Epilepsy Foundation Of Greater Los Angeles

THE MISSION OF OUR NATIONWIDE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION IS TO LEAD THE FIGHT TO OVERCOME THE CHALLENGES OF LIVING WITH EPILEPSY AND TO ACCELERATE THERAPIES TO STOP SEIZURES, FIND CURES AND SAVE LIVES. THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION OF GREATER LOS ANGELES FULFILLS THIS MISSION BY LEADING THE FIGHT TO END EPILEPSY THROUGH CARE, ADVOCACY, RESEARCH AND EDUCATION.

CARE: SPECIALTY CARE - IMPROVE ACCESS TO AND QUALITY OF SPECIALTY CARE TO IMPROVE OUTCOMES FOR CHILDREN WITH EPILEPSY. DURING THE YEAR ENDING JUNE 30, 2018, THE EFGLA CONTINUED OUR CARE+CURE INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT THE TRAINING OF SPECIALISTS AT MEDICAL EPILEPSY CENTERS IN OUR REGION: (A) UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA LOS ANGELES (UCLA) MATTEL CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL [1 PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY FELLOWS IN YEAR 2 OF TRAINING,] (B) LOS ANGELES COUNTY AND UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MEDICAL CENTERS (LAC+USC) [1 EPILEPSY/EEG FELLOW], (C) UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, IRVINE (UCI) 1 PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY FELLOW AND (D) CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL LOS ANGELES (CHLA) [1 PEDIATRIC NEUROLOGY FELLOW]. EFGLA SIGNED A STATEMENT OF INTENT TO ESTABLISH A PEDIATRIC EPILEPSY FELLOW ENDOWMENT OVER A PERIOD OF 6 YEARS FOR A TOTAL GIFT INTENT OF $1.6 MILLION AND, DURING FY18, GIFTS TOTALING $266,000 WERE GIVEN FOR THIS ENDOWMENT. (NOTE: THE STATEMENT OF INTENT EXPIRES ANNUALLY ON 6/30 AND THE EFGLA INTENDS TO EXECUTE A NEW STATEMENT OF INTENT ON AN ANNUAL BASIS UNTIL SUCH TIME AS THE ENTIRETY OF THE GIFT INTENT IS FULFILLED. HOWEVER, IF THE EFGLA DOES NOT RENEW, EFGLA HAS NO FURTHER FINANCIAL OBLIGATION AND THE ENDOWMENT WILL STAY INTACT SUPPORTING ITS INTENDED PURPOSE.) SUPPORTIVE CARE - CONNECT PEOPLE AFFECTED BY EPILEPSY TO EACH OTHER AND TO INFORMATION IN ORDER TO EMPOWER THEM AND SO THEY FEEL LESS ALONE IN THEIR FIGHT TO END EPILEPSY. THE EFGLA OFFERED VARIOUS SUPPORTIVE CARE PROGRAMS -- FAMILY CAMP, FAMILY HOLIDAY PARTY, SOCIAL EVENTS, ADULT/FAMILY THERAPY GROUP, ART THERAPY, COLLEGE SCHOLARSHIPS, ASSISTANCE FUND, AND SCHOLARSHIPS FOR PROGRAMS.

ADVOCACY, AWARENESS & RESEARCH - PROMOTE UNDERSTANDING, FAIRNESS, ACCESS AND JUSTICE FOR THOSE WITH EPILEPSY. PROMOTED AWARENESS ABOUT EPILEPSY AND EFGLA THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY EVENTS, WEBSITES AND SOCIAL MEDIA SO THAT MORE PEOPLE ARE INFORMED AND INSPIRED TO JOIN THE FIGHT TO END EPILEPSY. PROMOTED AWARENESS TO GROW THE NUMBER OF GRASSROOTS ADVOCATES. AS PART OF EPILEPSY CALIFORNIA, WE EDUCATED LEGISLATORS, ADVOCATED FOR MEASURES THAT BENEFIT PEOPLE WITH EPILEPSY, AND CONTINUED INVOLVEMENT WITH ADVOCACY COALITIONS. IN CONJUNCTION WITH THE EPILEPSY FOUNDATION, WE PARTICIPATED IN NATIONWIDE ADVOCACY THROUGH THE PUBLIC POLICY INSTITUTE AND TEENS SPEAK-UP TO ADVOCATE FOR MORE FUNDING FOR EPILEPSY RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH PROGRAMS AND ENGAGE YOUNG PEOPLE AS ADVOCATES. WE CONTINUED TO DONATE TO EPILEPSY RESEARCH.

EDUCATION & OUTREACH - PROMOTE SEIZURE FREEDOM AND SAFETY AND TO IMPROVE AND SAVE LIVES. ORGANIZED AND OFFERED A VARIETY OF FORUMS AND OPPORTUNITIES TO DISSEMINATE INFORMATION AND UPDATES ON EPILEPSY AND EPILEPSY TREATMENT. WE CONDUCTED EPILEPSY & SEIZURE FIRST AID TRAINING IN THE COMMUNITY, TRAINING AND KITS ON MANAGING STUDENTS WITH SEIZURES FOR SCHOOL NURSES AND SCHOOL PERSONNEL, AND USED OUR BIG BRAIN EXHIBIT TO PROMOTE BRAIN CARE AND SEIZURE FIRST AID EDUCATION IN SCHOOLS. ORGANIZED EPILEPSY WORKSHOP AND SESSIONS FOR THE CALIFORNIA SCHOOL NURSES ORGANIZATION ANNUAL MEETING. ORGANIZED AND HOSTED FULL-DAY AND HALF-DAY WORKSHOPS IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SOME OF THE EPILEPSY CENTERS IN OUR REGION. THESE WORKSHOPS FEATURED EPILEPSY SPECIALISTS SPEAKING ON TOPICS SUCH AS SUDEP, RESEARCH, DIAGNOSIS AND NEW THERAPIES. IN ADDITION TO THESE SPECIAL WORKSHOPS, OUR HELPLINE AND ONLINE RESOURCES PROVIDED INFORMATION YEAR-ROUND.