This year, the nonprofit Walden Family Services celebrates 50 years of supporting children, youth, and families through family-based care, housing stability, and prevention-focused services. Founded in 1976, Walden has evolved to meet the changing needs of young people while remaining grounded in one core belief: children thrive when they grow up in safe, supportive families and communities. Since opening its doors, Walden has supported more than 100,000 individuals and families across Southern California.
Walden builds upon its five decades of service by expanding housing capacity and strengthening prevention efforts that help young people transition into adulthood with stability, dignity, and measurable long-term opportunity. “When children and young adults have stable housing, trusted relationships, and the tools to become financially independent, they are far more likely to thrive,” said Teresa Stivers, CEO at Walden Family Services.
Board Chair Leslie Levinson highlights the organization’s long-standing community trust: “Walden’s longevity is rooted in trust and accountability. For five decades, our community partners, donors, and volunteers have stood beside us, allowing us to adapt and grow while remaining steadfast in our commitment to children and families.”
Originally established as a foster care and adoption agency in San Diego County, Walden has grown into a nonprofit human services organization recognized for its leadership in foster care, kinship care, and transitional housing for young adults throughout the state. Today, Walden supports approximately 1,500 children, youth, and families throughout Southern California annually.
Walden played a leading role in shaping California’s extended foster care housing model following the passage of AB12 in 2012. The organization worked alongside state leaders to help develop program guidelines and was among the first providers licensed to implement transitional housing programs for non-minor dependents. This early leadership positioned Walden as a trusted housing partner and policy contributor across Southern California, helping shape best practices that continue to influence youth housing statewide.
Walden is uniquely positioned to serve children and youth who are medically fragile, have developmental delays, or are aging out of foster care. In 2025, Walden placed 86 children with carefully matched foster families, with 99% experiencing fewer moves and greater stability, and supported 14 adoptions from foster care.
Over five decades, the organization’s leadership has been at the forefront of expanding services to meet the evolving needs of children and families, helping break cycles of abuse and instability. At the heart of Walden’s current work is housing for Transitional Age Youth, or TAY, ages 18 to 26. The organization has expanded its housing programs to support young adults and young parents who have experienced foster care, family disruption, or housing insecurity through no fault of their own.
Walden recognizes housing as prevention. According to the California Coalition for Youth, more than 200,000 young people in California experience homelessness each year — a figure that captures the wide scope of youth housing instability in the state.
In 2024–2025, Walden’s transitional housing programs served 128 youth, with 92% maintaining stable housing and supportive relationships. All participants were productively engaged in employment or education, and 83% exited the program with significant savings, reinforcing the organization’s focus on financial readiness and long-term independence.
“We’ve had the privilege of supporting thousands of children and young people across Southern California over the past 50 years, but one recent conversation has stayed with me,” Stivers said. “A San Diego-based graduate of our housing program shared that having a stable place to call home allowed them to focus on school, secure steady employment, and begin building savings for the future. That stability didn’t just change their circumstances, it changed their trajectory.”
A recent 50th anniversary open house and reunion at Walden’s San Diego corporate office brought together supporters, community leaders, partners, former foster parents, and program participants to commemorate the milestone. The event previewed upcoming anniversary celebrations, including the Walden Fairways Scramble golf tournament on March 26 and the 50th anniversary gala, There’s No Place Like Home, on April 30.
This year, Walden is focused on expanding stable housing opportunities for TAY and strengthening prevention services across the region. The nonprofit’s 50th anniversary marks not only a celebration of past impact but a defining moment for the future of youth housing and prevention efforts across Southern California. To meet growing demand, the organization is expanding its network of housing partners across the region.
“We are actively seeking partnerships with property managers and landlords who want to be part of a solution that helps young adults build independent, successful futures,” Stivers said. “Walden guarantees on-time rent payments, provides 24/7 support to housing partners, and ensures residents receive structured case management and accountability. Landlords who partner with Walden are not simply leasing property — they are strengthening long-term community stability.”
Individuals and organizations interested in supporting youth housing and family stability can email [email protected].