activities · 27
what they do
direct service · 17
- Emergency and basic needs support Emergency Supply DistributionProvides assistance with basic needs, resource access, abuse assessment and reporting, and guidance on seeking emergency services for life-threatening situations.
- Emergency and crisis response services Child Abuse Hotline ServicesOperates the HOPE Line to improve child abuse safety and increase access to services, provides guidance for emergency situations, and conducts abuse assessment and reporting as part of its client support framework.
- Expanding access to early mental health supportLaunched the "Wear Your Heart" initiative to expand access to early mental health support through parent education, referrals, and multilingual outreach.
- Expanding early mental health support through the Wear Your Heart initiativeFive Acres launched the Wear Your Heart initiative to expand access to early mental health support through parent education, referrals, and multilingual outreach.
- Historical engagement and community outreach Cultural Exhibits and Public History ProgramsOffers public tours of the Centennial Wall exhibit at its historical headquarters starting in January 2026, highlighting its 138-year legacy of service in Los Angeles County.
- Historical engagement and public education Cultural Exhibits and Public History ProgramsOffers public tours of the Centennial Wall exhibit at its historical headquarters in Altadena starting January 2026, highlighting 100 years of service to children in the community.
- Inpatient residential care for children Pediatric Inpatient Respite and Palliative CareOperates a child-oriented facility in Altadena providing comprehensive inpatient care for children requiring 24/7 support, with a continuous presence in Los Angeles County since 1888 and in Altadena since 1926.
- Inpatient residential care for children Pediatric Inpatient Respite and Palliative CareOperates a child-oriented facility in Altadena providing comprehensive 24/7 inpatient care for children requiring intensive support, with a continuous presence in Los Angeles County since 1888.
- Mental health services for children and families Trauma-Informed Counseling for Youth & FamiliesProvides mental health support to children and families experiencing challenges such as depression, anxiety, hopelessness, and behavioral problems, serving over 7,000 children and family members annually across six counties. Offers telehealth services, including care for over 800 clients during the pandemic, and operates a HOPE Line that responds to emails and texts within one business day.
- Mental health services for children and families Trauma-Informed Counseling for Youth & FamiliesProvides mental health support to children and families experiencing challenges such as depression, anxiety, trauma, and behavioral issues, including telehealth services and crisis response via the HOPE Line, which responds to emails and texts within one business day. Serves over 7,000 children and family members annually across six counties.
- Operating a HOPE Line for child abuse safety and service access Child Abuse Hotline ServicesOperates a HOPE line to improve child abuse safety and increase access to services. The line responds to emails and texts within one business day, offering assistance with basic needs, resource access, abuse assessment and reporting, and initiation of additional services, as well as guidance for emergency situations.
- Operating a HOPE Line for child abuse safety and service access Child Abuse Hotline ServicesOperates a HOPE line to improve child abuse safety and increase access to services. The line provides assistance with basic needs, resource access, abuse assessment and reporting, and initiation of additional services, responding to emails and texts within one business day.
- Operating the HOPE Line for child abuse safety and service access Child Abuse Hotline ServicesFive Acres operates a HOPE Line to improve child abuse safety, increase access to services, and provide assistance with basic needs, resource access, abuse assessment, and reporting. The line responds to emails and texts within one business day.
- Providing comprehensive inpatient care for children Pediatric Inpatient Respite and Palliative CareFive Acres offers comprehensive inpatient care for children who require 24/7 support.
- Providing comprehensive inpatient care for children Pediatric Inpatient Respite and Palliative CareProvides comprehensive inpatient care for children who require 24/7 support.
- Providing mental health services for children and families Trauma-Informed Counseling for Youth & FamiliesFive Acres provides mental health services to over 7,000 children and family members annually across six counties, addressing challenges such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems. Services include telehealth options and support for children affected by natural disasters.
- Providing mental health services for children and families Trauma-Informed Counseling for Youth & FamiliesProvides mental health support resources and services, including telehealth, to children and families experiencing mental health challenges such as depression, anxiety, and behavioral problems. This includes specialized support for children affected by natural disasters and loss, and services for traumatized children in alignment with federal reform guidelines. The organization serves over 7,000 children and family members annually across six counties.
advocacy · 5
- Advocacy and healthcare system integration Healthcare System Integration for Youth & FamiliesBecame the first child welfare organization in California to negotiate a CalAIM contract with healthcare providers, aligning child welfare services with healthcare systems to improve access and funding for mental health services for traumatized children.
