Kids First Sustainability Strategy: Stabilize Families With Full Service Support. (Update)

Debbie Gabelich: [00:00:00] The most important thing is to see these kids really be able to turn the tide and to know that we have a lot of families that are marginalized, that are underpopulated or underserved or underfunded, or have insecurities in every population or every sense of the word. Mm-hmm. And so our ultimate goal for them as well, regardless if they go to college or not, that doesn't matter.

It's making them whole and helping them really feel secure in who they are. Whatever trade they choose to be, however profession they want to do, we're here to support them.

Jeff Holden: Welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Our purpose and passion are simple to highlight the incredible nonprofits that make our communities stronger. Each episode is a chance for these organizations to tell their story in their words, sharing not just what they do, but why it matters. To the people they serve, to their supporters, and to all of us who believe in [00:01:00] the power of community.

Through podcasting, we hope to amplify their voices, inspire connection, and give them one more tool to impact the hearts of donors, partners, and neighbors alike. This work is made possible through the generous support of our incredible partners. CAPTRUST offering fiduciary advice for endowments and foundations.

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If you are thinking, wait, haven't we heard kids first on the show before? You're right. Kids First was the very first organization featured on this network in our prototype. During the pandemic, [00:02:00] they came back again for a formal episode, and today marks their third appearance because so much has changed in even the last two years.

Kids First has been serving Placer County families for 37 years, but what you'll hear in this conversation is a nonprofit that isn't just surviving, it's evolving in real time to meet a community need that's getting more complex, more urgent, and in many cases more traumatic. Debbie Gbl is CEO and leads kids first as a family resource center in the fullest sense of that phrase, because they don't hand families a list of phone numbers and send them on their way.

They walk with them. Housing insecurity, food insecurity, health insurance, translation support, court needs, transportation barriers. Kids first has built a model around one core idea, stabilize the family to keep kids safe, and they're expanding clinical work, including counseling and trauma recovery. The reality of what they're seeing right now.

Deeper [00:03:00] trauma, longer engagement, and a widening gap in services for youth, especially ages 10 to 17 and even into the 25 year range as foster youth emancipate into adulthood with nowhere to go, you'll want to hear the bold, specific vision Debbie sets for the future. This episode is a powerful reminder of demonstrating 

Scott Thomas: we can, when others say, sorry, we can't.

Jeff Holden: Debbie gli, welcome to the Nonprofit Podcast Network. Again. 

Debbie Gabelich: Thanks, Jeff. It's good to be here. 

Jeff Holden: Some astute fans of the program may recognize this as a familiar organization on the network, and they would be correct because you've not only been the first organization to be on the network and this second time, but this is the third time because so much has changed since our last episode in early 2024.

Here we are now updating who you are with, what has changed, how the organization has [00:04:00] grown in so many ways since we spoke last, and I'd like you to share what. Really the basic services are that Kids First provides. 

Debbie Gabelich: Sure. Well, first of all, thank you so much. We are beyond honored to, to get this opportunity and to share what we do in the community, full scope of what we do.

We are first and foremost a family resource center and the. Largest sense of the word. So a typical resource center you would call in, someone would hand you a list and says, here, where is where you can go? Our staff doesn't do that. We have a bank of 12 case managers and they are, they walk with every family.

So we do a quick synopsis of family need and a plan for them, and it can be everything from. Housing insecurity, food insecurity. If they don't have insurance, we get them insurance if they need help at the doctor's appointment, we do that probably in around 62% of our clientele. English is a second language.

Mm-hmm. So being able to help with translation, making sure they've got their doctor visits. If they need to get to [00:05:00] court, if there are anything that they need to make the family whole. We're there for them. Many times they'll come back. We can get them up to a space where they're level and because they're already at that very vulnerable state.

One slip of anything, someone getting sick, it could be, you know, they lost any loss of any income and they are right back with us because they're again, just so venerable. So we work with whatever we can to help them stabilize that can be job searching for jobs. So we've got a job readiness class. We do financial literacy, we do parenting, education, anything we can to help the family.

Become whole again. 

Jeff Holden: And you say that one little thing, we don't think about it, but it could be as simple as the battery died in the car. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: They don't have an extra $150. 

Debbie Gabelich: That's Yep. 

Jeff Holden: It's that thin. 

Debbie Gabelich: It's that thin. And on top of the family resources, we also do counseling. So we have an entire group of counselors that help on all different modalities depending on the level of trauma that the family has.

We are the group that manages the sex trafficking for. [00:06:00] To teens, it's actually youth to teens. Whereas some of the other groups that are out there that are phenomenal, like three strands is great. They do an amazing awareness campaign. My team's the only team that's on the street, so we are, I have two people, just two, and they manage this year, 158 kids that are in that world, which is really frightening 'cause that's.

In just one county. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Debbie Gabelich: So we do that and that's just what 

Jeff Holden: we know about. 

Debbie Gabelich: That's exactly. We also have in-home visitation, so we work with the zero to five population. We've got, we, we have subset of folks inside of the children's system of care and in the domestic violence centers and any of those families that have any needs whatsoever.

Our team is there to bring them in, help them again, and to ensure those kiddos. Our whole goal is to advert. At least minimize right. The abuse or the neglect that's happening, mitigate it so that we get these children an opportunity to break the cycle. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Debbie Gabelich: You just don't wanna see them again. And we do, we see families that mom or dad had been in the system as children [00:07:00] and now they're back because they didn't have any other, that is the model they had.

So really trying to teach them that there is a better way, there's different ways. There's you, it's okay to ask for help. Yeah. So that we don't have their children show up at our doors in another 15 to 20 years. 

Jeff Holden: Well, and it's not the worst case scenario because at least they know they have a place to go.

Debbie Gabelich: Absolutely. And I think that's, a lot of our families will tell you that, you know, that they've heard, they hear about us when they come in, Hey, this is the place you go when you need help. And they make it one, you know, maybe it's just therapy, they think, or one of their kiddos is in some type of duress and they'll come to us for that support.

