Urgent Call To Help Us Uplift Our Clients With A Holiday Gift!
‘Tis the season for spreading happiness and cheer! Here at CLC, that means we’re busy wrapping presents and delivering gifts to our deserving clients in foster care. Yet, we have over 200 families in danger of not receiving holiday joy as the demand for our Uplift With a Gift program has grown.
Please help us continue CLC’s 19-year tradition of brightening the holidays for our clients by donating gifts or funds to purchase gifts. We have just 2 weeks left to match children and families with generous donors.
There are three easy ways to get involved:
- Sign up to support a child, multiple children, or an entire family and fulfill their holiday wish list. (Click below to sign up in Northern or Southern California)
- Purchase items to be distributed to families from our wish list.
- Make a monetary donation to the fund and leave the shopping to us.
Thank you in advance to our wonderful community for answering the call and donating by December 13!
Last year, CLC was able to make hundreds of clients smile thanks to generous people just like you! This year, we hope to do the same. As costs rise, we’ve noticed an even greater need for help for our clients and their families. Your generosity will support our clients, including the ones below.
Staff Spotlight: Melissa Miranda
We are so proud of Case Manager Melissa Miranda and her dedication to CLC4 clients, many of whom have been victims of commercial sexual exploitation (“CSE”). Melissa began working at CLC in 2021 with 13 years of experience in wraparound mental health services. She says she instantly fell in love with the CSEC department and working with transition age youth.
“I love meeting my client’s needs and advocacy,” Melissa said. “My goal is to make sure they are successful while being in the system. It’s been an honor working as a case manager with CLC and being recognized for all my hard work and dedication.”
According to CLC4 Firm Director, Princess Ramey, Melissa is extremely dedicated to our CSEC youth and works hard on their behalf. Recently, a county social worker went out of her way to mention how instrumental Melissa Miranda was in assisting a client. The client became emotional during a meeting because she was about to lose her housing. Melissa immediately got to work navigating the county’s complex housing system and eventually helped find a stable placement.
During a court appearance, the judge was so impressed reading the report that she went out of her way to acknowledge Melissa in open court and thank her for the work that she has done on the client’s behalf.
Bravo Melissa for your hard work and excellence in advocacy!
Gratitude Corner
‘Tis the season to be grateful! CLC is full of gratitude for all of our generous supporters. We would like to dedicate this Gratitude Corner to our steadfast partner of many years, the Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation. Through their Pritzker Foster Care Initiative, the family has made an immeasurably positive impact on CLC and the child welfare system as a whole. The Pritzker Foundation has been a committed supporter of many innovative and often untested projects at CLC, including the hiring of our very first Peer Advocate (which was, at the time, an otherwise unheard-of practice), the launching our Master of Social Work internship program, and the planning and implementation of the Family Support & Advocacy Center (FSAC)–our most progressive project to date providing child welfare prevention services to former foster youth at risk of losing their own young children to the system. They have stuck with us through incredible growth, learning, and change as we continue to challenge the status quo of what care can look like in the legal representation of foster youth. On behalf of all of CLC and the vulnerable young people we represent, we give our deepest thanks to the Anthony & Jeanne Pritzker Family Foundation.
Native American Heritage Month
CLC focused on the well-being of Indigenous youth as we celebrate Native American Heritage Month this November.
Our Sacramento Case Manager, Raechel Ibarra, gave a great presentation at the OYCR Youth Justice Summit about working with Native youth in Juvenile Justice. The presentation was a collaboration with Kimberly Cluff of California Tribal Families Coalition and tribal consultant Olin Jones.
This month, CLC celebrates the diverse cultures, histories and traditions of Native peoples. We also acknowledge and uplift the ongoing issues for Native communities.
Click below for additional information and resources.
Get Ready For Giving Tuesday!
Each year, CLC asks our generous community of donors and supporters to visit our Amazon Wishlist on Giving Tuesday to purchase gifts and toys for our Uplift with a Gift holiday program. Each year, we grant over 1,500 wishes for holiday gifts to children and families in need. We could not accomplish this incredible feat without you!
When the Giving Tuesday requests start rolling in, don’t forget about CLC’s Amazon Wishlist! It is a different and special way to make a HUGE impact! Whether you celebrate stuffing stockings or lighting the candles on a menorah or a kinara, YOU can make a difference!
Join the #GivingTuesday movement on Tuesday, December 3, by supporting CLC’s clients with the gift of holiday joy!