Healthy Communities

Family Services Agency

By Erica Rascón on Feb 16, 2016 in Giving, People

After the first few questions, I knew this was not going to be an interview like any other. I recently sat down with Denise Hinkle, Director of Development and Communications at Family Services Agency (FSA). We began with basic questions about the organization when one question seemed to stump us both.

“What is one of your fastest growing programs, and can you tell me more about it?” I asked.

Hinkle paused. “All of them.” She continued with more certainty. “It seems like all of the programs are growing for different reasons.”

I soon learned that as Santa Barbara County continues to grow, the need for FSA’s diverse services seems to grow exponentially. For youth, FSA services include Big Brothers, Big Sisters, an international organization that pairs children with mentors. In an academic setting, School Counseling Services offers assistance for students with severe mental health needs, as well as therapists for school staff.

Adults and families may participate in Family Support Services, which helps parents build healthy homes by overcoming stressors such as poverty, violence, mental illness and substance abuse. Youth and Family Behavioral Health provides in-home services for an array of familial concerns, including the prevention of out of home placement such as juvenile hall and foster care. For those in their golden years, Senior Services includes the long-term care Ombudsman Program that advocates for seniors’ well-being, and caregiver support resources.

Hinkle has observed the growth of FSA for the past two years. “A lot of our family support services tend to grow when the economy is tanking out. Our Senior Services and Caregivers program is definitely going to take off due to the gray tsunami coming our way,” Hinkle laughs. “Big Brothers Big Sisters, is growing. There is such a need in Santa Barbara County for that program, especially for male volunteers. Also, there are more people in need of mental health services than there are professionals to serve them, especially for people who don’t have insurance coverage. They’re all growing.”

To meet the increasing demand, Yardi serves as a sponsor for two FSA youth programs. Yardi supports the school-based counseling program, reaching students at K-12 schools in South County and Lompoc. Onsite counselors support students as well as teachers and students’ families. Having these services at the schools is a vital component of the program’s effectiveness.

“Many times there is a barrier. People don’t want to go to mental health offices,” explains Hinkle. “So when it’s on the school campus, it’s great. It’s accessible. There is less stigma.”

Yardi also contributes to the Family Support Services. “Yardi’s grant really supports under-served families in this community through Family Support Services. With that program, we make sure that families have basic needs met—housing, clothing, food–and we help those families with things like enrolling kids in health insurance and making sure kids receive developmental screenings when needed. We line families up with services that we don’t have, but that are out in the community,” says Hinkle.

You can join Yardi in supporting Family Services Agency. You can become a volunteer, make a donation, or attend one of FSA’s outstanding fundraisers in events in 2016.

Friday, March 18th marks the second annual Cooking Up Dreams event at Deckers. Guest can sample the culinary delights of 15 chefs and bid on amazing gifts at the BIG Auction. Celebrity judges will crown one chef master of the evening. Guests can also choose a winner for the tasters’ choice award. Proceeds benefit youth enrichments and behavioral health programs.