What Does It Mean to Receive the Barbara Christensen Heart of San Diego Award?

Barbara Christensen’s proudest achievement was founding and acting as the President of St. Germaine Children’s Charity.  She worked tirelessly for many years actively and successfully raising money to provide financial support to help prevent child abuse.

The Award was named after her as a fitting tribute to her work and devotion.

The Barbara Christensen Award is given to a selected agency who has shown St. Germaine Children’s Charity they had exceeded the expectations of their mission.

And the Winner is…

The Grant Committee Chairs and VP Philanthropy unanimously voted to give the prestigious Barbara Christensen Heart of San Diego Award to Friends of the Children. Their mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors for 12+ years.  We are proud to take part in supporting the launch of the San Diego Friends of the Children Chapter.

Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Diego

Big Brothers and Sisters’ mission is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. In 1961 BBBS of San Diego County was established and created to befriend youth and steer them on the right path and out of trouble. Today, BBBS San Diego is proud to be part of a trusted national network with more than a century of experience. Locally, BBBS San Diego provides individualized, prevention-focused mentoring services to hundreds of children and families each year.

Bithiah’s Family Services

Bithiah’s Family Services is dedicated to supporting children and families impacted by the foster care system through trauma informed, dignity centered services. Bithiah’s works to reduce instability, prevent abuse, and promote long term family wellbeing. Our mission is to reduce crisis and promote self-sufficiency by providing access to essential resources, mental health support, and education in a safe and supportive environment. Through their San Diego Resource Center and community based programs, they serve children who have experienced abuse, neglect, and housing instability.

Casa de Amparo

Casa de Amparo provides mental health resources and support to help people heal, grow, and to break cycles of child abuse and neglect across San Diego County for more than 45 years. It serves current and former foster youth to provide trauma-informed care, youth development, and coordinated support services. Casa de Amparo was awarded funding to expand its service population beyond foster youth while strengthening continuity of care through its core Residential Services Short-Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP) and New Directions Transitional Housing Program (THP).

Friends of the Children

Friends of the Children’s mission is to impact generational change by empowering youth who are facing the greatest obstacles through relationships with professional mentors for 12+ years, No Matter What. In 1993, they redefined youth mentoring by creating an evidence-based approach to long-term, paid professional mentoring and is now a high impact network in 44 diverse communities across the US. Friends of the Children provides children who are at greatest risk of entering the foster care system with individualized guidance from full-time, paid professional mentors called Friends.

Olive Crest

The Olive Crest provides approximately 8,000 safe nights for children in San Diego each year through prevention, intervention, and restoration programs for children and families in crisis, addressing root causes of homelessness and trauma for residents of San Diego County. Through our Strong Families program, community volunteers are recruited, background checked and trained to welcome children in crisis into their homes. Through our Foster Program, we train foster parents to care for children who have experienced significant trauma in their short life and strengthen and restore child survivors of abuse and/or neglect.

Rady Children’s Hospital

Rady Children’s Hospital’s Kids and Teens in Court (STIC)  The Chadwick Center for Children and Families supports the community through the prevention, detection and treatment of child abuse and neglect, domestic violence, and post-traumatic stress in children. Founded in 1985, the Chadwick Center works with families, supports law enforcement and child protection professionals to accurately and sensitively gather facts in ways that minimize secondary trauma when abuse is suspected. Children are prepared for court trials helping victimized children and their families heal through one of the most respected trauma mental health programs in the nation.

San Diego Police Foundation

San Diego Police Foundation proudly supports America’s finest police department by cultivating positive community engagement and helping fund vital equipment and specialized training that ensures peace and safety for all. SafetyNet: Smart Cyber Choices® education works to keep kids safe online. Schools across San Diego are funded to have trained individuals educating children about internet safety, alerting them to the dangers of child predators and scams helping keep kids safe from this malicious environment.

Walden Family Services

Walden Family Services (WFS) is celebrating 50 years of innovation and leadership within the foster care and adoption field. Beginning as a provider of quality care in group homes, Walden serves children with severe emotional and behavioral challenges resulting from abuse and neglect. Walden has played a pivotal role in improving outcomes for foster youth aging out of the system by creating the Independent Futures Program to support youth at a critical time. The program was instrumental in the establishment of the Transitional Housing Placement program (THP).