The Express (March 2023)

ISSUE 34

MARCH 2023

THE Express

WestCare Family, As Women's History Month, March holds space for celebrating, honoring, and appreciating women of the past, present, and future. We also celebrated International Women's Day on March 8th across the globe, celebrating women's achievements across many sectors: social, economic, cultural, political, spiritual, and more. This year's theme was Embrace Equity, a beautiful motto deeply intertwined with our mission as an organization.

With this in mind, I want to highlight the meaning of equity and how it differs from equality on a larger scale. Equality occurs when people, individually and collectively, are afforded the same resources and opportunities. In contrast, equity occurs when individuals receive different resources and opportunities to meet their specific circumstances, resulting in the same quality outcome.

The analogy: "Equality is everyone receiving a pair of shoes, and Equity is everyone getting a pair of shoes that fits," captures the differences very well. It is one thing to give everyone the same opportunity. It is an entirely different story to tailor resources to every individual need, so everyone has the same outcome quality.

OUR WESTCARE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

As an organization, I hope to continue linking arms to pursue true equity internally and externally. This pursuit lives at the core of WestCare’s mission, and we have been fortunate enough to have a leader, Dick Steinberg, that believes in this. Speaking of Mr. Steinberg’s leadership, we have a new publication, Leading With Purpose, with the inaugural issue highlighting our President himself.

Make sure to read it in the pages to come. And remember, keep Uplifting the Human Spirit of all whom you encounter.

I’d love to connect with you on social media, so follow my Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and LinkedIn. Social media offers an excellent space for genuine connection in unprecedented ways for an organization as large and spread out as WestCare is. I look forward to seeing you there!

Ken Ortbals Chief Executive Officer, WestCare Foundation

A Recovery Success Story featuring David

By Emily Selby, Counselor

Congratulations to David Lewis on the opening of his new coffee shop, Double Shot Coffee Clinic, in Laughlin, NV! David is a WestCare Alumni and a great example of a great example! He came to WestCare Arizona in 2019 from Los Angeles, CA where he was an actor.

David is celebrating over a year in recovery and stays in touch with our team.

Double Shot Coffee Clinic focuses on the theme of recovery and hosts weekly AA meetings in Laughlin, which is a service that was not previously offered.

WestCare Arizona is proud to be a continued part of David’s recovery and we wish him the best in his future endeavors!

It’s because of stories like David’s that we continue to reinforce WestCare’s mission of Uplifting the Human Spirit!

Kitchens for Good Apprentice Story Featuring CCTRP Client, Jen Submitted by Michael Mygind, Director of Marketing for WestCare California/Nevada and written by Matthew Farmer on behalf of Kitchens for Good, a longtime community partner of WestCare California’s CCTRP (Custody to Community Transitional Reentry Program) site in San Diego!

Everyone makes mistakes – it’s human nature. But what happens when a mistake has dire life-changing consequences? “Eight years ago, I made a terrible mistake that ultimately led to my incarceration.” Now on parole, Jen came to the stark realization, “Being [justice impacted] makes it harder to get a job.” This is especially challenging to Jen as she has always been an enterprising young woman, gaining certifications to work in many areas, including as a dental hygienist and a dog trainer.

When she learned about Kitchens for Good, Jen hadn’t considered cooking as a career, but she was adamant about creating a better future for herself. The Culinary Apprenticeship program provided a way for her to do that.

With its skills training and relationships with Employer Partners throughout San Diego, Jen wouldn’t be hamstrung by background checks and judgement, and would be able to pursue a sustainable career in the hospitality industry. “I knew I needed to go out on a limb to get this training, because otherwise, I had no idea how I was going to secure employment given my status.” Since joining the Kitchens for Good program, Jen has not only gotten her confidence back, but also discovered a passion for cooking. “I see myself being in this industry for a very long time. Thank you so much, Kitchens for Good.”

WestCare California

@WestCareCA

@westcarecalifornia

Clients Aided by the National Drug Council

By Victoria Osuna, Executive Director

On Feb. 15, we had the honor of hosting General Jaime Marte Martínez, President of the Dominican Republic's National Drug Council/Consejo Nacional De Drogas (CND) and his team. Together with staff of the Seguro Nacional de Salud (SENASA), also known as the National Health Insurance, Dr. Santiago Hazim, Director of SENASA, connected 15 of our clients to health insurance. During this event, recognition was given to three of our clients in treatment for their progress alongside one of our clients who had reintegrated into society due to the collaborative efforts of WestCare and the National Drug Council.

