It Takes a Village

“It takes a village to raise a child” is an old and common saying, but its truth runs deep. It certainly did for Jennifer and her three children – Soul, Aura, and Irie – all under four years old. 

Heidi, Family Engagement Specialist, was an integral part of Jennifer’s experience at the FEC. April 2026.

When Jennifer’s family moved to San Diego, she lacked the community and support she needed. Her new identity as a wife and mother also left her feeling lost about who she was as an individual. “I had just had two babies; I was going through post-partum and changes having children,” she said. The responsibility of raising three young children in a new city meant she had no time to herself to enjoy her own interests, create community, or rediscover herself. 

While pregnant with her second child, Jennifer started the search for childcare support options in San Diego. “I got a call from Head Start that they had a place,” she shared. “I had done a lot of research during my pregnancy; I was looking for extra support.” Jennifer’s family enrolled in the ECS Early Head Start Home Visitor program. At one point, all three siblings were supported by the program. While Soul has aged out, their teacher still visits to help care for Aura and Irie. 

The FEC painting classes allow parents to destress, mingle, and express their creativity. April 2026.

Jennifer promised herself that once she had childcare help, she would do something for herself. “You lose a sense of identity when you become a mother,” she said. “One of my goals when I had the Home Visitor was to do something for myself, even just taking a class.” 

When she saw an event listing a painting class at the Family Engagement Center (FEC) – ECS' community resource hub – Jennifer decided to give it a try. “I’ve never been into paint before; I didn’t think it was me,” she said. “I did it just to find something to do for myself. I went with my baby, she was only six or seven months. I realized with this paint class, everything in my life was go go go... I was just depleted... when I sat down to paint, I remember it was like the world stood still for a minute, because with painting you can’t rush.”  

In her first painting class at FEC, Jennifer found unexpected peace and a much-needed outlet. Heidi, ECS’ Family Engagement Specialist, facilitated the class and helped keep Irie calm so Jennifer could focus on her painting. Jennifer shared that the moment of relaxation and calm caused her to burst into tears; the bottled-up emotions finally had a chance to escape. When she did, Heidi was there for her in that long overdue moment.   

Jennifer found a safe place to recharge at the ECS Family Engagement Center. April 2026.

“From there it was once a month. I made a commitment to myself to go,” Jennifer said. Now, she has a place to unwind, bond with other mothers, and develop a newfound talent. “I’ve gotten compliments on my paintings,” she said. “I never saw myself as an artist.” 

After that, Jennifer dove headfirst into FEC. She has acquired free resources like diapers, books, and clothes from Sharia’s Closet. “I was able to pick stuff out for, not just my kids, but also for myself,” she said. Her children are entertained in the playroom while she uses the computer lab. Jennifer also brings her kids to the home base socializations held at FEC so they can play with other children, and she can meet other parents. “I make use of every part of that place. It’s really become a second home away from home,” she said. 

One of the most impactful FEC resources for Jennifer’s family are the free screenings offered by San Diego Regional Center (SDRC) at FEC. The promise of free diapers initially drew her in, but that first screening resulted in something much bigger: her oldest child’s autism diagnosis. While she was shocked at first, Jennifer shared her gratitude for the diagnosis, and the care Soul can now receive. “There are a lot of parents now I see who are new; I see the denial of the truth. Now I know the quicker you know the better, so I always advocate for getting your child screened,” Jennifer said. “It’s helped me be an advocate for my children in voicing what their needs are and gives me more knowledge and tools.”  

The Family Engagement Center has free activities for both parents and children to enjoy. April 2026.

Jennifer is passionate about being an advocate for others and sharing information about FEC. She has helped connect other families – especially those with neurodiverse children – to the resources that helped her. 

The FEC helped Jennifer build a community, not just for her kids, but also for herself. She has a space to swap resources and ideas, and to gain control of her identity as a wife, as a mother, and as Jennifer.  

“It’s helped me journey as a mother of a special needs child. They were able to give me the steppingstones in the right direction. It's also helped connect me with the community,” she said. “It’s helping me build my village for me and my kids, helping me find my new identity as a mom.” 

And to think, it all started with a painting class.  

The Family Engagement Center provides a welcoming space where parents can access essential resources, services, and classes. Events are free and open to the public. See the ECS Calendar to check out what’s upcoming.

Bringing Care to Members Where They Are

Blue Shield Promise and Episcopal Community Services bring well-child visits, mammograms and other essential services directly to families in Chula Vista

Cynthia and her daughters attend several well-child events to stay up to date on their health. April 2026.

Every parent knows the feeling when your child isn’t well, and nothing matters more than getting them the care they need. Whether it’s a sudden illness, a developmental concern, or simply staying on track with routine check-ups, health care should never be out of reach, but it can be for many families.

Barriers like long work hours, transportation challenges, and cost can stand in the way of families getting even the most basic care. And too often, those barriers mean putting off visits that are essential to an individual’s health and future.

That’s why Blue Shield of California Promise Health Plan is working to bring care to meet our members where they are—close to home, work, or school. In San Diego County, we are bringing combination well-child events to Episcopal Community Services’ (ECS) Family Engagement Center—a place where families already feel seen, supported, and connected in the Chula Vista community.

