CIFT has an exciting opportunity to come alongside Powerhouse Church in the city of Watts. They have served faithfully in Watts for over 20 years and have invited CIFT to provide their church body and eventually the city with mental health support.
Trauma is familiar to almost all residents in Watts. Many have experienced acute, chronic and complex traumas including: racial, physical, emotional, sexual and verbal trauma. Residents have also been confronted with family members who are incarcerated or have mental illness and/or addictions. It is commonplace to have witnessed violence, experienced poverty, housing instability, neglect, food insecurity and parental separation.
Powerhouse Church is located in Watts next to the Imperial Courts Projects. Through this partnership of Powerhouse Church and CIFT, an unprecedented level of care will be provided to the community at the Watts Powerhouse Family Counseling Center located on church property.
For the first time, the Watts community will have access to high quality therapy that is privately funded, paving the way for healing and restoration of their emotional well being.
Powerhouse has converted space on their campus in the heart of Watts into 3 counseling offices and a waiting room. CIFT will furnish and make ready that space to welcome clients. Our goal is to have CIFT therapists work there on a weekly basis as we continue to assess the needs and work closely with Powerhouse leadership.
Clients will pay a minimal fee that they can afford for their therapy sessions. CIFT will subsidize that fee in order to make the work sustainable for our CIFT therapists who serve the Watts community.
We estimate that $40,000 will cover the first year as we begin to offer services and more fully understand the needs of the community. RockHarbor Church has been supportive of Powerhouse Church and has committed to supporting CIFT as we begin this partnership with Powerhouse.
We also have a we have a “Matching Gift” opportunity that will double every donation up to $10,000!
We welcome the chance to meet with you and answer any questions that will help you pray through this meaningful opportunity for your support. You can reach out via email at powerhouse@ciftcounseling.com or contact us at 714-558-9266 x292.
If you feel compelled to make a monetary donation, you can do so online in any amount using the button below. You’ll be able to choose from a one-time or monthly recurring donation and pay safely and securely using any major credit/debit card.
CIFT is a 501 (c)3, non-profit organization. All donations are 100% tax deductible.
If you’d prefer to mail a check, please send it to our office:
Center for Individual and Family Therapy
Attn: Watts Powerhouse
1633 E Fourth St, Suite 120
Santa Ana, CA 92701
Thank you!
We appreciate your generosity and support.
Watts is a 2.12 square mile neighborhood nestled in Los Angeles county with approximately 42,000 residents. Watts is famous for its Watts Towers and the Watts Riots that took place in 1965 and 1992. Watts has become a predominantly Hispanic neighborhood with a significant African American minority and has developed a reputation as a low-income, high-crime area, following the Watts riots and the increasing influence of street gangs. The majority of homes are single mothers raising up to 4 children.
median age in Watts, making it the youngest neighborhood in LA County
percent of residents living below the poverty line
government run housing projects: Jordan Downs, Imperial Courts and Nickerson Gardens, the largest housing project west of the Mississippi river
gangs identified with 14 active, falling into 3 gang categories: Crip, Blood and Latino gangs
age that gang initiation begins and can be viewed as a way to honor family and find a sense of extended family and safety
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