By Delaney Smith, Santa Barbara Independent, February 5, 2020 As part of Santa Barbara County’s overhaul of its criminal justice system, the Board of Supervisors accepted a nearly $6 million grant Tuesday to fund a treatment program for minor offenders suffering from drug addiction or mental illness in an effort to divert them from jail. “Basically what it means is we are taking the most vulnerable individuals who suffer from substance-abuse and mental-health issues — who often end up in our...

For the final week of Child Abuse Prevention Month, our stress-busting strategy is Supportive Relationships. Supportive relationships make a significant impact on our social, emotional and physical well-being. Renowned psychiatrist and trauma expert, Dr. Bruce Perry writes, “The more healthy relationships a child has, the more likely he will be to recover from trauma and thrive. Relationships are the agents of change and the most powerful therapy is human love.” We will be highlighting the...

Thank you Edwin and all of the staff at Fighting Back Santa Maria Valley! We are grateful for your leadership and dedication to improving lives!

In April we recognized National Child Abuse Prevention Month, an opportunity to highlight the importance of working together as a community to keep families strong so that children and youth are safe and thriving. Each year, our local campaign has a theme. This year, we invited you to focus on how community support strengthens families. The conditions in which people live, work, play and learn can have a big impact on wellness. Adverse community environments can create challenges for...