Donors Drive At-Risk Youth to Success

Generous Donations Fund New Vehicle for Casa Pacifica Transitional Age Youth Program  

Camarillo, Calif., September 22, 2023  –  Young adults who have aged out of foster care often have trouble obtaining a driver’s license due to the high cost of driver’s education, insurance and other expenses. A lack of transportation can put them at a disadvantage for commuting to school, keeping a job or being able to attend medical appointments.

Now at-risk young adults who are receiving therapeutic and housing services through Casa Pacifica’s Transitional Youth Services (TYS) program have a reliable source of transportation to travel to school, work, therapy appointments and more. Contributions from four generous donors has enabled the agency to purchase a 2023 Chevy Traverse which it will use to transport young adults to where they need to be, including school and trade programs, healthcare, mental health and social services appointments, and places of employment, to name a few.

Philanthropists Steve and Cindy Lyons; Leo Bunnin, owner of Bunnin Chevrolet of Santa Paula and Bunnin Chevrolet of Fillmore; Michael Holland; and Montecito Bank & Trust contributed the funding to purchase the eight-passenger SUV from Bunnin Chevrolet of Fillmore. The Lyons and Bunnin are longtime supporters of Casa Pacifica.

“This donation is about a mode of transportation but also what it represents: the ability for these young adults to pursue and accomplish their personal, educational and career goals,” said Bunnin. “We feel privileged to assist Casa Pacifica in helping vulnerable young people develop the skills they need to move their lives forward.”

“The transition from adolescence to adulthood is a pivotal one for young people as it can shape significant pathways to the next phase in their life’s journey. At-risk young adults need the proper supports to take this next step. We know that without accessible transportation, opportunities to attend college or trade school and build careers are dramatically limited. We are pleased to help Casa Pacifica support transitional age youth in becoming independent and successful adults,” said Steve and Cindy Lyons.

Casa Pacifica’s TYS program provides critical support services, including therapy, parenting skills, financial literacy, educational and housing support, to transitional age youth (ages 18-24) who have been involved in the foster care or probation systems, and who lack the support of family or other trusted adults. TYS staff help young adults with developing their independent living skills, transition planning and case management as they work toward an independent and self-sufficient adulthood.

As part of Casa Pacifica’s TYS program, young adults are assisted with transportation to help them complete their education and find employment. That often means a staff member drives them to college classes or work, or they are provided with a bus pass. But a lack of reliable, steady transportation can often mean the difference between a young person finishing his or her education and attaining – and retaining – gainful employment.

For 19-year-old Jayda (name changed for privacy), having reliable transportation means her college education won’t be jeopardized. “Not having regular transportation adds to the stress of not knowing who is going to pick you up, or where or at what time. Public transit is helpful but the commute can be unnecessarily long. It’s also expensive to use rideshare options to get to and from school,” she said.

Approximately eight of the ten young adults in Casa Pacifica’s TYS program are enrolled in community college, the highest ever for the agency.

“Transportation is a massive obstacle to at-risk young adults achieving positive and sustainable independence,” said Shawna Morris, MPA, Chief Executive Officer, Casa Pacifica. “The value of this donation cannot be underestimated, as it will provide our youth with the opportunity to stay in school, maintain employment, attend their appointments and so much more. We are deeply grateful to Steve and Cindy Lyons; Janet Garufis, Chairman and CEO of Montecito Bank & Trust; Leo Bunin; and Michael Holland for this most generous and transformative gift.”

# # #

Casa Pacifica Mission: A life worth living – Casa Pacifica inspires hope and nurtures mental health and well-being of children, young adults, and families to realize their full potential.

Casa Pacifica Centers for Children and Families provides assessment, clinical, medical, residential, and educational services to foster and at-risk children/youth struggling with complex mental health disorders due to past trauma and/or mental illness. The agency is the largest non-profit provider of children’s and adolescent mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties and administers 14 campus- and community-based programs and services designed to give youth, and their families, the tools they need to heal, rebuild and strengthen relationships, reengage with their educations, and overcome their negative emotional and behavioral challenges. The agency’s Camino a Casa program, available to clients with private insurance, provides behavioral health care to support youth ages 12 to 18 with emotional and behavioral issues, along with their families.

For more information about Casa Pacifica visit its website www.casapacifica.org or call the Development Department at 805-445-7800.