The Express (June 2023)

ISSUE 37

JUNE 2023

THE Express

OUR WESTCARE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

WestCare Family, As we approach the end of June, it's important to take a moment to reflect on two significant events that we are proud to recognize every June: Juneteenth and Pride Month.

Juneteenth, which commemorates the definitive end of slavery in the United States, is a time to celebrate freedom and acknowledge the ongoing struggle for racial justice. Pride Month, on the other hand, is a time to recognize the LGBTQIA+ community and its ongoing fight for equality and acceptance.

Both Juneteenth and Pride are opportunities to reflect on the progress that we've made toward a more just and equitable society as well as the work that still lies ahead. By remembering these two events, we can continue to build a more inclusive and compassionate world for all.

I would also like to take this time to wish a very happy 248th birthday to the United States Army, our longest-standing branch of the U.S. Military. The U.S. Army as we know it was first formed as the Continental Army on June 14, 1775.

Having served as an Army Medical Clinical Specialist during the Vietnam War, I can attest to the extensive lessons that I’ve learned, which in return have shaped who I am today.

However, during my time in the service, I witnessed my fair share of racism and insensitivity towards my fellow soldiers for what made them who they were. It's unfortunate that to this day, certain members of our armed forces have also been faced with adversity because of their race, orientation, or how they have chosen to identify their gender. Yet, regardless, they remain steadfast in their duty to their country and protecting our freedom to live, demonstrate, and love as we wish.

To all who have celebrated during this important month for awareness, celebration, and acceptance - we hope it has been introspective and fulfilling for both you and your loved ones.

Until next time, thank you for all you do to join us in Uplifting the Human Spirit.

Take care,

Dick Steinberg President WestCare Foundation

WestCare Arizona Welcomes Back Teen Tuesdays

By Emily Selby, Counselor

Teen Tuesday is our summer extension for the in-school prevention program. In partnership with local agencies, the program provides youth with a safe and healthy environment to let off some steam. Youth are invited to participate in games, crafts, and fun while enjoying music and food. The program culminates in an educational session where the youth learn about topics ranging from substance awareness to personal hygiene. For the second year in a row, Teen Tuesday helps build connections between youth and is built on a foundation of positive decisions and prevention-oriented fun!

WestCare Arizona

@westcareaz

The 2023 Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade and Festival

By Nou Her, Marketing Specialist

For over 27 years, The Living Room, a project of WestCare California, has been serving the HIV/AIDS community in Fresno and the Central Valley. They provide a place to belong, a place of acceptance, support, and assistance to those at risk of, diagnosed with, or affected by HIV/AIDS. Through online and in-person support groups, confidential HIV/HCV testing, providing hot meals, and so much more, The Living Room is dedicated to encouraging and supporting the well-being and empowerment of persons impacted by HIV/AIDS. This June, representatives and staff from The Living Room and WestCare California participated again in the annual Fresno Rainbow Pride Parade & Festival. In celebration of Pride Month and the communities we serve, we are honored to have been able to join the festivities and partake in this momentous community event that celebrates inclusivity, equity, and acceptance.

We’d like to wish a very happy Pride Month to anyone who celebrated and thank everyone who attended or helped us organize this year’s parade entry!

WestCare California

Uplifting the Human Spirit

@WestCareCA

@westcarecalifornia

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A Gift of Better Health for Those that We Serve!

By Victoria Ozuna, Executive Director On May 18, we received a donation of nine boxes of over-the-counter medicines from the ALFA Laboratory in Santo Domingo for basic use and primary care of our clients. Medications included were: flu medicines, vitamins, gastric protectors, gel for muscle pain and inflammation, heartburn treatment, dermatological cream, folic acid, and protein supplements. Thanks to their generosity, our clients will have more resources available for their primary care!

Guara Bi

Welcoming Riley to FAVA’s Sioux City Team!

By Darrell Mayo, Veteran Advocate We are proud to introduce you to Family Alliance for Veterans of America’s (FAVA) newest Veteran Advocate, Riley McFarland. Riley has completed her bachelor's degree at Buena Vista University in Iowa with a major in Criminology and Criminal Justice and a minor in Psychology. Down the road, she would eventually like to return to school to get her Juris Doctorate in law and a master’s in psychology or social work.

