College of Health and Human Services Helps Grant Wishes for Local Foster Children

The College of Health and Human Services (CHHS) at California State University, Dominguez Hills has once again organized its Holiday Wish Drive for Masada Homes. The three-year-old tradition, led by Heidi Johannsen, special assistant to the deans, makes wishes come true for the children and teens served by the nearby nonprofit foster placement and adoption agency located in Carson.

“It’s not just the College of Health doing this,” says Johannsen. “Everybody on this campus has donated. There are a lot of generous people here.”

In late November, the campus community was provided with a list of specific
wishes for 38 children and teens ranging in age from two months to 17-years-old.
Donations of toys and electronics have been delivered to the CHHS offices, along
with gift cards and monetary donations. Additionally, Toby Bushee, catering and event manager, Campus Dining, gave away $1 coupons to the campus’ Club 1910 restaurant for every dollar deposited in the donation box at the restaurant.

“Heidi has been instrumental in keeping this program going over the last few years and has contributed many hours of personal attention to the success of this project,” notes Claudia Peyton, acting associate CHHS dean and director of the occupational therapy program.

The university’s relationship with the agency began when Peyton became a foster mother through the Masada agency. In addition, Marilyn Noriega, Masada’s program manager, teaches in the occupational therapy master’s program at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Students from the campus’ occupational therapy program also work at Masada as interns with early intervention for at-risk youth in group homes.

For more information on Masada Homes, click here.

- Joanie Harmon

Photo above: The College of Health and Human Services and Campus Dining helped the CSU Dominguez Hills community grant wishes for the children and teens of Masada Homes, a nonprofit foster placement and adoption agency in the city of Carson. (L-R, standing) Angela Albright, associate dean, CHHS, Heidi Johannsen, special assistant to the deans, CHHS and Mitch Maki, dean, CHHS. In front, Richard Chester, director of Campus Dining and Commercial Services