The Express (July 2023)

Express THE

OUR WESTCARE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

WestCareFamily,

Aswefindourselvespastthemid-pointoftheyear,Iwanttoreflectonour collective achievements and share some exciting updates with you It has been another remarkable year of Uplifting the Human Spirit across the globe and your unwavering support has played a pivotal role in our success

First, I am thrilled to welcome WestCare Gulf Coast’s new Vice President ofOperations,SteveBlank.Withhisextensiveexperienceandproventrack record in the industry, Steve brings a fresh perspective and a wealth of knowledge to our organization I am confident that his leadership will guide ustowardevengreaterheights!

Now, let’s highlight a few of our accomplishments over the past few months:

The WestCare Family was represented at The National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s annual NatCon23 conference in early May, with over 40 attendees and five presentations! A huge thank you to all the attendees and especially to the speakers for their dedication to continuing education: Jennifer Hilton, Beverly Watts-Davis, Leo Magrdichian, Irma Magrdichian, Andrew Moran, Savannah Jones, Jim Workman,andDwayneStevens

In late May, WestCare Georgia honored long-time friend and National Board Member, Dr Eugene Walker, by renaming the facility in Carrollton the Dr. Eugene Walker Youth Academy We are truly humbled to have the opportunity to walk alongside Dr Walker and officiallyintertwinehislegacywithWestCareGeorgia’s

In late May, Guam was hit by a devastating typhoon – leaving thousands of residents without water or electricity for weeks following the storm Typhoon Mawar had sustained winds of 140 mph and is estimated to have caused $112 million in damage Thankfully, our WestCare Pacific Islands team remained safe, and our offices sustained minimal damage – but many of our team members had damage to their homes Continue to keep the Guam team in your thoughts I want to give recognition and considerable kudos to Senior Vice President, Aja Ramos and her team for serving their community amidstitall

On a happier note, WestCare Pacific Islands’ Clinical Director, Beverlyn Coleman, was a speaker at The White House Initiative Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander Mental HealthSummit ‘WestCareattheWhiteHouse’soundsnicetome!

With the school year just around the corner, our many summer camps are winding down But, we had an impressive number of participants around the globe, serving almost 500 kids across WestCare Texas, WestCare Pacific Islands, WestCare Tennessee, and East End CommunityServices(WestCareOhio)

One of our newest projects, WestCare Maryland, completed Phase One of the corrections project that involved assessing thousands of men for substance use disorders Phase Two, slated to begin shortly, will implement a residential therapeutic community providing substanceusetreatment

Looking ahead, we have planned several exciting events and initiatives We will host several groundbreakings at The Heron in Marathon, Florida, and the Women and Children’s Campus in Las Vegas, Nevada We are alsoplanninganopenhouseforTheVillageSouthBrowardCommunity BehavioralHealthCenterinPembrokePines,Florida

We are officially bringing a WestCare residential treatment program to WestVirginia,startingtheprojectbytheendoftheyear

What an exciting end of the year! We have a lot to look forward to As always, I want to thank you for the hard work each of you do every day Yourdedicationandbeliefinourmissioninspiresomany Wishingyouallaproductiveandfulfillingsecondhalfoftheyear!

Warmregards,

Ken Ortbals Chief Executive Officer WestCare Foundation

Cassie Celebrates Three Ye with WestCare Arizona

By Emily Selby, Counselor

Cassie Jarvis came to WestCare Arizona three years ago on July 20, 2020. Cassie started center, Hildy’s House and has since moved forward into a research specialist position. She is always willing to help when former client of WestCare Arizona from 2014 to 2015, Cassie has been on both sides of the fence. We are so proud of continue to grow and thrive with our organization!

California Leadership Accepts the 100-Day Challenge for CalAIM

By Michael Mygind, Director of Marketing

In July, members of WestCare California’s management team attended CalEducate’s 100-Day Challenge training for providers working to implement the California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal model, also known as CalAIM Through CalAIM, we will see a new whole-person approach to our care for vulnerable populations and payment reform that hinges on the outcomes of our services instead of the services themselves. Per the California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS), the main goals of CalAIM are:

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Identify and manage comprehensive needs through whole-person care approaches and social drivers of health. Improve quality outcomes, reduce health disparities, and transform the delivery system through value based initiatives, modernization, and payment reform.

Make Medi-Cal a more consistent and seamless system for enrollees to navigate by reducing complexity and increasing flexibility.