But then. Again, it could be any type of insecurity that comes into play and it's, are you able to help here? And we do. And so we just, again, stand with them, check in regularly. They may not need us for a length of period of time, but they always know that we're there should that, should the needs arise.

Mm-hmm. Because our first and foremost priority are those kids keeping the kids safe. 

Jeff Holden: Right. What. If there are a couple of the programs that are the most popular and, and it's almost sounds [00:08:00] awkward to say it that way. Popular sounds like, oh, this is a good thing. This is my program. Yeah. But are there a couple of programs that you see a greater demand on than others?

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. Well, I think our resource, so we have a sister organization that's similar, that does very similar work. They are heavier on the counseling side. We're heavier on the resource side, but the difference truly is that. We are synonymous for our staff. Literally being there with them, there's no shame associated.

It is that family resource side of our house is really, I think people don't realize that there's 2,700 families come through our doors. And so ensuring that those families, and then if you take the kids that go along with the 2,700 families mm-hmm. How many thousands of lives that we are literally changing, that probably is what we're most known for.

Our clinicians are some of the best, and I think what they've been able to do and what we, where we've seen the shift really from the last time I was here is, you know, I, when I took the position, it was, this is a house that does mild to moderate trauma. Perhaps [00:09:00] it's you're struggling with a kiddo who's a teen, you're not sure if they have anxiety, depression, looking for signs and that.

I don't think I've seen one of those in almost two years. It, we have really gotten to a much higher level of trauma. Not only the child, but the family and or it's, we see so many of our families now. Well, COVID did everybody, it's done. It's not though so many jobs were mm-hmm. Eliminated, right? So now our parents are doing two and three jobs to make up the job that they lost.

And so now you're looking for someone to care for your child. You're gonna hope that that person loves them and cares for 'em like you do. And often that's not the case. Hmm. So then we're dealing with the trauma that's infused on those kiddos, helping these parents get back to a life of not feeling guilt, of getting them to a point where they can talk through it and the children.

Healing, but that takes time. Mm-hmm. It's so, I think our resource center is just really known for the doors are open, and I think even in the community, I do get made fun of because where if folks go to another [00:10:00] agency and they're told, oh, sorry, we can't build an insurance. We can't help you here. Call the kids first.

They don't say no. And although I don't, it's, you know, there's limitations of how far I can do that without it affecting us financially to serve the population. But my thought process is if I don't, who's going to right? And what happens to those kids? And if we aren't paying attention to that one subset.

How far is that gonna reach? So it, in my opinion, I'll, I'll eat that all day long. Mm-hmm. Because it gives me the opportunity to give those kids a chance that they would've not had otherwise. And I just, I don't see how turning away a family, because I can't build their insurance, is really gonna help the community or that family and 

Jeff Holden: Well, and in the long run too.

You're gonna see them back 

Debbie Gabelich: Exactly. And 

Jeff Holden: worse if you don't help Now they're gonna come back later. Yep. Right. And it's gonna be worse. 

Debbie Gabelich: And it's gonna be worse. And that's, that's a big, that's a huge problem. 

Jeff Holden: How do families learn of kids first other than you've been around for 37 years? That's a plus.

Debbie Gabelich: That's [00:11:00] big. Our, most of our referrals come from the schools. The hospital systems that are around other, other agencies, like First Five is a huge, we, the two referrals I was talking about today came straight from them. Can you help this extra family? We also have folks self refer, so they do know on their own and, and I think, you know, right now it's been a lot more word of mouth is coming through of, oh hey, I know this organization.

They do that. So a lot of our corporate partners now are making sure that they get that word out too. In particular if they see something happening in their own world of employees and or they hear about it. They're sending 'em our way, so I, you know, anyway that we get the families I'm fine with as long as they come through the doors.

Jeff Holden: Right? 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: You rely on a lot of different organizations. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah, 

Jeff Holden: because they both feed and they support and by feed I don't mean food. Yeah, they, they feed. You clientele, right? For services? Who are some of the key organizations you work with? 

Debbie Gabelich: First five is our biggest partner. Okay. And that's for our zero to five population, our home visitation program.

So that is really where we work with. [00:12:00] A lot of the moms that are in that program didn't have examples, right? There was no nurturing, they didn't really know what to do. And so this program really ensures those kiddos have a good start, that they're, they can go into school and, and be able to, to be successful.

Thrive. We also work with the CalFresh program that's all inside of that and the R two R, which is the road to resilience. More of those moms maybe had gotten down a. Habit path of some sort. Mm-hmm. And so we help work them throughout of that. That's our largest one. We also work directly with the Count Placer County.

So the children's system of care is again, is our leading partner. I think when I started, we were the 98.5 percentile mark of our funding came all from county contracts. And that really frightened me because like we're seeing today mm-hmm. When federal, state, and local funding gets adjusted, if we can't make up the gap.

Cease to exist. And so we've really, we've really expanded where those revenues are coming from. So we are even more and more of our dollars are coming from [00:13:00] grantors or foundations. Those folks are now referring folks to us as well, because they may work with sister organizations or other CBOs in town that say 

Jeff Holden: CBO.

Debbie Gabelich: It's a community business partner opportunity. It's nonprofits really good. It's when it comes to community partners and so we, I think that that, that has shifted. It shifts where people are coming from for us now, so, and a lot more from the schools. We're seeing more and more come in from the school systems than we did before, 

Jeff Holden: which is not a bad thing when we get to funding.

We'll talk about it in just a second. What would a 360 look like from somebody who's entered the organization, goes through a process, could be a child or parent. Mm-hmm. Comes out maybe a, a success story or somebody so and so entered. Here's what it looked like. Here's what we did. They were with us for X number of months.

And, 

Debbie Gabelich: and there we go. I have a perfect story. So we have a young girl, she was seven when her parents came to us. It was seven. She was seven years old. She and her brother both came in for therapy. Lots of trauma. It was a [00:14:00] divorce that happened in the family, but the divorce. Led to many other attributes, which caused a lot of trauma.

It was a very, it's very volatile, and so we kept both the kids in therapy for a length of time and then touch base with the family. Kinda kept touch with them and she, they all three and including mom, mom came through therapy as well, a. They went through the cycle, they felt they were good. Again, our case management kind of touched base with them on and off for a little bit, just to check.