Families arrived to get their kid’s annual check-ups, women due for their mammogram screenings got them done on the spot, and fluoride treatments were applied to teeth. Families were connected to critical services and resources in their community and received assistance with their Medi-Cal coverage as needed.

Blue Shield Promise brings routine check-ups closer to busy families at the FEC. April 2026.

“Meeting people where they are can change everything,” said Jennifer Schirmer, vice president of growth and community engagement for Blue Shield Promise. “We are deeply grateful for the opportunity to partner with trusted organizations like ECS to support families and ensure they have access to the care they need to thrive. Together, we are not only providing essential health screenings, we’re helping remove barriers families face every day.”

For Cynthia, a mother of two, these events have made all the difference. She joined Blue Shield Promise two years ago and has brought her daughters to several well-child events. “I’m always trying to be on top of their appointments,” she said. “They see the doctor like twice a year because of [these events].”

Once Cynthia and her daughters were checked in, a nurse called them back to measure their height and weight, provide a fluoride treatment, and ask Cynthia some questions about their overall health and development. In all, 109 children and 55 women received services at the event.

For Blue Shield Promise Program Manager Amanda Ruiz, who helps lead these efforts, the impact is personal: “It’s more than providing care in the moment and about making sure families feel connected, supported, and empowered long after they leave.”

A nurse checks a child’s height. April 2026.

So far, two well-child events have been hosted with Episcopal Community Services in 2026, with a third planned later this year.

“When care comes to a place where families already feel seen and supported, it lifts a real weight off their shoulders,” said Rosa Cabera-Jaime, ECS’ Director of Early Education and Family Services. “Access becomes possible, and children get the chance to learn, grow, and truly thrive. This partnership is breaking down barriers that have stood in families’ way for far too long; today's investment decides tomorrow.”

Blue Shield Promise mobile mammograms and well-child visits are by appointment only and are available in Los Angeles and San Diego counties. For information, reach out to member services at (800) 605-2556 (Los Angeles County) or (855) 699-5557 (San Diego County).

For more information about these community-focused programs, visit the ECS Family Engagement Center at https://www.ecscalifornia.org/fec and Blue Shield Promise at https://www.blueshieldca.com/en/bsp.

Blue Shield Promise hosts their well-child visits at the ECS Family Engagement Center in Chula Vista. August 2024.

Partners checked in 109 children and 55 women at the Family Engagement Center. April 2026.

Coauthored by Blue Shield California and ECS Communications

Engaging in STEAM Learning

Early learning years set the foundation for a lifetime of learning – inside and outside of the classroom. STEAM learning is designed to help children build key skills that will guide them in academics and the challenges of everyday life. 

STEAM – science, technology, engineering, arts, and math – uses hands-on learning to engage students in critical thinking, exploration, and problem solving. Every week, a “problem” is presented to the classroom. Throughout the week, students work in small groups or independently to solve the problem using the engineering design process: 

STEAM learning promotes curiosity through hands-on, play-based activities. November 2025.

1. Think through a problem 

2. Plan possible solutions 

3. Design and create the best solution 

4. Test the design 

5. Share the results 

STEAM learning happens all the time. Anytime a child explores new things, they are investigating the world around them and learning to find creative solutions. ECS Head Start embraces this form of learning and brings it into the classroom to help students develop skills such as critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, collaboration, and resilience. 

“Play-based STEM/STEAM activities help toddlers and preschoolers to become explorers, problem-solvers, creative inventors, and critical thinkers,” said child development specialist Jennifer Anthony. “Children build early skills in science, technology, engineering, and math.”  

Problem solving is an essential skill that Head Start students develop through STEAM. November 2025.

Research shows that early introduction to STEAM learning not only encourages development in science and math, but it also strengthens language and literacy skills. 

Head Start Senior Manager Joan Borgonia explained, “Curiosity, problem-solving, creativity, and the ability to make sense of the world is being developed every day in our Head Start and Early Head Start classrooms. Through play-based experiences, teachers create meaningful opportunities for children to explore and learn.” 

A STEAM curriculum is especially important for programs like Head Start which support systemically underprivileged children who may not have exposure to STEAM learning outside of the classroom. Early engagement in STEAM at Head Start helps uplift students to meet their fullest potential as they move to kindergarten and beyond. 

To learn more about ECS’ Head Start STEAM Learning, visit STEAM Learning — Episcopal Community Services. 

If you’d like to support this program, please contact Adrienne Wilkerson, VP of Strategic Engagement. 

Evening on the Bay: Faith in Action

ECS was deeply moved by the generosity shown at the annual fundraiser, Evening on the Bay. Last month, nearly 400 donors, community partners, and supporters gathered to champion vital health and human services for some of our community’s most vulnerable neighbors.

Together, this incredible show of support raised nearly $400,000, funding that will positively impact more than 10,500 clients, families, and community members each year.

The evening stood as a powerful example of faith in action. Through this shared commitment, we continue moving closer to a San Diego region where all children, families, and individuals have the opportunity to reach their full potential. We appreciate all who made this meaningful evening possible.