Higher Ground Youth And Family Services Inc

To engage, educate, equip, and empower youth and families in under-resourced communities by expanding purpose and possibilities, fostering resilience, building meaningful connections, and creating foundations for lasting success.

In 2008, after selling his successful business, Joe Baldo began volunteering in Juvenile Hall. He quickly realized that most of these young men were self-proclaimed gang members at a very young age. In 2010 Joe left Juvenile Hall to work with kids “on the outs” where they needed it the most. In late 2010, he began providing alternative activities for youth in an effort to get them off the streets and help them avoid recidivism and the enticement of gangs by getting them involved in sports. By early 2011, Joe and his friends were serving a few hundred kids through sports in 5 parks in Anaheim, Santa Ana, Garden Grove, Placentia and Stanton.
By the Spring of 2013, Anaheim City School District (ACSD) began identifying at-risk youth that would benefit from positive mentorship. Joe was introduced to 64 youth chosen based on criteria like academic and behavioral struggles or lack of home support. By keeping the ratio of kids to coaches at four to one, Joe and his friends not only provided coaching, but mentoring. In the Fall of 2013, Higher Ground was officially born and became a certified nonprofit.
With an agreement from the City of Anaheim, in 2014 we were granted exclusive use of Lincoln Park and planted our first modular buildings.That summer, Higher Ground had its first annual Summer Camp and in the Fall opened an after-school program at Lincoln Park. With the need for expanded programming growing rapidly, Joe Baldo created an agreement with Chapman University that gave Chapman students the responsibility of designing and facilitating a variety of program offerings. Our critical partnerships with local universities began.
Joe quickly discovered that surrounding youth with quality programming wasn’t enough. Mentorship revealed deeper issues that Joe knew only professionals should handle. In 2014, we integrated therapists into programming in order to effectively respond to the social and emotional challenges of local youth. By 2020, we completed the creation of our Family Wellness Center.

In 2019, we responded to a request from the OC Human Trafficking Task Force and the Anaheim Police Department to design, implement, and evaluate a pilot project that would help shape a county-wide human trafficking prevention strategy for vulnerable adolescents. Since then, we have reached over 8,000 individuals through this program, including 1,000 junior high and high school students served in the fall of 2022 alone.

Higher Ground continues to thrive thanks to strong strategic partnerships that allow us to meet the evolving needs of underserved communities. We’ve collaborated closely with local school districts, gang intervention programs, law enforcement agencies, and nonprofit partners to develop responsive programs that address community-identified challenges. Our university partnerships have been especially vital to our growth, as we serve as an accredited learning site for students from Chapman University, CSULB, CSUF, UCI, University of Chicago, and Vanguard University. These university partners not only provide interns and volunteers, but also contribute directly to our academic enrichment curriculum, teaching classes on our campus.

In 2022, in response to a request from Fullerton Elementary School District, we expanded programming to two elementary schools in Fullerton. Today, we serve youth ages 4 to 17 through three afterschool programs, offer counseling services to the broader community, and continue delivering our Human Trafficking Prevention curriculum in classrooms across Orange County. In the spring of 2023, 146 volunteers and interns — primarily university students — supported Higher Ground’s mission across all programs. This collaborative model made it possible for Higher Ground to reach more than 6,500 individuals in 2024, including over 2,700 youth directly engaged in programs ranging from mentoring and mental health services to workforce development, food distribution, human trafficking prevention, and literacy support. Our Flourishing Families program also continued to provide comprehensive wraparound services for families facing challenges related to housing, employment, food insecurity, and behavioral health.

Top Accomplishments in 2024:

1. Transformed our pilot literacy program into a comprehensive Academic Improvement Program focused on supporting students who are low-performing, failing, or at high risk of academic failure. Each student is paired with an individual mentor to provide personalized support.
2. Expanded our Human Trafficking Prevention program into additional school districts and community organizations across Orange County, broadening our impact and strengthening prevention efforts for vulnerable youth.
3. Grew our Flourishing Families program, increasing capacity to serve more families while enhancing access to critical resources such as housing support, utilities assistance, employment services, basic needs assistance, food assistance, and behavioral health care.
4. Launched Rap-A Materials, an evidence-based training program, equipping all Higher Ground mentors with new tools and resources to better engage and support youth.