WestCare Arizona @westcareaz

Uplifting the Human Spirit

Guara Bi

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THE Express

Guidance/Care Center Helps a Mother Honor Her Daughter

By Maureen Dunleavy, LMHC, Regional Vice President

Feb. 18 marked the 21st birthday of Mona Croston who passed away when she was just 17 years old due to a Fentanyl overdose. Her mother, Stacey Croston, is on a mission to use that devastating loss to save lives through her campaign, For the One. Since her daughter’s passing, Stacey has connected eight people to Avenues Recovery Center in Fort Wayne, Indiana. She has picketed on the front lawn of the Allen County Court House lawn and brought a change to the drug testing policy for Indiana’s Juvenile Justice System. She passes out glow bracelets in her daughter's honor at festivals - finding beauty in watching the bracelets and knowing a little piece of Mona was glowing in the night.

On Feb. 18, 2023, the third year after Mona’s passing, Stacey partnered with Plogging of the Keys to have a clean-up day at Smather’s Beach.

After Mona’s death, Stacey had chosen to spread her ashes in the ocean off Smather’s Beach in Key West. As the beach was near Mona’s final resting place, Stacey wanted to keep it beautiful while raising awareness that opioid addiction is a global issue, not just an isolated event. “I want to raise awareness,” said Stacey, “and hopefully, save lives so that other parents do not have to experience the loss that I have felt. It changed my entire life.”

On this day, Guidance/Care Center (GCC), the Florida Department of Health, and Monroe County Coalition were on hand to share resources for substance abuse treatment and pass out free NARCAN, an emergency medication used in cases of suspected opioid overdose. Key West locals, visitors, city employees, and local agencies came together on a Saturday morning to clean up and honor a life gone too soon. In total, 19 volunteers picked up 1.75 gallons of cigarette butts, 155 pounds of trash, and 17 pounds of recycling in only two hours! Additionally, both Stacey and myself were honored by the City of Key West’s Special Projects Coordinator, Dorian Patton, with a challenge coin on behalf of the city. This coin, featuring the seal of the city, is given out to those who go above and beyond in their efforts to help the residents of Key West.

GCC will continue the efforts for opioid overdose prevention and raise awareness to save lives. We are thankful that Stacey chose to partner with us for this celebration of life. “I came to Key West to heal,” said Stacey.

“What an amazing tribute this was to my girl, and how many lives might have been touched again by her light. We call that Mona’s Light – and it’s real. She shined it both in life and in death.”

Guidance/Care Center by WestCare

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WestCare Georgia is on the Move!

By Eldredge Washington, Community Organizer

Since the arrival of Derrick Boazman as Regional Vice President on April 1 of last year, WestCare Georgia has experienced impressive growth. One major development has been the revival of The Women's Place program, which is dedicated to serving women who are experiencing homelessness and substance abuse.

Additionally, we launched the Trauma Informed Ministry Model (TIMM) program, which provides training to churches throughout Georgia on how to identify individuals in need of specific types of counseling related to trauma such as domestic and family violence, PTSD, and other forms of trauma that pastors and their congregations may encounter. Despite the short time since Boazman's arrival, WestCare Georgia almost doubled its staff members in the Atlanta office. The team is energized and motivated to take things to the next level.

Exciting things are in store, so stay tuned to see what WestCare Georgia accomplishes next!

WestCare Georgia @westcarega

WESTCARE.COM

National Employee Appreciation Day

Celebrating Black History Through Education and Reflection

By Melissa Valentine, Area Director

By Darlene Terrill, Regional Director

The WestCare Iowa’s Family Alliance for Veterans of America (FAVA) team works daily to assist our Veterans experiencing homelessness, substance abuse issues, mental health concerns, legal and healthcare issues, disabilities, and other various barriers that prevent them from obtaining self-sufficiency and a place to call home.

The FAVA team is very skilled in the Housing First Model. No problem is too large for this team to work on, and it is admirable how the team works together to assist each other to overcome challenges and make miracles happen. For Employee Appreciation Week this March, we made sure to recognize their hard work and dedication. Each staff member was given a thank you card along with a gift card. It was my honor to give praise personally at the weekly staff meeting, stating how their service shows dignity and respect - especially when they sometimes encounter clients who can be resistant to our help or are currently incapable of making proper decisions for themselves.

