Fred Finch Youth & Family Services

06/11/2025

We believe that meaningful change begins with people — people who care deeply, build strong relationships, and lift others up.

Our team members share what drives them to show up every day: the bonds they’ve built, the impact they see, and the shared purpose that connects us all.

For more than 130 years, Fred Finch has empowered young people and families to heal, grow, and thrive. Every role here contributes to that mission — whether it’s supporting a child’s journey, collaborating with community partners, or creating spaces where everyone belongs.

If you’re passionate about making a positive impact and want to be part of a mission-driven community that truly cares — we’d love to meet you.

Join a Mission-Driven Team at Fred Finch! 🔗visit our careers page: https://www.fredfinch.org/careers

04/11/2025

November is 𝐈𝐧𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐨𝐮𝐬 𝐏𝐞𝐨𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐬 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐠𝐞 𝐌𝐨𝐧𝐭𝐡. At Fred Finch, we honor and celebrate the vibrant cultures, histories, and enduring contributions of Indigenous peoples — including Native American, Alaska Native, and all Indigenous communities whose ancestral lands we live and work on. We recognize the resilience, wisdom, and interconnectedness that Indigenous traditions bring to our collective understanding of healing, community, and care.

Our commitment continues to be centered on creating inclusive, culturally responsive spaces that uplift Indigenous voices, respect traditional knowledge, and advance equity and belonging. We remain steadfast in advocating for mental health, well-being, and self-determination across all communities.

Join us this month and throughout the year as we honor Indigenous heritage, celebrate cultural resilience, and reaffirm our shared responsibility to listen, learn, and stand in solidarity. Learn more about our work: https://www.fredfinch.org/who-we-are

30/10/2025

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐈𝐧𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐂𝐨𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐚𝐥 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲! Our Imperial County team joined the Imperial Valley Deaf Community Fair at Imperial Valley College to share resources, build partnerships, and promote inclusion for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing community.

Through programs like Specialized Wraparound, CARES, and FURS, Fred Finch provides care, crisis support, and family-focused services that empower children, youth, and families across the region:
🔹𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐳𝐞𝐝 𝐖𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 – Provides individualized care coordination and behavioral health support for children and families facing complex emotional or social challenges.
🔹𝐂𝐀𝐑𝐄𝐒 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐦 – Offers Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA) services both in-home and in the community to help youth build skills and strengthen family relationships.
🔹𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐲 𝐔𝐫𝐠𝐞𝐧𝐭 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐞 𝐒𝐲𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐦 (𝐅𝐔𝐑𝐒) – Delivers 24/7 phone and in-person crisis support for foster youth and their caregivers throughout Imperial County.

A heartfelt thank-you to all our dedicated staff who continue to go above and beyond the call of duty to represent our mission with compassion, professionalism, and dedication. Your efforts make a lasting difference in the lives of those we serve and reflect the values that unite us across every county and program in our continued commitment to empowering communities.

28/10/2025

𝐒𝐮𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐒𝐭𝐮𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬, 𝐅𝐚𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐒𝐜𝐡𝐨𝐨𝐥𝐬 𝐀𝐜𝐫𝐨𝐬𝐬 𝐀𝐥𝐚𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐚 𝐂𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐲! For more than two decades, Fred Finch has proudly partnered with local schools to provide behavioral health and educational support that helps students overcome challenges and reach their full potential.

Through our School-Based Services, we work directly with students, teachers, and families to promote emotional well-being, improve classroom success, and build strong foundations for lifelong learning.

Last week, our Alameda County School-Based Services and Enhanced Care Management (ECM) programs (pictured) participated in the Oakland Unified Community School Manager Resource Fair to share the many ways Fred Finch supports children, youth, and families across our community — including the Rising Harte Wellness Center, which offers mental health and wellness services for youth and families in need of extra support.

Together, our programs help young people and families access the care, tools, and resources they need to thrive — in school and beyond.

Learn more about our work: https://www.fredfinch.org/our-work

23/10/2025

During this month’s A Little Finch Told Me meeting, we were honored to welcome , Founder & CEO of Filipino , who shared the powerful history and continued impact of the Filipino American community. (See her impressive bio below!)

💡 Key Lessons We Learned:
🔹Filipino Americans have been part of U.S. history since 1587—long before statehood—building communities and leading social change.

🔹From the Delano grape strikes to the Third World Liberation Front, Filipino leaders have fought for labor, racial, and immigrant justice alongside other marginalized groups.

🔹True equity work happens when we connect history, health, and civic engagement—empowering communities to lead and advocate for themselves.

🔹Visibility matters. Recognizing Filipino American contributions builds belonging for future generations.

We’re grateful to Dr. Cortez for reminding us that advocacy is an act of love—and that our shared history is the foundation of our collective future.

21/10/2025

𝐇𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐬, 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐃𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲: 𝐀 𝐃𝐞𝐜𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐅. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐀𝐰𝐚𝐫𝐝: For ten years, the John F. Steinfirst Community Award has celebrated bold leadership, advocacy, and compassion across California—honoring those who uplift others through equity, mental health, and community well-being.

This year’s milestone carried special meaning as we reflected on a decade of artistry, advocacy, and shared purpose—guided by the vision of the late John F. Steinfirst and our retiring President & CEO, Tom Alexander.
Discover the story behind the hands and hearts that have shaped this legacy, and meet the artist whose mosaics capture its spirit: of All Hands Art.

Read the full story: https://www.fredfinch.org/post/hands-hearts-and-dignity-a-decade-of-the-john-f-steinfirst-community-award

16/10/2025

𝑀𝑎𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎 𝑆𝑝𝑙𝑎𝑠ℎ 𝑖𝑛𝑡𝑜 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑆𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙 𝑌𝑒𝑎𝑟! Last month, our Oakland campus was filled with laughter, sunshine, and connection during our Back-to-School Celebration. Youth from Avalon, New Yosemite, and our NPS campus joined staff for a day of fun, food, and healing — reminding us that joy is an essential part of growth and resilience.

