Event Report: Child & Adolescent Development Alumni Chapter Career Development Panel – CSUN, May 3, 2025 Presenter: Dr. Soraya Fallah Title of Presentation: Working with Children, Adolescents, Families & Communities: LAUSD, Refugee Educational Support Program & Healthy Start Program On Saturday, May 3, 2025, I had the honor of serving as a speaker at the Child & Adolescent Development Alumni Chapter Career Development Panel, hosted at California State University, Northridge (CSUN). This event brought together a group of alumni professionals working in diverse fields related to children, adolescents, and families, with the goal of sharing insights and career guidance with students preparing to enter the workforce. The event organizers generously allotted me extended time to speak, recognizing the significance of the topics I was addressing—two key programs within the second-largest educational system in the nation, LAUSD. The primary goal of the panel was to ...

  April 22   this week, I had the privilege of presenting on behalf of the Refugee Educational Support Program (RESPite) at LAUSD’s District-wide Homeless Liaison Meeting, hosted by the Homeless Education Office. Speaking to a dedicated group of school-site professionals—including counselors, coordinators, and administrators—I shared how RESPite supports refugee and asylee students as they adjust to a new educational environment. I emphasized the importance of early identification and collaboration with school staff to ensure no student is overlooked. One area I was especially passionate about highlighting was our literacy workshops for parents. These workshops not only support language development, but also empower families to better understand and engage with the U.S. school system, helping them become strong advocates for their children. I’m grateful for the opportunity to share this work and continue building bridges of support for our newcomer communities.

Honored to be chosen for An Award as a SHEroes  

  I’m happy to be one of the featured speakers at an upcoming panel discussion hosted by the Child and Adolescent Alumni Chapter at CSUN, titled "Working with Children, Adolescents, and Families in Various Settings." The event will take place on May 3, 2025 , from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the CSUN Reseda Annex . This panel brings together CSUN alumni professionals from diverse fields who work closely with children, adolescents, and families. We’ll be sharing our experiences, insights, and discussing career opportunities in our respective areas of work. It’s a great opportunity for students, alumni, and community members to learn more about the impact of our professions and explore possible career paths. I look forward to contributing to this important conversation and connecting with fellow alumni and future professionals in the field.  

 

  Bridge to Belonging: Inclusive Education Conference I am honored to be speaking at the Bridge to Belonging: Inclusive Education Conference , hosted by the California Council for Exceptional Children (CA CEC), 2Teach Global, and the CSUN Center for Teaching and Learning (CTL) . This event will take place on February 26-27, 2025, at CSUN (18111 Nordhoff St, Northridge, CA 91330). This conference is designed to equip educators and administrators with practical strategies to support inclusive education . It offers an invaluable professional development opportunity, providing insights and resources that can inspire meaningful practices in classrooms and beyond. A special thank you to Dr. Wendy Murawski and her dedicated team for their hard work in organizing this impactful event and bringing together professionals committed to fostering inclusivity in education. Our Presentation: My colleague and I, representing the Refugee Educational Support Program (RESPite) , will present: Fos...

 Friendly note for a friend about my daily work.  I am  serving as a liaison for the  LAUSD Refugee Educational Support Program (RESPite)  in the North District schools. This vital initiative supports refugee, asylee, and unaccompanied youth by helping them with case management, adjust to a new culture, language, and educational system. our work involves: Identifying and welcoming new arrivals. Coordinating outreach to schools and meeting with school administrators and parent representatives. Organizing meetings with parents to provide resources and referrals. Facilitating community partnerships through tabling, workshops, and events. Case management referrals to HS A significant part of our program includes referring families to  Healthy Start navigators for case management . We hope that navigators provide personalized support to help families access essential services, such as healthcare, housing assistance, a...

 CCCC is about:  "Coordinating Collaborative Care for Community" By: Dr. Soraya Fallah Welcome to "Coordinating Collaborative Care for Community," a space dedicated to the transformative power of coordinated services in building healthier, stronger communities. This blog is inspired by my work as a Healthy Start liaison at my school, where I help connect students and families to essential resources that support their well-being and success. I firmly believe that when services are coordinated effectively, they can have a lasting impact on the academic, social, and emotional growth of students and the broader community. This blog explores how collaboration between schools, organizations, healthcare providers, and families creates a foundation for success. From healthcare and education to social services and advocacy, this platform highlights how partnerships and shared resources can empower individuals and families to overcome challenges and achieve their goals. By ...

