Hands-on work in gang reduction and substance abuse prevention
For several years, KYCC’s Social Work Internship Program has hosted a number of graduate students in the Master of Social Work (MSW) and Master of Marriage and Family Therapy (MMFT) programs. This fall, our Clinical Services unit welcomed four first-year MSW interns from University of California, Los Angeles and the University of Southern California: Roxana Duenas, Eva Ray, Emmanuel Reyna, and Daisy Ramirez.
For 16 hours, twice a week, each intern visits their assigned unit or program. Their tasks range from conducting counseling intakes, helping with tenant events at KYCC’s affordable housing sites, providing case management, assisting with policy research, and overseeing homework clubs. Our internship program provides students with interdisciplinary experiences in gang reduction, youth development, resident advocacy, substance abuse prevention and mental health.
“My work in Prevention Education at KYCC involves facilitating workshops for youth and parents to foster open communication, healthy relationships and awareness of drug and alcohol and drug-related issues,” explains Eva Ray, a MSW student at UCLA. “I love the hardworking collaborative attitudes of all the staff I work with at KYCC, and the focus on strength-based youth empowerment.
“I couldn’t ask for a better first-year internship!”
In addition, KYCC provides monthly in-house trainings for the interns where various staff members share knowledge from their areas of expertise such as financial literacy, grant writing, advocacy, and clinical supervision. We are excited to strengthen our internship program with local universities in order to broaden KYCC’s presence in the community and contribute to the advancement of professionals in the field of social work.
KYCC partners with Children’s Hospital Los Angeles
As part of the Coalition to Prevent Alcohol-Related Harms in Los Angeles Metro (CoPALM), KYCC and Children’s Hospital Los Angeles collaborated to educate community members of Cypress Park, specifically around Nightingale Middle School, on how to decrease alcohol consumption among minors. An active parent group at Nightingale has been involved in the CoPALM group, learning how to engage with their community in a more meaningful way. KYCC and CHLA are also working with five liquor stores around the Cypress Park middle school to provide information on policies concerning their alcohol licenses.
Photo 2: Cypress Park parents celebrate their community involvement with CoPALM at an end-of-the-year potluck. (Padres)
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Koreatown Youth & Community Center (KYCC)
KYCC is a nonprofit organization established in 1975. Its mission is to serve the evolving needs of the Korean American population in the greater Los Angeles area, as well as the multiethnic Koreatown community. KYCC’s programs and services are directed toward recently immigrated, economically disadvantaged youth and their
families, and promote community socio-economic empowerment.
MAIN OFFICE
3727 W. Sixth St., Ste. 300
Los Angeles, CA 90020
t: (213) 365-7400
f: (213) 927-0017
www.kyccla.org
Children & Family Services
680 S. Wilton Pl.
Los Angeles, CA 90005
t: (213) 365-7400
f: (213) 383-1280
Environmental Services
1319 West Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90015
t: (213) 743-8750
f: (213) 743-8755
Children’s Center
1140 Crenshaw Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
t: (323) 297-0038
f: (323) 297-0042
Youth Services
680 S. Wilton Place
Los Angeles, CA 90005
t: (213) 365-7400
f: (213) 383-1280
Clinical Services
3727 W. Sixth St., Ste. 411
Los Angeles, CA 90020
t: (213) 365-7400
f: (213) 201-3993
Menlo Family Center
1230 S. Menlo Ave.
Los Angeles, CA 90006
t: (213) 365-7400
f: (213) 201-1812
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