And everybody seemed to be fine, which was great. We love those stories. And two years ago we had, we were doing our luncheon and we were looking for the community to come out. We were gonna do a fashion show with it. And so we made a call to. Miss Placer County to see if, if we could get the queens to come out, the princesses to come and walk in the fashion show.

And the gal who was Miss Placer County answered the phone and she said, you know, I'm a kid's first kid. And she was the little girl. Oh wow. And not only, and now she's in college at Oklahoma State. And so she, she came in and told the, the entire group of [00:15:00] people that she knew that there's no way she would be where she was today without knowing that there was.

Safety net there that was always gonna catch her. And that these people made them feel like they were part of their family. They loved them like that. They took care of them. They insured them with kick gloves to hand these two children back out into a world. And in fact, she came back again and did our luncheon this year for us because she wanted to expand and really talk.

She, now that she's finished her degree and she kind of felt that she had a little more insight as to how it really affected her ability to public speak, the ability to talk to people and ask for things. Say it's okay to ask for help and the day she'd come for the luncheon, she got word that she got into grad school.

And for that to know that a lot of our kids, especially in the children's welfare system, able to get out of high school. Mm-hmm. Let alone go to college and graduate. And to be able to say that this child went onto grad school for her, every speech she makes has us in it. And that this was the base of her, not only the love of her parents, her mom for sure, who was her, her.

[00:16:00] Her advocate, which brought her to us, but truly knowing that there was an army behind her. She had a whole family that was outside of their blood family that was there to cheer her on and to protect her and to look after her. And she's one of thousands that we do that for every day. And I think that the most important thing is to see these kids.

Really be able to turn the tide and to know that she won't, she won't be in the same situation. Her kids won't. That's the hope for her and I, and I think that's one of many. She actually had a lot of maybe opportunities that some of our other families don't. We have a lot of families that are marginalized, that are underpopulated or underserved or underfunded or have insecurities in every population or every sense of the word.

Mm-hmm. And so, you know, our ultimate goal for them as well, regardless if they go to college or not, it's it. That doesn't matter. It's making them whole and helping them really feel secure in who they are. Whatever trade they choose to be, however profession they want to do, we're here to support them.

Mm-hmm. And that's, that is [00:17:00] the piece of if they can tell another family, knock on their door, right. Come, come see them. And, and we see that, we'll have folks that will say, you know, I know you might have a lot of people right now. We'll wait. We'll wait to see your folks instead of going to a different agency, simply because it's not just a piece of paper we hand them with.

The numbers of the resources they need, we literally will make the call with them. We follow up to ensure that their kids got to school. Do you need, how are you doing on transportation? Oh, the battery's dead. You're right. Let's make sure you get to the, you know, the mechanic and, mm-hmm. Are you good? Great.

Do you have the ride to get to therapy? So all of those things that I think a lot of folks. Just don't associate, that's what we do. It's, it takes a lot per family to, to really take care of them and ensure that they're good. 

Jeff Holden: Well, especially when you have language barriers to add to the complexity of that whole discussion, every one of those 

Debbie Gabelich: elements.

It's so many languages now, so it's not just Spanish speaking. That's still our biggest prevalent, but we've got. A large group of Farsi folks, and we have folks that are coming in that are Ukrainian and [00:18:00] Russian, and we have a big group that came in from Turkey. So I think it's just looking at who's coming, where the needs are, what, what kind of languages are there, and how does my staff help if we don't speak that given language.

So it's finding the right. Translator who can come in and work with us because it's nothing odder than having someone that you don't know sitting in therapy with you. Right. Listening to the therapist tell you what to do, but it's, we work really hard at that to make sure that those families feel comfortable and again.

They feel secure in who they're talking to. There's no, there's no sense of shame. There's no sense of insecurity. They just know where there with no strength, just like a parent. It's unconditional. It's unconditional to want to help every family and to get them to a space that they're healthy. 

Jeff Holden: And this is a change from where you were historically.

Not only have the services changed and the scope of service and the depth of service in the community, what about numbers of people? 

Debbie Gabelich: Actually, I think before I came, I think there was much more, and, and this happens [00:19:00] to several of the other agencies in town as well. It's, you are getting them in just as fast as you could.

It was more of a numbers game, 

Jeff Holden: just move 'em through. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. But because the cases have become more traumatic, you can't move people through that fast. Mm-hmm. And so we've probably seen less, or I can't tout the, you know, 4,000, but the 2,800 families that we brought in. Those 2,800 were really cared for. So I just assumed not worry about the balloon of figure, because I think that number was almost like a cattle call.

Sure. Just to be able to tout it and now all our services are very meaningful. We know that there's a beginning, middle, and end, and we could show the impact when we're completed. 

Jeff Holden: Is there an average length of engagement with the agency? 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah, so for most of our clients prior, so but before the shift of.

The last five years, really most families, because we're again, mild to moderate and everything was covered from the county. Mm-hmm. 12 weeks was the max. So a family would come in, we'd get them for 12 weeks, they case managed and they'd have therapy and it would kind of walk through that system. Some of our case managed group that [00:20:00] maybe doesn't have therapy, they can stay with us.

A little longer, but it was typically 12 weeks. Now the cases are so much more significant. Most of our families are with us between four to seven months. So it's a lot longer of a time where we're with them because again, at the end of 12 weeks, did we really mm-hmm. Solve what's happening? Did we get to the base of it?

No. So we keep them as long as we need to to ensure that they're outta a space that they can walk forward. 

Jeff Holden: And that's the highest priority. Absolutely. It's not getting 'em out and through. 'cause they get to return. 

Debbie Gabelich: That's right. 

Jeff Holden: But if you can really help mitigate 

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. 

Jeff Holden: And understand what the situation is and, and maybe alleviate or, or at least the awareness of it and how to deal with it and manage it, they're likely to succeed.

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. 

Jeff Holden: And in many cases you won't see them again, which is. A good thing. 

