Five Acres: 106 Years of Helping Troubled Youths

In an ideal world, children grow up in a nurturing environment that encourages them to be their best. But in reality, many are abused: More than 139,000 emergency referrals were reported in Los Angeles County in 1992 (the most recent figures available from the Los Angeles County Interagency Council on Child Abuse). Many other cases go uncounted since these young victims often don’t know where to go to get help. Of the agencies that intercede, none can claim the longevity of Five Acres/The Boys’ and Girls’ Aid Society of Los Angeles. Founded in 1888 as an orphanage, the Altadena-based nonprofit program has assisted more than 10,000 families and children. Its pioneering efforts include a program for abused deaf children, which has resulted in special courts and signing programs for care-givers. Five Acres’ $7.6-million annual budget, comes from groups including the Pasadena Unified School District, the California Office of Criminal Justice Planning and private and corporate concerns. Says Thomas Kubasak, associate director of the California Assn. of Services for Children: “Five Acres has the array of services that allows them to serve a large number because they’re meeting different needs.”

HOW IT WORKS

Five Acres served 532 children and 395 adult family members in 1993*, up 17% over 1992. Services included:

-- Residential treatment

Children treated: 203

Adults counseled: 175

-- Emergency shelter

Children treated: 23

Adults counseled: 18

-- Home-based services

Children treated: 142

Adults counseled: 88

-- Foster care

Children treated: 32

-- Services for deaf

Children treated: 112

Adults counseled: 68

-- Family group homes

Children treated: 38

Adults counseled: 41

-- Therapeutic education

Children treated: 118

* Figures may exceed total number of clients served as some use more than one service.

COST OF CARE

Cost of residential care per month for one child (1992)*

Camarillo State Hospital: $15,437

USC Medical Center: $15,073

MacLaren Children’s Center: $6,500

Five Acres: $4,684

*Source: Five Acres

LENDING A HAND

In addition to the 212 full- and part-time social workers, teachers and various therapists at Five Acres, children also get support from 1,235 volunteers who visit at least once a year. Among them are Meshack Taylor, an actor in the TV sitcom “Dave’s World,” and Dodgers pitcher Orel Hershiser. Here’s why they’re involved:

MESHACK TAYLOR: “Back when I was on ‘Designing Women,’ I spoke at a shelter in Fresno and was totally blown away because I was unaware of the level of abuse,” says the father of four children ranging in age from 3 to 25. “When I moved to Altadena four years ago, Five Acres was right around the corner. Imagine the worst thing you can do to a child: There are five or six kids there that have had that done to them, betrayed by the closest members of their family. I go to events, work the annual fund-raiser and do interviews out there to draw attention to the facility and the problem. People need to get involved however they can: financially, volunteering or just calling the police when they see something happen.”

OREL HERSHISER: “When I grew up, I took for granted that you could trust your parents and not worry about abuse but a visit to Five Acres shows that’s not the case,” says the father of two sons, 5 and 9, who has spent time at the facility since 1987. The Dodgers star plays ball with the children, sizing them up just like he does the major league hitters he faces. Before he leaves the playground, he makes sure that everyone has a chance to bat and gets a hit: “If these kids hit the ball well and I’m the one throwing it to them, that means a lot to them. They’ll remember success. They don’t need another failing event in their lives.”

TO GET INVOLVED

Contact Robin Jurado at (818) 798-6793 ext. 210, (213) 681-4827, or TDD for the hearing -impaired (818) 798-9006.