Riley joined the military when she was 17 with her parents’ permission as they recognized her passion for serving. She has several family members that have been in the military, and her main desire is to be a part of making a difference so that her nine-year-old twin sisters never have to worry about being drafted or pulled into a world conflict.

Currently, Riley serves in the Iowa Army National Guard. She recently accomplished seven years of service as of May 6, 2023. She is waiting to be promoted to first lieutenant in the near future. Previously enlisted as a paralegal, after she goes to graduate school, she would like to switch branches and either practice law or psychology/social work in the National Guard.

Prior to WestCare, Riley had worked at a South Dakota nonprofit clinic that helps people diagnosed with severe mental illnesses as a case manager.

Before that, she worked at an Iowa juvenile detention center and worked at an Iowa summer camp for children with disabilities. Riley is very excited about this new opportunity to provide all the resources and support that she can to local Veterans! She is very eager to learn and grow.

Keep your eye on Riley as she continues to grow in the professional arena.

We are very happy to have her joining our team. Welcome aboard, Riley!

FAVA (Family Alliance for Veterans of America)

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Recognizing GCC’s Impact Through Data and Results

By Megan Caudill, Quality Assurance Coordinator Quality Assurance (QA) and Performance Improvement (PI) are familiar terms to everyone, but they mean different things to us depending on our role within the organization. QA is the process used to ensure services are meeting quality standards, and PI is a continuous proactive approach to studying processes to prevent problems in service delivery. For me, Quality Assurance and Performance Improvement go hand in hand and provide us the opportunity to highlight the amazing work that our organization does with data-based facts. For many years, I have witnessed firsthand the impact that the Guidance/Care Center (GCC) has on our community through the people helped, differences made, and lives changed. My role in Quality Assurance allows me to quantifiably see the impact that each of my coworkers makes daily.

Earlier this year, G/CC accepted a Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) grant. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), a CCBHC is designed to ensure clients have access to coordinated and comprehensive behavioral health care. As a CCBHC, the provider is required to provide each of the following nine services: crisis services; treatment planning; screening, assessment, diagnosis & risk assessment; outpatient mental health & substance use services; targeted case management; outpatient primary care screening and monitoring; community-based mental health care for Veterans; peer, family support & counselor services; and psychiatric rehabilitation services.

Part of the required data collection for CCBHC involves the randomized selection of clients from our GCC client base using the client ID number and requesting that they partake in an interview for data collection.

Historically, this can be a barrier to data collection because, for the initial interview, there is no offered incentive for participation. In the words of the research assistant in charge of this data collection, Schae Hamilton, “When I speak to clients that consent to the interview, the majority make very positive statements about their experience at GCC, often mentioning staff members and the agency as being instrumental in their recovery. It brings me great pride and encouragement to be a part of a team that successfully supports the diverse and often challenging Florida Keys communities in such an amazing way.”

Although the feedback thus far has been positive, performance improvement is an ongoing process of maintaining quality and improving our services. Becoming a CCBHC provides an opportunity for us as a provider to track trends and data patterns based on standardized screening and assessments, which will lead to the development of specific continuous quality improvement efforts to implement change and focus on bridging potential gaps within our array of services. Becoming a CCBHC not only provides us with the ability to continue improving our services but highlights that the prospect of improvement provides hope and excitement for the future!

WestCare GulfCoast - Florida

WESTCARE.COM

WestCare Kentucky Celebrates Recovery

By Dr. Tiffany Slone, Regional Vice President Our Judi Patton Center for Healthy Families, located in Lookout, Kentucky, embraces a holistic approach to substance use disorder treatment. Part of the curriculum is continuing education courses through Big Sandy Community and Technical College’s Skills U GED preparation course. WestCare Kentucky is proud to present the most recent Skills U graduate, Kristi Haulsee, who earned her GED on May 18. Kristi stressed that “The journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step!”

Our supportive employment program is another service we offer to assist those we serve to secure gainful employment upon graduation and improve factors that contribute to sustaining long-term recovery. Candice Saylor is a 2021 WestCare Kentucky alumni. Prior to graduation, Candice had secured a job opportunity with a reputable distribution center. Since then, she has served in multiple positions and earned the responsibility of an employee trainer. In her training role, she has the opportunity to travel across multiple states to train staff during the activation of new distribution centers.

