La Familia Counseling Center Awarded $5 Million with CDFA Grant

SACRAMENTO, CA - [Tuesday, November 7, 2023] – La Familia Counseling Center (LFCC) is pleased to announce that it has been awarded a $5 million grant from the California Department of Food and Agriculture as part of the Community Resilience Centers Program. The grant will establish La Familia’s Climate Resilience Hub-Complex (LFCC-CRC) in South Sacramento, a vital initiative to enhance emergency preparedness, resilience, and community development in the region.

The California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA) has played a crucial role in supporting communities during disasters and emergencies. CDFA's Community Resilience Centers Program allocated $38 million in grants to enhance emergency preparedness capabilities, focusing on disadvantaged areas. La Familia is the only organization in the Sacramento region benefiting from these instrumental funds.

"In times of crisis, resiliency hubs become the heart of our community,” said Rachel Rios, Executive Director, La Familia Counseling Center. “They ensure that no one is left behind during disasters and emergencies. But beyond that, they empower our residents with the tools and resources they need to thrive and build a more resilient, sustainable future for Sacramento."

The LFCC-CRC will encompass the Maple Neighborhood Center and a new Opportunity Center, creating a central hub for community services, resilience activities, and climate-related initiatives. La Familia’s Resilience Hub Complex will serve as a key physical site for community members to access critical services and local, state, and federal first responders to deploy emergency response activities, including essential distribution and support during climate-related or other events.

"When disasters and emergencies happen, Californians often look to local community centers for refuge, information, and guidance,” said Karen Ross, Secretary California Department of Food and Agriculture. “This grant will strengthen La Familia’s ability to provide shelter and extend services during emergency events, and the improvements will also benefit residents who use the center throughout the year."

The Opportunity Center, one of the components of the LFCC-CRC, is shovel-ready, with design plans approved by the City of Sacramento’s Planning Commission in October. Upon the City Council’s approval, construction is expected to commence early next year with completion anticipated by summer 2025. Additionally, the LFCC Climate Resilience Complex also includes the Maple Neighborhood Center, which will undergo significant upgrades and improvements to align with climate change response strategies.

The LFCC-CRC project reflects LFCC and CDFA's commitment to bolstering community resilience and preparedness. It stands as a testament to the importance of collaboration and investment in the well-being of all communities. It aligns with CDFA's mission to strengthen community centers and provide year-round services to promote civic, social, educational, and economic development programming.

La Familia Counseling Center expresses gratitude to the California Department of Food and Agriculture and looks forward to working with the other funded partners to create resiliency throughout California’s most vulnerable communities.

Contact:
Lilly Cortes Wyatt
On Behalf of La Familia Counseling Center
Lilly@sociospragency.com
925-408-2737

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About La Familia Counseling Center:
La Familia Counseling Center, Inc. (La Familia) provides multicultural counseling, outreach, and support services for children, youth, families, and individuals of diverse backgrounds to help them overcome adversity and become empowered to succeed. For more than 50 years, La Familia has successfully operated programs that have been recognized on the local, state, and national levels. All of La Familia’s services are free, and bilingual staff members are available to meet the needs of our diverse community.