In 1988, Mary O'Connor originally conceived the notion of Family Assessment, Counseling & Education Services aka F.A.C.E.S on an airplane ride back from an AFCC conference for family law judges, mediators and mental health professionals. As a court-appointed mediator for several years, she had counseled families going through the various stages of divorce. The children, through no fault of their own, were shuffled back and forth, and were frequently subjected to the domestic violence between their parents. She envisioned a family friendly place where parents and children would find a safety and healing from the wounds of separation and divorce.
With the help of friends Shelley Driscoll and Cheryl Ramirez, the three women began the work of development of the organization. A friend, John Smith III, drew up their incorporation papers. Richard Ronsco made their first sign in front of the agency. Their first fundraiser brought in $64! The principles who set up the agency had a strong vision of what was needed to help families in crisis: Respect, Professionalism and Social Change. This agency has continued to give families what they need: the compassion and respect and education to get through difficult life transitions.
Divorce is a fact of life in our community. Over 50% of families are divorced, separated or remarried. This change, in the last 40 years has impacted how children view themselves and how they cope with life. At F.A.C.E.S., children are the focus.
Parents who cannot talk, learn to communicate for the sake of the children, and for children to grow up in safer environments. Each year, F.A.C.E.S. hosts a summit on family violence prevention, callled Hearts in Action. Community Leaders present their views on panels about the growing problem of domestic violence and its effect on the community. F.A.C.E.S. has a commitment to all parents in pain to help heal the hurts and build stronger families and communities. For twenty years, with limited funds this much admired agency has served the community. We have not done this alone. The help of hundreds of selfless volunteers have kept F.A.C.E.S. doors open to families. We need you to help us continue this awesome work, where more than 2000 families were helped in 2007.
Every program was developed in response to community needs: F.A.C.E.S. began with one parenting class, counseling sessions and custody evalutions.
As the agency grew, community spirit brought in not only clinicial counseling volunteers, but members of the community who would help with janitorial services, sign building, writing incorporation papers, computer programs, and donations of furniture and supplies. The community based organization had begun a groundswell of interest that has encouraged and supported the founders to continue development and capacity building of F.A.C.E.S. programs.
F.A.C.E.S. was incorporated in 1992 as a non-profit agency. Community spirit spurred the founders to open a second office in Santa Ana California in 1994, and in 1999 we opened the South County office. Today F.A.C.E.S. has three additional branch offices in Anaheim, Los Angeles and Laguna Niguel.
At F.A.C.E.S., our staff is 90% volunteer, and it has been that way for 20 years.
F.A.C.E.S. is an agency with compassion weaved in with professionalism, that has grown and continues to add to the circle of 3 full time caring employees and over 70 volunteers who work with families of divorce. No one is turned away for lack of funds. All services are on a sliding scale. in 2007, over 2000 families received services in the five offices.
F.A.C.E.S. is the only non-profit agency in Southern California that offers mental health services on a sliding-scale basis specifically for single parent famlies. F.A.C.E.S. family resource centers provide a variety of interventions, including counseling for adults, children, couples and families; group counseling, teen groups and Grandparent groups; single parent support groups; parenting and anger management groups, and monitored visitations and exchanges for families separated due to violence.
F.A.C.E.S. 50% bilingual for Spanish staff is culturally sensitive to the changing needs of our communities. We also offer In Home Family Assessments, mediation services, seminars, classes, and counseling sessions are offered regularly in both English and Spanish.
These programs are supported by our Educational Institute, which offers a link between our clients and 30 interns from local universities who receive quality, interactive training in the human services and counseling fields. F.A.C.E.S. has a network of 5 licensed Marriage & Family Therapist supervisors, and a Clinical Psychologist, who give back to the community through training and guidance of bright and professional interns in the counseling forum F.A.C.E.S. 30 interns volunteer at our agency because of its reputation for excellent training and supervision.
Expanding F.A.C.E.S.’ services to other geographical areas in Orange and L.A. Counties has provided much-needed services to underserved families in the Southern California region.
The Common Ground program provides a safe environment for children who have been exposed to family violence, whether it is verbal, emotional or physical abuse. The single parent families who participate can be assured that the children will have a safe, professional place to visit with their parent. The Common Ground program has two main components: monitored visits and supervised exchanges. For parents who are ordered to do so by the Court, F.A.C.E.S. provides monitored visits with case managers. Clinicians receive specialized training in monitoring and provide guidance when intervention is necessary. For example, a therapeutic monitored visitation occurs when a child who may have experienced verbal, physical, or sexual abuse may need encouragement to participate in the visitation. In supervised exchanges, a trained counselor is also present during the exchange of children between parents to ease the transition between homes. These services create a non-threatening environment for children who have been exposed to hostility, allowing them to flourish in a positive atmosphere.
One Story:
Five-year-old Sara did not understand why daddy hit mommy’s head against the wall or pushed her down the stairs of their apartment complex. All she knew was that it scared her and made her sad to see mommy crying on the floor. Sara told the F.A.C.E.S. counselor that when these arguments occurred, she would often hide in her mother’s closet, huddled amongst her mother’s dresses. She did this because she wanted to become “like mommy and share the hurt and make [her] mommy hurt less.” Unfortunately, Sara’s story is a familiar one. Everyday our counselors help children who are physically, emotionally or sexually abused and diligently develop treatment plans focused on building coping skills and renewing a sense of hope in their young lives.
Sara’s story mirrors hundreds of families in Orange and L.A. Counties in crisis. Her experiences illustrate that many divorces may be complicated by a combination of alcohol and drug abuse, domestic violence and other devastating family problems. Studies show that child abuse peaks during the weeks directly following the separation. In these cases, the child must deal not only with the divorce, but also with the trauma of abuse.
F.A.C.E.S serves a majority of low-income families from a variety of ethnic backgrounds. Along with the escalating percentages of diversity, there is also a subsequent increase in the need for mental health services. F.A.C.E.S. staff mirrors the colorful diversity in our communities with second language capabilities in seven languages. Please contact us for information. 714.879.9616
F.A.C.E.S. 501c3 # is 33-0560054
To donate in the name of a family member, please go to our FACES fundraising page.
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| The Global Human Family Print is symbolic of F.A.C.E.S. mission to provide services for all families and put a smile on their faces |
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