Recently, Candice desired to give back to her Lookout, Kentucky community by making a donation of supplies such as paper, composition books, 3-ring binders, pens, and pencils. In her own words, “I’m so grateful, first and foremost to God for my sobriety and for WestCare and the staff.” She explained, “There is so much that I learned there that I use in my work and share with others. Today, I do my best to share the blessings that I receive and hope that it helps someone.”

It is such a blessing to watch those that we serve bloom into beauty and live the authentic lives that they deserve!

WestCare Kentucky

WestCare Nevada Celebrates Eighth I Am Possible Graduation

By Candice Hill, Counselor

I Am Possible Project Director, Jurea Williams and myself recently had the pleasure of graduating our eighth class that represented five women after completing 35 days of residential treatment programming while incarcerated in the North Las Vegas Community Correctional Center (NLVCCC).

The I Am Possible program consists of daily workouts, group therapy, informational sessions regarding community resources, employment training, financial literacy, individual therapy, and Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT). These five individuals displayed passion for change by dedicating their time in trusting the process and gaining sobriety, self-identity, self-worth, and purpose upon completion of the program. The ceremony expressed gratitude for our graduates who challenged themselves based on three key principles that were taught in the program: practicing rigorous authenticity, surrendering to the outcome, and doing uncomfortable work.

The graduates were recognized by Congressman Steven Horseford, Jordan Karst from Foundation for an Independent Tomorrow (FIT), and Vice President of WestCare Nevada, Leo Magrdichian, who congratulated them on this achievement. These women were awarded the opportunity to share this moment with their families, community partners, NLVCCC staff, and city officials who witnessed and celebrated them crossing the finish line.

WestCare Nevada

@westcarenevada

@westcarenevada

Uplifting the Human Spirit

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A Story of Redemption Featuring One of Our Own

By Jan Lepore-Jentleson, Executive Director

This month, we’d like to share a special video featuring Samantha Wells Johnson, one of East End Community Services’ recovery peer supporters with the Get Recovery Option Working (GROW) Team, who has completely turned her life around. It’s a lovely story and one that we are proud to share.

Thank you to the Alcohol, Drug Addiction, and Mental Health Services (ADAMHS) of Montgomery County for highlighting our friend and colleague!

To watch Samantha’s story, please click or visit: https://westcare.watch/samantha

A VETcare Progress Story Featuring Aaron By the Team at VETCare HVRP Aaron is a U.S. Army Veteran who served from June 1996 to October 1998 as an infantry soldier.

During his tenure, he witnessed the deaths of several friends and fellow servicemembers. Unable to manage his trauma, Aaron turned to drugs and alcohol as a coping mechanism. In 1998, he was discharged from the Army and returned to Oregon to be closer to family, where he struggled with symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). In response to the symptoms, he resorted to gangs, drugs, alcohol, and violence. He was charged, convicted, and sentenced to prison for 17 years.

During his time in prison, his mother passed away.

Despite struggling with trauma, Aaron was released in 2016 and returned to his old ways, where he faced more challenges after losing his father in 2017 and two sisters in the following years.

Struggling with symptoms of PTSD, Aaron managed to find love despite enduring many relationship challenges. However, just when things could not get any worse, Aaron's roommate kicked him out of their residence, and his girlfriend ended their relationship. At this point, he was at an all-time low and felt like no other solutions were there.

Despite his barriers and setbacks, Aaron remained hopeful.

Aaron signed up for VETCare's Homeless Veterans Reintegration Program (HVRP), working directly with his case manager and employment specialist. He was able to secure a food handler's certification card and applied to numerous employment locations. It was not long until he received offers from Denny’s and The Best Little Roadhouse restaurant. Today, Aaron is currently working as a cook, where he enjoys the atmosphere and is regaining some stability in his life.

“I don’t look at VETcare as an assistance program. I look at it as a second chance,” says Aaron. "Kudos to all the staff at VETcare, including Jennifer from HVRP, for helping me find employment and sticking with me."

