Help Children Heal, Grow and Create the Bright Futures They Deserve

Child Abuse and Neglect is a serious problem—nationally, statewide and in our own community. In fact, San Diego’s child abuse incident rate is higher than the state average.

San Diego County’s Child Abuse Hotline receives about 75,000 calls annually regarding suspected abuse. Researchers estimate that for every reported incident, 4 others go unreported. Child Abuse cuts across all socio-economic groups, races and religions.

The good news is that the state, the county and concerned and caring people of San Diego are actively addressing the challenge of child abuse. In over 30 years of commitment to this important cause, we at Casa de Amparo have seen over and over that with our help, abused and at-risk children can stop the cycle of abuse. They can heal, grow and create bright futures that will ultimately affect their own families and the future of our communities.

OUR MISSION
To support those affected by and at risk of child abuse and neglect, through a range of programs and services that promote healing, growth and healthy relationships.

OUR VISION
Casa de Amparo is recognized as a major force in the field of child abuse prevention. Partnering with the greater San Diego community, we assure that children and their families receive unique and innovative services for healing, for stopping child mistreatment of any kind, and for ending generational cycles of abuse. The result is a community where child abuse and neglect are not tolerated, and where child abuse awareness and prevention are priorities.

CORE VALUES
Over the years many volunteers and professionals have dedicated their lives to developing additional programs that provide the highest quality care and services for children and families. Following are the values that have guided the staff and Board of Directors in their decisions.

To demonstrate our commitment to preventing cycles of child abuse by remembering that at the heart of each program or service is an existing or future child who deserves to thrive without fear of abuse or neglect.
To be client centered, focusing on the individual strengths and needs of each.
To protect, nurture and guide survivors of abuse and neglect.
To encourage healthy family relationships and connections.
To provide clients with supportive interventions beyond basic necessities.
To develop programs that prevent abusive behavior toward children and do so in a culturally sensitve, responsive and inclusive manner.
To support, educate and direct the energy of participating family members toward a positive and healthy home environment.
To equip clients with life skills and resources that enable them to become self-sufficient and cope successfully with the effects of abuse and neglect.
To partner with other private and public agencies for the benefit of our clients and to further the Casa mission.
To provide personal/professional growth opportunities for Board Members and staff to enable them to effectively carry out their duties and to speak publicly in order to break the abuse cycle and prevent family violence.
To constitute a Board of Directors who are knowledgeable about the issues that face abused/neglected children, their families and the staff who provide services to them.

OUR HISTORY
Casa de Amparo roughly translates to "House of Refuge.” Casa de Amparo was established in 1978 in California as a non-profit corporation and is recognized as a 501(c)(3) Tax Exempt organization by the IRS. Casa’s initial program was the Children’s Shelter, providing emergency shelter for children who are removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect or who are already foster children. Today we offer five programs addressing the individual and changing needs of children from birth through young adulthood, as well as their families.

Programs

The Child Development Center

The Family Visitation Center

The Children’s Shelter

New Directions

Counseling Services

All programs and services support Casa de Amparo’s vision to make San Diego a community where child abuse and neglect are not tolerated and where child abuse awareness and prevention are priorities.

FOR INFORMATION ON HOW YOU CAN HELP, click here.