On Dec. 17, 2015 members of Alpha Phi Sigma, the National Criminal Justice Honor Society, along with Ashley Blackburn, Ph.D., associate professor in criminal justice, and Krista Gehring, assistant professor in criminal justice, hosted an arts session for mothers and children living at Santa Maria's Bonita House of Hope.

During the arts session, students and faculty worked with mothers and their children to color holiday worksheets and decorate stockings to bring home. Decorations, music and snacks were also supplied to provide a festive holiday atmosphere during the event.

Santa Maria provides services to women in crisis, focusing specifically on substance abuse treatment and transitional housing for addicted women and their children. Through Santa Maria's Women and Children's Program, clients receive trauma-informed intensive residential treatment for up to ninety days.

Readers interested in learning more about Santa Maria and the services provided by the organization should visit the Santa Maria Hostel.