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Save the Date: Taste of the Town Returns… Now at a New Location!
One of Santa Clarita’s most anticipated annual events is back and this year, it’s arriving with an exciting change of scenery. Taste of the Town returns on May 3, 2026, at its new home, SoCal Innovation Park at 25141 Rye Canyon Loop, Valencia, CA, offering guests a fresh setting to enjoy an unforgettable afternoon of gourmet bites, fine wines, craft brews, and community connection.
More than just a food and wine festival, Taste of the Town is a powerful fundraiser supporting the life-changing programs of Child & Family Center. Every ticket purchased helps provide vital services to more than 2,000 local children, teens, and families each year including mental health care, domestic violence support, substance use treatment, and other essential resources our community truly needs.
Guests can expect an afternoon filled with local flavors, great company, and the shared joy of giving back. Whether you attend for the culinary creativity, the social experience, or the mission behind it all, your participation creates lasting impact right here in Santa Clarita.
Get your tickets early! Scan the QR code or visit www.tasteofthetown.com to secure your spot.
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Empowering Youth Through Connection
Throughout February, Child & Family Center’s CORE Outreach & Prevention Team connected with students across several local schools through resource fairs and interactive Lunch & Learn events focused on wellness, safety, and healthy relationships. From engaging conversations at Knight and Sequoia High Schools to Valentine’s-themed activities at Arroyo Seco Junior High and Golden Valley High School, students explored topics like self-worth, boundaries, refusal skills, and recognizing unsafe situations.
These outreach moments created space for honest dialogue, meaningful learning, and connection to support, reinforcing our commitment to helping young people build confidence, make informed choices, and develop healthy, respectful relationships.
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Celebrating a Year of Impact
Changing Lives, Strengthening Families
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We’re excited to share our Fiscal Year 2024–25 Impact Report, highlighting a powerful year of growth, healing, and community connection at Child & Family Center.
Here’s a quick look at what your support helped make possible:
- 2,057 clients served and 4,300+ individuals impacted through counseling, parenting programs, and community services.
- 35,000+ clinical sessions delivered to children, youth, and families through our Outpatient Mental Health Program.
- 839 volunteer hours contributed by dedicated community members.
- 2,000+ crisis calls answered through our Domestic Violence Program.
- 99% of clients said they liked the services they received.
Beyond the numbers are real stories; families rebuilding stability, young people discovering resilience, and communities growing stronger together. This year also marked an incredible milestone, 50 years of changing lives, healing relationships, and helping people thrive.
Thank you for being part of this mission, we couldn’t do it without you!
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158 Volunteers. 860 Hours.
Countless Lives Touched.
Earlier this month, in the spirit of Valentine’s Day, Child & Family Center had the privilege of celebrating the true heartbeat behind our work... our incredible volunteers. Last fiscal year alone, 158 dedicated volunteers contributed nearly 860 hours of service. Each moment they shared, whether offering support, lending a listening ear, or helping behind the scenes, played a meaningful role in strengthening the programs and services that families rely on every day. Their efforts remind us that positive change is truly a community endeavor.
To our volunteers, we extend our deepest appreciation. Your kindness, generosity, and willingness to lead with heart make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve. Thank you for being an essential part of our mission and for helping us continue to build a stronger, more compassionate community!
| | Child & Family Center Recognized with the 2026 Silver Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health | | |
At Child & Family Center, caring for people is at the heart of everything we do, not only the children and families we serve, but also the dedicated team members who make that work possible every day.
We’re proud to share that Child & Family Center has been recognized as a 2026 Silver recipient of the Bell Seal for Workplace Mental Health by Mental Health America (MHA), the nation’s leading nonprofit dedicated to promoting mental health, well-being, and prevention.
As a Bell Seal recipient, Child & Family Center joins a select group of organizations across more than 21 industries and 40 states that meet national standards for workplace mental health in four key areas: culture, benefits, compliance, and whole-health wellness programs
“As an organization devoted to strengthening families, we know that our impact begins with our people,” said Nikki Buckstead, President and CEO. “This recognition reflects the dedication of our staff and leadership to building a workplace where mental health is prioritized, conversations are welcomed, and support is always within reach.”
We believe that when we invest in the well-being of our team, we strengthen our ability to serve our community with excellence and compassion. This honor belongs to every staff member who contributes to a workplace culture rooted in care.
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Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month
February is Teen Dating Violence Awareness Month, a time to promote healthy, respectful relationships and remind teens that their worth should never be questioned. With nearly 1 in 3 teens in the U.S. experiencing some form of dating abuse, education, prevention, and open conversations are essential because real respect is honest, safe, and empowering.
| | | The Child & Family Center team proudly wore orange to show support for healthy teen relationships and to remind young people that respect and kindness always come first. Wear Orange Day encourages meaningful conversations that help teens recognize what safe, supportive love truly looks like and together, we can continue building awareness. | | |
Strengthening Care Through Youth Suicide Prevention Training
Child & Family Center is proud to have participated in the Youth Suicide Prevention – Building Community Through Care and Connection: Train-the-Trainer Workshop.
This training provided compassionate, developmentally appropriate tools for grief support and suicide prevention, equipping our team to better foster resilience, emotional growth, and hope among the young people we serve. Through the Train-the-Trainer model, our staff gained practical strategies to expand knowledge across programs and strengthen supportive environments for youth and families.
Opportunities like this allow Child & Family Center to continue deepening our impact - ensuring that care, connection, and prevention remain at the heart of our work with the community.
| | | | When Maria arrived at our shelter with her four-year-old daughter, she was carrying deep emotional pain and the uncertainty of housing instability. In those early days, she was withdrawn and overwhelmed, often keeping to herself as she tried to process everything she had been through. Little by little, Maria began to rediscover her strength. She started connecting with staff and other residents and showing up for herself in small but meaningful ways - getting dressed each day, taking pride in her appearance, and rebuilding her confidence. | | | |
Motivated by her goals of reuniting her family and returning to work as a chef, Maria stayed focused. With support from her brother and the shelter team, she secured her own apartment and employment at his restaurant. She finally exited the shelter into permanent housing, a milestone that marked a new beginning.
Today, Maria is stably housed, employed, and reunited with her eldest daughter. Her journey is a powerful reminder that with compassion, support, and resilience, families can move from crisis to stability — and from surviving to truly thriving.
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