About the Nonprofit
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Established in 1990, United Parents’ mission is to provide resources to empower, strengthen and support parents and caregivers who have youth or children with mental, behavioral, or emotional disorders, offering four (4) programs that encourage family wellness and recovery. Our FAST (Family Access and Support Team) Program connects parent partners (parents with lived experience) to a family in need to assist with children who have mental, emotional or behavior disorders by providing resources and support. Our Respite Program offers a short-term break for families assisting in a child’s development using a peer mentor approach and providing fun, skill-building activities that promote socialization and improve self-esteem.
The Parents and Caregivers for Wellness (PC4W) collaborative strengthens the voice of parents and caregivers throughout the state and improves services and support for families, as well as to those who provide support and services, through community engagement, education campaigns, training and statewide advocacy. After a federal declaration of emergency addressing Covid-19, UP became part of the statewide Cal Hope program, offering crisis counseling during these difficult times. United Parents, headquartered in Camarillo, provides service to families throughout Ventura County and its surrounding area. Additionally, PC4W and Cal Hope programs provide support and services statewide.
United Parents serves a vast cross-section of California’s parents, caregivers and their children who have mental health needs and are as diverse across the socio-economic status and family structures as well as race/ethnicities and languages. Many of the families served by UP struggle with poverty, the impact of racism, gender inequalities, and substance use disorders. 35% of the total population of Ventura County is Black Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC), with 5.45% living below the poverty line. 47% of the clients served by the Family Access and Support Team are Transitional Age Youth (TAY), and 90% are BIPOC.