Debbie Gabelich: That's That's what we want, right? Yes. I mean, we'd love to hear the successes, but ultimately we want them to feel that they've caught this. And a lot of times our families will, maybe they won't come all the way back in for services, but we'll have a new, the classes that we've been trying to do in support groups, we [00:21:00] do those specifically for maybe some of our folks that we were.

They've really finished services, but you know, when we put together financial literacy classes and or we're doing the job readiness or we do anxiety classes and sometimes we'll do domestic violence for kids and for adults, what to look for. We see a lot of our families come back for those follow up type of classes that we do.

Maybe they need a refresher or maybe they can see something starting, and if they do this, then they can again mitigate it from getting to the point where they really need to bring the kids back in for therapy. So I think. A good chunk of our services are things that people have to come to see us for, so if there's a court order on it, but the other half of those folks are really those that feel.

It's helping, you know, and they come to a co-parenting class when we do our Forever Fathers and there's therapists in the room and they kind of walk them through the scenarios and give them tools to take home with them. That's what we see. That's the positive. Or at least come back. It's not that they need it, but the camaraderie that they get from another dad.

Mm-hmm. That they think, oh gosh, I'm not the only one that happens [00:22:00] all the time. And I think having that piece of togetherness with another family where you just don't feel you're the only one going through this, is really helpful for them Sometimes. 

Jeff Holden: Well, and there's a support. Yeah. There's a peer group there that you're like me.

Yep. You make me feel more comfortable when 

Scott Thomas: that 

Jeff Holden: happens, right? 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: We'll be back with Debbie Gli of Kids First, right after a few words from those who make this program possible. 

James Beckwith: I'm James Beckwith, president and CEO of Five Star Bank. We're dedicated to supporting organizations who advocate for the strength, resilience, and vitality of those they serve.

When nonprofit organizations thrive, our community does too. By supporting the nonprofit podcast network, five Star Bank is amplifying the voices and meaningful impact of our nonprofit community. We're Five Star Bank, a trusted nonprofit partner. How can we help you? 

Darrell Teat: We are really excited to be part of the family [00:23:00] and contribute to the work that you all are doing.

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Back Office Solutions, human Resources, technology, and Administration. The reason why our Back Office solutions add value is because we save them time and money anywhere from 20 to 30% of what they would spend on that back office solution. We work in it so they can actually work on it, CXOR e.com and contact me directly at D.

TEAT at cx OR e.com. 

Jeff Holden: If you're interested in learning more about how CORE may help your organization, visit cx OR e.com. 

Scott Thomas: Hello, this is Scott Thomas with CAPTRUST [00:24:00] in our Sacramento office. I specialize in working with local nonprofits and associations annually. We survey private and public nonprofit organizations across the country to better understand challenges they see in today's environment.

In our more recent survey, we hear concerns about proper board governance, mission aligned investment, and how to implement alternative investments. If you would like a copy of the survey or to discuss your organization, look me up, scottThomas@captrust.com. 

Jeff Holden: At Western Health Advantage, healthcare isn't just a service, it's a shared value.

As a nonprofit leader, you need a health plan that understands the important of mission-driven work. Western Health Advantage is a local not-for-profit health plan that supports organizations like yours with affordable, flexible coverage options for your team. What truly sets them apart is their commitment to community supporting nonprofits like the American Heart Association, Sacramento [00:25:00] Ballet, and the Crocker Art Museums Pay what you wish Sundays with access to top tier providers and dedicated local support.

Western Health advantages more than a health plan. It's a partner in your purpose. Explore your options today@westernhealth.com. Western Health Advantage Healthcare with Heart designed for those who give back. Let's talk a little bit about funding. Certainly it's changed over the course of the time that you've been there, if I'm not mistaken, from maybe 2.2 over the course of the last years to three and a half or more today.

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah, we are to this year, we're estimated at 3.6. And that's below million, million, by the way, folks. Million, 3.6 million. Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: People both left the, left, the, the digit off 

Debbie Gabelich: the back there. The digs off there. Yeah. It's, the shift has come real. And, and again, I think that if we look at, we couldn't do it without our county partners.

We're so grateful to have that, those contracts in place, but we also saw that. It's a no fault of theirs. The contracts don't cover the full [00:26:00] staff. Mm-hmm. And I think looking at the level of what these clients need, I needed a certain skillset of bodies that can really make a difference. So we're hiring folks that have a stronger set of skills, number one.

Mm-hmm. In order to keep them, those contracts don't cover their salaries. Not even 70%. It's the most time. So we literally knew we had a gap, and then we had the other services that we wanted to cover that. Aren't getting covered by state federal anymore, that are going by the wayside, but we see the value of prevention.

So we, you know, we hired a development director and we have a, a development team, and that team has really helped change the landscape of, from the 98.6 that we were. Coming from contracts this year we're just below 80, and next year we're hoping to get to the 70 mark. My ultimate goal is being 50 50 because if we don't count on, we're not gonna get hurt.

If we lose something big, which is what caused the downfall before I came, is they just, they, they lost contracts and didn't have a way to recoup it. And they just [00:27:00] Too reliance, just falling reli. Yep. It was, there was nothing else there, so there was no way to get out. And now we have really amped up our.

Abilities to write those grants to go out and communicate to, to cultivate and steward donors that just, they didn't have the bandwidth for it before and now it's, you know, you have to, if you wanna survive right. In this, in this environment. 

Jeff Holden: So you see it from a grant writing, grant funding perspective.

You got it from individual donors. Yep. Events like your fundraisers throughout the year and. What percentage would you say is, is there a fee for service contingent as well? 

Debbie Gabelich: So the only thing that's really changed, yes. So the, we had, it had always been, everything was free and I still like to do that wherever we can.

The case manager, there's no cost for the family services side's. Mm-hmm. That's, that's just part of it. For the counseling side, which really shifted was. The move to Medi-Cal. So being able to be part of Cal Aim because that's where the funding was gonna get cut. And so if the funding is cut and now we need to charge for it, we don't wanna still charge the individual.