During this appreciation week, three staff excelled in mediating with a Veteran who had been traveling through different states to get services. This Veteran had gone through a vicious cycle of not being able to seek and retain permanent housing. At one point, it was common for someone to purchase bus tickets to help him leave the area. All this, combined with his mental health issues and various other things, left him very angry and disillusioned, resulting in him being very upset with our staff when he met us. Despite everything, our staff, Kerry Gunderson, Amanda Eldridge, and Rose Holmes, stood strong in advocating and navigating the system with the assistance of local law enforcement to help this Veteran in need. They stayed vigilant for their own safety while demonstrating compassion. The Veteran was taken to the hospital for an inpatient mental health evaluation and was given recommendations. When he reaches stability, FAVA will continue to provide housing options.

We cannot thank our staff enough for their service in aiding this Veteran along with many others. Kerry, Amanda, and Rose were also awarded a gift card as a small token of our appreciation for their dedication and commitment.

In celebration of Black History Month, the clients at the Sheridan Correctional Center participated in a campus-wide Black History Month trivia contest and individual essay contest.

The trivia contest was a bracketstyle competition consisting of our treatment, orientation, and re-entry units facing off against one another. Five clients from each unit represented their building and the winning building advanced to the next round. This contest was educational as well as a lot of fun as our clients were quite competitive! The orientation unit won and received a pizza party.

Numerous clients submitted entries for the essay contest on a variety of topics, individuals, and events.

Everyone did very well and our staff were proud of all of them.

The staff and clients at Sheridan thoroughly enjoyed this celebration of Black History Month!

Thank you, team, for everything that you do. Our work to Uplift the Human Spirit could not be possible without you!

FAVA (Family Alliance for Veterans of America) WestCare Illinois

Uplifting the Human Spirit

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THE Express

Presenting WestCare Kentucky’s Future Goals

By Gary Compton, Program Director

On March 1, WestCare Kentucky, Vice President, Dr. Tiffany Slone presented at the Southeast Kentucky Chamber of Commerce Pikeville Rotary Club.

The Pikeville Rotary Club’s mission is to serve the businesses of Southeastern Kentucky through a commitment of networking, advocacy, education, and collaboration as they partner together to enhance the business climate in the region. Tiffany introduced who we are to a crowd of 75 business leaders, presenting WestCare Kentucky’s future goals for the region. She discussed the services provided and the vital role assumed by WestCare. Among the topics she discussed were mental health and risk assessments, individual and group counseling, crisis intervention, 12-step meetings, case management and peer support services, life skills groups, emergency and transitional housing, vocational training, GED assistance, employment attainment and retention assistance, suicide prevention, and Veterans services.

Employee Appreciation Day in Kentucky On March 3, WestCare Kentucky participated in Staff Appreciation Day. Staff were acknowledged for their hard work and dedication. Staff at all WestCare Kentucky locations were treated to lunch and an inscribed appreciation cake. WestCare staff members, Daniel Cantrell, Dalton Anderson, Tishia Thacker, Johnny Mullins, and Debbie Bailey received Amazon gift cards in a show of gratitude for going above and beyond. Vice President, Dr. Tiffany Slone, expressed her thankfulness to all staff for the work that they do and the impact that they make.

She stated, “Throughout the previous year, the Kentucky Team has demonstrated diligence and steadfast service through times of hardship as result of the flood. Every Kentucky team member plays a vital role in the success of WestCare Kentucky. I am grateful for all Kentucky staff and the dedication and perseverance they exhibit daily. The team’s commitment to shared values and a common goal is incremental in propelling our state towards going beyond making the ordinary happen. It is what makes the extraordinary!”

WestCare Kentucky

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WESTCARE.COM

Reclaim Your Power WestCare Nevada had the privilege of attending the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women (MMIW) Reclaim your Power Resource Fair. The event included speakers from the Moapa Band of Paiutes, Oceti Sakowin Oyate or Sioux Nation, and Native Lives Matter. This resource fair served as a platform for various nonprofit agencies. Specifically, we were invited by the Las Vegas Indian Center to establish a connection with the Indigenous people and understand the importance of MMIW. Reports from the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and Bureau of Indian Affairs (BIA) confirmed that Indigenous women experience higher rates of murder, rape, and violent crimes. For instance, four out of five Indigenous women have experienced violence in their lifetime with more than 50% experiencing sexual violence. In 2016, there were 5,712 reports of missing Indigenous women and girls in the US Department of Justice’s federal missing persons database and only 116 cases were logged in the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System (NamUs).

