Founded in 2006, the Westside Infant-Family Network (WIN) assists families with young children facing mental health issues exacerbated by poverty, homelessness, recent immigration, violence, and/or substance abuse. Its shared purpose is to ensure that infants to three-year-olds receive culturally sensitive emotional and developmental care and services to become securely attached, resilient, and productive adults. Partner agencies include Westside Children's Center, St. Joseph Center, Venice Family Clinic, Westside Family Health Center, Infant & Family Support Program, and Mar Vista Family Center. Three tiers of service are offered at no cost: (1) Case managers identify and refer families to basic services such as childcare or housing; (2) Bilingual, bicultural therapists provide in-home dyadic therapy; and (3) Families access psychiatric services and medication if needed. A study by the W.K. Kellogg Foundation identified WIN as one of eight exemplary place-based programs in the nation serving young children.

A clinical director position enables the Network to provide more professionalized services in infant mental health (IMH), including client assessments, access to basic services (shelter, childcare), interventions, mental health counseling, and therapist supervision. The clinical director assists families who are facing mental health issues exacerbated by poverty, homelessness, recent immigration, violence, and/or substance abuse.

Through its Grants Initiative, the Jewish Community Foundation has given the Westside Infant-Family Network (WIN) the ability to provide stronger clinical services to the multi-challenged families we serve. When our therapists are in families' homes helping parents and young children improve their relationships, the expertise of our new Foundation-funded Clinical Director is right there with them.

Anita Henderson, Director, Westside Infant Family Network