November 9, 2023
VENICE FAMILY CLINIC AND THE MIDNIGHT MISSION CELEBRATE EARLY HEAD START PARTNERSHIP
Ribbon Cutting Commemorating Partnership Will Be Held On 11/14; New Shared Location Will Deliver Important Family-Centered Services to Inglewood Families with Children Ages 0-3
INGLEWOOD, CA – (November 9, 2023) – Venice Family Clinic, a nonprofit community health center serving 45,000 people in need from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay, and The Midnight Mission, the longest-running human services organization in the Los Angeles region, today announced a new partnership that will enhance family-centered services provided to children ages 0-3 and their families. This new partnership will enable both organizations to use their respective resources to provide care and support for families experiencing homelessness with dignity, respect, and equity.
To commemorate the partnership, the Clinic and The Midnight Mission will host a joint celebration on November 14 from 3-5 p.m. (Because the location is confidential to protect the residents, media must RSVP to get the address.)
As part of this unique partnership, Venice Family Clinic will open a new Early Head Start (EHS) center for families and children at the HomeLight Family Living apartment complex in Inglewood. HomeLight Family Living is a program of The Midnight Mission that provides safe, clean housing and support services, including education, career preparedness, counseling, and life skills to families experiencing homelessness, to help them break the cycle of abuse and poverty and create a new life for themselves and their children.
Venice Family Clinic’s EHS program provides child development and family support services, including medical care, dental care, education for children, parent training, behavioral health support, and dedicated family advocates for eligible families with children ages 0-3. The new co-located site will be the Clinic’s third EHS center in the area; it currently has one in Inglewood and another in Hawthorne. The fully renovated facility includes a classroom, kitchen, office, bathroom, sleeping area, and a breastfeeding room. It will also feature new separate playgrounds for infants and toddlers.
“Every child deserves a chance to thrive, regardless of their family’s circumstances,” said Venice Family Clinic CEO Mitesh Popat. “This collaboration between Venice Family Clinic and The Midnight Mission and the safe, supportive environment we’re co-creating demonstrates both organizations’ longstanding commitment to improving the lives of children and families who have experienced homelessness. Together, we are helping families stay housed and making a lasting impact on those who need it most.”
Children experiencing homelessness are particularly vulnerable to a variety of health challenges, including going hungry and being sick twice as often as children with homes. Children experiencing homelessness also have twice the rate of learning disabilities and three times the rate of emotional and behavioral problems of children who have homes.
“This partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration and compassion,” said David Prentice, President & CEO of The Midnight Mission. “By joining forces with Venice Family Clinic, we are bringing a new level of hope and comprehensive support to children and families in our care, right in the heart of Inglewood.”
Providing care and supportive services to individuals and families who have recently experienced homelessness is a compassionate and practical solution to addressing homelessness. The National Alliance to End Homelessness reports that supportive housing programs can reduce homelessness rates by up to 90%.
About Venice Family Clinic
Venice Family Clinic is a nonprofit community health center that is a leader in providing comprehensive, high-quality primary health care to more than 45,000 people in need annually, regardless of their income, insurance or immigration status. The Clinic merged with South Bay Family Health Care in late 2021 and now serves an area from the Santa Monica Mountains through the South Bay in Los Angeles County. It has 17 sites located in Venice, Santa Monica, Mar Vista, Inglewood, Culver City, Redondo Beach, Carson, Gardena and Hawthorne, plus two mobile clinics and an expansive street medicine program for people experiencing homelessness. The Clinic’s comprehensive care also includes mental health services, dental care, vision services, substance use treatment, prescription medications, domestic violence counseling, HIV services, healthy food distributions, health education, health insurance enrollment, child development services and more. For more information, please visit VeniceFamilyClinic.org and follow on Facebook, X and Instagram.
About HomeLight Family Living, a program of The Midnight Mission:
HomeLight Family Living provides the path for families in crisis to reunify, rebuild and restore their lives. We provide education, career preparedness, counseling, and life skills to break the cycle of abuse and poverty to ensure independent, successful living. For additional information, contact Ricardo Rosales, Director of Family Living at rrosales@midnightmission.org, visit our website at www.midnightmission.org/homelight, and follow us on Facebook, X, and Instagram.