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A Year End Message From Our CEO
“Where flowers bloom, so does hope.” – Lady Bird Johnson Dear Friends, As 2024 comes to an end here at The Guidance Center, there are so many reasons to be filled with gratitude, optimism, and hope. The incredible generosity and kindness of our donors, community...
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Our CEO Gives Thanks During Challenging Times
“It is not happiness that makes us grateful. It’s gratefulness that makes us happy” – David Steindl-Rast As an adult, Thanksgiving has become my favorite holiday. It’s never been about the food; I don’t adore turkey or mashed potatoes or the various fixings. I...
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Unpacking Stigma for Unhoused Awareness Month
Over the years, more and more people have become unhoused or find themselves at risk of homelessness. Major factors are constant increases in rent, high unemployment rates, and an overall expensive cost of living. It can be incredibly challenging to experience these...
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Adopt-A-Family 2024: Spread Holiday Cheer This Year!
“The greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate actions of its members.” – Coretta Scott King The holiday season is fast approaching! Most of us are in the process of making plans to shop for the ones we love. You may have already...
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Long Beach Gives: Over $45,000 Raised for Family Resource Center!
Long Beach Gives was held just last week! As a returning nonprofit, The Guidance Center was excited to join over 270 nonprofits in this citywide crowdfunding campaign to bolster community support and raise funds for an important cause. Impact &...
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Holding Space: Grief Awareness Day 2024
This Grief Awareness Day, we want to hold space for those who may be going through a tough time and share helpful techniques for coping with grief. This blog will break down types of grief, self care practices, and community resources. We hope to equip you with the...
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BIPOC Mental Health Month: Beyond the Numbers
BIPOC Mental Health Month is celebrated every year in July to raise awareness for underrepresented groups who face additional barriers to mental health. This blog will teach you about the meaning of BIPOC, mental health challenges, and supportive resources to...
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Pride Month 2024: Celebrating the LGBTQIA2S+ Community
Happy Pride Month! Now is the perfect time to increase visibility for the LGBTQIA2S+ community, foster inclusive education, and grow your allyship. In this blog, you will find information and resources to advocate for queer people. "[Pride is] an opportunity...
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Mental Health Awareness Month 2024
Did you know that May is recognized as Mental Health Awareness Month? This monthly celebration helps to raise awareness, reduce stigma, and promote education for mental health. In our busy day-to-day lives, it can be hard to make time to fit everything into our...
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Parents: It’s Time to Play!
“Play is the work of childhood.” – Jean Piaget My name is Guadalupe Navarro, a therapist at The Guidance Center. I am here to write about the importance of play and how we can encourage parents to explore their own inner child during playtime with their children. My...
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Fight to End Human Trafficking
"If everybody had a perfect childhood…the world would be a nearly perfect place. And by 'perfect' I don't mean something you see on an old sit-com. A perfect childhood simply means experiencing unconditional love, having your basic needs met and having equal...
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In My Backyard Podcast Update
The end of one journey is just the beginning of the next. -Joseph S. Marshall, III Three years ago, with the COVID-19 pandemic raging and the social unrest after the murders of Breonna Taylor and George Floyd, I created an outlet where I could speak with other experts...
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Adopt A Family Tribute Book 2023
Thank you to everyone who participated in our Adopt-A-Family program this year. Because of your kindness, you brought so much joy to our clients this past holiday season!
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New Year’s Reflections for the Whole Family
The start of a new year is an opportunity to reflect on the past year and set goals and intentions for the year ahead. We asked our wonderful therapists to suggest some reflection prompts for children and youth to foster healthy conversation and to create a sense of...
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2023 Year In Review – A Letter From Our CEO
As I look back and reflect on 2023, I see a year filled with hope and determination. Hope and determination in our dedicated staff who created a safe and welcoming environment that uplifts children, youth and their families. They lend a hand and heart to help our...
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One Gift Can Help Transform A Life – Let’s Get To $75,000 By Midnight On December 31!
“Helping one person might not change the word, but it could change the world for one person.” - Unknown It only takes one - one voice, one outstretched hand, one moment of courage – to transform the lives of the children and families we serve. In a world that...
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Adopt-A-Family Donors Bring Holiday Cheer!
"It's not about how much we give, but how much love we put into giving." - Mother Theresa Connecting our clients with community members and local businesses eager to make a positive impact remains the highlight of our year. The overwhelming generosity from our...
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Holiday Crafts for the Whole Family: Celebrate Self-Expression, Imagination and Confidence
Deck the halls with these festive DIYs! On today’s blog, we share holiday craft ideas that the whole family can enjoy. The following projects not only stimulate nimble fingers and creative minds but also enhance problem-solving abilities. They become a canvas for...
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Grateful for You
As we approach Thanksgiving, we’d like to express our heartfelt gratitude to everyone who has made a positive impact on our community every day. The holiday season serves as a wonderful opportunity to pause and reflect on the blessings we are thankful for, including...
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Classroom Activities Celebrating Native American Heritage Month
Let's redefine Thanksgiving in the classroom, making it a feast of diverse perspectives and cultural richness. Looking for enriching and fun activities to educate children on Native American Heritage? Head over to our TeachersPayTeachers page to find useful...
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