Given this snapshot of information, we immersed ourselves in the activities and listened intently to the guest speakers. We participated in a round dance lead by colorful pow wow dancers. The round dance not only fostered community strength, but the songs and rhythm were meant to heal the people. The speakers were strong Indigenous women who told personal stories and the different types of injustices they experienced being a woman. WestCare CADC Assessment Counselor, Andrea Lopez .

Quilts for Our Heroes

By Lyle Becenti, Research Assistant

(Navajo, Táchii’nii Clan), provided the following statements about MMIW: “Such tragedies have profound effect on the Indigenous populations and the rest of the world. Hopefully, WestCare’s engagement with the local Native American communities and its efforts to grow an Indigenous presence among the organization can help mend this divide, increase available services to Indigenous people, and add volume to the MMIW movement.”

So, as a fellow WestCare employee, member of the Navajo Nation, and older sibling of three sisters, attending this event was necessary.

This event presented the challenges the Indigenous community (especially Indigenous women) experience and how MMIW is a catalyst to the unequal burden among the community. Alongside the MMIW movement, Indigenous people also experienced substantial substance use issues. According to SAMHSA, in 2021, American Indian or Alaska Native (36.1%) were more likely to have used illicit drugs in the past year compared to non-American Indian or Alaska Natives. With WestCare’s mission to Uplift the Human Spirit through behavioral health and human services, we are grateful to be included in the Reclaim your Power Resource Fair. WestCare Nevada is a proud ally to the Indigenous community and hope to be invited to next year’s event. @westcarenevada

@westcarenevada

By Jennifer O’Neill, HVRP Program Manager

On Mar. 8, at VETcare, the Salem Star Valor Quilters of Oregon had a quilt ceremony where a few of our Veterans received a beautiful handmade quilt.

The quilts were presented to Veterans to honor and comfort the men and women who served our country with selflessness!

Thank you, Salem Star Valor Quilters of Oregon for your dedication to our Veterans!

Uplifting the Human Spirit

WestCare Nevada

VETcare Oregon @_vetcareoregon_ @__vetcareoregon__

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THE Express

Guara Bi - Yara-Ri Celebrates 4th Anniversary

Håtsa: Rising to the Challenge

By Corinth Aguon, LMSW Clinician

According to 2022 data from the Guam Homeless Coalition, there are about 1,087 individuals experiencing homelessness in Guam. With substance use disorders being one of the major contributing factors to housing instability on the island, the need for treatment focusing on alcohol, illicit drug, and prescription drug misuse is more relevant than ever. WestCare Pacific Islands (WPI) sought to address this need by establishing its newest treatment and recovery program funded by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Agency (SAMHSA).

Håtsa, or “To Uplift” in the Chamorro language, is WPI’s intensive outpatient program that provides evidencedbased behavioral health counseling and substance use treatment to individuals and families who are experiencing homelessness. The team behind the program understands that clients face many barriers in their path to wellness. Recognizing that housing has been one of the most critical needs in our community, Håtsa is guided by the Housing First philosophy, which seeks to make housing stabilization a priority for clients in treatment. The program’s wrap-around case management is also available to connect clients with community resources and address unmet needs.

Additional services under Håtsa include emergency food and shelter support for enrolled clients.

Although the program has just begun, it has been met with optimism and eagerness by the island community.

The Håtsa team continues to look forward to raising up clients and their families, one step at a time. With hope and resiliency, we rise together.

WestCare Pacific Islands

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@westcare.pi

By Yolanda Gonzalez, Program Assistant and HR Coordinator

Guara Bi - Yara Ri, celebrated its fourth anniversary. This program is our medication assisted clinic located in the town of Vega Baja and funded by the Mental Health and Anti-Addiction Services Administration. The program offers substance abuse treatment and direct support services to clients with opioid use disorders living in the Vega Baja area and neighboring areas. Through the past four years, Yara-Ri’s staff have served the community in general with the purpose of providing outreach and educating, guiding, and being a support entity for clients to take control over their health.

