Community Support Services Organization (CSSO)

Organization Description

The mission of Community Support Services Organization (CSSO), a private non-profit organization in Los Angeles County founded in 2003, is to provide youth with challenging programs that develop leadership abilities in order to enhance character, resilience, and confidence. In addition to the programs provided throughout Los Angeles County, CSSO also operates Camp Eaton, a 14-acre campsite in the Angeles National Forest. Camp Eaton provides affordable, but high quality camping and wilderness experiences to organizations that serve inner city youth who would otherwise not have the opportunity for such experiences. In addition, CSSO provides a variety of social services, including healthy relationship building training, domestic violence prevention, anger management and life skills to at risk youth on probation, in detention facilities, and in the community. CSSO also provides transportation at a reasonable price to non-profits who work with at risk youth. Recently, we have started a new program KidzSpirit Partners, a collaboration between parents, social workers and doctors at Children's Hospital LA, whose mission is to provide support to families of children who suffer from serious, long-term illnesses. This program was developed because of the personal experience of Martin Bautista's family.

Program Information

We will focus on using volunteers from CSUN to primarily help us with our KidzSpirit Partners program. This will include helping us set up events and activities for the families. CSUN volunteers will be supervised at all times.

Health & Safety

CSSO provides services and activities at a variety of sites throughout Los Angeles County. However, their main site is Camp Eaton, a 14-acre campsite in the Angeles National Forest. Risks can include fire, winds, snow drifts that can occur at elevations of 6,000 feet. However, Camp Eaton, has multiple safety procedures in place and routine site inspections by the US Forest Services, Los Angeles County Fire Department, and Los Angeles County Public Health. In addition, we review any possible dangers and response plans for each group that comes to the camp. The other facilities we use to provide programs include Children's Hospital Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Council Boy Scouts of America, multiple probation camps, and other sites throughout the county.

Additional requirements and/or considerations