In the mid-1980s, a group of Ventura County citizens became concerned about the lack of services provided for abused and neglected children removed from home. They envisioned a facility that could offer them a range of services including shelter, assessment, trauma care, medical, and educational services as they entered the child welfare system.  A unique public/private partnership formed which raised the needed funds to build Casa Pacifica. Casa Pacifica opened its doors in 1994. Since then, the agency has expanded its services to include children/youth facing complex emotional/behavioral challenges caused by abuse/neglect and/or mental illness. So, in addition to campus-based services, in 2000 the agency began providing services in the community to keep children in their homes and communities, and in 2007 began providing transitional age youth services for foster youth nearing or have already emancipated from foster care.

Casa Pacifica’s mission is to restore hope, enhance resilience and strengthen community connection for children, young adults, and families at the most challenging times of their lives. Casa Pacifica is the largest non-profit provider of children’s mental health services in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties, serving approximately 400 children daily, more than 44,500 children since opening in 1994.

The agency accomplishes its mission through several best practices, evidence-based therapeutic programs that include:

• Community-Based & Outpatient Services – designed to strengthen family relationships and prevent youth from being removed from their families, homes, and communities.
• Direct Care Services (on-campus) – once removed, programs promote healing such as residential treatment center, health clinic, nonpublic special education school, clinical services, and Camino a Casa (accepts private pay/private insurance).
• Transition/Emancipation Services – designed to help soon-to-be and emancipated foster youth succeed in living independent lives.

In addition to licenses/certifications from four California State agencies, Casa Pacifica’s programs have attained national accreditation and have a strong reputation for quality. Our training programs offer continuing education credits for psychologists, social workers, and marriage and family therapists from throughout the region. A nationally credentialed psychology intern and post-doctoral program provides clinical training for graduate students and pre-licensed clinicians and is accredited by the American Psychological Association.