Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center, a nonprofit dedicated to serving urban Native American communities, has created safe spaces in Long Beach to support children and families in several ways – including providing daycare.
The mission of the nonprofit is to honor traditional values and teachings of Indigenous culture by working to improve the quality of life for individuals and families part of the community, according to its website, which includes providing innovative health, behavioral health and research with community involvement, technical assistance, training and respect for tribal and cultural diversity.
Sacred Path offers a variety of programs and services designed to promote cultural connection, community engagement, and overall well-being.
The nonprofit primarily serves American Indian and Alaska Native residents in Los Angeles and Orange Counties, according to its website, with some programs extending to Indigenous people across California.
Nearly 328,000 people in Los Angeles County identified as American Indian/Alaska Native alone or in combination with another race, according to the 2020 U.S. Census. This is approximately 3.3% of Los Angeles County’s population.
Sacred Path officially opened the doors to its Long Beach location in November. The Family Resource Center, 236 E. Third St., provides comprehensive support to families, offering a range of services designed to strengthen relationships, promote well-being, and foster resilience. It offers resources such as parenting workshops, financial counseling, mental health services, and more.
“By equipping families with the tools they need,” the nonprofit says on its website, “we help them navigate challenges and build a solid foundation for a healthier, more secure future.”
Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center, a nonprofit dedicated to serving urban Native American communities, has opened a daycare center in Long Beach to support Native American children and their families across Los Angeles County. (Photo courtesy of Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center)
Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center, a nonprofit dedicated to serving urban Native American communities, has opened a daycare center in Long Beach to support Native American children and their families across Los Angeles County. (Photo courtesy of Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center)
Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center, a nonprofit dedicated to serving urban Native American communities, has opened a daycare center in Long Beach to support Native American children and their families across Los Angeles County. (Photo courtesy of Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center)
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Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center, a nonprofit dedicated to serving urban Native American communities, has opened a daycare center in Long Beach to support Native American children and their families across Los Angeles County. (Photo courtesy of Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center)
Other programs and services that Sacred Path offers include behavioral health services and individualized therapy, substance abuse and mental health services, community workshops and support groups, youth programming and development, housing services and linkages, and a childcare center and childcare voucher program.
Sacred Path recently opened a brand new childcare center in Long Beach for Native American/Indigenous children ages two to five years old from families who reside in LA County and identify as Native American.
The center, 335 Redondo Ave., strives to provide a safe, nurturing environment where children can learn, grow and thrive, according to the nonprofit’s website.
The daycare offers a range of engaging activities designed to spark creativity, build social skills, and support academic development that are inspired by Indigenous arts, crafts, music, and dance. Guided by the Sacred Path philosophy, the program incorporates traditional stories, language, and teachings to support growth in mind, body, spirit and community. The care is offered at low or no cost to families, nonprofit officials said.
“At the heart of everything we do is intergenerational healing,” Bernadette Mackowiak, manager of the childcare center and program, wrote in an email, “supporting our communities to heal the past, strengthen the present, and build a healthier future.”
With flexible hours and a focus on enriching experiences, Sacred Path strives to be a trusted extension of the family’s support system, according to its website. For more information about the childcare center or to be added to the waiting list, contact Mackowiak at bmackowiak@sacredpath.org.
To learn more about programs, services and upcoming events that Sacred Path Indigenous Wellness Center has to offer, visit sacredpath.org.