Community Corner

SVECC Profile: Community Services for Families

The Community Services for Families (CSF) program is the only Home Start program that is based in Spring Valley. As an agency, they have a variety of programs and services throughout the county.

In 2009, when the made the tough decision to close down Spring Valley Elementary School due to declining enrollment, much thought was given to what to do with the facility. 

Thanks to some ambitious social groups in Spring Valley, along with San Diego Youth Services, the decision was made to lease the buildings out and form a community center that would be the heartbeat of improving the quality of life for those in Spring Valley and other areas of East County. Then and there the was born.

Now, with the facility at close to 99 percent occupancy, Mount Helix Patch will profile each of the organizations at the SVECC in a multi-part series.

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

We'll kick it off with Community Services for Families (CSF), a division of Home Start. Joyce Dickau, program manager, answered questions from Mount Helix Patch via email.

When was your program founded?

Find out what's happening in La Mesa-Mount Helixwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

This program has been in existence since 2004. Home Start is a child abuse prevention and family strengthening agency has been in existence 38 years.

What is the mission of your program?

CSF is a program that provides in-home parenting, parent education classes and peer Parent Partners.

What are the specific services provided to Spring Valley?

  • Intensive Case Management Services
  • Linking families with Community Resources
  • Parent Education
  • Community Leadership/Advocacy
  • Parent, Kinship and Foster Care Support Groups

How many people do you serve?

CSF in East County served about 500 families last fiscal year.

What else do you want to the community to know about you being here?

At this time, all CSF referrals come from Child Welfare Services.

See other profiles: Spring Valley Community Church  |  Child Development Association, Inc.  |  | 



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