- Healthcare policy and systems advocacy Healthcare System Integration for Youth & FamiliesBecame the first child welfare organization to negotiate a CalAIM contract with healthcare providers and pivoted operations in 2021 to align with Family First federal reform guidelines, integrating mental health services within evolving policy frameworks.
- Negotiating CalAIM contracts Healthcare System Integration for Youth & FamiliesBecame the first child welfare organization to negotiate a CalAIM contract with healthcare providers.
- Negotiating CalAIM contracts with healthcare providers Healthcare System Integration for Youth & FamiliesBecame the first child welfare organization to negotiate a CalAIM contract with healthcare providers.
- Negotiating CalAIM contracts with healthcare providers Healthcare System Integration for Youth & FamiliesFive Acres became the first child welfare organization to negotiate a CalAIM contract with healthcare providers.
capacity building · 5
- Developing and implementing pandemic protocols Infection Control and Safety ProtocolsDeveloped pandemic protocols and secured supplies across all sites to protect staff and children, and successfully prevented an outbreak among over 400 team members over 100 days.
- Developing pandemic protocols and securing supplies Infection Control and Safety ProtocolsDeveloped pandemic protocols and secured supplies across all sites to protect staff and children, and moved over 100 team members to remote operations within five days.
- Developing pandemic protocols and securing supplies Infection Control and Safety ProtocolsFive Acres developed pandemic protocols and secured supplies across all sites to protect staff and children, and successfully prevented an outbreak among over 400 team members over 100 days.
- Organizational capacity building and pandemic response Infection Control and Safety ProtocolsDeveloped pandemic protocols, secured supplies across all sites, transitioned over 100 staff to remote operations within five days, and implemented communication and video conferencing platforms to maintain service continuity during emergencies.
- Pandemic and emergency operations management Infection Control and Safety ProtocolsDeveloped and implemented pandemic protocols, secured supplies across all sites, transitioned over 100 team members to remote operations within five days, and prevented disease outbreaks among staff and children during emergency periods.
strategies · 42
how they think
Theories of action extracted from this org's own source material. Click any to see the full field of orgs running the same approach.
- Adaptive and Evidence-Informed Management adaptive_managementCombines evidence-informed care with adaptive management practices, using iterative learning and proactive planning to improve service delivery and organizational responsiveness.
- Adaptive and Evidence-Informed Program Management adaptive_managementCombines adaptive management practices—iterative learning, proactive planning, and reduced reactivity—with evidence-informed care to improve service effectiveness and resilience in dynamic environments.
- Adaptive and Evidence-Informed Service Delivery adaptive_managementCombines evidence-informed care with iterative learning and proactive planning to adapt services, improving responsiveness and effectiveness in supporting family stability and resilience.
- Adaptive, Proactive Organizational Management adaptive_managementEmploys iterative learning and proactive planning to adapt quickly to challenges, reducing reactivity and improving service continuity.
- Adaptive, Values-Driven Organizational Management adaptive_managementStrengthens organizational effectiveness through iterative learning, proactive planning, and a team culture rooted in mutual respect, trust, and kindness to sustain high-quality service delivery.
- Child and Family-Centered Care Model child_and_family_centered_careOrganizes service delivery around the integrated needs of children and families, using a three-pillar framework of safety, well-being, and permanency, and delivering care through clinics, home visits, and telehealth in partnership with families.
- Child and Family-Centered Service Design child_and_family_centered_careDesigns behavioral health services specifically around the needs of children and families, ensuring accessibility and relevance through multiple modalities.
- Community and Corporate Engagement for Sustainability donor-supported_program_deliveryBuilds long-term program sustainability and community connection through donor-supported programs, corporate partnerships, co-branding, employee involvement, and planned giving initiatives.
- Community and Corporate Partnership Model community_support_partnershipExpands impact through partnerships with community supporters and corporate partners, leveraging co-branding and employee engagement to strengthen service delivery.
- Community and Partner Collaboration for Child Safety community_support_partnershipLeverages partnerships with community supporters and corporate partners to enhance child safety, well-being, and permanency through shared responsibility and expanded resources.
- Community and Partner Collaboration for Child Well-Being community_support_partnershipLeverages partnerships with community supporters and corporate partners to enhance safety, permanency, and well-being for children, extending reach and impact through shared resources and engagement.
