Partners in Care Foundation

12/18/2025

🌟 Celebrating Staff with 20+ Years of Service with Partners in 2025 🌟

As we near the end of the year, we’re proud to highlight a remarkable group of team members who have been with our agency for over two decades. Since our founding in 1997, they—alongside our President & CEO, June Simmons, who has led us from the very beginning—have contributed greatly to our growth, success, and lasting impact.

Sylvia Whitaker, Executive Assistant – 28 Years
Briana Scamardo, VP of Human Resources – 26 Years
Aloyce Rachal, Senior Director of MSSP – 22 Years
Maria Cantu Acuna, Nurse Care Manager for MSSP – 22 Years
Pamela Mitchell, Supervisor, Program Billing – 22 Years
Patty Flores, Supervisor of MSSP Santa Barbara – 22 Years
Gonzalo Blanco-Pereira, Social Worker for MSSP South – 22 Years

Thank you all for your enduring dedication and the meaningful contributions you continue to make. Our mission is stronger because of you. 💙✨

12/18/2025

12/16/2025

Supporting older adults with complex health needs? We can help.

Partners’ Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) provides comprehensive care coordination to adults 60+ living in Los Angeles, Santa Barbara, and Kern Counties, helping them remain safely in their homes and communities.

✔️ Designed for older adults with multiple or complex health needs
✔️ Supports caregivers, social workers, and case managers seeking trusted community resources
✔️ Medi-Cal waiver program — at NO cost to eligible participants

If you work with or care for an older adult who could benefit from coordinated medical and social support, we encourage you to make a referral today.

👉 Submit a referral here:
https://www.picf.org/innovations-at-work/safety-net-services/multipurpose-senior-services-program-mssp/partners-mssp-contact-form/

Let’s work together to support aging with dignity, safety, and independence

The Partners in Care Foundation is accepting enrollment for its Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP).

12/15/2025

We celebrated our Annual All-Staff Holiday Event at the beautiful Knollwood Country Club in Granada Hills, CA. More than 100 team members joined us to ring in the season and reconnect before the year wraps up.

With so many of our staff working hybrid or remote, having the chance to come together in person was truly special. Thank you to each and every one of you for your dedication and hard work. Because of you, we’re able to provide the highest level of care to those we serve.

Happy holidays, team!

12/15/2025

Hanukkah, the Festival of Lights, commemorates resilience, faith, and the enduring hope symbolized by eight nights of light. Beginning December 14, 2025, we extend our best wishes for a meaningful and uplifting Hanukkah to all who observe.

12/12/2025

A huge round of applause to our incredible Staff Holiday Event Planning Committee!

We just wrapped up our celebration, and it was a truly wonderful event. Your hard work made this gathering so meaningful for our team and our culture.

Thank you for dedicating your time, creativity, and unique perspectives to create such a warm, thoughtful, and enjoyable experience for all of us. We appreciate you!

Special thanks to our Committee Members:
• Briana Hathaway, VP of HR
• RJ, Senior Business Partner, Human Resources
• Diep Luu, Communications Director
• Zoe Waters, Meals Manager
• Marlene Smith, Community Care Hub COE Manager
• Marlowe Simms, Engagement Center Manager
• Aris Davoudian, IT

Thank you all for making this event exception.

Stay tuned for more photos from our Holiday Event!

12/12/2025

Helping Older Adults Age Safely at Home in Los Angeles County!

We’re proud to offer the HUD Older Adult Home Modification Program, a grant-funded initiative designed to help low-income older adults (62+) in Los Angeles County stay safe, independent, and comfortable in their own homes.

Through this program, eligible households receive free minor home modifications aimed at reducing fall risks and improving accessibility — including grab bars, handrails, improved lighting, non-slip features, and more.

💡 Who’s eligible?
✔ Older adults aged 62+
✔ Residents of Los Angeles County
✔ Low-income households
✔ Homeowners or renters needing safety modifications to stay at home safely

📩 Want to learn more or sign up?
Visit our program page to get full details and submit your interest form:

The Older Adult Home Modification program (OAHMP) enables low-income older adults to remain in their homes through an assessment.

