Lasting Partnerships to Serve Resident Needs

CALF Grant recipient for hearing aids can once again hear clearly and enjoy social events in her community.

To help us reach our mission, we seek partnerships that enable us to bring relief to residents in the form of financial intervention as well as donated goods and services.   Our most recent donations include grants from the Change a Life Foundation (CALF), Union Bank, Kohl's and ongoing LifeSTEPS Employee Contributions.   The money from CALF will be dispersed to vendors on behalf of residents to help pay for groceries; small medical, dental or prescription expenses; and car repairs to name a few of the more common needs.  All funding will be used exclusively for the purpose of helping families, seniors and individuals in need receive the assistance required to maintain secure housing.  

The Change a Life Foundation granted an additional $10,311 for the purpose of helping three at risk clients access the services and equipment they need to sustain their independence.  Each of these senior clients is having their need met through the provision of hearing aids, dental work, car repairs or a mobility chair.  The wife of the mobility chair recipient described her husband as "one happy camper" upon receipt of his equipment.  LifeSTEPS is privileged to partner with CALF to bring such wonderful relief to our clients in need.     

Family receives emergency assistance to regain stability.

Since January 1st, 159 residents living in communities served by LifeSTEPS have received help with food, medical, rent and vehicle expenses. The adult household members participate in intensive case management and create household budgets that take into account their existing needs as well as a contingency plan for unexpected expenses.  Our social workers help clients on a monthly basis by encouraging them to establish sound spending habits, live within their means, and in the case of some, navigate the system to acquire the assistance for which they qualify and is necessary for their long term stability.

Take Me Out to the Ballgame!

 Kohl's Gives Back to Their Community

Kohl's is committed to the communities where they serve, live, and work. Kohl's Associates take pride in giving back to the community and Kohl's provides monetary support to the nonprofit organizations where their Associates volunteer.  On April 18, 2011 a volunteer team from the Cypress Kohl's Store visited the youth at Elm Street Commons in downtown Anaheim.  Our After School Program participants eagerly welcomed their new friends.  Together with LifeSTEPS staff, the volunteers provided homework help, engaged the youth in reading activities, and finished the afternoon with a pizza party.  We look forward to seeing Kohl's volunteers again in June.  Thank you Kohl's!

 Learning the Importance of Fire Safety 

In March, LifeSTEPS held a Fire and Safety Event for the residents at Casa De Angeles in Los Angeles. The event was well attended by the community. Residents enjoyed refreshments while listening to guest speakers from My Safe LA and the Los Angeles Fire Department.  The firefighters demonstrated how their gear works, taught the "Stop, Drop & Roll" technique for extinguishing fire, and distributed free fire safety videos to each family.  Each year, hundreds of people are killed or seriously injured from burns received when their clothing catches fire. Many of these fatalities and serious injuries could be prevented if the proper procedures are followed. The "Stop, Drop & Roll" technique is relatively simple to follow. It is important to instruct seniors and small children on this technique since these two groups are statistically most susceptible to clothing related fires.  Thank you My Safe LA and the LA Fire Department for helping to keep our communities safe! 

LifeSTEPS' New Corporate Office 

LifeSTEPS' Corporate Office has officially relocated to 4041 Bridge Street in Old Fair Oaks.  We are delighted to be settled in and especially grateful to USA Construction Management, Inc., a subsidiary of USA Properties Fund, Inc. for their contributions to our renovation process.  Due to their efforts and those of many other generous partners LifeSTEPS has been able to create a lovely space for their Corporate Office while keeping costs to a minimum.  Thank you!    

Dave Farquhar from USA Construction Management overseeing the remodel process and LifeSTEPS Corporate Staff are excited to be in their new building! 

To see who else has contributed to our remodel click here>

Empowering Teens Through Outdoor Adventures

LifeSTEPS Regional Director of Social Services, Tolupeni Vaefaga, and three teens from the Terracina Gold Apartments spent the weekend of May 13^th with the Outdoor Youth Connection.  These activities took place in the great outdoors at the San Luis Reservoir- about 2.5 hours south of Sacramento.  Outdoor Youth Connection is a collaborative effort of California State Parks, California State Parks Foundation, and Pacific Leadership Institute, a San Francisco State University non-profit organization.  With funding from the Stewardship Council, the OYC provides teens, ages 14 through 17 and who are involved in community based organizations, with the opportunity to experience outdoor activities, teambuilding, and camping.   LifeSTEPS' teen residents participated in games, problem solving initiatives, and outdoor adventures.  They also received practical training in planning future outdoor activities for their peers, which will give them an opportunity to exercise their new skills.  The teens will host these events in their community in the coming months- stay tuned for how this positive experience will help these teens to utilize and promote leadership skills among their peers!

Making a Difference 

Big Goals for Success

Ricky and his two siblings attend the LifeSTEPS After School Program at Sandstone Apartments, an AMCAL property in Fresno, California.  Since enrolling, Ricky's Dad reports that he has seen huge improvements in his son's study habits and homework completion.  Ricky has set a personal goal to earn straight A's and has eagerly worked with the Program Coordinator to achieve this end.  Go Ricky!

Maintaining Independance

Val was initially referred to LifeSTEPS by her property manager at Vintage Zinfandel, a senior community in Sonoma, after she flooded her apartment and was found wandering the property in a disoriented state and unable to find her way home.  It seemed as though Val was suffering from short-term memory loss.  She flooded her apartment twice after leaving the water on and not remembering to turn it off.   The LifeSTEPS Director of Social Services, Diana, met with Val and helped her to access assistance from In Home Support Services (IHSS). With continual support from IHSS, Val's apartment is neat and clean, her meals are prepared for her, and she enjoys the companionship her helper provides.  At the suggestion of LifeSTEPS, Val moved into a two bedroom apartment in order to have a live-in helper to provide greater assistance. Val appreciates her continued independence and her daughter is grateful that she can live in her own apartment safely and is able to benefit from live-in supportive services.  Prior to LifeSTEPS intervention, her daughter had been looking into skilled nursing facilities at the advice of Val's doctor.   As a result of LifeSTEPS intervention, moving Val to skilled nursing is not yet necessary. Furthermore, Val would have been in an unsafe situation while waiting for a placement in skilled nursing. Val is enjoying living in her apartment; she is thankful for her friends and the company of her dog as well as being able to age in place with the right supports.

Click here to read more impacts stories! 

New Properties

May Employee of the Month

  
LifeSTEPS is proud to announce Maydy Bran-Orona as our Employee of the Month! Maydy is the Regional Director of Social Services for the Los Angeles region and an important member of our team.   With her contagious energy and enthusiasm, Maydy brings about real change in the lives of her residents and empowers her team to do the same.  In addition to supervising many staff, Maydy also oversees the development of LifeSTEPS After School curriculum -youth across the state are benefiting from engaging learning activities and personalized homework assistance.  Thank you Maydy for  your passion, inspiration, enthusiasm and love for LifeSTEPS and the people you serve!