Tag archives: Family Service Agency

Family Service Agency
By Steven Libowitz   |   December 26, 2023

Seniors experiencing depression or related mental health challenges have a new resource to help them retain their independence and improve quality of life thanks to a recently-launched program from Family Service Agency (FSA). PEARLS – an acronym for the Program to Encourage Active, Rewarding Lives – utilizes an evidence-based approach to reduce symptoms of depression […]

FSA’s Turn to Serve
By Richard Mineards   |   November 21, 2023

The Family Service Agency of Santa Barbara County got into quite a pickle at the Montecito Club at the weekend. The popular charity, founded in 1899, hosted its inaugural pickleball tournament with 68 players organized by local realtor Natalie Collins-Smith, raising $20,000 for senior service programs and youth mental health with sponsorship from Farmers & […]

Dream on: FSA Fundraiser rakes in $160K
By Richard Mineards   |   May 23, 2023

Santa Barbara’s 124-year-old Family Service Agency hosted its first Dreams in Bloom fundraiser with 170 guests and raised around $160,000 toward programs that serve more than 24,000 annually, ensuring access to food, shelter, and other basic needs. The boffo bash at the historic Rockwood Woman’s Club, co-chaired by the tony triumvirate of Maria McCall, Sandy […]

Family Service Agency
By Steven Libowitz   |   November 8, 2022

Across Santa Barbara County, as is true around the country, more children and adolescents are experiencing challenges to emotional well-being, including documented increases in anxiety, depression, and suicidal ideation. Not surprisingly, the COVID pandemic increased the urgency to address our youth mental health crisis.  Fortunately, Family Service Agency (FSA) of Santa Barbara County, whose organizational […]

Supporting Youth Mental Health
By Lynda Millner   |   May 24, 2022

Family Service Agency (FSA) gave its annual fundraiser at Rockwood Woman’s Club. It began under the oaks on the terrace with a variety of wine, trays of heavy hors d’oeuvres, and music by a great combo. Co-chairs of this fête were Marni Cooney and Sandy Nordahl helped by Katya Armistead, Halle Bedford–Dyer, and Kathy O’Leary. […]

Family Service Agency
By Zach Rosen   |   December 24, 2020

Founded in 1899, the Family Service Agency (FSA) has been a continual source of support in the community for over a century. Over the years they have helped individuals and families with counseling, mental health programs, and more concrete support of basic needs like access to transportation and schools. Of course the pandemic has brought […]

Food Wars
By Richard Mineards   |   April 25, 2019

The Carriage & Western Art Museum was socially gridlocked when more than 300 Family Service Agency supporters participated in the 5th annual Cooking Up Dreams. The sold-out culinary spectacular raised more than $100,000 for long established mental health and family support programs. Celebrity judges included KEYT-TV anchor Joe Buttitta, food and drink writer George Yatchisin, […]

New Director
By Richard Mineards   |   February 21, 2019

Hillside House has appointed Rosemary Rice as new program director of its Veronica Springs Residence, which caters for 59 adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities. She succeeds Jessica Thumm, who has been in the position for the past two years. Rice has more than 14 years experience at the Tri-Counties Regional Center with individuals with […]

Family Circle
By Richard Mineards   |   October 18, 2018

Major supporters of the 119-year-old Family Service Agency came together for a President’s Circle reception at the rustic Birnam Wood home of Carole Macelhenny. UCSB professor Mario Garfield spoke about the pressures facing young people in this age of new technology to the 30 guests, including Jim and Shirley Ann Hurley, Kevin and Marianne McCarthy, […]

What’s Cooking
By Richard Mineards   |   April 12, 2018

There was certainly food for thought when the 119-year-old Family Service Agency hosted its fourth annual Cooking Up Dreams gala at the Carriage and Western Art Museum, attracting 280 guests and raising around $100,000 for the nonprofit’s work, including counseling students at schools impacted by the recent disasters, providing basic-needs support to displaced workers and […]