Poster 37 - 35 Years of Healing: A Legacy of Family, Resilience and Renewal

Monday, April 27, 2026

1:15 PM - 1:45 PM MDT

Location: Screen 2, Exhibit Hall Poster Pavilion

Discover the 35-year journey of SHIELDS for Families, a groundbreaking nonprofit that redefined treatment by putting families—not just individuals—at the center of care. Born in response to the crack epidemic in South Los Angeles, SHIELDS’ Family-Centered Treatment (FCT) model offers a trauma-informed, culturally responsive approach to healing. With success rates nearly triple the national average, FCT has helped thousands of families stay together and thrive. This session explores how a community-rooted model became a national example of resilience, innovation, and systemic change.

Learning Objectives:

Explore the foundational principles of SHIELDS for Families’ Family-Centered Treatment model and how it addresses substance use through trauma-informed, culturally responsive care grounded in family and community support.
Analyze how integrating behavioral health, child welfare, and supportive services within the FCT model contributes to preserving family unity and addressing systemic disparities in marginalized communities.
Develop tangible skills and tools to begin integrating Family-Centered Treatment principles—such as inclusive case planning and integrated service delivery—into participants’ own agencies or practice settings.

Poster Presenter(s)

Christina M. Ramirez, LCSW

Mental Health Administrator
SHIELDS for Families
Los Angeles, California

Disclosure information not submitted.
Danielle B. Lowe, LCSW

Behavioral Health Services Director
SHIELDS for Families
Los Angeles, California

Disclosure information not submitted.
KB

Kimberly B. Brown, LMFT

Training and Development Administrator
SHIELDS for Families
Los Angeles, California

Disclosure information not submitted.
CH

Colette Harley, LMFT

Co-Occurring Administrator
SHIELDS for Families
Los Angeles, California

Disclosure information not submitted.