- Culturally Responsive and Preventive Family Strengthening culturally_responsive_preventionDelivers community-based, culturally responsive services that prioritize early intervention and skill-building to prevent child abuse and neglect while improving mental health outcomes.
- Culturally Responsive and Preventive Family Strengthening culturally_responsive_preventionDelivers community-based, culturally responsive services that prioritize early intervention and prevention to strengthen families, reduce risks, and prevent child abuse and neglect.
- Culturally Responsive, Community-Based Prevention culturally_responsive_preventionDelivers services within the community using culturally responsive approaches to strengthen families and prevent child abuse and neglect.
- Culturally Responsive, Community-Based Prevention culturally_responsive_preventionDelivers services within communities in culturally responsive ways to strengthen families, prevent child abuse and neglect, and promote safety and well-being through local engagement.
- Donor and Legacy Engagement for Program Sustainability donor-supported_program_deliveryEnsures long-term program delivery and impact by engaging donors and encouraging planned giving to sustain services that transform children’s and families’ lives.
- Donor and Planned Giving Sustainability Model donor-supported_program_deliveryEnsures long-term program sustainability and impact by securing donor-supported programming and encouraging planned giving through wills and estate plans.
- Early Intervention and Prevention early intervention and preventionUses early assessments and skill-building to identify risks and strengthen family capacity, preventing child abuse and promoting long-term mental health resilience.
- Early Intervention and Prevention with Evidence-Informed Practice evidence-informed_careUses early assessments and evidence-informed methods to identify risks, build family skills, and improve mental health outcomes, emphasizing prevention of abuse and long-term resilience.
- Early Intervention and Prevention with Evidence-Informed Practice evidence-informed_careUses evidence-informed assessments and early intervention strategies to identify risks and build family skills, promoting stability, resilience, and improved mental health outcomes.
- Expanded Access via Telehealth telehealth_deliveryIncreases accessibility of behavioral and mental health services for children and families by delivering care through telehealth platforms.
- Family-Partnered Care Delivery family-partnered care deliveryDelivers behavioral health services in partnership with families through clinics, home visits, and telehealth, ensuring care is collaborative and centered on child safety, well-being, and permanency.
- Heritage-Based Community Engagement heritage_engagementEngages the broader community through historical exhibits and site tours that highlight the organization’s legacy, fostering connection and awareness.
- Integrated Wraparound and Basic Needs Support wraparound_support_servicesEnhances behavioral health services by integrating access to basic needs, abuse assessment, and broader support services, ensuring holistic care for vulnerable families.
- Integrated, Family-Partnered Care Model three_pillars_modelOrganizes service delivery around safety, well-being, and permanency by partnering with families and integrating behavioral health services across clinics, home visits, and telehealth to meet children’s mental health needs holistically.
- Sustainable Funding through Donor and Estate Engagement donor-supported_program_deliverySecures long-term program sustainability by engaging donors and encouraging planned giving through wills and estate plans.
- Telehealth Accessibility Expansion telehealth_deliveryIncreases access to behavioral health services through telehealth delivery, particularly for families who may face geographic or logistical barriers.
- Telehealth Accessibility Expansion telehealth_deliveryIncreases access to behavioral and mental health services for children and families by delivering care via telehealth platforms.
- Telehealth Accessibility Expansion telehealth_deliveryIncreases access to behavioral health services for children and families by leveraging telehealth as a flexible and inclusive service delivery method.
- Telehealth for Service Accessibility telehealth_deliveryUtilizes telehealth delivery to expand access to behavioral health services, particularly for families who may face geographic or logistical barriers.
- Three Pillars Framework for Service Delivery three_pillars_modelOrganizes all programs around the core goals of safety, well-being, and permanency to ensure consistent, outcome-focused support for children and families.
- Three Pillars Program Framework three_pillars_modelOrganizes all services around the foundational goals of safety, well-being, and permanency to ensure consistent, outcome-focused support for children and families.
- Trauma-Informed Family Support trauma-informed family supportSupports children's mental health after trauma by actively involving caregivers, promoting communication, establishing routines, and using positive distractions as key mechanisms to foster healing and stability.
- Trauma-Informed Family Support trauma-informed family supportSupports children's mental health after trauma by engaging caregivers and emphasizing presence, communication, routine, and positive distractions as core mechanisms to restore safety and resilience.
