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In this update episode, I welcome Debbie Gabelich back to the Nonprofit Podcast Network, the third time for the organization — and a lot has changed since our last conversation in early 2024.

Kids First has always been known as a trusted place for families in crisis, but Debbie explains how the need has deepened: cases are more complex, trauma is more severe, and stability can hinge on something as small as a dead car battery or a missed paycheck.

What makes Kids First different is simple — they don’t just hand out a list of resources. They walk with families, step by step, through housing insecurity, food insecurity, insurance enrollment, transportation barriers, parenting education, job readiness, and counseling support. We also talk about their frontline work supporting youth impacted by trafficking — and a bold vision for the future: a new crisis center model planned with a goal to open by 2028, serving youth up to age 25.

We cover:

• Why Kids First is more than a “resource center” — and what “walk with families” really looks like
• The shift from mild/moderate cases to high trauma realities
• How schools, hospitals, and community partners drive referrals (and why word-of-mouth still matters)
• Why families often stay engaged 4–7 months now (not 12 weeks)
• The “system” problem for ages 10–17 (and even up to 25): hospital or juvenile hall can become the default
• How Medi-Cal/CalAIM and enhanced case management changed sustainability
• A vision for a crisis center + transitional housing that keeps young people out of the system

To learn more about Kids First or for help:

• Website: www.kidsfirstnow.org
• Phone: (916) 774-6802
  You can also find their monthly newsletter, programs, classes, and counseling information on the website.

If you believe families shouldn’t have to face crisis alone — please share this episode, and consider supporting Kids First through donations, partnership, or volunteering. Prevention is hard to fund… and it’s exactly what changes outcomes.

Chapter Summary

00:00 – Welcome Back to Kids First
Kids First returns for their third appearance to share what’s changed since 2024 and why the work has become more urgent.

04:45 – Walking With Families, Not Handing Out Lists
How Kids First supports families through housing, food, insurance, transportation, and stability — step by step.

12:30 – Deeper Trauma, Youth Trafficking, and the Teen Gap
Why cases are more complex, how Kids First works with trafficked youth, and where systems fail teens.

22:10 – A Full-Circle Success Story
From Kids First client to Miss Placer County — a powerful example of long-term impact.

30:15 – Funding Shifts and Sustaining the Work
The move from contract-heavy funding to CalAIM, Medi-Cal billing, and diversified support.

40:05 –

Thank you so much for listening to this nonprofit story! We appreciate you. Please visit the website to sign up for our email updates and newsletter. https://www.nonprofpod.com/ And if you like, leave me a voicemail to comment on the program, leave a question for us to ask in the future or a message for me, Jeff Holden. I may even use your voice mail message in a future episode of one of our incredible local nonprofit organizations. https://www.nonprofpod.com/voicemail. Thanks again for your support in listening, commenting and sharing the great work our local nonprofits are accomplishing.