So we made sure we were certified under [00:28:00] Medi-Cal so we can bill services back to the Medi-Cal agencies and that would help supplement, which has been great. And then we learned that Cal, which is the big arm of, of Mecal. Medi-Cal created an entire, another division because they could see that it was being helpful when you serve people on, like enhancing the case management side of mm-hmm.

Of the house. And that's, they came up with these programs and so they really incentivized nonprofits to do it. It's a lot of work, especially when you don't have an accounting department. I had one person that was, you know, had a finance background and so, but I throw us in it because I thought if we don't.

And that funding has gone completely we'll, how do we survive? 

Jeff Holden: And you're providing the service already. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. So we signed, we did our, it took us over a year to get signed up to do the whole Medi-Cal side. And then we jumped into the ECM side, the enhanced case management. And that is a game changer for groups like us.

That is where. The, we can now build, [00:29:00] not the people, but we are billing Medi-Cal for all the services that we do for the individuals, helping them with housing, making sure they have all the resources they need. The whole goal is to keep them from being unhoused. Mm-hmm. So the more we can do in that world, that's, there's a benefit to that and that's what will sustain the nonprofits as we continue to go on.

And these funds do get cut completely from. Counties and you know, local agencies, those that can't, we will see them dissipate because there's not mm-hmm. They won't have the bandwidth. They don't want the bandwidth. And so, you know, there may be, there may be more mergers and there may be Right.

Jeff Holden: Consolidation. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. And or just loss of services. Yes. So I think that, you know, there's gonna be two sides to, to what happens as we continue going on, 

Jeff Holden: but what a brilliant way to go because it does offset anything and you survive. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yes. That for us, gives that it's big. It was a game changer for us to see the revenue stream that is now.

We were doing all that work for all that time and never were compensated and now mm-hmm. Be compensated for it. It allows me a, to pay my people what they [00:30:00] deserve to be paid. I can keep them longer, which is what you want. So we're not hitting just that two year mark and they all leave, which is the standard.

And so to be able to have my longest running employee in the building, it's been there for 26 years. Wow. And she's, you know, she's amazing and she loves what we do way before me. I can't take credit for her. Right. But, but I do. The amount of what she's been able to help us with historical value and seeing the shift 

Jeff Holden: in services.

Oh, the equity, the intellectual equity she's got for the operation and the community and the people. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. Yeah. So I've really only kept six people from the original staff that I walked into. How many 

do 

Jeff Holden: you employ? How many? 

Debbie Gabelich: 35. 

Jeff Holden: You have 35 people? Mm-hmm. 

Debbie Gabelich: You, 

Jeff Holden: wow. 

Debbie Gabelich: So of that six of them were who I took from the old team, but they're all still there.

Mm-hmm. And that makes me super happy. And then a majority of the staff that I brought on when I started are still there. So we're gonna have the shifts in particular in my clinical team because they come to us while they're in school. Right, right. So usually they intern with us and then as they're getting their hours, you know, until they get [00:31:00] licensed, then they're.

Most of them move on to private practice. Mm-hmm. Do their own thing. Right. Yeah. But so that's where our turnover really comes from, is then that happens everywhere. Right. But a majority of my staff is, I think having that consistency, consistency gives us a continuity of care for our folks. Mm-hmm. And that has been just a tremendous benefit for Oh, that's right.

I remember the gonzalez's, or I remember the Smiths and I, I, I've got it from here. So it's, that's really helped when it comes to being able to find 

Jeff Holden: things. Oh, sure. The ease of access to those families. 

Debbie Gabelich: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Is so much easier. Yeah. Plus it saves time. 

Debbie Gabelich: Big time. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah. And time is money and cases that you can or can't get to because you're overloaded.

Debbie Gabelich: Right. Well, it costs a lot less to keep your people than it is to rehire. And retrain. Yes, that too. So I think, you know, that's been a. That's been a big factor for us and just kind of just changing the culture and the status of how we work. Mm-hmm. Um, and it doesn't work for every organization. There's a lot, you know, I've worked in several where it was far more corporate with how everything was working during the day.

Sure. But this is so familial how we work anyway with the families. [00:32:00] That's really how we are on the backside too, where it's more of. A family setting where you care about every member in your staff because they do deal with trauma every single day. So to be there for one another mm-hmm. And to walk it through and to talk with one another and to know they need mental health days and to really care about where their needs are when they walk outta the building is just as important as us taking care of the individuals coming to us.

Absolutely. So that has really shifted quite a bit for our team too. 

Jeff Holden: Let's. Dream for a second here. I know you've got some really exciting stuff 

Debbie Gabelich: we do 

Jeff Holden: that fits this question perfectly. Yeah. And let's say a donor, a philanthropic minded individual of means comes in and says, Hey Debbie, I really like what you're doing with the organization.

I've got a blank check for you. I. What would you do if that happened? 

Debbie Gabelich: So we're, we know that there are some major gaps, right? In services. Placer County is so fortunate, there's so much there for families, but almost every county struggles with the 10 to 17 population. In fact, the 10 to 25 [00:33:00] population. 

Jeff Holden: Yeah.

'cause we're seeing foster kids emancipate and what do we do? 

Debbie Gabelich: And then what do we do? And that, that's a big problem for us. Mm-hmm. Because again, those kids, if we don't help them there. When they get to a point where they're creating families, we're gonna have, we're gonna have all their families too.

Correct. So we really have looked at where the gaps are and that 10 to 17 kids we struggle with because if they have any trauma at all, getting those kids to go into foster care. Not, it doesn't happen. There's not enough that are willing to take on a kid that's got a trauma based with, and or maybe they were, had a, an abuse problem earlier.

They struggle. So they have two options. We either use the medical system and they're hospitalized or they go to juvenile hall. Those the two options that you have. If there isn't anything else and that. That really isn't helping. Mm-hmm. We're putting 'em in system and once they're in the system, the probability they land back in the system, even when they're out is high seventies, low eighties.

Mm-hmm. So our goal was, well, let's create something that keeps the kids out of the [00:34:00] system. We were the crisis nursery in Placer County 25 years ago. They didn't build it to sustain though, so they, it ended up closing. And so we really have done some due diligence to figure out. What exactly does that look like?