VETcare Oregon @_vetcareoregon_

East End Community Services @eastendcommunityservices

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WESTCARE.COM

Still, We Rise

By Kaileilani N. San Miguel, Clinician On May 24, the people of Guam endured category four typhoon Mawar, the first typhoon to hit our island in over two decades. The lightning storms and striking winds lasted about 12 hours - uprooting trees of all sizes, wrestling utility poles, destroying homes and vehicles, and flooding countless areas. Mawar left a large part of our community without electricity, water, and broadband communications. Due to the loss of internet services across all telecommunication companies, businesses could only accept cash payments, leaving many families unable to obtain food or supplies as many ATMs were damaged or out of order. Fuel stations underwent long lines where patrons stayed in line for up to six hours to obtain gas for their vehicles, generators, and equipment. Many families have relocated to three assigned shelters that are housing almost 800 individuals due to the damage caused to their homes.

Like many agencies on our island, WestCare Pacific Islands (WPI) was significantly impacted by Mawar’s aftermath, with two of our four facilities being taken offline due to utility and/or equipment unavailability. In spite of this, WPI’s response was a swift one. Immediately after being notified about the storm’s anticipated landfall, our staff sprung to action by contacting clients and consumers to assist in any way we could. Offices were secured and closed to allow staff to prepare their homes and assist their families. As soon as cellular service was accessible, staff reached out to clients once again to begin relief efforts, linking them to the appropriate agencies or services they needed. Our youth program, Malak Na Ha’ani, linked families to programs such as FEMA and The Salvation Army for federal aid and cash relief. Our housing and Veteran programs, Hatsa, Uplift, Supportive Services for Veteran Families (SSVF), and Path to Freedom (PTF), assembled bags from their pantry to distribute to their clients that included necessities such as food, hygiene products, and cleaning supplies. Our prevention teams, Thrive, I Lina’la Hu, Steer, and Maolek Na Lina’la, pivoted to provide support to sister programs and re-engaged with partners to begin coordination of outreach opportunities.

However, WPI’s compassion did not stop at our clients. As many staff had disparities of their own, management reached out to their teams and offered support in many ways. This included opening offices to allow employees to charge their communication devices and spend time in the office, where it was their only source of electricity and a sense of comfort for most. Employees could also bring their children to work as many face challenges with securing childcare. Management also offered emergency assistance where employees could focus on preparing for the storm and recovery without the added stress and burden of not being paid.

Additional aid was also offered to staff who lost their homes or suffered significant damages.

During this trying time in our community, WestCare’s mission is evident in that we collectively and continuously work to Uplift the Human Spirit. While Guam steadily recovers from the aftermath of Mawar, WPI remains steadfast in pursuing our mission and is committed to helping our community rise again.

WestCare Pacific Islands @westcare.pi

Considering the importance of recreational activities like healthy fraternization and spending time outdoors, clients from the Guara Bi - Caney program in Comerío enjoyed a day at El Escambrón Beach in the capital city of San Juan. Our clients enjoyed outdoor activities and camaraderie with one another as well as sharing food while enjoying the beautiful sunshine.

Beach Day at El Escambrón Uplifting the Human Spirit

Guara Bi

By Belinda Morales, Administrative Assistant

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Providing Texas Youth the Tools to Make Positive and Productive Choices

By Alisa Garza, Administrative Assistant

In the month of May, WestCare Texas impacted the healthy development of hundreds of youths through community events that promoted civic engagement and youth education. In San Antonio, Texas, our Drug-Free Communities (DFC) team, in partnership with San Antonio Council on Alcohol and Drug Awareness (SACADA), held their second Community Awareness Training: Fentanyl and Using Naloxone in observance of National Fentanyl Awareness Day on May 9. Additionally, thanks to the efforts of our DFC team, there is a second cohort, which includes some youth equipped to save lives during an overdose.

In addition, thanks to our partner, Communities in Schools, our DFC team was connected to United Independent School District to teach the Botvin LifeSkills Training to 389 students at Salvador Garcia Middle School. During their courses, students learned about self-image improvement, smoking and alcohol realities, violence and the media, anxiety, and anger coping skills, and healthy communication. In May, the DFC team finished the curriculum and hosted a graduation on May 12 for the students at Salvador Garcia Middle School. Special guests were Judge Rosie Cuellar, Rio Bravo Mayor Amanda Perez Aguero, and Commissioner Jesse Gonzalez.

