Together We Journey, Together In Faith: Crittenton Thanks Our Faith Partners

Throughout the years Crittenton Services for Children and Families (CSCF) has seen our numerous community partnerships continue to flourish as needs grow. Whether are partnerships are with businesses, civic organizations, elected offices or other well meaning non-profits the end goal is one and the same – helping youth heal from the wounds of trauma, neglect, or exploitation.

In particular, we are proud to say that amongst our friends includes the faith community. In recent years our volunteer or advocate base that directly comes in from our faith partners has been very motivated and energized to assist us in our mission.

This year we are excited to have been embraced by and to have started a partnership with a number of local parishes and the Christ Cathedral team of The Roman Catholic Diocese of Orange County.

“Connecting with Crittenton has made it possible for us to connect our parishioners to see first-hand the face of Christ within children experiencing crisis,” said Greg Walgenbach, Director of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace, Diocese of Orange, “The staff goes out of the way to create a loving and safe environment for children, and it is reassuring to know that we are in the company of dedicated child welfare professionals.”

For more than a decade Crittenton has been fortunate to experience a consistent show of support from various faith-based partners including: Zion Lutheran Church in Anaheim, King of Glory Lutheran Church in Fountain Valley, Messiah Lutheran Church in Yorba Linda, Christian Life Center in Fullerton, Virtuous Women Ministries, First Evangelical Free Church in Fullerton, First Presbyterian Church in Fullerton, The Placentia United Methodist Church, Cottonwood Church in Los Alamitos, and The Rose Drive Friends Church in Yorba Linda just to name a few.

“It has truly been a blessing connecting with so many wonderful people through the Diocese of Orange and through our various faith-based partners. On behalf of the children we serve, I look forward to our newest partnership of compassion in service to those less fortunate,” said Joyce Capelle, Chief Executive Officer, CSCF.

Among the similarities the faith community, in particular the Diocese of Orange, and Crittenton share includes: serving youth affected by the juvenile justice system rebuild their lives; helping to heal and assist victims of violence; and a commitment to the advocacy for the end of the cruelty brought about by human trafficking in all its forms.

Earlier this summer Bishop Kevin Vann; members of the Christ Cathedral team; and the leadership of the Office of Life, Justice and Peace visited Crittenton’s Youth Shelter Program, for a volunteer orientation, and met with our staff and the youth placed in our care.

Since then our youth and staff have been invited by the Diocese of Orange to participate in church functions, and have been made to feel very much a part of the local Catholic community.

So much so, that, our newest supporters and volunteers from a number of Ministries of the Diocese of Orange helped keep our youth’s spirits high and kept them company, to what for many of our youth, was their first family style Thanksgiving celebration.

And among the traditions celebrated at this very special Thanksgiving meal was to give everyone invited to the table a chance to share what they are most thankful for.

“We are eternally grateful to the faith community for not just embracing our national legacy of helping children and families in crisis, but for also giving us strength at times when our agency needs it the most,” said Martha Jasso, Director of Communications, CSCF, “It is through these partnerships that we can continue to create opportunities for healing and give our youth the chance to build resiliency in the face of setbacks and life’s many roadblocks.”

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Crittenton Services for Children and Families of Southern California (CSCF) is a non-profit social services agency whose mission is to heal the wounds of abuse and neglect; strengthen families; and help troubled adolescents reach their full potential. Established and incorporated in 1966 Crittenton has a highly trained workforce operating 24 hours a day / 7 days a week providing comprehensive counseling, medical, and other support services to the clients in our care. We provide a full array of residential, in-home, community based, wraparound, mental health, foster care, and adoption services with a service planning area throughout Southern California that covers Orange, Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside and San Diego Counties.

Visit www.crittentonsocal.org to learn more about our programs and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, LinkedIn, Google+, and Flickr.