Mosaic Movement asks Santa Ana for CDBG support for Lifeline Initiative for special‑needs families

SANTA ANA — Yvette Willoughby, CEO and executive director of Mosaic Movement, told the Community Development Commission on Feb. 25 that her organization’s proposed ‘‘Lifeline Initiative’’ would provide therapy, family navigation, empowerment workshops and a case binder to help caregivers of neurodivergent children navigate school and medical systems.

Willoughby said Mosaic has a long history of community partnerships, reported serving ‘‘over 8,000 families’’ systemwide, and proposed a CDBG‑funded local cohort to serve 40 Santa Ana families. She described program elements that include 10–12 therapy sessions per client, a program coordinator and a family navigator who will provide ongoing case work and follow-up. Willoughby said program designers budgeted about $2,000 per family to cover clinical sessions, workshops and navigator services.

In response to commissioner questions, Willoughby said Mosaic has received prior funding from local sponsors (named in the presentation) and that services are provided in community centers and partner churches to mitigate transportation barriers. She acknowledged that federally funded grants have not been part of Mosaic’s prior funding mix and that program counts and timelines would be finalized in grant documents.

No funding decision was made at the Feb. 25 meeting.