Moonlight Ball 2025: One Family’s Courage Made Room for Healing

Jessica, George, and Leilani engage in PLF therapy session as a family. February 2025.

Parenting brings joy, but also pressure that can have serious consequences. A 2023 survey by the American Psychological Association found that 33% of parents reported high stress in the past month, compared to 20% of other adults. Nearly half said their stress was overwhelming most days, compared to 26% of non-parents. These findings were highlighted in the U.S. Surgeon General’s Parents Under Pressure advisory, released in August 2024, underscoring the toll parental stress takes on health.

Parents have to worry about finances, work, their child’s health, education, general happiness, and so much more. The pressure to excel at all these tasks creates stress, which can impact their own life, as well as the child’s development.

PLF lifts stress from parents like Jessica and George and builds trust between parent and child. *April 2025.

Jessica felt this pressure when her daughter Leilani began to display extreme behavioral issues at age three. “It just felt like the intensity of her emotions was just at another level to where we couldn't take her places,” Jessica said. “Everything was thin ice around her.” Leilani had no filter. She let out her frustration in outbursts, was impulsive, and had trouble focusing.

Routine activities became increasingly difficult. Leilani would demand things and refuse to accept “no” for an answer. “She would say hurtful things and I would be so embarrassed, but she was doing it to get under my skin, to make me give in,” Jessica said. The parent-child dynamic was off balance, leaving the child with control.

George feels the impact of PLF on his relationship with his daughter and his parenting skills. *April 2025.

At home, Jessica and her husband George tried different strategies to handle Leilani’s defiance — rewards, schedules, routines, timeouts — but nothing worked. Frustration in the household grew, and so did the pressure.

Jessica hoped that starting school would help regulate Leilani’s behavior. Unfortunately, that was not the case. “I was very hopeful that things were going to turn around, but it just seemed to open another door of anxiety because it was a different environment, so that was challenging on top of the behavior,” she explained.

PLF helps Leilani process her emotions and deal with change in a healthy way. *April 2025.

At school, Leilani was too controlling while playing with others and often let her emotions get the best of her, resulting in outbursts. She even attempted to leave the school on a few occasions. Although she was doing well academically, her parents ultimately decided to hold her back from transitioning to kindergarten because she wasn’t ready to move up emotionally; the idea of change was overwhelming.

As issues stacked up, Jessica lost her confidence as a parent. She and George have two adult daughters, so when Leilani came along, they felt ready. But the techniques they used with their other children did not work with their youngest. “I felt like a failure, like I must be doing something wrong…,” Jessica said.

While Jessica struggled at home, Leilani’s ECS Head Start teachers noticed the same challenges at school. They partnered with her parents to continue home strategies in the classroom, and while it helped a little, the behavioral issues remained. Still, her teachers knew what to do next, and connected the family to Para Las Familias.

Leilani and her therapist Itzel. *April 2025.

ECS Para Las Familias (PLF) is an outpatient behavioral and mental health clinic that provides bilingual early childhood mental health services to low-income children ages 0 to 12. Children can display behavioral problems for several reasons; PLF gives caregivers practical tools to understand their child’s behaviors by building trust and improving everyday family communication.

Jessica admitted that she and her husband were nervous at first. Would Leilani behave in therapy? Would her outbursts reflect poorly on them? Jessica and George decided to attend every session with Leilani, working together to find solutions as a family. “It was a slow process,” Jessica said. “But right when we got towards the end, it was like a tremendous turnaround.”

PLF taught Jessica and George a variety of tools to guide Leilani with compassion and understanding. One of Jessica’s favorite exercises was “video situations.” After obtaining the parents’ permission, their therapist, Itzel, would record parent-child interactions and then watch the video with the parents to observe from an outside perspective. This activity helped Jessica learn what behaviors needed to be adjusted at home.

With the help of PLF, Leilani’s true strengths can now shine true, which are recognized by her parents and teachers. *April 2025.

Eventually, things began to change for Jessica and her family. “When our friends and neighbors noticed it; that’s when it hit us that it was working,” she said. “The sessions changed our lives for the better.”

Now, Leilani cooperates with chores, homework, and school. If she’s not in a good mood, Jessica can read Leilani’s body language, communicate effectively, and compromise.