How can we be the place that is a respite for when mom and dad, if they haven't named someone to watch their kids? If something happens to lose a job, someone gets sick, whatever, that we could be that spot for, especially for these kids that have some trauma. So we don't put them in the system. We keep them for that little bit of time, and we'd like to be able to keep.

All kids. Right. So there's so many restrictions right now that the facilities, well only this tight say population, the families are split up. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. Federal and state law has changed it dramatically. 

Debbie Gabelich: If you're emancipated, nowhere to go. Mm-hmm. If you're coming outta the foster system, nowhere to go. So the internal part of the building would be this emergency setup and then.

The back half, the half of the property, we would build out with Auds for transitional housing [00:35:00] for the kids coming out of foster care. So we would have more there. Not that there aren't other agencies, there's not enough. 

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Debbie Gabelich: So these kids are homeless because there just isn't enough. So if we can add to that.

And have more space for those kids and be emergency shelter type of environment, and shelter's the wrong word, but an emergency facility. Mm-hmm. They can still do a place to 

Jeff Holden: go. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. A place to go that we can still have counseling, that you can have comradery, that there's be a shower, that there's warm food, you know, whatever that looks like.

We're still working out the particulars of really the needs assessment that comes along with it, but if we can fill that spot, even if we keep a hundred kids out of the system. Okay. That's a hundred that Right. Or a hundred become a hundred families. That then, you know, the multiplication of that is just huge.

Jeff Holden: Not to mention the expensive at all when they come back in. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. And so, you know, our hospital partners all know the, the benefit of this. They're very excited for us to launch to this next part. Mm-hmm. You know, I think our county partners are too. It's just finding the right. [00:36:00] The right formula. Mm-hmm. What is gonna be that can stay funded, right?

Because again, there's insurance issues, there's certification issues. Where is the biggest hurdle? We know that foster system is big and there hasn't been a ton coming out with each administration change as to where it happens. But foster youth is, is going to be something that they're gonna keep an eye on.

So if we can help with that. And we were really fortunate that we got gifted land. So 

Jeff Holden: what I was gonna say, yeah. This, this dream is, is partially engaged already. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. 

Jeff Holden: So you've got the parcel, you've got the property. The next step is the facility, the building. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. Yeah. And so that was to your, when someone gifted us, whatcha gonna do with it.

Right. Was a, we weren't expecting it that early, but it, it has given my team that opportunity to dream a little. And then be realistic with the dreams. So, you know, you wake up and you're okay, that's great, but what actually will work? So we've really been looking at the homes that are the temporary or the shelters or the all the different spaces and say, okay, we like that.

[00:37:00] This is what's not working for them. And they've been really honest with us. Hey, we struggle with this. This is working. Which homes now have closed? And why? How the. Children's, you know, receiving home here where their struggles are. So if we could pick up on the pieces that people are having problems with and omit that before we start.

Mm-hmm. Then my whole goal is to leave something that is sustainable. You know, I don't wanna set it up, create it, and walk away. I really want it to be something that will live for. You know, the next generation to have that facility. So we're just at the phase of creating, we were really fortunate, one of our partners, which is Kaiser, has, they, they meet with us every year and just touch base on the funding that they give us.

And we were talking about this and they gave us part of their team, that's their grad students. And they come in and they, we help with programming and really teach your staff if they needed it. And when we talked a little bit more about this and hey, we. Really could use some help on what that true needs assessment is.

They were so excited. So to have them help us and back us on really getting that [00:38:00] clear data that we're gonna need to show, this is the area that we need to be in. Mm-hmm. Um, was really exciting for us. So our ultimate goal is by the end of Spring in 26 that we're ready to launch the campaign and the building would be open by 28.

Jeff Holden: Wonderful. 

Debbie Gabelich: So it would be huge. That's, that was my dream. That's the. I'm gonna 

Jeff Holden: get 

Debbie Gabelich: there. 

Jeff Holden: You heard it here first on the nonprofit Podcast Network? Yes. That by 28th there will be a new facility in Placer County for Crisis Nursery. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. So it'll be Crisis Nursery, but it'll also be just a crisis center because it's gonna be for kids all the way to 25, so that we'll be able to have that transitional housing for those kids coming out of the foster system, the crisis center, that will be for anybody under 18.

And then the littles, we wanted to keep a space for the littles because we know there's still that need for the nursery part. Yeah. So to encompass all of it without stretching ourselves ultimately too thin. 

Jeff Holden: Back to the reality of operations today. 

Debbie Gabelich: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: What is the greatest need? 

Debbie Gabelich: Wow. 

Jeff Holden: Let me count the ways, right?

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. Pretty much. I think my [00:39:00] team has to pay attention to the news every day. And as everything as something changes, if you don't pay attention, you don't know what's coming. And so, you know, I think a lot of folks snap. Perfect example when Snap hit. And yes, we were so excited that they were able to redo that, but that 14 days that it was down, families had to make a decision.

If I don't have food on the table. How do I, how do I feed my child? So where am I gonna get the money from? I mean it, then I'm not gonna pay my rent. Mm-hmm. Or I'm not gonna pay the utility bill. So we started to see those insecurities like creep within a week. The amount that we put out the door to help with.

We didn't want anybody unhoused. I don't want a child living in a house without power or water. So those calls came in floodgates, making sure our family stays secure. That I think every. Every administration has its own sense of ins, you know, people where people are just unsure of where uncertainties, right.

Where things are happening. So I, I don't think politics has anything to play in it, but I think paying attention to what [00:40:00] movement is happening and each county, again, has different mm-hmm. Components, each city inside the county. So we really pay attention to what's happening in that moment. And that becomes the greatest need for right then.

So right now it's keeping those families that are. Vulnerable and they are beyond vulnerable right now. Mm-hmm. Keeping them whole is our, that's where we putting a majority of our energy because we also know financial insecurity is the number one reason for abuse. So if we can help keep them stable, then we mitigate.