We look forward to all of the ways this new model will help us better meet the needs of our community and enhance the support we can provide for those in our care!

GCC to Receive State Funding to Rebuild Mental Health Housing at The Heron

By Maureen Dunleavy, Regional Senior Vice President

July is when we celebrate America’s independence, and this is no exception for the Guidance/Care Center (GCC) and our program, The Heron Established in 1988 and located in Marathon, The Heron is the only assisted living facility with a limited mental health license in Monroe County, which serves low-income adults with persistent mental illness. The Heron provides not only safe affordable housing but also all the necessary supportive services to up to 16 residents. This includes meal preparation and service, transportation, medication supervision, scheduling of medical and psychiatric appointments, and other services. Without such housing, these clients typically would not be able to live independently and reach their full potential. Without The Heron and mental health housing, they could end up institutionalized in facilities like the state hospital, living on the streets, or finding themselves in jail. In addition, they would be far away from loved ones and social support in their community, as there are no other such facilities in the Florida Keys.

Due to the condition of the current building, we can currently house only 14 adults. While we do occasionally receive referrals from outside of Monroe County, many of our residents and their families have roots in the Florida Keys. Currently, there are six residents from the Lower Keys, three from the Middle Keys, and three from the Upper Keys. In 2023’s fiscal year, GCC began a capital campaign to replace the existing, deteriorating property and expand services by adding two additional beds (Phase I) and independent living apartments (Phase III) on site. This program expansion builds upon our established residential program while offering new permanent housing services to adults with a mental illness who are ready to integrate more independently into the community.

Building a facility is no small feat! GCC staff have diligently applied for grants, special projects, donations – anything to contribute to our rebuild project. Florida’s Governor, Ron DeSantis, recently signed the state budget for the 2023 - 2024 Fiscal Year. The G/CC’s special project to rebuild The Heron facility made it to the finish line! This G/CC will receive $1.75 million in state funding for the upcoming year. This funding added to what we have already raised, will ensure the completion of Phase 1 of The Heron’s rebuild. Permits were filed on May 18, and we will start taking bids for subcontractors to break ground this fall. All of us at GCC extend our appreciation to House Representative Jim Mooney, and State Senator Ana Maria Rodriguez, for their advocacy and support for this special project. Continued independence through additional mental health housing at The Heron facility will be a reality!

Guidance/Care Center by WestCare

Congratulations to Cheryl Jackson

By Melissa Valentine, Area Director - South

Congratulations to Cheryl Jackson! She has recently been promoted to the role of assistant program coordinator of Substance Use Disorder (SUD) Services at our DuQuoin and Dixon Springs Impact Programs She has been with WestCare for over seven years as lead counselor and during her time in this position, she has made many achievements. Most recently, she reopened a program that had been closed for over two years due to COVID and adjusted a four-month program schedule to a one-year program schedule for individuals in custody served in Southern Illinois.

With over 30 years of experience with youth, individuals in custody, and women in custody - Cheryl has been a true veteran in this field. She holds a Bachelor’s Degree from Murray State University, a Women’s Competent Endorsement, and is a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC). Congratulations on the new role, Cheryl, and thank you for all that you do to Uplift the Human Spirit!

WestCare Illinois

Celebrating Our Women Veterans

By Darrell Mayo, Veteran Advocate

The Wounded Warrior Project and Sioux City Iowa Works partnered up with Rev Tac, a local firing range in Jackson, Nebraska, to hold Iowa Works' 2nd Annual Women’s Veterans Day Celebration Women’s Veterans Day is held on June 12 and is dedicated to honoring the contributions and sacrifices made by women who have served in the military. It recognizes the vital role that women have played throughout history in defending our country and acknowledges their dedication to military service. The day serves as a reminder to appreciate and support women Veterans, highlighting their achievements and acknowledging their unique experiences in the armed forces.

The event was open to any female Veteran or active service member and their families. WestCare Iowa/FAVA (Family Alliance for Veterans on America) staff were invited to the event and allowed to network with other organizations and promote the VA’s Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF) program to any Veterans on the verge of homelessness. Attendees were allowed to use the firing range with the assistance of instructors. The event concluded with a dinner by Sneaky’s Chicken, a bonfire, and music.

