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Statement of Purpose

Under the auspices of His Grace Bishop Serapion, Coptic Family Services has been created to offer mental health services to the greater Los Angeles area. As a subsidiary of The Santa Verena Charity this non-profit organization will provide mental health services to the Coptic community, as well as the community at large. Our goal is to promote the mental, educational, humanitarian, cultural, physical and social development in individuals as an effort to improve quality of life and the overall health of our underserved communities. Services offered through Coptic Family Services are generally ones that our community does not actively seek out. Our aim is to facilitate the use of these needed services with the guidance of Orthodox Christianity. Services will include counseling, abuse treatment, senior services, parenting classes, crisis intervention, and community outreach (see CFS flyer for a complete list of potential services).

Mission Statement

Coptic Family Services’ (CFS) mission is to provide professional counseling and education to individuals and families guided by ethical and spiritual values of Orthodox Christianity. Our goal is to help community members find health and balance in the midst of life’s everyday challenges.

Three Facets of Coptic Family Services

1. Educational: In educating individuals, we will be better able to destigmatize mental health and allow individuals to seek out much needed services without feeling threatened or ashamed. It is important for our community to realize how common these needs are in order to take initiative and get the type of attention needed.

• Parents: parenting seminars are currently planned to be held at Holy Virgin Mary starting January 13, 2006. The eight-week program will have classes for parents of children in four age ranges (up to 12th grade) and will be led by mental health professionals from our community. Seminars will meet every Friday evening from 7:30 pm to 9 pm. For more details please visit the Holy Virgin Mary website at http://hvmary.lacopts.org or contact Fr. James Soliman at (818) 543-1533 or by e-mail: FrJamesSoliman@lacopts.org
• Clergy: this educational component has already been taking place during clergy meetings and retreats.
• Servants: we have begun the education of servants about mental health issues in certain churches. We hope to continue this further in the upcoming months.
• Community: a portion of the Coptic community has received presentations from the needs assessment committee. Education of the community will continue through parent, servant and general congregation classes and presentations.

2. Help-Line: if you would like to speak to someone about the availability of services or are in need of services offered through CFS, please call our 24-hour Hotline #: 1-866-912-2734. In case of an emergency, call 911.

3. Physical Clinic:

• Proposed Physical Site: Los Angeles area. CFS is currently in the process of finding a location for a physical clinic. Though the clinic is not yet open, services are still available by calling the hotline number.
• Satellite clinics: God willing, after the opening and success of the clinic, we will have satellite clinics available in many locations across the greater Los Angeles area.

Who is Involved in Coptic Family Services?

CFS is comprised of mental health professionals, students and interns from the Coptic community. We are seeking Copts who are willing and able to volunteer their time in providing mental health services to the community. If you are interested in volunteering your services for CFS please contact Fr. James Soliman at (818) 543-1533 or by e-mail: FrJamesSoliman@lacopts.org.