FRESNO, Calif. – At the Fresno Mission, CEO Matt Dildine and his team have noticed a troubling trend coming through their doors: the faces seeking help are much younger than they used to be.
“Nearly half the people staying on one of our pillows tonight are under the age of 18,” said Dildine, who serves as CEO of the nonprofit. “Youth homelessness just looks different. Their needs are different.”
In response, the Fresno Mission announced a new collaborative initiative on Thursday aimed at meeting those needs.
“Our Valley Cares” is designed to build a comprehensive system of care for youth in crisis – one that organizers hope will become a national model. Valley Children’s Healthcare is a founding supporter, committing $2 million over the next two years to fund programs and organizations involved in the effort.
“Helping at-risk youth fits perfectly into what we are charged to do in the mission statement of Valley Children’s: to improve the health and well-being of children,” said Valley Children’s Healthcare President and CEO Todd Suntrapak.
The initiative will serve homeless youth, high-risk minors, young adults aging out of foster care and trafficked children. Dildine says the current system is fragmented and difficult for youth to navigate. “Our Valley Cares” aims to change that by fostering collaboration among a network of nonprofits, churches, government agencies and community members, including the Central California Food Bank, Breaking the Chains and Martin Park.
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“The youth are the ones who we need to pay very close attention to, because their futures can be dictated by what happens in that season of life when they face an unimaginable crisis,” Dildine said.
That spirit of collaboration is already visible at the City Center campus in Central Fresno, where more than 20 organizations provide services ranging from a charter school for homeless and foster youth to emergency housing, a free grocery store and career development programs.
Valley Children’s investment will accelerate and expand these efforts, Dildine says. It also lays the groundwork for a new facility dedicated to at-risk youth, with construction expected to begin in 2026.
Dr. Carmela Sosa, pediatrician and medical director of the Guilds Center for Community Health at Valley Children’s, emphasized the long-term impact of early intervention.
“When we find our youth in crisis, it’s so critical that we support them, because we know that toxic stress triggers a lot of processes in the body linked to the higher risk of developing chronic health conditions,” Dr. Sosa said. “And this helps us build a healthier future.”
At City Center, Jeffrey Gonzalez – known affectionately as “Front Desk Jeff” – witnesses the transformation firsthand.
“I get to see a difference. They come in here apprehensive, unsure, untrusting, and next thing you know, there’s smiles,” he said. “There’s more than a pep in their step: there’s purpose.”
The team behind “Our Valley Cares” hopes the model can be replicated in cities across the country.
To learn more about the initiative, click here.
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