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Human Services Association outlines early-childhood services in South Gate; commission receives report
Summary
Human Services Association presented its 2024–25 South Gate annual report, describing year-round full-day early childhood services at two centers, parent engagement and new goals for services to homeless, foster and special-needs children. Commissioners voted to receive and file the report.
Human Services Association (HSA) presented its 2024–25 annual report for South Gate, describing early childhood education services for children from birth through age 5, parent trainings and plans to expand supports for homeless, foster and special-needs children.
Catherine Villanueva, director of HSA’s early childhood education department, told commissioners HSA operates year-round, full‑day programs at the Westside Resource Center and the Holiday Inn Center under the program name Besitos. She said the Westside center serves up to 93 children at a time across two classrooms and the Holiday Inn Center serves 16 toddlers.
“We provide services from 06:15 in the morning till 05:30 in the afternoon,” Villanueva said. She described parent engagement activities, including monthly meetings, a 10‑week “Abriendo Puertas” (Opening Doors) parenting program and twice‑monthly home‑based socialization activities. Villanueva said HSA partners with other departments within HSA and with local agencies — including police and fire departments for safety trainings — and that HSA coordinates referrals to other services, including mental health support for children and parents.
Villanueva said HSA has served South Gate for more than 15 years and reported efforts this year to expand services for homeless and foster children through a partnership with the Department of Children and Family Services and to increase inclusion and supports for children with special needs. She said about 24% of the program’s enrolled children this school year had an identified special need.
Commissioners and members of the public asked how families learn about HSA services. Villanueva said enrollment and outreach are largely word‑of‑mouth supported by social media and posted signs; staff collect interest forms during enrollment to plan parent trainings and community workshops. After a brief question-and-answer session, the commission voted to receive and file the HSA annual report.
