Jul 29, 2021
Molina Healthcare $20,000 Grant Funds Food Pantry for Youth Experiencing Homelessness
The MolinaCares Accord Donates $20,000 to Lifeline Community Services to Establish New Food Pantry The MolinaCares Accord in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of California donated $20,000 to Lifeline Community Services to establish a new food pantry at Lifeline’s Drop-In center, which serves transitional youth and unhoused individuals in San Diego. With the growing number of youth who are experiencing homelessness or at-risk of homelessness including transition-aged foster youth, the services of Lifeline’s Drop-In Center and this partnership are critical. Many of these youth have lost trust in the systems designed to help them; time with a supportive adult, a welcoming environment, and food are the most successful ways to rebuild trust and get youth the services they need. Molina Cares Food Pantry will provide much-needed nutritional snacks, hot meals, food boxes, and grocery gift cards for youth in need. SAN DIEGO, Calif., July 29, 2021 – The MolinaCares Accord (“MolinaCares”), in collaboration with Molina Healthcare of California (“Molina”), donated $20,000 to Lifeline Community Services (“Lifeline”) to establish a new food pantry at Lifeline’s drop-in center, which serves transitional youth and unhoused individuals in San Diego. “Lifeline Community Services lives up to its name, providing essential resources and services to unhoused San Diegans to help improve their wellness and quality of life,” said Abbie Totten, plan president of Molina Healthcare of California. “MolinaCares is proud to bolster Lifeline’s mission by working together to address social determinants of health for our most vulnerable neighbors.” In addition to establishing a new food pantry, the MolinaCares’ grant will help support other services the drop-in center offers, including crisis intervention, basic needs, housing placement, and access to showers, laundry, and computers. “Having the MolinaCares Food Pantry at our drop-in center will provide much-needed nutrition for transitional youth and young adults currently experiencing homelessness or at-risk for homelessness,” said Donald Stump, executive director at Lifeline Community Services. “Through this generous grant, the center will provide youth with nutritional snacks, hot meals, food boxes, and gift cards for groceries.” About The MolinaCares Accord Established by Molina Healthcare, Inc., The MolinaCares Accord oversees a community investment platform created to improve the health and well-being of disadvantaged populations by funding meaningful, measurable, and innovative programs and solutions that improve health, life, and living in local communities. The MolinaCares Accord funds such measures through The Molina Healthcare Charitable Foundation, a 501(c)(3) established in 2020 by Molina Healthcare, Inc. About Molina Healthcare of California Molina Healthcare of California has been providing government-funded care for 40 years. The Company serves members through Medi-Cal, Medicare, Medicare-Medicaid (Duals) and Covered California (Marketplace). Molina’s service areas include Sacramento, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, San Diego, Orange, and Imperial counties. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare, Inc., a FORTUNE 500 company, served approximately 4.6 million members as of March 31, 2021. For more information about Molina Healthcare of California, visit MolinaHealthcare.com. About Lifeline Community Services Lifeline Community Services is a community-based human services organization that serves low-income and underserved populations in San Diego County. Every year Lifeline serves more than 5,000 members of our community through clinically-strong and evidence-based programs that focus on positive youth development, child abuse prevention and domestic violence intervention, housing and self-sufficiency, behavioral health, and human trafficking victim and survivor services.
Jul 21, 2021
Ask the Experts: Parent Workshops
Ask The Experts: HERE Now Virtual Parent Workshops Are you a parent in need of additional resources for your children heading into summer? Hear from Lifeline'sHERE Now teensuicide prevention programexperts and engage in Q&A sessions. Over 32 virtual visits in English and Spanish are available coving the following topics: Self-Harm & Our Youth, Suicide Ideation & Our Youth, Conversations Around Safety, Coping Skills, Strengths & the Dimensions of Wellness.Session 2 (Dates from July 28 - August 18). Register Today!
