Supporting the Mental Health of Youth After the LA Wildfires

All Hands and Hearts is partnering with the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena to provide creative wellness activities and accessible therapy services, supporting the mental health of youth impacted by the LA wildfires.

While our teams in Los Angeles continue critical fire recovery efforts like smoke remediation, we are also prioritizing the emotional well-being of children affected by the disaster. Since February, we’ve partnered with the Boys & Girls Club of Pasadena to launch Wellness Wednesdays, activities designed to create safe spaces for mindfulness and healing.

Recently, teens took part in crafting vibrant sand mandalas, a calming and creative practice that encourages self-expression and emotional regulation.

The loss of homes, schools, and community spaces takes a serious toll on young people’s mental health. To help address this, we’ve supported the Club in welcoming Dr. Maria Austin, a licensed Clinical Psychologist and Marriage and Family Therapist, as their in-house therapist. Her presence offers youth a trusted guide as they navigate the emotional impacts of disaster recovery

With Dr. Maria on board, Care Coordinators can now connect teens directly to one-on-one therapy sessions. This step makes mental health care more accessible and seamlessly woven into the Club’s daily programming, ensuring youth have the resources they need to heal.

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