WestCare Kentucky Receives Distinguished Honor of Certification for Facilities

By Dr. Tiffany Slone, Regional Vice President

For KTIV’s coverage of the event, please visit https://westcare.news/wvdc WestCare Kentucky

WestCare Kentucky is proud to announce, the Judi Patton Center for Healthy Families and the Hal Rogers Appalachian Recovery Center are the first WestCare facilities to earn the distinguished honor of certification by the American Society of Addiction Medicine (ASAM)

ASAM was established in 1954 to assist addiction professionals by coming together to improve the quality of addiction treatment. They have since developed a set of criteria that treatment providers can use in assessments for individuals to help determine the most appropriate level of care based on their biological, emotional, and social needs ASAM criteria provides a comprehensive set of guidelines for placement, treatment and transfer/discharge of individuals diagnosed with substance use disorders and/or co-occurring disorders

On June 5, both facilities underwent a stringent certification audit, based on over 300 distinct rating elements outlined by ASAM This addresses setting, staff, support systems, assessment and treatment plans, therapy, and documentation standards WestCare Kentucky met standards with no recommendations for either facility and received an official notation for the issuance of certification for ASAM Level of Care 3 5 on July 26

On behalf of our team at WestCare Kentucky, I extend my sincere gratitude to all those who dedicated their time and effort to ensure this goal became a reality! It is a testament to what a unified team can achieve. ASAM certification was the first milestone for making the vision of future service provision in Kentucky attainable and I am excited about being involved in WestCare Kentucky’s expansion of the availability of SUD services to individuals in need in our Appalachian region!

FAVA (Family Alliance for Veterans of America)

WestCare Nevada Receives Thanks for Their Service in Championship Fashion

By Noah Crawley, Behavioral Health Tech

On Father’s Day 2023, 17 WestCare Nevada employees and their families attended the CONCACAF Nations League Cup at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. WestCare won the tickets for a full suite in a raffle for nonprofit organizations organized by the Las Vegas Stadium Authority (LVSA) We were thankful to have previously won tickets from this amazing group to a Las Vegas Raiders game in 2021. Special thanks go to Vice President of WestCare Nevada, Leo Magrdichian, who entered us into the raffle and organized the whole event for the team!

We were treated to a pair of games, Panama vs. Mexico in the 3rd place game and Canada vs. the United States in the finals. In an action-packed game with a couple of goals called back by a review from a video assistant referee (VAR), Mexico defeated Panama 1-0, taking 3rd place in the tournament. Additionally, an ascending United States team defeated a talented Canadian team.

In an extra special moment, the United States Men’s National Team defender, Sergiño Dest, suspended for the final after receiving a red card in the semi-final, was watching the game in the suite next to ours and came over to kick it with us!

On top of the games themselves, this outing served as a great platform to mingle with other WestCare staff that I don’t normally see or interact with since our state is comprised of a handful of campuses that are, in some cases, many miles apart.

Additionally, since I work the graveyard shift, I don’t see most employees daily, so any time you can join Team WestCare on a future outing, I would strongly encourage everyone to do so! It always lifts my spirit any time I get to meet new individuals helping serve our clients on their journey.

Thank you, team WestCare! In football terms, stay on that “rich vein of form” that you’ve been on since 1973!

QPR (Question, Persuade, Refer) Training at Twin Creeks Equine

By Chanel Harris, CTI Manager

In June, the staff and clients of VETCare were invited to Twin Creeks Equine for Veteran training on QPR, which stands for Question, Persuade, Refer. The host, Susan Fischer, and her husband graciously hosted this training and provided time with the horses and an amazing catered meal. There was even a six-week-old foal named Vegas! The trainer was Doug Akin with Polk County Behavioral Health’s Crisis Team. Alongside him was Eric Enderle, Veteran Services Officer with Polk County's Veteran Service Office.

Thank you for letting us be a part of this experience. VETcare’s staff were humbled to see smiles on the faces of our Veterans that we have not seen before. We have been invited back and will fully take advantage of this amazingopportunity!

Supporting Resiliency and Keeping Connections

By Lianna Santos, Research Assistant

During July, WestCare Pacific Islands (WPI) recognized Social Wellness Month, which aims to increase awareness of the importance of receiving and providing support to nurture our relationships and maintain social ties. It is through healthy relationships and support systems that we gain improved physical, mental, and emotional well-being. Social wellness is critical to being resilient in overcoming difficult situations. Highlighting the importance of social wellness practices could not come at a better time for Guam as our island continues to recover from the profound impact of Typhoon Mawar.