They promote the commitment of the clients with their treatment and recovery process achieving a better quality of life free of substance use. Guara Bi - Yara Ri has distinguished itself by being an excellent program committed to helping our clients with their substance use disorder and treating them with dignity and respect. During our anniversary event, our staff shared with the clients words of motivation and enjoyed lunch with them. Congratulations, Guara Bi - Yara-Ri, on your fourth anniversary!

Guara Bi Welcomes the Department of Corrections The Sub-Secretary of Corrections, Mr. Sixto Marrero, and his staff visited our women’s program, Guara Bi - Manaya, and our long-term care facility, Guara Bi - Bartolo Joy, with the aim of discussing new collaborative agreements with our organization and seeking opportunities to extend our services to more populations under the custody of the Department of Corrections. We have been working with the department specifically through our re-entry programs and now with this new opportunity, it opens other possibilities of expanding the range of services to be offered to communities in confinement. We were grateful to everyone who made this visit a very pleasant one!

Guara Bi

WESTCARE.COM

WestCare Texas Promotes Awareness & Community Involvement Among San Antonio Youth

By Alisa Garza, Administrative Assistant

During February, WestCare Texas held several events for the San Antonio Eastside community. In collaboration with Pride Center SA, we presented Drag Out Awareness, an event in honor of National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, which had Councilman McKee-Rodriguez among other speakers, poets, and drag performers. The event focused on HIV/AIDS statistics in Bexar County and Texas as a whole. The event's speakers focused on the importance of personal narratives from black queer youth who discussed how to provide peer and family support for black and queer communities, identity conversations and testimonials from individuals in the Eastside community, health disparities in communities of color, and improving health outcomes with treatment and prevention. The community members who attended were able to receive resources from 28 community partners who participated including: UIW Cardinal Wellness, who provided free COVID vaccinations and free HPV vaccinations; BEAT AIDS, who provided eight onsite HIV and Hepatitis C tests; and the Pride Center, who distributed over 30 HIV takehome test kits on Feb. 7 at the Ella Austin Community Center on the Eastside.

In addition, the WestCare Texas’ Community-Based Crime Reduction (CBCR) Program hosted the 3rd Community Conversation on Feb. 25 at Tank’s Pizza, a locally-owned restaurant with a business resource center housed inside where the community was able to hear from partners such as the San Antonio Police Department, the San Antonio Independent School District, Crime Stoppers of San Antonio, and other local organizations on how to become involved in crime prevention. Crime Stoppers advocated for students to get involved, saying, “In SAISD, we have the P3 (online program) where all the kids, teachers, or anybody who has a concern can put in your information, whatever you want to report, and we will take actions.” They also explained that crime tips are rewarded in cash, which Crime Stoppers hope will be an incentive for young leaders to step up. Furthermore, local leaders voiced the need for security from retaliation once informants report a crime and the necessity for visibility and active relationship building between the police and the Eastside community. In addition, IDEA Academy, came out to speak to families about educational opportunities on the Eastside and WestCare Texas’ San Antonio Drug-Free Communities project coordinator set up a booth with information on drug prevention.

Both the Drag Out Awareness event and the CBCR’s 3rd Annual Community Conversation event focused on youth involvement and how important it is for youth on the Eastside to stand up for themselves, how their voices can be heard, and how adults at home, at school, and in law enforcement can be accessible to children who are trying to advocate for themselves or prevent crime.

WestCare Texas

Uplifting the Human Spirit

@westcaretexas

Outreach: The Foundation of Our Community

By Shelisa Allen, Administrative Assistant

This month, the Project Horizon (SPF), Adolescents in Recovery and Community Connections (ARCC), and Sion Hill treatment facility staff collectively attended the 2023 AGRIFEST, better known as, "Agriculture Fair" to raise public awareness of our programs and the services we offer. While we are known as an adult treatment facility here in the Virgin Islands, we continued to expand over the years to offer treatment and preventative services to adolescents and transitional adults between the ages of 12 -25.

Project Horizon recently collaborated with the organization, Daddy's Day Out, to promote involvement from fathers with hopes of them serving as positive male role models and fostering interactions for young children and adults within the community.

On March 4, our Adolescents in Recovery and Community Connections program was featured on Nemmy Jackson's radio show, "Mind, Body, Soul,” to promote and inform the public of the work and services they offer within the junior high and high school settings here in St. Croix and our neighboring island of St. Thomas.