Leilani has blossomed thanks to PLF. She is open, understanding, and respectful. One of her teachers even described her as “noble,” a word of praise that brought smiles to her parents’ faces. She is excelling academically and has a big heart, making friends with everyone she meets.

Leilani celebrates her graduation from ECS Head Start. *April 2025.

Now a kindergartener, Leilani still has a great relationship with her Head Start teachers. "They helped her through the process. They too were part of the healing process for her," she said.

As Leilani’s behavior improved, Jessica and George regained their confidence and now work together as a team to do what’s best for their daughter.

PLF created space for Jessica and her family to heal and grow together. February 2025.

Jessica sings PLF’s praises. “I totally recommend it. Any time anybody tells me they’re having issues I tell them you need to look into this program,” she said. “It really helped my family... it’s hopeful.” For many families, PLF is the first step in the development of a healthy and emotionally intelligent adult. This program is making a difference in the community, one family at a time. To learn more about PLF, visit Para Las Familias — Episcopal Community Services.

*Caption dates may not be exact.

How Jeff Broke Free from Fentanyl with C-HRT Safe Haven

Substance use had surrounded Jeff his whole life, but he never imagined he would become addicted. However, when he began to experience excruciating pain in his hip, he fell into the clutches of fentanyl. Control over his life vanished; he lost his job and his apartment. He tried quitting, but it felt impossible without any support.

C-HRT gave Jeff the sanctuary he needed to commit to sobriety and take his life back into his own hands. February 2025.

Luckily, Jeff found ECS C-HRT Safe Haven. C-HRT gave him a safe place to sleep, food to eat, and a community that embraced him in his recovery journey. With the help of C-HRT, Jeff went completely substance free, found a job, got a hip replacement, and moved into his own housing. The program gave him the sanctuary he needed to take back his life and move forward. Watch Jeff’s video to hear him tell his story and visit ECS C-HRT Safe Haven to learn more.

Becoming Whole Again

In 2023, 12% of Americans 18 or older reported at some point in their lives, they had experienced a substance use disorder (SUD). Without a doubt, SUDs present a number of challenges, but one of the most heart-breaking difficulties is the loss of self that many face. Ralph experienced this firsthand. As his SUD enveloped his life, he transformed into a completely different person and needed help finding himself again. 

ECS CERRC helps Ralph reclaim his life and reconnect with the things that bring him joy. October 2024.

Ralph dealt with an SUD for many years. He attended rehab in the past but had been unsuccessful in maintaining sobriety. “I didn’t really think I had a problem then,” he explained.  

The problem escalated when his brother passed away in December of 2023. “It kind of took me over the edge,” Ralph said. He leaned even more heavily into drugs and alcohol. Eventually, he felt as if he was “running around in a haze.” He lost the person he was and began to get into all kinds of trouble. “Life is so much better than going down that road, but I was stealing, I was a bad person, I was angry, I was cursing people out,” he said. “When I saw myself at the end there, I couldn’t believe it was me. It was like a different person.” 

The moment of realization about his situation came after a confrontation with the police. Under the influence, Ralph was tampering with a bus, so the police were called. He resisted arrest and the police broke his leg in an attempt to stop him. As awful as the situation was, Ralph commented “if that hadn’t happened, where would I be... I would’ve probably been dead by now.” 

The court instructed him to go to an SUD treatment program, so Ralph ended up at ECS Central East Regional Recovery Center (CERRC). “God intervened; I really believe that,” he said.  

While he sees the experience as a blessing now, Ralph was hesitant at first. “I didn’t want to be here,” he said, but as he heard the stories of other CERRC clients and began to soak in the information the counselors shared, his perspective began to shift. “I felt good about coming,” Ralph said. “I was eager.” He leapt into recovery and learned tools to prevent relapse. 

As Ralph went through the program and moved further along the path to recovery, he also reconnected with himself. “I see the light. Just doing the right thing,” he said. “I feel great, I mean I’m doing basic life things. I get up and brush my teeth every day, wash my hands every day, work out every day, walk my dog.” At one point, even those everyday tasks were impossible. Now, Ralph is making music, looking for a job, and planning on returning to school to finish his degree. “I made that happen,” he said proudly. 

Ralph graduated from the program in August. He is now attending aftercare and getting involved with different opportunities through ECS such as a grief support system. “ECS has given me a purpose,” he said. 