Read more about how we combine therapy, family-centered care, and community moments to support youth on our blog: https://www.fredfinch.org/post/making-a-splash-into-the-school-year-how-joy-connection-and-family-centered-care-shape-healing-on

Last month, our Oakland campus came alive with laughter, splashes, and smiles as we celebrated the start of the new school year with a Back-to-School Celebration. Youth from our Avalon and New Yosemite residential programs, along with students from our Nonpublic School (NPS), joined with staff for a...

14/10/2025

𝑨𝒇𝒕𝒆𝒓 22 𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒓𝒆𝒅𝒊𝒃𝒍𝒆 𝒚𝒆𝒂𝒓𝒔 𝒂𝒕 𝑭𝒓𝒆𝒅 𝑭𝒊𝒏𝒄𝒉, 𝒐𝒖𝒓 𝑷𝒓𝒆𝒔𝒊𝒅𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒂𝒏𝒅 𝑪𝑬𝑶, 𝑻𝒐𝒎 𝑨𝒍𝒆𝒙𝒂𝒏𝒅𝒆𝒓, 𝒉𝒂𝒔 𝒂𝒏𝒏𝒐𝒖𝒏𝒄𝒆𝒅 𝒉𝒊𝒔 𝒓𝒆𝒕𝒊𝒓𝒆𝒎𝒆𝒏𝒕 𝒆𝒇𝒇𝒆𝒄𝒕𝒊𝒗𝒆 𝑨𝒑𝒓𝒊𝒍 30, 2026.

Tom’s leadership and dedication have shaped the organization’s growth and impact, guiding Fred Finch through 13 remarkable years as CEO. Under his stewardship, Fred Finch has remained steadfast in its mission to support children, youth, and families in need.

As we prepare for this transition, the Board of Directors has begun a thoughtful search process to identify the next CEO who will continue advancing our mission as we approach our 150th anniversary and beyond.

Please join us in celebrating Tom’s extraordinary career, his 45 years of service to children and families, and the profound legacy he leaves behind at Fred Finch.

We are deeply grateful for his compassion, vision, and unwavering belief that it takes a village to make this work happen.

09/10/2025

𝐈𝐧 𝐇𝐨𝐧𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐟 𝐉𝐨𝐡𝐧 𝐅. 𝐒𝐭𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐢𝐫𝐬𝐭: John’s decades of leadership, compassion, and vision helped shape the heart of Fred Finch—and the lives of the youth, families, and communities we serve. His unwavering commitment to helping others thrive continues to inspire us every day.

To honor his legacy and continue the work he championed, we invite you to contribute to the 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛 𝐹. 𝑆𝑡𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡 𝑀𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑟𝑖𝑎𝑙 𝐹𝑢𝑛𝑑. Your gift helps ensure that John’s lifelong dedication to care, hope, and opportunity lives on.

🕊️ here: https://www.fredfinch.org/johnfsteinfirst

07/10/2025

If you missed our recent Annual Impact Celebration—or if you’d like to relive the poignant story of one of our participants—we were deeply moved by the journey of Xue, a Rising Oaks alum who turned anger and uncertainty into 𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐫𝐩𝐨𝐬𝐞.

She shared how Rising Oaks wasn’t just housing—it was “𝑎 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔.” Today, Xue continues to give back by supporting youth and families as an aide in one of our programs

Hear her powerful story and learn more on our blog: https://www.fredfinch.org/post/from-surviving-to-thriving-xue-s-journey-with-the-rising-oaks-transitional-housing-program

02/10/2025

At Fred Finch, every story of healing and growth is made possible by the incredible people who stand with us—our community, supporters, sponsors, dedicated staff, and board members.
This year’s Impact Celebration reminded us of what we can accomplish together—honoring resilience, lifting up youth voices, and celebrating the partnerships that make lasting change possible.

We were honored to recognize Dr. Stuart Buttlaire, recipient of the John F. Steinfirst Community Award, who reminded us:
" 𝐹𝑟𝑒𝑑 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ 𝑝𝑟𝑜𝑣𝑖𝑑𝑒𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑜𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑠 𝑐𝑎𝑛𝑛𝑜𝑡. 𝑌𝑜𝑢 𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑢𝑠 𝑛𝑜𝑡 𝑜𝑛𝑙𝑦 𝑜𝑓 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛𝑒 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑡𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑠𝑦𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑚 𝑜𝑓 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑢𝑙𝑑 𝑙𝑜𝑜𝑘 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒, 𝑏𝑢𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑤ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑖𝑠 𝑝𝑜𝑠𝑠𝑖𝑏𝑙𝑒.."

We were also deeply moved by Xue, a former participant in Rising Oaks, who shared how Fred Finch helped her move from surviving to thriving. As she put it, Rising Oaks wasn’t just a roof over her head, but “𝑎 𝑏𝑟𝑖𝑑𝑔𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑠𝑢𝑟𝑣𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑖𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔.” Today, Xue gives back by supporting youth and families as an aide in one of our programs. Read Xue’s full story: https://www.fredfinch.org/post/from-surviving-to-thriving-xue-s-journey-with-the-rising-oaks-transitional-housing-program

We are profoundly grateful to our sponsors, donors, dedicated staff, board members, and supporters—your generosity and dedication ensure that every child, youth, and family we serve has the chance to thrive.

🎥 Missed the celebration? Watch it here:
https://video.wixstatic.com/video/0ff553_fba569a6303e4fa9b23779df4502f82c/480p/mp4/file.mp4