A sense of community is the very foundation of The Village and Virgin Islands Partners in Recovery (VIPR). Through outreach, we can connect with our local population in greater ways!

The Village - VI Partners in Recovery Inc / WestCare

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THE Express The WestCare Wisconsin Basketball Team Plays Under the Big Lights!

By Felicia Williams, Program Director

On Feb. 28, the WestCare Wisconsin Basketball Team played their first game on a professional basketball court. The team is coached by retired NBA player, Marcus Landry and assisted by WestCare Wisconsin’s Regional Vice President, Travis Landry. The team consists of 11 players ranging from sixth to eighth-grade youth. This league was created and designed to assist and encourage youth to understand the importance of being team players and develop coping skills as young individuals. The team practices on Saturday mornings at Northcott Neighborhood House, which allows them a place to grow both as a team and in their maturity. It was a great evening and experience for all involved!

WestCare Wisconsin

@westcare.wi

THANK YOU for all you do 2023 EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION DAY

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WESTCARE.COM

Grants & Resource Development

Grants Report for 2022

By Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Grants

It is the time of year when we have had a moment to gather data and report about what happened in the past year. In 2022, the grant department wrote a total of 275 applications. With nine writers on staff, that is more than 30 applications per writer and because we still have three new writers, most of our team has been really busy! It also means that the programs, accountants, and evaluators have been busy as well.

But, it has all paid off. This year, the grant department has brought in over $40 million in revenue in one-year dollars. If you count all of the multiyear grants, our total increases to over $76 million. That accounts for a lot of program implementation and maintenance - which will keep all of us busy!

This coming year looks as exciting as last year and we are off to a roaring start. As of the date of this article, we have written 72 applications. There is no way around it - we are in our busiest season for grants. We appreciate all the grace and patience you extend to us as we request meetings and discuss timelines and task lists. It is all a part of the grant process and we hope that you forgive our nagging and pestering. Good luck to us all as the season progresses!

Uplifting the Human Spirit

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THE Express

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Staff Workgroup Happy Social Work Month!

By WestCare’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Staff Workgroup

In honor of Social Work Month, recognized every March, WestCare’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Staff Workgroup would like to share just a few heartfelt sentiments from our WestCare family about why this field of work is so important. Whether it’s serving individuals or families who are on the path to recovery, permanent housing, reentry, employment, or simply better mental, physical, and emotional health – it truly takes a diverse team to provide these crucial services. When we pool together our knowledge, lived experiences, and unique points of view – we are able to better the communities in which we serve on a daily basis! On behalf of our workgroup, thank you for being a part of the solution for those within our care, and thank you for choosing WestCare!

How is an understanding of diversity, equity, and inclusion pivotal to social work?

“Social work impacts DEI with the fundamental belief that individual services and service bundles must be tailored to the client’s personal belief system.

If we connect services in a way that are seen as relevant by the client and connects to their belief system, we cue a learning experience that can help them move towards empowerment and recovery.” - Bob Neri, Chief Privacy Officer, WestCare Foundation

This year’s theme for National Social Work Month is “Social Work Breaks Barriers.” How do you think social workers are helping to break barriers?

“Social workers are helping to break barriers by providing a holistic approach to disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. Social workers assist in providing connections and the tools an individual may need to better face their challenges and barriers in life.” - Shandi Hill, Regional Administrator, WestCare Tennessee “Working in the field of substance abuse, primarily with diversion courts and mandated clients, social workers have been put in the position of an advocate. Social workers take great pride in advocating for the rights of their clients. Most recently, social workers in our community have found themselves advocating for change at the county and state levels. With the recent upswing in medication assisted treatment (MAT), social workers in our agency have been advocating for change with would allow individuals battling opiate addiction to receive medication assisted treatment while still participating in court diversion programs that reduce their sentences and are an alternative to incarceration. This can cause an ethical dilemma for some social workers who hold different value systems. Just because a social worker is experiencing bias or challenges pertaining to their values, it doesn’t mean the client has to suffer or that their needs become secondary. A good social worker has enough support to look at challenges as opportunities for growth. The client should still come first, however. This isn’t always about us. Social workers serve a vital role in direct service by providing support through counseling and case management. Many of the service providers locally that have contracts with the courts and jails employ social workers.” Todd Edwards, LCSW, CADC-S, Clinical Director, WestCare Nevada

What’s the biggest challenge(s) facing social workers today?

