Villa Esperanza Services

Mission

Providing love, care, and hope for individuals with intellectual/developmental disabilities and their families since 1961.

Services Provided

Villa Esperanza’s customized and comprehensive programs for children centralized within the community include:

• Villa Esperanza School
• Hjelte-Phillips Speech and Language Center
• Occupational therapy clinic
• Behavioral therapy
• Early intervention services

Villa Esperanza’s personalized programs for adults and seniors integrated throughout the community include:

• Employment services
• Family-style residential homes
• Independent living apartments
• Independent living skills and supported living skills coaching
• Community-integrated skills training
• Day programs for adults and seniors

How Many People Reached

770 individuals

Project Spotlight

In early 2020, Villa faced the unprecedented situation of COVID-19, which required immediate adaptation and ingenuity. All of the organization’s programs were affected, as Villa’s main campus was temporarily closed in March. As a result, a majority of the programs were required to implement new technological strategies to engage in virtual activities, including distance learning and teletherapy. Villa's current project is to provide all staff and individuals served with the appropriate technology needed to access services. Villa is in need of funds to support the technology increase.

Interesting Fact

In 1961 a group of mothers had a vision. They believed their special needs children deserved quality care and education and founded one of the first schools in Los Angeles County for children with Down syndrome. This school was a response to unmet community needs because no public schools at that time offered programs for children with developmental disabilities.

Through the years, the school gained widespread community support and in 1961 was incorporated. In 1966 the name was changed to Villa Esperanza, meaning "House of Hope." As the children grew, Villa expanded its vision to include adult residential, employment services, day programs and new locations in Ventura County. In 2000, "Services" was added to Villa's name to reflect a new vision of providing a range of services to a diverse, population of individuals across the age continuum. Integrated adult programs were added to serve our aging adults, as well as vulnerable, at-risk adults and seniors.

Villa Esperanza Services remains true to its mission of Providing Love, Care and Hope for Individuals with Disabilities and their Families since 1961.

The Villa is celebrating 60 years of providing programs for children, adults and seniors. We work with individuals with over 30 different diagnosis.