Goals for 2025:
1. Launch the Choice Market food pantry in spring 2025, integrating case management services to ensure all pantry clients receive individualized support tailored to their needs.
2. Deepen and expand the reach of all Higher Ground programs, ensuring we serve more youth and families while strengthening the quality and depth of services offered.
3. Establish a fourth Higher Ground location in a neighboring city, expanding our footprint and bringing vital support services to new communities in need.
4. Continue to enhance and scale existing programs, leveraging partnerships, data, and community input to maximize impact across youth mentoring, mental health, workforce development, food distribution, human trafficking prevention, and academic support.

Each year, we evaluate our organizational needs based on what is essential for the youth and families we serve to thrive. In response to the increasing social, emotional, and economic challenges our youth and families are experiencing, we are expanding our family-focused programs to offer regular parent education classes, wraparound support services, and enhanced prevention programming. These efforts have created the following organizational needs:

1. Expanded Staffing for Family Assistance and Case Management – To provide personalized support to families accessing our services — including those participating in the Choice Market food pantry — we need additional case managers and family support specialists. These staff will work closely with families to address barriers related to housing, employment, behavioral health, and food security, ensuring that families receive the comprehensive support they need to achieve long-term stability.

2. Expanded Human Trafficking Prevention Program Delivery – As we broaden the reach of our Human Trafficking Prevention Program into more school districts and community-based organizations, we need additional trained facilitators, program materials, and transportation support to deliver the curriculum. We also aim to provide parent education sessions focused on trafficking awareness, social media safety, and building healthy relationships to help families recognize and prevent exploitation risks.

3. Parent and Family Education Programs – To strengthen family resilience, we need resources to develop and deliver culturally responsive, accessible parent workshops and support groups that address topics such as positive parenting techniques, supporting children’s mental health, navigating the school system, and financial literacy. These programs will be offered both at Higher Ground locations and in partnership with schools and community sites.

4. Choice Market Food Pantry Operations and Client Support – As we launch our Choice Market in 2025, we need funding and staffing to fully implement a case management model that ensures pantry clients not only receive nutritious food but are also connected to supportive services, including housing assistance, employment resources, mental health services, and educational support. This holistic approach will position the Choice Market as both a food resource and a gateway to long-term family stability.

5. Enhanced Data Collection and Evaluation Systems – To better understand the needs of families and measure the impact of our programs — including the Human Trafficking Prevention Program, family assistance services, and Choice Market — we need upgraded data collection tools that allow us to track client progress, identify trends, and evaluate program effectiveness.

6. Parent Leadership and Advocacy Development – To empower parents as active leaders within their communities, we aim to create leadership development opportunities that equip parents with advocacy skills, public speaking confidence, and the ability to participate in decision-making processes that impact local programs and policies.

Higher Ground serves youth and families in Anaheim, Fullerton, Garden Grove, and surrounding areas.

It is an incredible honor to step into the role of CEO at Higher Ground. This organization is a reflection of the strength, resilience, and potential of the communities we serve. Higher Ground is built on the power of mentorship, connection, and opportunity—ensuring that young people and families have the support they need to thrive. Under Joe Baldo’s leadership, this organization has created a space where youth can develop confidence, discover their strengths, and build a vision for their future. That impact is what drew me here, and I am grateful to be part of this next chapter.

For over 25 years, my work as a teacher, principal, professor, and administrator has been centered on helping young people succeed. I have also spent years studying and teaching brain science, working alongside Dr. Daniel Amen and the Amen Clinics to develop programs that help youth understand how their brains work and how they can take control of their own growth. Knowledge is power, and when young people are equipped with the right tools—whether through mentorship, education, or brain health strategies—they are capable of achieving more than they ever imagined.

As we look ahead, my vision for Higher Ground is to build on what makes this organization so impactful. I want to expand our programs to reach even more youth and families, strengthening the mentorship that is at the heart of everything we do. I also believe we have an opportunity to deepen our educational efforts, particularly in brain science and human trafficking prevention. When young people understand their minds, they can make choices that set them up for success. When they are informed about the risks in the world around them, they can take action to protect themselves and others. These are not just programs; they are tools for empowerment that help young people take control of their futures.

Higher Ground is not just about overcoming challenges; it’s about unlocking potential and building strong, thriving communities. I look forward to working alongside our staff, volunteers, and supporters to grow this vision even further. I also welcome the opportunity to connect with those who make this mission possible. If you would like to meet, share ideas, or learn more about how any of our programs can support our youth, I would love to hear from you. Together, we will continue creating opportunities that uplift and inspire the next generation.

Jesse Payne, Ed.D.
Chief Executive Officer
Higher Ground Youth & Family Services