12/10/2025

When Safety Feels Fragile, Your Compassion Can Give it Back. Your gift can help older adults and other individuals with complex health needs move from fear to confidence, from isolation to connection. Every gift tells someone, "you are not alone."

Across Los Angeles and surrounding areas, our care-management programs are helping vulnerable populations live safely, independently, and with the dignity they deserve. Your support strengthens health, stability, and connection for individuals who might otherwise fall through the cracks.

Your generosity can help high-need individuals thrive at home.
Make a meaningful impact today: www.picf.org/compassion

Your contribution ensures that Partners in Care Foundation continues to offer life-sustaining services to low-income, older adults and children with complex health needs

12/09/2025

congratulations to Julio Cisneros for receiving Employee of the Month for December 2025.

Julio Cisneros, Partners’ transition coach, joined the Short-Term Supports and Services team in 2024. Julio has been a pillar of excellence, compassion, and collaboration. He started out as a temp and because of his dedication to both patients and colleagues, it was inevitable that he would transition to a permanent employee.

Julio has maintained a high performance throughout his time here at Partners in Care Foundation. Julio constantly goes above and beyond the goals set for his program. When asked to complete a task, he gets it done and then looks out for others to ensure that the team grows together. Julio consistently maintains accuracy, ensures patients receive timely care, and thoughtful engaging support. Julio is empathetic towards his patients, which allows him to build strong rapport and yield great outcomes by the end of services. He’s always learning, adapting, and sharing, whether stepping up during high-volume moments or offering resources across programs to help others thrive. His resourcefulness and generosity make him a go-to teammate not just within care management but across departments.

His impact ripples far beyond his role. Congratulations on receiving Employee of the Month.

12/02/2025

Congratulations to Cinthia Alvarez, Project Manager in Community Wellness, for being honored as our December 2025 employee of the month!

Cinthia has been a wonderful addition to Partners since joining us in March 2021 as a Project Coordinator. She hit the ground running, implementing evidence-based health promotion programs across Los Angeles County – self-management, falls prevention, and physical activity programs – and it didn't take long to see she had even more to offer.

When Community Wellness teamed up with Blue Marble Health on a National Institutes of Health (NIH) grant studying falls prevention in older adults – comparing app-based programs with in-person and Zoom workshops – Cinthia was the natural choice to step into a Project Manager role. She's balanced the demands of research with what really matters: the people. She takes time to coach participants individually and connects them to the right services. Anyone who has worked with Cinthia knows what a team player she is. She will drive long distances to teach a workshop, cover gaps without being asked, and always looks for ways to support her colleagues. Participants genuinely enjoy working with her, and so do we – her positive energy and willingness to pitch in make such a difference.

We are so pleased to recognize Cinthia Alvarez as Employee of the Month. Cinthia, thank you for being such a great teammate and for all the care you bring to this work!

11/27/2025

This Thanksgiving, we’re filled with gratitude for our incredible staff, partner agencies, and supporters. Thank you for the dedication, collaboration, and heart you bring to our mission every day. Wishing you and your loved ones a warm, joyful, and safe holiday season.

11/20/2025

Thank you to AARP for hosting an excellent “Tomorrow’s Caregiving Today” event at California State University, Los Angeles. In partnership with the Geriatric Social Work Education Consortium (GSWEC), the event highlighted the vital role of caregiving for older adults and the need for expanded resources and a stronger workforce. It also reflected the important work GSWEC is doing to prepare MSW students for careers serving our growing older adult population.

We would like to highlight the great planning team and presenters:
• James D. Simon, PhD, LCSW, Associate Professor California State University, Los Angeles
• Valentine M. Villa, Ph.D., Professor, School of Social Work, California State University, Los Angeles and Director, Applied Gerontology Institute
• Tiffany Zhang, AARP
• Claudia Ellano-Ota, AARP
• Adriana M. Mendoza, PhD, Associate Director, Advocacy & Community Engagement AARP California
• Jennifer Jorge, LCSW, Director, Community Social Services, Motion Picture and Television Fund
• Shad Cruz, LCSW, MSG, Director of Workforce Development, Partners in Care Foundation
• Siouxie Calderon, Lecturer California State University, Los Angeles