It can be difficult to make the effort to achieve sobriety and find yourself again, but with the support of a program like CERRC and a leap of faith, anything is possible. “Just walk through the doors. Just go,” Ralph urged. “Participate and listen. It might seem like a long journey over three or four months, but it will go just like that. Get involved. Listen. Try to practice what they’re teaching.” 

To learn more about the work of ECS CERRC visit ecscalifornia.org/central-east-regional-recovery-center.  

From Head Start Student to Advocate

Amanda, now the policy advisor for the office of Chula Vista Mayor John McCann, is an advocate for ECS Head Start. However, her relationship with Head Start began years before she entered the mayor’s office; it began when she herself was a Head Start student. 

ECS Head Start gave Amanda’s family much needed support. *January 2025.

Amanda’s grandparents and her mother immigrated from Tijuana to Chula Vista when her mother was a little girl. Many challenges awaited her as she adapted to a new country and language. When she was in high school, she got pregnant with Amanda and while Amanda was a blessing to the family, the addition of a baby created new obstacles. Her mother worked one or two jobs at a time while also attending school. Amanda’s grandparents were able to care for her in her mother’s absence, but obstacles remained regardless. Amanda’s family needed support, otherwise her mother would need to drop out of school to continue providing for the family. 

Head Start created a strong educational foundation for Amanda. *January 2025.

Just in time, Amanda’s family found solace at ECS Head Start. Castle Park Head Start, located down the street from Amanda’s home, was also next door to her mom’s school, allowing the mother and daughter to spend more time together. “Sometimes during my recess and her nutrition break she would come to see me outside the gate, and we would play together,” Amanda recalled.    

Amanda shared a number of endearing Head Start memories, from lining up to walk to the playground, making friends, and even learning to always chew with her mouth closed. “I remember they [the Head Start teachers] would always do story time; they would teach us how to brush our teeth, how to read, how to clean up after ourselves. They were teaching a lot of basic social skills and just a lot of manners and how to be polite,” Amanda shared. “[My family] definitely knew it was a good place for me to be in and they saw me learning colors, I was learning my alphabet, I was learning how to socialize with other kids.” 

Preschool aged Amanda plays with classmates at Head Start. *January 2025.

Amanda and friends enjoy a cookie cake. *January 2025.

Head Start early childhood education goes beyond just academics and ensures that children are growing in all aspects of life. Amanda shared that as a shy child, Head Start helped her break out of her shell and feel prepared for kindergarten. “They really do prepare you for the next stages of life,” she said. 

Amanda’s positive experience with Head Start led her mom to place her younger siblings in the program, as well. “It really gave her peace of mind knowing that her kids are going to be okay, and they’re going to be learning and growing as a little person while she’s out there working and making sure she can provide for us,” she said. 

Amanda and her family are one example of the impact Head Start makes, but the quality early childhood education has touched countless families in the South Bay region. “They give you the tools you need in life,” Amanda said. “It’s very important that we are providing these programs to our low-income families just because there’s a lot of those here in South Bay and you can’t ignore it or avoid it.” Instead, of avoiding families in need of support, Head Start uplifts those families. 

ECS Family Engagement Center’s Grand Opening gave Amanda the opportunity to share her Head Start experience with the wider community. August 2024.

In August, Amanda attended and spoke at the grand opening of ECS’ Family Engagement Center (FEC). She shared how important it is to extend ECS’ services to any community member through a resource hub like FEC. “Having that hub there really helps families because now they don’t have to go look to find these resources,” Amanda said. “You’re bringing all of these resources to them, front and center.” 

Through her position in the mayor’s office and through her first-hand experience, Amanda knows that Head Start is a valuable part of the community. “I really do see the benefit of it. I experienced it, my family experienced it,” she said. “Head Start is pretty crucial for kids, especially at such a young age to get the ball rolling in their education.”  

Amanda advocates for ECS and Head Start through her position in the mayor’s office. September 2024.

San Diego is built on a beautiful and diverse community, and sometimes our neighbors need a helping hand. Head Start offers that support, but it truly takes a village. “It’s definitely really special because no one person or no one organization can do it all alone,” Amanda observed. “I think it’s beautiful for people and organizations to come together and provide that.” ECS Head Start is dedicated to the service of the community’s littlest learners and their families. A quality education is key to a bright future. 

To learn more about ECS Head Start & Early Head Start visit ecsheadstart.org.

*Caption dates may not be exact.