COVID-19 Cannot Stop Olive Crest Easter Plans

Front Line Workers for Foster Families and Abused Children

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Apr 10, 2020, 14:17 ET

SANTA ANA, Calif., April 10, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Child abuse is a major concern during the stay-at-home orders in the Los Angeles and Orange County area. Olive Crest frontline care workers are making heroic efforts to keep continual connection and comfort to these vulnerable children and families.

Parent Susana Rodriguez picks up Olive Crest Easter basket in Bellflower, California. Photo courtesy of Olive Crest.

Counselors and other staff at Olive Crest in Los Angeles and Orange County have made it a priority to be in daily contact with at-risk families during the COVID-19 crisis. Those audio and video calls provide both counseling and other assistance. This week, staff members safely delivered donated Easter baskets, groceries and iPads to dozens of these families in Los Angeles and Orange County.

Of course, all social distancing precautions were observed: the baskets and other items were dropped off on doorsteps. All deliverers wore protective masks and gloves. This prevented any direct contact between families and counselors.

More than 200 Easter baskets were donated by local churches for the distribution – another 750 by Olive Crest Staff.

Case managers delivered baskets and food to Transitional Housing Program (THP) youth, 16-18-year olds in group homes who may need an uplift and share the spirit of Easter.

Also this week a live ZOOM workshop was led by a local pastor teaching THP youth life skills on independent living, such as cooking, budgeting, self-care, resumes, etc.

Work like this continues.

Olive Crest serves an extremely vulnerable population: abused and neglected children and at-risk families, children and young people in troubled homes; children and teens living in foster care; children in need of protective services support and their families; youth emancipating out of foster care; and transition-age-youth.

Those served range in age from infancy to 24 years old. Many of those are already very sensitive to trauma and anxiety. Clearly, the additional uncertainty caused by the COVID-19 epidemic is incubating more stress, anxiousness and trauma—trauma compounded on top of existing trauma.

Economically, families are being impacted by school and childcare center closures along with the significant financial difficulties of lost employment. Vulnerable families often lack support networks. Senior caregivers, and foster parents who have suddenly lost employment need considerable help.

About Olive Crest

Since 1973, Olive Crest has transformed the lives of more than 100,000 abused, neglected, and at-risk children and their families. The organization works tirelessly to meet the individual needs of kids in crisis by providing safe homes, counseling, and education for both youth and parents.

Olive Crest's many innovative programs reflect a conviction that strengthening the family is the most powerful way to help heal children. With unwavering compassion, the Olive Crest family maintains a lifelong commitment to the youth and the families it serves even after they have graduated from the organization's programs.

Olive Crest serves over 4,000 children and families each day throughout California, Nevada, and the Pacific Northwest. For information, call 800-550-CHILD or visit www.olivecrest.org.

SOURCE Olive Crest