Jun 18, 2021
Sarah's Story: Project LIFE Client
Project LIFE Client Story Sarah was referred to Project LIFE after being identified as a victim of sex trafficking during an emergency response call. Sarah reached out due to being left by her trafficker stranded and alone with none of her belongings or identification. That evening she called 911 and was sent help from the task force. Sarah had just been trafficked from out of state in the last three days to San Diego, CA, and had no idea how she was going to find shelter, food, or transportation back home after being deceived and tricked by her pimp. The team that worked with her created a space of safety and trust for Sarah by bringing her to the police station location, providing food for her, and presenting the opportunity for her to connect with victim services. As a result of the relationship built with Sarah in a short number of hours, she was willing to connect with a Project LIFE advocate to secure safe, confidential housing for the night. Over the next day, Sarah worked with her case manager, the HT Taskforce and helpful detectives to find a way to transport her home via plane even though she didn’t have personal identification. Sarah was very grateful for the way law enforcement, the taskforce, and detectives treated her with respect and kindness throughout the whole process. Sarah was very surprised that this team of people who just met her would spend their day and time focused on finding her a way home and helping her report her trafficker. Since then, Sarah has been relocated back home and living with her family. Sarah has also worked with her Project LIFE case manager to help connect her to local services for victims in her home city. Sarah has been able to develop a connection with a new case manager in her local area that is helping her to acquire secure and safe housing as well as stable employment. Sarah has training and worked previously as a hairstylist and is hoping to find a position at a salon using those skills again. Sarah has been checking in with her Project LIFE case manager once a month and is continuing to heal and engage in services locally at this time. Sarah has often mentioned to her case manager that she has continued to work with the detectives from San Diego, CA and that they have been helpful and working hard to help her press charges on her trafficker. Sarah has stated during her monthly check-in’s with her case manager that she is so thankful for the team of people who assisted her the night she reached out to 911 and that she doesn’t know if she would have ever been able to find help or a fresh start without their help. Click HERE to donate to Project LIFE.
Jun 18, 2021
Celebrate Juneteenth
Lifeline celebrates as Juneteenth was officially declared a federal holiday by President Biden on Thursday, June 18 when he signed legislation to make Juneteenth a federal holiday, the day after the House voted overwhelmingly to enshrine June 19 as the national day to commemorate the end of slavery in the United States. Lifeline encourages staff, volunteers, and community members to join the annual Juneteenth celebration in Downtown Oceanside on Saturday, June 19 from 10:00 AM - 5:00 PM. The event is put on by theNorth San Diego County NAACPand is a day full of celebrating African American independence. From 10 a.m.-5 p.m., enjoy shopping, food, youth activities, and informational and health awareness booths, and live entertainment. This celebration is free and open to the public. Located in Downtown Oceanside between North Ditmar St and Pier View Way. Click here to read the history of the Juneteenth flag.
Jun 17, 2021
Lifeline's DEI Commitment
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Commitment To support all in reaching their fullest potential, Lifeline Community Services commits to championing policies and practices that promote equity across race, gender, age, ability, religion, identity, and sexual orientation in order to empower a just, inclusive, and equitable society. Lifeline is a community-based organization that has been engaged since its inception in acknowledging, addressing, and attempting to reduce the impact of various forms of oppression and institutional racism on the individuals we serve. Lifeline commits to continued growth in this area by looking both internally and externally to identify ways to challenge and interrupt inequities that create trauma for our clients, staff, volunteers, partners, and community members. We will accomplish this through institutionalizing the practices of organizational reflection, analysis of data and experiences, and mobilizing change in ourselves and our circles of influence toward greater equity and physical and mental well-being for the communities we serve. We commit to continuous reflection and improvement. Lifeline Community Services will model this commitment respectfully and with integrity through our own collective and individual actions. Demonstrating our Commitment The Cultural Competence Committee, on behalf of the organization, wants to lead the organization by listening, discussing, and planning activities that will help us achieve this objective. We will build our plan around five areas of activity: Educate, Commemorate, Participate, Advocate, and Activate. Educate: We want to educate ourselves about the real history, actions, and consequences of racial and cultural inequity and disparity in our nation and community. Commemorate: We want to celebrate and honor the rich diversity and cultures that make up our organization, community and nation. Participate: We want to create opportunities for all – clients/participants, staff, and organizational leadership (manager, directors, board) – to engage in activities that increase self-awareness toward making change in our systemic biases. Advocate: We want to find specific actions to demonstrate our values and intents to our institutional partners about making these changes for our clients/participants. Activate: We want to build our values about diversity, equity and inclusion into organizational operations and programmatic design.
Jun 16, 2021
LGBTQIA+ Resiliency Workshop
In honor of Pride Month, Certified CRM Teacher and Lifeline's very own staff, K Thomas, will join Elaine Miller-Karas for a Trauma Resource Institute virtual conversation exploring the challenges of LGBTQIA+ in utilizing body-based interventions and practical tips to meeting the needs of queer people with an emphasis on trans and non-binary identities. June 24 from 9-10 AM on Zoom. Click HERE to register.
