The History of Amanecer Community Counseling Services

Amanecer—meaning new beginnings in Spanish, was founded in 1975 by Dr Cecil Hoffman. Amanecer Community Counseling Services has been providing new beginnings, hope, and resources to Los Angeles’ most vulnerable residents for 45 years. Dr. Hoffman founded Amanecer based on the belief that the life-restoring benefits of counseling should be available to all who need them.

The organization has grown today to include talk therapy and art therapy for children, homelessness resources and support, therapy for adults, an inpatient program for adults with severe mental illness, medication management, support groups, a trauma recovery center, and a domestic violence program.

Amanecer's Funding Structure

Amanecer is funded from a variety of sources. They receive major private donations as well as support from corporations in the Los Angeles area. Their most significant source of funding comes from grants. Amanecer has received grants from Cedars-Sinai Hospital, the Weingart Foundation, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, California Community Foundation, Queenscare and many, many more. Amanecer grant writer Courtney Mattox has had success applying for grants that fit Amanecer’s demographics and mission using data analytics tools found within their Exym mental health EHR software.

Amanecer Community Counseling Services Receives Grant Funding

Amanecer Community Counseling Services received a grant from Cedars-Sinai Hospital at the beginning of Covid-19 that specifically met the needs of lower-income clients who did not have access to phones or internet to continue with therapy services. The grant helped their IT team purchase inexpensive cell phones and prepay for data so that clients’ services would not be disrupted. This was particularly important because while 2020 was exceptionally stressful for everyone, lower-income populations felt the impact and fear in a more severe way due to job loss, documentation status, and housing & food insecurity.

Amanecer was also successful in pivoting to provide basic needs support during the pandemic and in finding the funding to accomplish that. The California Community Foundation and the United Way both donated funding to purchase PPE, deliver groceries to clients, and to provide emergency shelter.

This was particularly important because many of those seeking support at Amanecer are undocumented and are not eligible for unemployment or support from the state that others were are able to receive.

Amanecer’s understanding is that therapy will not be as effective if basic needs are not being met. It is crucial that the clients they serve have been provided a lifeline during this difficult time.

Securing Additional Grant Funding for Amanecer

Securing grants is an ongoing task for Amanecer. With the basic needs of their clients fulfilled, the organization has been actively seeking grants that offer rent relief to individuals who have been unable to work. Throughout the year, Amanecer is obligated to provide updates to their grantors regarding the effectiveness of their programs and how the funds have been utilized. As grants have varying due dates and cycles, each new month presents fresh opportunities for Amanecer to submit grant applications and continue their mission of support.

How Amanecer Uses Exym Mental Health EHR Software for Grant Writing

Amanecer has found that their mental health EHR software, Exym, is a valuable tool in finding the data they need to apply for and secure grants, and report their outcomes. They are able to pull data on diagnoses, zip codes, language spoken, age of the client, trauma history, and undocumented status that makes it easy to quickly see which grants they’re eligible for and to provide exact numbers to grantors. Most grants are looking to serve a specific population, diagnosis, or age group and the information in Exym’s mental health EHR software makes it easy to accurately pull specific data.

Grant writing is an integral part of the nonprofit world, serving as a crucial lifeline for many organizations. However, it can often seem daunting and overwhelming, especially for those unfamiliar with the process.

Amanecer, on the other hand, has mastered the art of securing grants by harnessing the power of data and their unwavering dedication to meeting the diverse needs of their clients. Thanks to their strategic approach and unwavering commitment, Amanecer continues to thrive in their pursuit of grant funding, enabling them to provide vital support to their community.

More About Exym Mental Health EHR Software

Exym is a comprehensive EHR software solution designed specifically for behavioral health agencies. Trusted for 20+ years, our intuitive and customizable software empowers providers to improve client outcomes, manage revenue cycles, and increase agency efficiency. Exym allows you to spend more time on what matters most- the clients in your care.

To learn more about how Exym's mental health EHR software can benefit your agency, visit our Clinical Page for clinicians and clinical staff.