Dedication, Collaboration, and the Sweetness of Support Dr. Soraya Fallah A coworker of mine, an amazing instructional coach, compared me to a honeybee, and it got me thinking about how true that is. Much like the hardworking honeybee that tirelessly gathers nectar, I strive to dedicate myself to my work every day. I consistently contribute my efforts to help my team and students thrive, believing that every little action can make a big difference in our educational environment. I see myself as a part of a hive—a community where collaboration is key. Just as honeybees work for the good of their hive, I am committed to supporting my educational community. I aim to foster a nurturing environment for our students and families, always working toward our collective goals. I believe that together, we can achieve great things. In my role, I strive to bring sweetness into the world, much like honeybees do. I approach my work with compassion and support, aiming to create a warm and welcoming at...

 Building Inclusive Communities: Dr. Soraya Fallah Represented RESPite and Healthy Start at the All Abilities Resource Fair I had the opportunity to represent the LAUSD Refugee Educational Support Program (RESPite) and the Healthy Start Program at the All Abilities Resource Fair, hosted by CSUN Family Focus Resource Center this weekend. It was a truly rewarding experience connecting with families and sharing valuable resources aimed at supporting students of all abilities. I’m especially thankful for the chance to help many newcomers, whom I had contacted ahead of time. I guided them through the process, ensuring they understood the available resources, and it was wonderful to see them learn and engage with the information provided. Ensuring that everyone feels included and supported is a key priority of our programs, especially for our Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CLD) population, particularly those newly arrived in this country. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who vis...

 

 

  Collaborative Signature Event: Attendance Challenge I believe attendance is one of the most crucial matters in school. Every year, I organize this event alongside PSA and SSS counselors to emphasize its importance. Throughout the year I foundered and received toys from various organizations, and together, we assemble them into reward baskets. Students with perfect attendance receive a basket containing 5-6 items. Additionally, those with 96% or higher attendance are entered into a raffle for larger prizes. This year, we have six scooters and six helmets for safety to raffle off. Moreover, students also receive a certificate from PSA, recognizing their dedication to maintaining excellent attendance. I'm pleased that this initiative helps families recognize the importance of regular school attendance.

 As the Healthy Start program I am helping School, in maintaining an organized and supportive environment by managing the Lost & Found. By taking the lead in circulating information about misplaced items, I ensure that students and family can easily reclaim their belongings. I also involve parents in the process and have donated many bags of unclaimed items to local donation centers and thrift stores. This not only helps the community by providing usable items to those in need but also teaches the students about the importance of giving and sustainability. We should own even unwanted projects and turn it to a healthy practice for school and community (Dr.Fallah).  

  A strength of my specific booth/area was its comprehensive and well-rounded support for the community. Here are some specific points highlighting this strength: 1. Diverse Resources: I effectively provided a wide range of materials, including 65 flyers for Healthy Start (HS), 30 flyers for other community resources, various hygiene items, and school supplies. This variety ensured that I could meet different needs of the attendees. 2. High Engagement: The distribution of a significant number of flyers (95 in total) indicates that I successfully engaged a large number of visitors, reflecting effective outreach and the relevance of the information provided. 3. Practical Support: By offering hygiene items and school supplies, I addressed immediate, practical needs of the community, making my presence highly valuable and appreciated. 4. Effective Promotion: The assistance of our PSA counselor, Northia, helped in attracting people to my booth, showing that my promotional efforts were w...

 Addressing the Unaccompanied Minor Crisis: Insights from the 2nd Annual Unaccompanied Minors – Welcome Fair Dr. Soraya Fallah On May 25, 2023, I had the opportunity to join like-minded professionals at the 2nd Annual Unaccompanied Minors – Welcome Fair. This event, hosted by the Office of Immigrant Affairs and the Los Angeles County Office of Business Affairs, was held in Los Angeles. We participated on behalf of the Migrant/Refugee Education Program of LAUSD, a federally funded initiative designed to enrich and respond to the educational and health needs of migrant children. The event aimed to provide essential assistance with DPSS programs and enrollment to support unaccompanied minors. Many other organizations participated, including the Los Angeles County Office of First District, Immigrant Affairs, Office of Education / LACOE, Esperanza Immigrant Rights Project (co-host), USC, and more. Our collective efforts were dedicated to ensuring these vulnerable children h...

I am sharing a few photos from a wonderful event we organized for Parent Volunteer Appreciation Day. All parents received a Healthy Start Swag bag containing hygiene items, a stress ball, pen, and bookmarks , about 135 items were distributed from my program in school. All parents received a link for the pictures and had a great lunch. We created a good space so they can bring their little one. They also received a message and a card of appreciation from me. The school administrators and parent center also contributed to showing appreciation for them which I wrote in English and Spanish. Here are the messages and some pictures. Thank you, Parent Volunteers! Your dedication brightens our school every day. Parent Volunteers Week: Celebrating the Heart of Our School Community. Parent Volunteers: Making a Difference, One Act of Kindness at a Time. Grateful for Our Parent Volunteers: You are the Stars of our School! Parent Volunteers: Building Stronger Communities, One Volunt...