Shelter’s Woes Don’t Hurt Fund-Raising

Despite nearly having its license to care for abused and neglected children revoked earlier this year, Casa Pacifica continues to enjoy strong financial support from the community.

The shelter’s largest fund-raiser of the year was held over the weekend and attracted $105,000 in donations, about $5,000 less than the record-setting amount raised last year, officials said. Casa Pacifica Angels, a group of about 400 shelter volunteers, sponsored the event at the Sherwood Country Club.

The success of the ninth annual Angels Ball indicates not only continued support from the donors, but dedication on the part of the volunteers, say shelter supporters.

“The Angels volunteers see the extreme needs that these children have,” said Executive Director Steve Elson. “They are acutely aware that many of the children have no alternative; this motivates their commitment.”

The successful fund-raiser follows a year of controversy over security and management problems at the facility.

“I think many of our donors shared in the adversity and difficulty that we went through,” Elson said. “They really wanted to make sure that we succeeded. Sometimes those kind of situations actually pull people together instead of pulling them apart.”

The state Department of Social Services launched an investigation of the shelter in October 1996 after a 9-year-old boy sexually assaulted a toddler there.

In October of this year, state regulators placed the facility on three years probation.

In order to keep its license, Casa Pacifica officials agreed to take a number of steps to improve care and supervision, such as requiring more staff training and the segregation of older girls and boys.

“Despite the fact that Casa Pacifica was so closely scrutinized, the fact remained that there were still kids there that needed to be taken care of,” said Jeanne Mitchell, who has been a donor and volunteer at Casa Pacifica for the past four years.

“Criticism can bring about good change and I think that is what’s happened,” Mitchell said. “We’ve got to pull together as a human race to take care of these kids because their parents aren’t going to. . . . And since my husband and I are comfortable now, we feel it’s our moral obligation to give back to the community.”

The money raised at this year’s Angels Ball will help fund Casa Pacifica’s counseling, educational and medical programs.

And the Angels will use annual dues to throw a Christmas party for the children Dec. 17.

The children will have dinner, be entertained by a magician and receive a special visit and gift from Santa Claus.

However, many children at Casa Pacifica--Ventura County’s only emergency shelter and residential treatment program--will not celebrate the holidays in a traditional way because they cannot be with their families.

To ease the anxiety or depression that may plague these children over the Christmas season, Casa Pacifica holds an annual toy drive to offer the community an opportunity to “adopt” a child by purchasing a gift from a child’s wish list. These gifts will be given to the children Christmas morning.

“The children get caught up in the season just like everyone else,” Elson said.

“Some families may come to visit, but most visits will be brief and supervised. It will clearly not be a regular family experience for them on Christmas Day--but waking up, gathering around the tree and opening gifts is something we do to try to normalize for them as much as possible.”

Last year, 325 children up to the age of 17 were removed under court order from their homes due to physical or sexual abuse, neglect or abandonment and were placed in the shelter program. This program has room for up to 50 children, and the average stay is 28 days.

Casa Pacifica’s other program, a 28-bed residential treatment program, serves children from 9 to 18 who have exhausted the resources of Ventura County foster care and group home settings and require a more restrictive environment.

Last year, 39 were placed in the residential program.

About 5% of the facility’s annual $6-million budget comes from fund-raisers and another 5% from private donations and foundation grants. An additional 25% is received from the county and 65% from state and federal agencies.

To donate gifts, call 805-445-7804.