“Busy schedules, high workloads, lack of information on clients, and the ‘realness’ of today’s social work. They also deal with compassion and empathy as social workers live the lives of their caseloads. We have to create an environment for social work to have purpose with results and not linger without services and resources. Social workers need mental health days so that work doesn’t get taken home and interfere with their personal lives.” - Travis Landry, Regional Vice President, WestCare Wisconsin

What’s the best thing about having a career in social work?

“The best thing about having a career in social work is having the flexibility to work in many different capacities within an organization. I have had the privilege of working as a research assistant, an admissions therapist, a residential therapist, and as a utilization review specialist for WestCare. I was able to work in these roles while obtaining a master's in social work, interning, and passing the licensure exam in 2020. The field of social work is very broad and social workers can be found in various medical facilities including hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, schools, and treatment centers.”

- Alexandra Kirkland, MSM, LCSW, Utilization Review Specialist, WestCare Florida - The Village South

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Information Technology

The Magic of Technology Ricky Hamilton, Information Security Analyst

According to Clark’s Third Law, “Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic.”

Take a moment and think about how you use technology in your everyday life. How much technology do you have around you? Technology is an excellent tool that helps us communicate across the world. A generation ago, it was science fiction for friends and relatives to see each other many miles away so clearly and on demand, but now through tools such as Facetime or Zoom, it is an everyday occurrence. From instant banking, communications, shopping, visiting the doctor, or checking on your residence through cameras while away - technology may sometimes be indistinguishable from magic. Of course, it is not magic, and resources are finite.

As such, it falls on us to be good stewards of our organization's resources. WestCare-issued desks and mobile phones, for example, are assigned for work-related purposes and great care needs to be taken with keeping up with them and keeping them secure. Use of PCs and other devices at our facilities consume bandwidth, also known as “internet speed,” which is limited.

Likewise, though it may seem so, storage space for files is limited. It is best to keep in mind that your emails are intended for work and business purposes and should not be used to sign up for online subscriptions, email lists, or social media outside of work-related activities. Not only could it create a security risk, but it also invites others, whether you want them to or not, to add you to their email lists and you begin receiving spam email. Ask yourself, “How will my use of this technology affect myself, my coworkers, and my organization at large?”

While our Information Technology (IT) department does its best to accommodate legitimate business tools to facilitate our mission of Uplifting the Human Spirit, we must consider information security. We must be sure that the tools we use are secure and compliant. If you find yourself wanting to use other apps, websites or technology tools that have not been issued to you, please discuss this first with your supervisor. Your leadership team can then work with IT to ensure that safe and compatible solutions are evaluated, selected, and implemented.

Together, we can continue to keep WestCare safe and secure.

Uplifting the Human Spirit

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THE Express

Uplifting the Human Spirit since 1973 WestCare, a family of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations founded in 1973, provides a wide spectrum of behavioral health and human services in both residential and outpatient environments. Our service domains include Treatment and Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Veterans Services, Criminal Justice, Housing Opportunities, Education, Prevention, and support for those fleeing Domestic Violence. These services are available to adults, children, adolescents, and families. We specialize in helping people traditionally considered difficult to treat, such as those who are indigent, have multiple disorders, or are involved with the criminal justice system.

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Storytelling is part of The Express The Express is made possible through stories submitted by our amazing WestCare teams around the world. We know that each and every day, a positive change is happening for our clients with our support.

Have a story to tell? Please email marketing@westcare.com and let's share the impact WestCare makes in Uplifting the Human Spirit.

Give for the Right Reasons. Give Because You Care.

WestCare devotes its best collective and individual efforts to uplift the human spirit by consistently improving, expanding and strengthening the quality, efficacy and cost-effectiveness of everything we do. Help us empower everyone with whom we come into contact to engage in a process of healing, growth and change, benefiting themselves, their families, coworkers and communities.

Make a donation online today at westcare.link/donate.

Gabriela McNiel Vice President of Marketing & Communications

Justin Kamimoto Director of Marketing & Communications

Michael Mygind Director of Marketing, CA & NV

Claire Faulkenberry Public Relations & Digital Media Specialist

Nou Her Marketing Specialist, CA & NV

Aileen Padua Marketing Specialist, CA & OR

Victoria Ponce Digital Media Specialist