So if the more we can do around that, the better. So, you know, simple things such as making sure that we aren't a food bank, but we made sure that we had a hundred and we worked with two different, uh, rancher who came in and brought us 150 boxes of produce that we were able to give out to this families right before Thanksgiving.

Thanksgiving dinners. Finding the families who need the most help at Christmas time, because again. They don't have the means, but they also, parents feel like a failure if they can't, 

Jeff Holden: can't [00:41:00] give 

Debbie Gabelich: their kids something, something. Right. So, you know, where I think in the past we've had a couple hundred, 350 that are walking through our doors this week for mm-hmm.

Their, you know, to do that, that isn't even. I could have done double that and still not hit all of our families. But I think the community comes out for that part is when you talk about a child, child, it's just not usual. Most folks don't get the warm fuzzies about talking about child abuse. So it's 

Jeff Holden: Right.

And, and that's not gonna change. We happen to be recording it. So Christmas is, is imminent. It's a couple weeks away. But that still is going to be that need as we get into the beginning of the year, then we're gonna get into back to school. Same situation. Financial insecurity. Well, 

Debbie Gabelich: in terms of toys is the, toys are one thing that's great that we're able to DeJoy, but really what, you know, so as we talked to companies that were excited and we felt that we had these family secure, my next pitch was, I need coats.

I need pajamas. Right. I, it sucks because these are the basics. Basic needs is what they're needing. We, you know, we go through the amount of cards we give to Walmart for the grocery store, or to Safeway, or to any grocery store is. We give that out all month long. Mm-hmm. The [00:42:00] amount of rent. And so, and, and I think January and February are really, are worst months because they have done what they needed to.

It's 

Jeff Holden: already 

Debbie Gabelich: done, 

Jeff Holden: right? 

Debbie Gabelich: Yep. So now they don't have the funds and so it's trying to, that's why those financial literacy classes are so important. Mm-hmm. It really helps them feel, takes that shame away and to really feel okay. In your means, and here's where you are. And maybe if you look at these groups, they can help with that.

So you're not touching the primary that's gonna keep your family whole. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Debbie Gabelich: It's just that, especially the, the families that have the teens or the kids now know. 

Jeff Holden: Right. 

Debbie Gabelich: And that's, those are the families that have the harder time than the kids with the littles that you can do as Susie homemaker doll.

And they're happy and they're thrilled. Yeah. Right. But when they're 14, 15, I mean, dad, your home, this is great. Yes, totally. But to have a family living in a car when your kid's in high school mm-hmm. It's just 

Jeff Holden: not gonna work. 

Debbie Gabelich: No. 

Jeff Holden: Over the course of the three years that you've been there. 

Debbie Gabelich: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: Have you seen a shift in that greatest need?

Debbie Gabelich: Mm-hmm. Again, I think it's, we're seeing more and more of the unc, the uncertainty part has definitely played a toll [00:43:00] or maybe the, we concentrated quite a bit on the education, which we still do is, you know, the, the Forever Fathers group that we do and the co-parenting classes that we have, and we've created a few others and some of the support groups that has become.

They ask for more. And that, I think that has, that's a shift for us, for sure. Mm-hmm. You know, I think at the beginning it was folks came because they had to a lot of cases on the. On the support education side and even on the counseling side a lot of times. But the family resource part, we see those families staying a little longer and not necessarily because they're hoping to gain something.

It's more of the support. Right. Is that that piece has been greater and u usually we start to see like a shift. If we are seeing, um, right now we have more of the single moms, or really a shift has been on the domestic violence side. A lot of times the mom. Has never worked. She was a stay at home mom. You stay if there's nothing else to do, right.

They don't have, and so we've had far more of that. We've had [00:44:00] bigger families, we've had more, the abuse and the, the stories that come in are really heavy and I think that has shifted a great deal where it's not just 12 weeks of sessions and we can help you get through this communication you're having with Bobby.

Darrell Teat: Mm-hmm. 

Debbie Gabelich: That's just not the case anymore. It's really has been, you know. What happened to your kid in that particular time, or their schools are being more cognizant as well. If they hear a story on the, on the, you know, on the playground that they. We're all mandated reporters. So just looking at the level of how many CPS reports are given to the county in a month, how many of those families come our way?

Child 

Jeff Holden: Protective Services, 

Debbie Gabelich: CPS, child Protected Services? Yep. So when that occurs, so if the, any story that occurs, the reports are done and they're put in levels, so they're refer level one, which could be, there's. Thought perhaps there could be an issue. Can you go out and check with the family and hand them resource a pamphlet, or they know that there's something going on the next level and you bring a social worker and you go out and it's, you need to come [00:45:00] in.

Mm-hmm. Um, that has ch shifted dramatically. And I think that, again, I, I don, when I talk about family resource center and the counseling, that's a whole piece of that. We have. Our staff probably spends 25 to 30% of their time going out to the homes to make sure that we're touching with those families and connecting to them and trying to get them engaged and ensure that they are coming back in for those kiddos.

But I think what they need is so much greater. And, or maybe they feel a little more secure in asking for it than they did before, or they don't feel as judged and so they're asking for more supports than what we were giving before. It was pretty much, you know, here's this handoff and away they went, and now we do see them staying a little longer and asking for additional supports 

Jeff Holden: in, in the grand scheme of things, that could be a good thing too, because they recognize 

Debbie Gabelich: mm-hmm 

Jeff Holden: we need to stick around.

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. If anything that we're doing, that mitigation factor is what? To me, that's our, I think that's the reward that comes out of it. That's to me, the impact that we're really seeing of, we can [00:46:00] see a shift in that the kiddo, they can see that grades at school are changing. One of the modalities of therapy we do is called PCIT.

It's Paired Child Interaction Therapy. Most of those kids come from the school. So if you've got a kiddo with a DD or A DHD or. They're really just struggling in the classroom. Those kids come in and we have the two sided, two classed wall. Mm-hmm. They're on one side, mom on the other side, or dad, whoever.

And the goal is to get that child to be able to go back into the classroom and actually day to day like all his classmates and that. We've seen a huge pickup there, but we also, I think, I love that. I love that they're coming and that we can help that. And so those kids actually, you don't see as much then.

