Community Based Programs

The Guidance Center is committed to building a community where all children have the help they need to be healthy and happy. We’ve joined forces with our partners to create programs that support healing beyond our clinics.

Thanks to the visionary support and transformational grant from the Josephine S. Gumbiner Foundation, we’re building something that will empower children and families for years to come! We also thank the Earl B. and Loraine H. Miller Foundation and The Rudolph J. and Daphne A. Munzer Foundation for their generous grant awards in support of this project.

Family Resource Center – Coming Soon!

The Guidance Center’s new Family Resource Center is opening this fall at our Long Beach clinic to provide comprehensive support for families, connecting them to essential services that strengthen mental health, stability, and well-being.

This new space will offer:

  • Parenting workshops and caregiver support groups
  • Family dinners and game nights to build healthy connections
  • Homework help and job search assistance
  • Health and nutrition resources
  • Linkages to housing, food access, and social services
  • A resource library for families navigating crises

Rooted in compassion and community, the Family Resource Center will serve as a trusted hub for healing, growth, and support.

 

The Whole Child

The Whole Child Program at The Guidance Center helps children, teens, and young adults (ages 6–21) who are living with chronic health conditions or complex medical needs.

We know that medical challenges can also affect a young person’s emotions, behavior, and relationships. Our team provides specialized mental health support to help youth and their families manage stress, build resilience, and improve overall well-being.

By focusing on each child’s unique strengths, we guide families in fostering healthy coping skills and emotional growth, so that every child can thrive.

To learn more or get started with services, call us at 562-595-1159.

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School Crisis Response Team

In partnership with the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD), The Guidance Center created the School Crisis Response Clinician Program, also known as CARE, to support the mental health and safety of students and staff.

Through this collaboration, we’ve built a multi-tiered system of support that includes:

  • On-site crisis intervention and support for students and staff

  • Consultation for school staff on student mental health needs

  • District-wide training and education

  • Preventative care and mental health outreach

CARE uses a trauma-informed approach to respond to mental health crises and promote emotional wellness across LBUSD campuses.

The CARE model focuses on:
Connect – Build trust and rapport
Alleviate – Reduce emotional distress and remove immediate triggers
Regulate – Teach grounding and calming skills
Encourage – Support problem-solving and recovery through School Crisis Response

Educare Partnership

Educare is a national early childhood initiative that brings together public and private partners to ensure all children receive high-quality care and education from birth through kindergarten.

At The Guidance Center, we’re proud to be part of the Educare partnership, providing early childhood mental health support for families and educators thanks to generous funding from First 5 LA.