SPIRITT’s Strength-Based & Family-Centered Approach
Established in 1972, SPIRITT Family Services offers comprehensive, targeted health and human services to economically, educationally, and socially vulnerable community members in eastern Los Angeles County at three Family Centers located in Bell Gardens, South El Monte, and Whittier.
The range of critical health and social services advance the mental and emotional wellbeing of children, families, new mothers, fathers, and relative and nonrelative caregivers, changing lives through our two divisions:
- Child & Family Well-Being Services
- Community Behavioral Health Services
The continuum of family-centered programs offers comprehensive prevention, early intervention, treatment, and recovery services to over 14,500 individuals annually in the social sectors of Child Welfare, Public Health, and Mental Health.
Our Story
Established in 1972 as Project INFO, SPIRITT began as a community-based program focused on enhancing family bonding and communication, preventing substance abuse among youth and adults, and addressing mental health disorders. In 2000, Project INFO rebranded as SPIRITT Family Services, adopting the acronym SPIRITT—Skills for Prevention, Intervention, Recovery, Individual Treatment, and Training—to better reflect the comprehensive range of services offered to the community.
Today, SPIRITT works to strategically address and prevent child maltreatment and improve the social and emotional well-being of children/youth and their families through a continuum of comprehensive care. In partnership with Los Angeles County, SPIRITT has contracts with the Department of Children and Family Services (DCFS) and Department of Mental Health (DMH), remaining committed to strengthening the family unit (relative and non-relative care) for the child’s/youth’s well-being.
Our Commitment to Social Change
SPIRITT Family Services believes that strong families create strong communities. Our work extends beyond addressing immediate behavioral health and family challenges, we strive to reduce systemic barriers that contribute to cycles of trauma, poverty, abuse, and inequitable access to care.
Through prevention, early intervention, treatment, recovery support, and community-based services, we empower children, youth, adults, and caregivers with the tools, resources, and support needed to build resilience, strengthen family relationships, and achieve long-term well-being.
We prioritize serving historically underserved and low-income communities throughout eastern Los Angeles County by expanding access to culturally responsive, trauma-informed, and evidence-based services. Through partnerships with county agencies, schools, healthcare providers, and community organizations, we help individuals access the support they need before challenges escalate into crisis.
Our commitment to continuous improvement is guided by community needs assessments, participant feedback, program outcomes, and strategic planning. By measuring impact and adapting services to emerging community needs, SPIRITT works to create lasting, equitable change that improves the health and well-being of individuals, families, and the communities they call home.
SPIRITT measures success not only by the number of individuals served, but by the lasting outcomes our services create. By strengthening protective factors, increasing access to behavioral health services, supporting caregiver resilience, and connecting families to essential resources, we help reduce the long-term social and economic costs associated with untreated mental health conditions, child maltreatment, family instability, and community inequities. Our mission is to create healthier families today while building stronger, more resilient communities for future generations.