- Trauma-Informed Family Support trauma-informed family supportSupports children's mental health after trauma by engaging caregivers, promoting communication, maintaining routines, and using positive distractions as stabilizing mechanisms.
- Trauma-Informed, Family-Partnered Care trauma-informed family supportEngages caregivers as central to healing by promoting presence, communication, routine, and positive distractions to support children's mental health after trauma, delivered through a partnership model involving clinics, home visits, and telehealth.
- Trauma-Informed, Family-Partnered Care trauma-informed family supportEngages caregivers as central to healing by promoting presence, communication, routine, and positive distractions to support children's mental health after trauma, delivered through clinics, telehealth, and home visits in partnership with families.
- Values-Based Organizational Culture values-based_team_cultureFosters internal organizational strength and team cohesion through a culture grounded in mutual respect, trust, and kindness, supporting sustainable service delivery.
- Values-Based Organizational Culture values-based_team_cultureFosters internal organizational strength and effective service delivery through a team culture grounded in mutual respect, trust, and kindness.
- Wraparound Support Aligned to Core Outcomes three_pillars_modelOrganizes service delivery around the three pillars of safety, well-being, and permanency, integrating basic needs support, abuse assessment, and access to broader services for holistic impact.
- Wraparound Support Integration wraparound_support_servicesIntegrates mental health services with access to basic needs and abuse assessment, addressing root causes of instability through holistic, coordinated care.
- Wraparound Support for Holistic Well-Being wraparound_support_servicesIntegrates mental health care with access to basic needs, abuse assessment, and broader social services to address the full spectrum of family challenges.
named programs · 18
what they call their work
Adoption Agency License and Program
Facilitates adoptions to provide children with stable homes.
Adoption Agency Program
Licensed program that facilitates adoptions and provides support services to adoptive families
Adoption Promotions Support Services Program
Supports the adoption process.
Community Deaf Services Program
Specialized services for deaf and hard-of-hearing children and families
Community-based Services
Prevention and intervention services delivered in the community to strengthen families and prevent child abuse
Domestic Violence Program (The Grace Center)
Provides services to families affected by domestic violence; affiliate of Five Acres
Foster Care Program
Supports children in foster care by connecting them with safe, stable, and loving families
Grace Center Domestic Violence Program
Affiliate program providing support to individuals affected by domestic violence.
HOPE Line
County-supported line to improve child abuse reporting and access to services
HOPE line
Helps improve child abuse safety and increase access to services.
Intensive Treatment Foster Care Program
Specialized foster care for children with severe emotional and behavioral challenges
Mental and Behavioral Health Counseling
Provides counseling services to children and families to help them heal from trauma.
Pasadena Mental Health Center
Affiliate program offering mental health services.
Therapeutic Behavioral Services Program
Provides mental and behavioral health counseling to children and families healing from trauma
Therapeutic School
School for children with severe emotional disturbances, providing education in a therapeutic setting
Wear Your Heart Initiative
New initiative launched in 2025 to increase access to early mental health support through parent education and outreach
Wear Your Heart initiative
Increases access to early mental health support through parent education, resource linkages, referrals, and multilingual outreach.
Wraparound Program
Intensive, individualized care management for youth with complex needs and their families
relationships · 11
who they work with
- Kids Mental Health Foundation Partner — National partner providing mental health resources for children affected by natural disasters and loss.
- LA County Department of Mental Health Partner — Provides mental health and substance use support resources promoted by Five Acres.
- LA County Parks Partner — Partnered to support childcare resources during wildfire recovery, including promoting Care Camps for youth and teens.
- LA Department of Mental Health Government — Contracted with Five Acres to provide mental health services.
- Myron Hunt Partner — Commissioned architect who designed the original child-oriented facility in Altadena.
- National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) Partner — Provides COVID-19 mental health resources shared by Five Acres.
- Pasadena Mental Health Center Partner — Became an affiliate of Five Acres in 2007 to expand mental health service capacity.
- Southern California Government — Provides services to families across Southern California, indicating regional operational scope and alignment with regional health systems.
- The Grace Center Domestic Violence Program Partner — Became an affiliate of Five Acres in 2004 to expand domestic violence services.
- Vroman’s Book Store Partner — Partner in a giveback program where purchases at the bookstore generate support for Five Acres.
- World Central Kitchen Partner — Partner organization offering free meal distribution for fire-affected communities at multiple locations.