As we slowly return to normalcy, we have promoted social wellness within the organization. Leadership continues to offer support and flexibility to their teams. Within teams, information on disaster assistance for personal recovery was provided, while check-ins during team meetings allowed for discussion of personal and work-related support that was needed. Staff were also given a safe space to share their experiences regarding the typhoon. We continue to have helpful relations with our sister programs and with partners by providing alternatives to communication when power and Wi-Fi are unstable.

With specific recovery efforts, WPI collectively created an opportunity for social wellness by re-establishing and keeping connections with clients and the community through digital and face-to-face interactions. Services to clients extended beyond office walls and doors, meeting clients where they were in homes, emergency shelters, and unsheltered locations. This allowed clients to share their experiences during the typhoon and their struggles post-typhoon and offered some relief by processing the stressors impacting their overall well-being. Additionally, we immersed ourselves in the community by participating in mini Passport to Services events at shelters to provide information and support for individuals unhoused because of the typhoon.

The ability to carry out social wellness practices facilitated our emotional and mental recovery from disrupted social ties Sources of support for problem-solving, coping assistance, and information sharing improved and protected our overall well-being. We continue to thrive with resiliency, continuing to Uplift the Human Spirit within our organization and the community during these trying times.

WestCare Pacific Islands

@westcare.pi

Guara Bi Juneteenth Celebration

By Belinda Morales, Administrative Assistant

On June 19, our Guara Bi employees celebrated Juneteenth, which commemorates the official end of slavery in the United States when the last reminaing slaves in Galveston, TX were notified of their freedom by Major General, Gordon Granger, nearly three years after the Emancipation Proclamation was proclaimed in September of 1963. This also followed the end of the Civil War, where approximately 200,000 black soldiers served. After many years of being celebrated, President Joe Biden signed a bill in 2021 officially recognizing Juneteenth as a

Never Stop Improving

By Belinda Morales, Administrative Assistant

On June 21, three clients from Guara Bi - Mendoza completed their fourth year in the program. The significance of our program is that we allow clients to persevere and excel in life. Their success proves that there are no limits in life and that if you try hard, you will get where you want to go. We congratulate them greatly. It fills us with great pride!

Bi

Guara

WestCare Texas Celebrates Second Annual Summer Extravaganza

By Alisa Garza, Administrative Assistant

In June, WestCare Texas had its Second Annual Summer Extravaganza camp for youth ages six to 15 at Ella Austin Community Center in San Antonio, Texas. The summer camp helps engage youth in a positive social structure. It reinforces healthy networking as parents and guardians in the Eastside of San Antonio can leave their children in a safe learning environment in order to go to work. As part of the summer camp curriculum, our students attend classes covering art, science, reading, positive self-image, physical wellness, gardening, and healthy ecosystems in partnership with Gardopia Gardens and swimming lessons with Davis-Scott Family YMCA.

In addition, the students took field trips every Friday. The first field trip was to the San Antonio Zoo, where teachers took their classes to exhibits and learned about creatures' habitats worldwide. The second field trip was at the Natural Bridge Caverns, where the students participated in a micro geological mining discovery workshop where they looked through a mystery bag of minerals and gemstones that they were allowed to take home along with an educational handout of each gemstone and mineral. After the workshop, the students were guided down through each cavern, where they heard about the site’s discovery and the science behind the stalactites, stalagmites, and other geological formations. Their third field trip was to Morgan’s Wonderland, an amusement park for individuals with disabilities. The field trip to Morgan’s Wonderland was significant as it helped the students become exposed to individuals who require ADA accommodations and helped them stay cognizant of the societal factors impacting people with disabilities.

Moreover, as extra support to the summer camp families, the students had breakfast, lunch, and snacks in the afternoon during each day of camp. Lastly, in partnership with the San Antonio Food Bank, the Summer Extravaganza ended the month of June with a food drive in which 150 produce bags and boxes filled with various snacks were distributed to all the students’ families.

To all our students and their families, thank you for helping make our Second Annual Summer Extravaganza a success!

Texas @westcaretexas

WestCare

Embracing and Celebrating Recovery

By Tammy Smith, Administrative Assistant

The Village – Virgin Islands Partners in Recovery embraces a focus on the concept of recovery. We improve the physical, psychological, and social well-being of our clients. Our residents and staff at The Village do daily empowering groups which candidly discuss topics that help them to progress while in recovery. We help our clients redefine what recovery means to them and own their recovery process - giving them hope to go on and live a full and healthy life.

