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Dear Friends,

This year, Family Service Agency celebrates 125 years of service in Santa Barbara County. Since its founding in 1899, hundreds of thousands of families and older adults have developed the skills necessary to navigate life’s challenges with the support of FSA staff. Family Service Agency established its roots in the county during the Great Depression, two world wars, and the many challenges experienced every day by people trying to provide good lives for themselves and their families. We assist community members with accessing resources needed for daily living, mental health, and parenting, and through this work, families develop resiliency skills and work towards achieving their goal of self-sufficiency. Our dedicated staff, volunteers, and donors make this work possible. And our commitment to help those in need remains as strong as it did 125 years ago.

With gratitude,

Lisa Brabo, Ph.D.

Chief Executive Officer

According to a survey conducted by AARP, over 90% of adults over 65 prefer to continue living in their homes for as long as possible. USC’s Leonard Davis School of Gerontology reports that “For many people, maintaining a sense of independence is essential, as it enables older adults to improve quality of life. Aging in place allows older adults to retain an important level of control over their lives, as they can continue to live in familiar spaces.” 

To this end, Family Service Agency is excited to announce that it is expanding its case management services to help older adults age in place. The program is open to any Santa Barbara County resident 60 or older and is free, thanks to funding from the Modernization of the Older Californians Act and the Area Agency on Aging. Supporting seniors and their families has long been an essential piece of the services FSA provides to the community and exemplifies the agency's mission to integrate assistance with empowerment. 

Bernie’s story provides a perfect example of how FSA’s case management services can help someone stabilize and regain confidence. 

Seventy-year-old Bernie began facing challenges with self-care and wondered if he could continue to live independently. Seeking assistance from the Senior Services staff at FSA, Bernie obtained more effective and economical health insurance; he gained access to food resources to improve his health and received emotional support. Because he sought support, Bernie was able to improve his well-being and gain stability, and he now knows how to access community resources if he needs support in the future. 

"FSA’s case management for seniors includes support for accessing resources such as food, health care, in-home services, financial assistance, and transportation," said De Rosenberry, Senior Services Program Manager. "FSA is in the unique position to assist older adults as they seek to improve both their physical circumstances and mental health to sustain or improve their ability to age in place."

FSA has been providing mental health services to seniors and caregivers for years but has seen an uptick in older adults requiring assistance with meeting basic needs essential for daily living such as adequate nutrition, health care, health insurance, in-home support services, abuse prevention, and transportation. 

To learn more about this program, please visit our website.

In May 1899, the Santa Barbara County and City Chamber of Commerce officially incorporated. Two months later in July 1899, a group of concerned citizens gathered in the halls of Santa Barbara’s Chamber of Commerce in the interest of organizing charity. Out of this meeting was formed Associated Charities, today known as Family Service Agency.

Stay tuned for more FSA history on our social media, blog, and newsletters! For more information on FSA's history, click the button below!

On January 17th, the Women's Fund Forum: Strengthening & Supporting Families featured FSA's Youth and Family Program Manager, Melinda Gudino, as a primary presenter. She delved into how FSA addresses the overwhelming needs of families in Santa Barbara County. FSA's Intake Coordinator and Mental Health Navigator, Evelin Ramirez, also presented at the event. Nancy Ranck, Behavioral Health Senior Program Director, attended the forum alongside them.

On December 16th, Migrant Education School Based Counselors, Carolyn Silva and Francesca Sanchez facilitated a Migrant Education Community Information Booth at El Camino Junior High to share about the programs and resources that can support families in their time of need.

We are pleased to announce the appointment of Courtney Cazenave to our Board of Directors!

Cazenave retired from her position as an administrative office professional for the Santa Barbara County Sheriff’s Department earlier this year. She has 18 years of administration and operations experience.

A Guadalupe resident, Cazenave is looking forward to using her skills to make a difference in the community. She has been a Court-Appointed Special Advocate since 2020. She has previously volunteered for the Special Olympics, elections, and the Homeless Count from 2019 to 2021.

“Courtney brings passion and experience in supporting underserved populations as well as an understanding of our community’s strengths and needs,” said CEO Lisa Brabo. “We are very excited that she has joined the FSA board.” 

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