It's on the playground. Right. And you know, there are outbursts that are coming to play with that, but that's a four to five month program. So it's, you know, once we've really have started to see length of time, the families are with us. So they get to know us a little bit more, we get to know them a little bit more, and now we really can see where the inequities are in their family.

And I think that's where our staff [00:47:00] really picks up on, oh, I'm, I can see this is coming. Mm-hmm. Let's see what we can do to help. Hey, you know what? We've got this class coming up. Would that be of interest to you? So we've done coffee Cloches for moms. Where English is a second language and getting them to all be together in a support group, having more of those classes, anything we can offer that we see.

That the, if we start seeing six or seven families with similar things coming up, then we'll create a focus group or a support group or class. Mm-hmm. Specific, and then they come in and we can start to see that dissipate, which is great. So I think it's really us staying in tune with where the needs are.

And it shifts depending on the time of the year, depending on what's happening globally or nationally or locally changes regularly. So it's to say that it's the same this year to last year, or this for six months ago. 

Jeff Holden: Mm-hmm. 

Debbie Gabelich: Every month can be up and down for where the needs are coming in from. 

Jeff Holden: Let's shift to something a little bit personal, okay.

For a second, and this is kind of fun. 

Debbie Gabelich: Sure. 

Jeff Holden: You've got a lot of responsibility on your shoulders, as many of our nonprofit leaders do, and it tends to stay with you all the time [00:48:00] because you can't not see what needs to be done. 

Debbie Gabelich: Right. 

Jeff Holden: How do you relax? Refresh, regroup? What do you do? 

Debbie Gabelich: Well, I, my husband actually works in Reno during the week, so we are apart three days every week and so it's nice when we're together, it is quality time and we really both try our hardest to take our work stuff and.

Tuck it away for a little bit of time so we have that quality time. So we do a lot of hiking, just activities where it is just us. 'cause we try to make the most out of, out of all the time. We've been together for a really long time. So it was probably not a bad thing when we started this, but you know, after 36 years we're still, you know, we Thank you.

Congratulations. That's awesome. Thank you. Yeah, it, it works for us and so, but I do think anything that we can do the, just. We have to make the time to say, I gotta put that away. I also have two grand babies. And so to be able to 

Jeff Holden: Congratulations. 

Debbie Gabelich: Thank you. To see them, I think that's become my why. My kids are grown and I really felt that I was in a world that helped them, helped shape them, and felt they had a good start.

[00:49:00] And now these littles are here and it's more prevalent than ever to ensure that the world they're gonna grow up in is. A little better than how I got it. Mm-hmm. And that's, you know, I, I think about that. So I really enjoy my time with them and kind of try to, to think of have I done, have I done enough for them on that side, or others like that in our little community.

So I just enjoy spending time with my family. I enjoy being outdoors. I enjoy, and I like volunteering for other organizations where it's just not mine, you know? So you can, you can do good somewhere else too, and it just makes you feel good about it. 

Jeff Holden: That's awesome. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: That is just wonderful. What's the best way to learn more about Kids First?

Debbie Gabelich: Our website is a great resource, so it's www kidsfirst now.org. We do a newsletter that goes out every month. We have information there. Our staff, you can always pop in and we sit down and chat with you about it. Our classes, all our classes are posted on there. All the resources we provide, all the different levels and types of counseling we [00:50:00] have are on there.

Every program that we have is there as well. And I always have staff that will walk folks around and kind of show them 

Jeff Holden: Excellent. 

Debbie Gabelich: What the facilities look like. So, 

Jeff Holden: and we'll put that in show notes too, so anybody can find it with the phone number and everything. So, 

Debbie Gabelich: oh, our phone number is (916) 774-6802.

Jeff Holden: Perfect. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah, 

Jeff Holden: so two ways to connect. 

Debbie Gabelich: Absolutely. 

Jeff Holden: As hard as it is for me to believe we're having this conversation for a third time. 

Debbie Gabelich: Mm-hmm. 

Jeff Holden: With very different circumstances. I'm so proud of what's transpired with Kids First since that first episode that we did during the Pandemic. Yeah. And how it's come through and not only survived, but is actually now thriving.

Yeah. And growing considerably, sadly for the wrong reason. 

Debbie Gabelich: Right. 

Jeff Holden: But. We need you. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yeah. 

Jeff Holden: And it's, it's just that significant, so to you and your team and for all that you do, for those kids and families in Placer County, thank you so much. 

Debbie Gabelich: It's actually, it's my privilege to be able to do this for these families.

And I think to your point, it's a. [00:51:00] It makes me sad that there is, that there's a need for what we do, but I am so grateful that we're there for these families and we were talking about this the other day when it came to at a county meeting, and I said, I almost feel like we're in the movie Scrooge, where you have to sit back and think, well, what would it look like if we weren't here?

If, and what would it look like if this one wasn't here? And how do we make sure that we're watching each other's backs, that we either merge correctly mm-hmm. And do thoughtfully and, or that we take care of those, maybe the small ones that you really do need them. I can't pick up that piece of work, you know?

So I just, I think being cognizant for the community as a whole is. Is every changing again, is a constant, it's a constant perpetual movement forward, is to pay attention to what the needs are for the people in the community. 

Jeff Holden: Well, your passion shows 

Debbie Gabelich: love it. 

Jeff Holden: Thank 

Debbie Gabelich: you. Love it. Thank you. I appreciate it again, again 

Jeff Holden: and 

Debbie Gabelich: again.

Jeff Holden: Right 

Debbie Gabelich: again for letting us come back and be able to share 

Jeff Holden: and, and I can't wait to hear about the Crisis center, the 

Debbie Gabelich: Me Too. 

Jeff Holden: 2028. 

Debbie Gabelich: Yes. Yeah. Well, hopefully we'll have enough to share by late [00:52:00] spring and just to be able to announce everything. So that's, that's our big, that's a big push right now. 

Scott Thomas: Fingers crossed.

Debbie Gabelich: Yes. Thank you so much. I appreciate it. 

Scott Thomas: Thanks, Deb. 

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