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7 Shocking Ways St. Anne's Family Services Is Reshaping Los Angeles: Latest 2025 Impact Report

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St. Anne's Family Services continues its over century-long legacy of transforming lives in Los Angeles, with a renewed focus on comprehensive family care and community resilience. As of late December 2025, the organization is making significant strides through the implementation of its strategic plan, expanding critical early childhood education, and providing essential supportive housing to vulnerable young women and families. This deep dive reveals the organization's most current initiatives and the powerful leadership driving its mission.

The agency’s commitment goes beyond mere shelter, providing a 24/7, 365-day-a-year ecosystem of care that addresses the complex needs of families experiencing homelessness, trauma, and mental health challenges. From its roots as a small hospital for unwed mothers to its current status as a four-star Charity Navigator-rated organization, St. Anne’s is a cornerstone of the Los Angeles social services landscape, constantly adapting to the region's evolving crises.

The Visionary Leadership and Foundational History of St. Anne's Family Services

The current success and forward momentum of St. Anne's Family Services (SAFS) are deeply rooted in its historic mission and guided by a powerful, empathetic leadership team. Understanding the organization’s trajectory requires acknowledging both its origins and the personal story of its current President and CEO.

Biography and Profile of CEO Lorna Little, MSW

  • Name: Lorna Little, MSW
  • Current Role: President and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of St. Anne's Family Services.
  • Professional Background: Prior to St. Anne’s, Ms. Little served as the Executive Director of St. Agnes Family Center in West Hartford, Connecticut.
  • Education: Holds a Master of Social Work (MSW) degree.
  • Unique Narrative: Lorna Little’s journey is particularly resonant, as she is a former teen mother who has leveraged her personal experience to champion the cause of vulnerable young women and families. Her story has been featured on platforms like Spectrum News 1: LA Stories Unfiltered with Giselle Fernandez.
  • Leadership Vision: She is committed to strengthening the organization's vision of fostering "thriving families and brighter futures in Los Angeles."

A Century-Long Legacy of Compassion

The organization’s foundation is a testament to enduring community support. St. Anne's Family Services was originally established in 1908 by Bishop Thomas Conaty. It began as a modest 12-bed hospital specifically designed to care for pregnant, unwed, young mothers, a demographic often marginalized at the time.

This "Legacy of Love" has continuously evolved. Over the decades, the focus shifted from solely hospital care to a holistic model encompassing residential treatment, mental health services, and supportive housing. This strategic evolution ensures that SAFS remains relevant to the current needs of the Los Angeles community, particularly in the areas of housing insecurity and early childhood development.

1. Expansion of Early Childhood Education (ECE) in Lynwood

One of the most significant and recent developments is the major expansion of the Early Childhood Education (ECE) program. St. Anne's recognizes that investing in a child's earliest years is the most effective way to break cycles of poverty and trauma.

The ECE Division provides fully subsidized, comprehensive child development services. This is not simple daycare; the focus is on school readiness, integrating critical components like health, mental health, nutrition, and robust family engagement strategies.

The expansion specifically targets the community of Lynwood, providing families in this area with additional services and new learning centers. This initiative directly supports the optimal development of infants, toddlers, and preschoolers, ensuring they are prepared for kindergarten and beyond.

2. Three Pillars of Supportive Housing Programs

St. Anne's operates several distinct supportive housing programs across its six acres of property, designed to meet families at different stages of crisis and transition. These programs are the backbone of the organization's commitment to tackling homelessness and providing safe, nurturing environments.

  • Short Term Residential Therapeutic Program (STRTP): This program offers intensive, trauma-informed care and a structured living environment for youth who require high levels of support and therapeutic intervention.
  • Transitional Housing Program (THP): The THP is crucial for young women and their children who have recently experienced being unhoused. It provides the necessary stability and support services to move them toward self-sufficiency.
  • Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH): Recognizing that long-term stability is key, the PSH program offers safe, permanent housing coupled with an array of essential services. These services include case management, therapeutic support, and help accessing community resources, ensuring families can thrive indefinitely.

3. The 2022–2024 Strategic Plan and Organizational Resilience

The organization's recent 2022–2024 Strategic Plan outlines a clear roadmap for advancing its mission and ensuring long-term sustainability. The plan focuses on three core areas: organizational infrastructure, staff development, and brand identity.

Key strategic goals implemented in 2024 and 2025 include:

  • Enhanced Compensation Structure: Developing a comprehensive compensation structure to ensure fair pay and attract top talent in the social services sector.
  • Professional Development Pathways: Enhancing internal advancement and professional development pathways for staff, fostering a culture of continuous learning and growth.
  • Government Affairs and Branding: Establishing a strategic government affairs structure and practice to better advocate for client needs and updating the SAFS brand identity to reflect its modern, comprehensive service model.

These internal advancements are critical for maintaining the high-quality programs that earned St. Anne's Family Services a Four-Star Charity Rating from Charity Navigator, reflecting its strong accountability and financial health.

4. Comprehensive Mental Health and Trauma-Informed Care

St. Anne's is a long-standing advocate for trauma-informed care, recognizing the lasting impact that trauma can have on children, youth, and families. The organization's mental health services are integrated across all programs, offering a nurturing and compassionate space for healing.

Services include crisis intervention, individual and family therapy, and support groups, all designed to address the underlying psychological and emotional needs of those in their care. This holistic approach is crucial for achieving successful outcomes, particularly for young women who have experienced the foster care system or chronic homelessness.

5. The Annual Evening of Angels Gala and Community Support

A vital component of St. Anne's ongoing sustainability is its annual fundraising efforts. The 44th annual Evening of Angels Gala, held in April 2024, was a key event to raise funds that directly support the organization's social service programs.

This gala and other community-based fundraising initiatives are essential for supplementing government funding, allowing SAFS to maintain the high quality of its programs, including the ECE expansion and the supportive housing model. The generosity of donors and corporate citizens directly translates into tangible support for families in crisis.

6. Focus on Foster Care and Pregnant/Parenting Teens

A core demographic served by St. Anne's is young women who are pregnant or parenting while in the foster care system. The organization provides specialized strategies and support to ensure these vulnerable teens have the resources to parent effectively while continuing their education and personal development.

The combination of transitional housing (THP), mental health services, and early childhood support creates a comprehensive safety net. This model aims to disrupt the intergenerational cycle of foster care, giving both the young mother and her child a chance at a stable and successful future.

7. Commitment to Family-Based Services and Resiliency

Ultimately, the mission of St. Anne's Family Services is to build safe, nurturing, and resilient families—from pregnancy to parenthood and childhood to adulthood. The organization’s efforts are constantly focused on empowering those in their care by providing hope, guidance, and the tools for long-term independence.

By engaging families in all aspects of their planning and delivery of services, St. Anne’s ensures that support is outcomes-focused and tailored to individual needs. This dedication to family-based services is what allows the organization to make a profound and lasting impact on the Los Angeles community.

7 Shocking Ways St. Anne's Family Services is Reshaping Los Angeles: Latest 2025 Impact Report
st. anne's family services
st. anne's family services

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