parent feels confident and ready to be with their children – it’s very fulfilling,” she shares.
Supporting Children & Families
Para Las Familias at ECS has been supported by the San Diego Foundation through multiple grant cycles, which have provided funding for bilingual mental health services, including assessments, therapy, school observations and parenting classes. These services are especially vital for families who are furthest from opportunity and access.
“Having such a strong support from San Diego Foundation has been helpful to keep afloat our program seamlessly – without families even questioning, am I going to have sessions next?” Manriquez says, “We have that shared vision. That has really allowed us to continue to thrive.”
As part of the Early Childhood Initiative at SDF, the goal is to support families with young children, ages 0-5, throughout San Diego County by expanding equitable access to high-quality, affordable early education and care. Learn more about how SDF supports children and families.
Efforts also align with the Fifty & Forward Campaign, the most ambitious undertaking in SDF’s 50-year history, which will grant $500 million to realize our region’s greatest opportunities in three key areas–education, children and families, and the environment–and raise $1 billion to help shape our community’s future.
Learn more about Fifty & Forward at SDFoundation.org/50.
