KidsFirst, a family resource and counseling center with Roseville and Auburn offices, provides life-changing services and programs to all of Placer County. Founded in 1989, this nonprofit organization has served more than 100,000 families, making an enormous impact on the mental health needs of clients from every walk of life.
“Our work is critical to the well-being of youth and families and, by extension, our entire community says CEO Debbie Gabelich. “Our professional and caring team work with families facing stress and trauma that can lead to child abuse, domestic violence, sex trafficking, and other extremely difficult issues, and the outcomes we reach are impactful. We could not accomplish our results without our dedicated team, who provide unending care to those in our community who need us.”
Gabelich notes that KidsFirst hires and promotes the strongest candidates based strictly on merit, but that a large percentage of their team, from case workers to therapists, are women who have gravitated naturally to this work. Gabelich’s leadership team is entirely comprised of women, encompassing program services, finance, clinical, outreach, child abuse prevention coordination, development, and communications, with tenures reaching up to 26 years.
“Our work is critical to the well-being of individuals and families and, by extension, entire communities.” — Debbie Gabelich, CEO
KidsFirst emphasizes work-life balance for employees. “Our industry is hard and the work can be emotionally taxing, therefore we put an emphasis on work-life balance for our team members so that they are able to give their best to our clients as well as their own families” says Gabelich. “We offer flex scheduling and accommodate personal needs as much as we’re able, while providing office hours that accommodate our clients’ schedules to receive the services they need to create healthy families.”
KidsFirst currently serves thousands of families annually, and the need for services is continuing to grow as government funding for mental health services is being cut. “Our resource center, counseling, classes, and programs are invaluable to Placer County, and we welcome community support to help us help those in need,” concludes Gabelich.
