Eloisa Patterson lives in Santa Maria, California with her husband of 15 years, David, and three children Rebecca, Daniel, and Olivia. As the fifth of six children, Eloisa, grew up in a large family, which relocated often due to the nature of her father’s work in trucking. As a result, Eloisa attended three different kindergarten classes and high schools. However, with the help of her high school track coach, she became the first in her family to attend and graduate from college. She has a background in Health Psychology, Social Psychology, and Human Sexuality. In addition, Eloisa has training as a Behavioral Specialist.

Currently, Eloisa works as a School Based Counselor for People Helping People, a nonprofit that provides basic need services to impoverished families in the Santa Ynez Valley, a rural community in California’s Central Coast. As an Early Childhood Mental Health Counselor, she provides home-based, family centered counseling and parent education for Latino families with children 0 to 5 years of age. Eloisa has also had the opportunity to establish and facilitate the only educational/support group for monolingual Spanish speaking women in the area.

Like many of the families she works with, Eloisa can relate to their desire for a better life for their children and families. As a Latina woman, Eloisa has faced many of the challenges and shares similar cultural experiences with the people that she works with, which has increased her desire to make a difference in the lives of others. Eloisa is in part a product of programs like the ones PHP offers to help strengthen families. During times of hardships, family emergency food services saw her and her family through. She notes that as a fifth grader when she needed glasses for the first time, the migrant program made it possible. The life experience she gained in overcoming many challenges to reach her dreams has made a world of difference for her and her life.

Eloisa graduated with a B.A. and a M.S. degree in Psychology from California State University, Bakersfield.
She would like to acknowledge the following individuals for their contribution and support in her academic and professional career: Lois Craig, People Helping People Executive Assistant Director; Dr. Richard Noel, retired CSUB Professor of Psychology; Dr. Beth Rienzi, CSUB Dean of Students; and Craig Scott retired Track Coach and teacher.

About PHP

The mission of People Helping People (PHP) is ….”dedicated to improving the lives of men, women, and children in the Santa Ynez Valley, Los Alamos Valley, and the Gaviota Coast by addressing emergency and basic needs and furnishing comprehensive integrated family and individual support services.” PHP’s core programs are organized into four services: Basic Needs which includes the Food Program; Emergency Services, which provides rental, utility and other types of direct assistance ; Health Care Services which includes the Community Health Access Resource Team (CHART) ; and Family Support Services which includes school based Family Resource Centers, where families can access help in their neighborhood.

About the Evaluation Project

Mrs. Patterson is interested in assessing the effectiveness of the Family Support Initiative program in order to measure improved health outcomes, and social-emotional competence among the families it FSI serves. We expect to see an increase in the number of household members with health insurance, that clients access health care services when needed, and to practice preventive health care by providing their children with routine physical exams and dental screenings. Clients will improve nutrition by enrolling in local programs that subsidize food needs such as PHP’s Food Program, food stamps and WIC. In terms of social-emotional competence, the case managers will help the family develop long and short term plans in order to cope with daily life situations and manage broader economic, social, and cultural pressures. Ultimately, clients will feel empowered to determine their and their children’s lives.