Here are some words that our residents used to describe what recovery means to them:

WestCare Wisconsin Promotes Cleanup Efforts and Celebrates Juneteenth

By Felicia Williams, LST Program Director

We’d like to thank our Youth Specialist, Dillan Love, and Community Organizer,IvoryAmenku,fromtheEarnandLearnprogramforworkingwith our youth served to spread the word regarding the ongoing Harambee Cleanupinourcommunity.

We’dalsoliketosendbigshout-outstoAnesiaHayes,whoisthePrincipalat Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School; the African-American Immersion program at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Elementary School; WestCare Wisconsin’s Drug Free Community Coalition (DFCC) team; WestCare Wisconsin’s Credible Messenger team; the Beulah Family Homestead; Northcott Neighborhood House; Bader Philanthropies; and Intellectual Image for their assistance on making this year’s 52nd Annual JuneteenthCelebrationonetoremember.Theeventfeaturedakid’sarea, livemusic,food,andmore!Itwasagreatdayofserviceandcelebrationfor all!

The Village - VI Partners in Recovery Inc / WestCare

Compassion Self-Empowerment

Happy Truthful

Hope

Celebrating Milestones, Encouraging Feedback, and Recognizing National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month

Last month marked an important milestone for WestCare: the third anniversary of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Staff Workgroup and our National Board of Directors' Diversity, Race, and Social Justice Committee Both were established during the summer of 2020 with a clear and resolute mission: to propel WestCare's commitment to building the most welcoming, inclusive, and affirming organization for our clients, communities, and workforce.

In these past three years, we have made significant strides in fostering an environment where every member of our staff and every individual we serve is treated with dignity and respect. Despite the monumental challenges our country continues to face, the WestCare family remains unified in our belief that every human being deserves the opportunity to fulfill their potential.

Our recent DEI survey received over 570 responses from our staff. Our team is meticulously analyzing this feedback and is eager to collaborate with leadership to develop a strategic DEI framework we look forward to sharing with you soon.

In the spotlight this month is National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month, also recognized as the Bebe Moore Campbell National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month. The goal is to raise awareness about the distinctive challenges racial and ethnic minority communities encounter concerning mental health in the United States.

Campbell, a founding member of the National Alliance on Mental Illness Urban Los Angeles, was a celebrated American author, journalist, teacher, and mental health advocate. She tirelessly worked to highlight the unique mental health struggles faced by minority communities.

Mental health, integral to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives, influences our emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It determines how we think, feel, and act and shapes how we manage stress, relate to others, and make decisions.

The Department of Health and Human Services’ (DHHS) Office of Minority Health (OMH) points out that minority individuals from all backgrounds and identities often endure poor mental health outcomes. These disparities result from several factors, including lack of access to quality mental health care services, the cultural stigma surrounding mental health care, discrimination, and overall lack of mental health awareness.

This year’s theme, 'Better Mental Health Through Better Understanding,' strives to deepen our comprehension of these challenges. For more information, visit the DHHS/OMH official National Minority Mental Health Awareness Month website at www.minorityhealth.hhs.gov

Development Grants & Resource

Help Us Welcome Our New Grant Assistant, Jessica

By Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Grant Development

Jessica Ortbals comes to WestCare as a Grants Assistant. She received a degree in English from Pittsburg State University in Pittsburg, Kansas. While attending, she also received a minor in technical and professional writing. As a student, she served as a technical writing intern with a local non-profit that provided services to women in the area. Upon completing her undergraduate degree, Jessica went to Wichita State University, where she received a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Writing and taught composition classes to college students. While living in Wichita, she worked at a children’s tutoring center and a local non-profit advocating for literacy amongst underserved youth.

Jessica furthered her education with a Master of Arts in Teaching from Pittsburg State University and taught English Language Arts at both the middle and high school levels for four years. She decided to pursue a career in Grant Development to utilize her writing skills to help people. She is thrilled to be working with a non-profit once again.

Jessica resides in the Kansas City area. She spends her free time reading, exercising, attending Kansas City Chiefs games, and hanging out with her husband and puppy.

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.

Proudly serving sixteen states, four U.S. territories, the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Palau

Storytelling is part of The Express

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

GabrielaSwartwood VicePresidentofMarketing &Communications

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