La Causa: Nurturing Futures for Milwaukee Youth and Families

La Causa is dedicated to serving the youth and families of the Greater Milwaukee area, particularly those from low-income, bilingual, and multicultural communities. By providing comprehensive services that address the specific challenges faced by these families—such as poverty, homelessness, and domestic violence—La Causa strives to create a safe and supportive environment where children can thrive. With a mission to enhance community stability through education, crisis care, and social services, La Causa plays a pivotal role in empowering families to overcome adversity and build a better future.

Kars4Kids is proud to support La Causa through a small grant to further their impactful initiatives. By putting a spotlight on La Causa’s commitment to educational excellence and community resilience, we hope to amplify the valuable work they do for youth and families in Milwaukee. We put some questions to Awareness and Engagement Specialist Omega De La Rosa to learn more about how La Causa youth is empowering youth and families:

Kars4Kids: Can you tell a bit about the families you serve? What’s your demographic?

Omega De La Rosa: La Causa serves families from across the Greater Milwaukee area, with a focus on low-income, bilingual, and multicultural communities. In 2023, 94% of the families we served lived at or below the poverty line. The children and families we work with come from diverse backgrounds, with 41% African American, 20% Hispanic Latino, 22% White, 16% Mixed/multi-race, and less than 1% American Indian or Asian. Many families face challenges such as poverty, homelessness, domestic violence, and special needs care, with 91% living at extreme poverty. Regardless of their background or circumstances, these families all have one thing in common—they want their children to be safe, supported, and given the opportunity to succeed. That’s why La Causa exists—to provide the resources, education, and care they need to build a better future.

Kars4Kids: What is the primary mission of La Causa in the community?

Omega De La Rosa: Our mission is to provide comprehensive services to children, youth, and families to nurture healthy family life and enhance community stability. Through education, crisis care, and social services, we ensure that families receive the support they need to thrive and overcome adversity.

Kars4Kids: You have a charter school. What can you tell us about this school? What makes it stand out?

Omega De La Rosa: La Causa Charter School serves students from K4 to 8th grade, with a student population that is 98% Hispanic. What sets us apart is our bilingual education model and strong focus on STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and math). We are committed to increasing Hispanic representation in STEM fields and preparing students for college and career success.

Kars4Kids: What specific skills does the Careers in Technology curriculum aim to develop in students at La Causa Charter School?

Omega De La Rosa: Our Careers in Technology curriculum equips students with coding, robotics, digital literacy, and engineering skills. We focus on critical thinking, problem-solving, and hands-on learning to prepare students for the growing tech industry, ensuring they have opportunities in STEM-related careers.

Kars4Kids: Can you describe some of the extracurricular activities that are offered to students at La Causa Charter School in the hours after school?

Omega De La Rosa: We offer a variety of after-school programs, including STEAM clubs, music, arts, athletics, and tutoring. These activities help students build confidence, explore their interests, and stay engaged in a positive learning environment.

Kars4Kids: Would you share an overview of the resources provided by the Crisis Nursery & Respite Center to children and families in crisis? What are some of the issues facing families that make the services of this center so critical?

Omega De La Rosa: CNRC is Wisconsin’s only 24/7 crisis nursery, providing free emergency shelter for children ages birth to 12. Families come to us when facing homelessness, domestic violence, medical emergencies, or overwhelming stress. We provide safe shelter, nutritious meals, clothing, diapers, hygiene essentials, and emotional support. A complete breakdown of why parents used our services is available on our website at https://lacausa.org/crisis-nursery-respite-center/. In 2023, we served 485 children and provided 1,699 overnight stays, showing the urgent demand for our services.

Kars4Kids: How does the Early Education & Care Center support the developmental milestones of children?

Omega De La Rosa: Our 5-star-rated Early Education & Care Center (EECC) provides bilingual instruction, individualized learning plans, and developmental screenings. Through our Early Head Start partnership with Next Door, we offer language and literacy development, health screenings, and nutritious meals to ensure children achieve key developmental milestones. Parents of kids under three receive lessons to work on with their child outside of school that support the specific developmental needs of that child. Parents and teachers directly communicate and agree on goals for each child during home visits which happen twice a year.

Kars4Kids: What are the distinctions between the Wraparound and REACH programs for youth at La Causa?

Omega De La Rosa: Wraparound provides intensive, community-based mental health support for youth with emotional and behavioral challenges, while REACH offers preventative services for at-risk youth to strengthen family dynamics and prevent crises. Both programs focus on empowerment and stability.

Kars4Kids: How is La Causa supporting families that are facing homelessness or domestic violence? How do your programs address these issues?

Omega De La Rosa: Our Crisis Nursery & Respite Center (CNRC) provides a safe space for children while parents secure housing or escape unsafe situations. Our social services division offers case management, mental health support, and recovery services to help families regain stability. Our Crisis Nursery Director works to understand the needs of the family when the children are brought in and seeks to connect caregivers with the resources they need to address the root of the problem.

Kars4Kids: What’s next for La Causa?

Omega De La Rosa: La Causa remains committed to fostering diversity, inclusion, and cultural pride while preparing the next generation for higher education and meaningful careers. As we move forward, we will continue evaluating the evolving needs of our community, ensuring that families receive the stability and support necessary to thrive. Through our comprehensive programs, we will empower children, youth, and families with the resources and opportunities they need to build a brighter future.