Carrie Estelle Doheny Foundation

Graciela came to Valley Family Center after having experienced years of chronic domestic violence perpetrated by her husband. Although she suffered from physical and emotional abuse on a regular basis, she found herself unable to leave the relationship that, in fact, caused her such pain. She lived at times with daily violence and feared not only for her own life, but that of her young children as well.

Valley Family Center was able to offer Graciela and her children a place of safety, consolation and support. Graciela and her children each began to attend support groups with others who had experienced the same violence in their lives. Additionally, the family received professional counseling and case management services. By receiving this help and support Graciela eventually found the strength and determination to leave the violent relationship that had imprisoned her for so many years. Graciela still receives counseling at Valley Family Center, but she now has a renewed sense of hope about her life. She has grown tremendously in self esteem and possesses the confidence that she can begin a new life for herself and her children.

The mission of Valley Family Center is to provide services that facilitate the emotional, social, and academic growth of the individual along with the strengthening of the family unit. Central to the core philosophy of the Center is the belief that all people deserve to be treated with equal dignity and respect. The somewhat humble origins of the Center were rooted in a dream of the present Executive Director, Sister Una Connolly, R.S.C. Sister Una, originally from Galway, Ireland, came to California in 1960. As a licensed marriage and family therapist, she witnessed a great need for family counseling among the poor and disadvantaged community in which she lived. She had a vision of finding a way to provide this needed counseling to children and families who would otherwise lack access to these services.

With only a handful of staff, and working initially out of a duplex apartment, the seed of what would become the present Valley Family Center was planted in March, 1987. Through the years, the Center has steadily grown in both its program of services as well as the number of people that are assisted. In addition to the services that are offered to victims of domestic violence, the Center offers family counseling, parent education classes, anger management services for perpetrators of domestic violence and after school tutoring for children with special learning needs. Local physicians, churches, hospitals, schools and courts refer clients to the center. Presently, the Center has launched a Capital Campaign in order to construct an additional wing to the facility and be able to respond to the ever increasing need in the community. Located in the city of San Fernando, Valley Family Center provides services to over 1,500 people each year.