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Community Connections : Health & Wellness

In cooperation with Cudahy

The lawns of Cudahy are a vibrant green reminiscent of Bel Air, the shrubs and trees immaculately trimmed, and the flowers bursting open in bloom. But behind the lawns and gardens is a 95 percent Hispanic community struggling to thrive in the heart of Los Angeles County.

In 1995, CSUDH took major strides in supporting the people of Cudahy by establishing the Elizabeth Street Learning Center’s Family Center and Health Center in conjunction with St. Francis Medical Center and the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD). Under one roof, the centers offer primary health care and a wide range of family social services to the school’s 3,000 Kindergarten through 12th grade students and their families. It is the most comprehensive on-campus facility of its kind in the LAUSD.

“Our parents and community members, while they may be ‘disadvantaged’ economically, feel ‘advantaged’ by the collaborative nature of this effort,” said Principal John Kershaw at the centers’ opening.

The School of Health (SOH) became actively involved in providing the care for the Cudahy community, and continues to do so today. Peggy Wallace, professor of graduate nursing science, was one of the faculty members guiding the project, and it was through this project that she developed the idea for a comprehensive childcare program to further aid the community. In November, 2002, Wallace and a team of grant coordinators received a $500,000 Housing and Urban Development grant to help the second project come to fruition, which will train 15-20 Cudahy women to become licensed and capable childcare providers – giving them childcare development, business administration, and English as a Second Language classes – and refurbish the providers’ homes so they are suitable childcare centers. For the community, the program will offer affordable childcare.

Peggy Wallace, professor of graduate nursing science and George Perez, Cudahy City Manager

“When I heard that the grant was received, I was on a high for about two weeks!", said Cudahy City Manager George Perez. “Number one, it’s going to provide a service that we know is lacking in affordable childcare. And it also will provide jobs for some of our residents, and offers a great opportunity to work with the University.”

Between the Elizabeth Street and HUD projects, CSUDH students, faculty and staff have become intrinsically involved in the Cudahy community’s development. Extended Education will run the childcare licensing courses. The Occupational Therapy Department will complete full environmental assessments of the providers’ homes and neighborhood. The School of Business and Public Administration will implement the general business classes. And SOH has continued to provide competent care for the families and children of Cudahy through Elizabeth Street.

CSUDH students get hands-on learning experience; Cudahy gets comprehensive health and childcare – a symbiotic relationship embodying the commitment to communiversity.

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