Jun 14, 2021
Community Vaccine Forum in Spanish
Lifeline Community Services esta aquí para apoyar a la comunidad y nos complace ofrecer un foro GRATIS destacando información actualizada sobre el COVID-19 y la oportunidad para hacer preguntas sobre la vacuna.DÓNDE: ZOOM Información de acceso: ID para la Reunión: 960 6776 6291 Contraseña 109007 +16699006833,,96067766291#,,,,*109007
Jun 07, 2021
Lifeline Hosts Two Vaccine Clinics in June
Lifeline Community Services is hosting Day #1 Pfizer Vaccine clinic tomorrow, Tuesday, June 8 from 9:30 AM - 3:30 PM at our Vista location (200 Michigan Ave., Sage Room). This is a FREE event and Pfizer vaccine is available to anyone 12 years and over. Walk-ins and appointments are welcome. First and second doses available at no cost. Health insurance and appointments not required to be vaccinated. Appointments also available, if preferred. The number of no-appointment vaccinations limited per location. Parents or legal guardians must provide their consent for an eligible minor to receive the vaccine. Consent must either be provided in person by the parent/guardian at the vaccination site OR a parent/guardian can provide their consent in advance by completing a consent form. Only the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine may be provided to minors at this time. All information is subject to change. To schedule a vaccination appointment, please visitMyTurn.ca.govor call 2-1-1. 2-1-1 is available 24-hours a day 365 days a year in more than 200 languages. All calls are free and confidential. Lifeline Community Services will also be hosting a Day #2 Vaccine clinic on June 29 from 9:30 am - 3:30 pm for the second dose of Pfizer vaccine. Project SAVE(Scheduling Assistance for Vaccine Equity) will also be present to assist those facing technology, language, or other healthcare barriers. Working in partnership with local government entities and trusted partners, Project SAVE Community Health Workers (CHWs) and Promotors facilitate access to vaccine appointments and provide referrals to no-appointment vaccination events. Project SAVE promotes vaccination events online and provides resources at in-person community events, such as swap meets, grocery stores, and schools. Project SAVE provides outreach and education to address vaccine hesitancy in a culturally and linguistically relevant manner. By bringing shared backgrounds, experiences, language, and culture to the communities they serve, CHWs and Promoters are integral partners to reach those outside traditional channels of communication. Learn more:Community Health Worker’s (CHW) outreach materials|County News Center Story For more information, please emailPHS_Promotores.HHSA@sdcounty.ca.gov.
Jun 02, 2021
Lifeline Is a Safe Space
It's Just a Sticker, Right? The History of Safe Space Logos and How They Help Create Safety Submission by K Thomas, Project LIFE Clinical Training Manager You might remember seeing logos on the walls of schools or a sticker on the door of a community provider identifying them as a “Safe Space.” But what does that mean and why does it matter? Can a sticker or a lanyard pin really make someone a more culturally responsive staff member? The history of Safe Space images are important to understand how visible images foster safety. The origin of these images can be traced back to Nazi concentration camps as they used pink and black triangles to identify gay and lesbian prisoners. In the 1970’s, Queer activists began to reclaim these images of oppression as symbols of pride and resiliency. Today, we see the evolution of these images in LGBTQIA+ pride imagery, like rainbow flags and gender icons. At Lifeline, we understand it’s important to create safe spaces for all identities, including our LGBTQIA+ clients. That’s why we’ve created our Lifeline Safe Space logo with the help of Queer leaders in San Diego County. Our logo shows the outline of the iconic Lifeline tree, with the colors of the progressive pride flag inside to honor the lives of Black, Brown, and transgender communities. We hope that when our LGBTQIA+ clients, community members, and staff see our new logo it will be a visible reminder that at Lifeline, we train our staff on cultural humility and work towards change together.At Lifeline: We see you. We hear you. We’re here for you.
May 12, 2021
Club Crown Heights Youth Lead Neighborhood Cleanup
Lifeline Community Services partners with Mayor Sanchez & Green Oceanside forNational Campaign Mayor Esther Sanchez met with Club Crown Heights (CCH) youth in Lifeline's after-school program at Crown Heights Community Resource Center to highlight reasons why they should care about Earth Day and taking care of the planet. Each CCH youth got their own Earth Day action kits to take home and also participated in the neighborhood cleanup hosted by the Mayor, Green Oceanside and Lifeline. As part of a national campaign,Mayor Sanchezchallenged the Oceanside community to take action for the planet and be MORE sustainable. This nation-wide competition among Mayors measures the sustainable actions taken by its community members. Lifeline is proud to have our Club Crown Heights youth leading the charge! Learn More >