Transform Trauma Into Triumph

Support for Foster and Systems-Impacted Youth

Antelope Valley

Expand existing project, program, or initiative

The issue we are addressing is mental heal, healing and self-care. We understand that thousands of parents are being separated from their children for no just cause. Children are intentionally separated from a parent in family court, children's court, and DCFS. Many of the military families we come across in Los Angeles County have young children that have become angry and resentful adults. Military families have been separated since the Vietnam War, and many Post 9/11 War heroes have the same issue with child custody being belittled and/or ignored. Our goal is to equip each individual involved with the tools and resources to create memories and bonds between the child and the separated parent through family fun events to keep the bonds evolving to live a heartfelt and fulfilling life.

A holistic approach to strengthening the whole person's mind, body and spirit will include mental health, counseling, group exercises, massage, gardening, education enrichment, job training, personal hygiene, self-care retreats, spiritual healing, family activities, and reentry and addictions treatment. In addition, FEC will exchange and outsource resources and tools with other grassroots, nonprofit organizations and corporations to ensure the individual's health and safety needs are being met.

Our success will provide the people of Los Angeles County with a safe sanctuary that will support their individual dreams. Fear, doubt, guilt, blame and shame hold many of us hostage. Allowing people to experience new experiences can spark a desire to want and need more. FEC supports individual growth to build a better self, family, community and world.

The family fun program is in the early stages, and we are looking to expand our programs. We plan to expand each year with events for all ages to learn from each other. We started last year with the annual family fun Bowling. In 2022 we added a Mother's Day and Father's Day Spa Raffle for holistic self-care for moms and dads. In 2023 we are adding the family fun summer cruise to the roster and a walk/ run group. In 2024 we are looking to have an office location with a community garden. We will be adding retreats in Hawaii for the men and Puerto Rico for the women and switch locations each year. Wherein 2025, the women will be in Hawaii and the men in Puerto Rico. Other annual programs will be added, for example, Breakfast with Santa, Sock Hops for seniors, an end-of-summer family fun picnic and our quarterly Girl Talk and Boy Huddle for kids ages 10-19 to offer classes on manners, etiquette, job skills, credit and hygiene.