WestCare Texas awarded Salvador Garcia Middle School a monetary donation for further student programming. It provided students with pizza, backpacks, water bottles, and shirts for an all-expenses paid trip to Corpus Christi.

When asked about the importance that the curriculum has and will have on his students, Dr. Jonathan Martinez, Principal of Salvador Garcia Middle School, stated: “The life skills lesson brought awareness to our students at Salvador Garcia Middle School about the issues young teenagers endure. Our students are more alert about the potential threat that different substances have, such as vaping. Our students also learned about dealing with socialemotional issues such as anxiety and the different approaches they can take to overcome these challenges. The students also learned about building positive relationships with their peers and how to be confident in themselves. We are excited to continue building on these life skill lessons to help reduce the crime [and youth drug use] rates in our area and give students a brighter future.”

Additionally, we sponsored the Sam Houston High School Top 10 Award Reception on May 17, where we provided each grade level’s top students with gift bags that included school supplies and gift cards. The top 10 graduates were given affirming and inspirational books to prepare them mentally and emotionally for adulthood. Alongside our partners at AmeriCorps, we also assisted with the dinner reception at this ceremony to honor these students.

WestCare Texas

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@westcaretexas

WESTCARE.COM

Mental Health Awareness in Recovery

By Tammy Smith, Administrative Assistant

Clients and staff at The Village - Virgin Islands Partners In Recovery took part in group activities for Mental Health Awareness Month, highlighting crucial aspects of their lives and the recovery process.

Everyone had a firsthand opportunity to bring awareness to themselves when they were all involved in making the day green for Mental Health Awareness Month. Posters were created, highlighting experiences of mental health and wellness. A lunch meal, made of all things green, was also provided.

We all brought awareness to our residents by implementing coping methods that reduce the risk of developing stress through guided meditation. While the residents took part and enjoyed their day, it was a great feeling and extremely rewarding to see our staff utilize the approach of the family as a support system toward our clients' journey to recovery.

Often, the misconceptions surrounding mental health cause individuals to suffer in silence. I am glad that the residents all had the experience and interaction with each other, which was one of the key factors that contributed to the positive mental health of all the residents, showing how courageous they are in their journeys.

Mental Health should always be a crucial part of our overall health and lives.

The Village - VI Partners in Recovery Inc / WestCare

Uplifting the Human Spirit

Working Together to Build a Stronger Harambee

By Felicia Williams, LST Program Director

We’d like to thank Ivory Amenku for reaching out to the residents of the Harambee Community for a Community Listening session. Many residents had not been in touch or involved with the community since the COVID-19 pandemic. They were eager and very interested in getting the neighborhood cleaned up, slowing down the running of the stop signs, and preventing auto theft in cars in their community.

Great job, Ivory, for getting our community involved and invested in building a stronger Harambee one resident at a time!

WestCare Wisconsin

@westcare.wi

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Grants & Resource Development Introducing Our Newest Grant Development Officer

By Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Grant Development

As a Philadelphia native, Cheyenne Brown holds a bachelor's degree in criminal justice with a minor in public health from Temple University. Her minor in public health allows her to be well-versed in populations served by WestCare Foundation. Throughout her college education, Cheyenne has organized several fundraisings, community service, and informational public health events while holding executive positions. Cheyenne was involved in many different multicultural organizations during college.

After completing her undergraduate degree, Cheyenne spent five years working for a nonprofit healthcare clinic that provided primary and specialty care to underserved, low-income minority populations. She has a background working in areas that serve persons who identify as LGBTGNC/BIPOC and/or are affected by mental health, suicide, domestic violence, homelessness, sexual assault, and HIV/AIDS. Cheyenne also has an extensive background in customer service, which has given her skills in effective communication, client/business/donor relationships, HIPPA, and suicide prevention. With her diverse background, she has been able to blend into WestCare’s collaborative and diverse team seamlessly.

In the future, she hopes to complete her master’s degree in business administration while also completing her Grant Management Certification congruently. In her free time, Cheyenne can be found working out, traveling to new places, eating new foods, and socializing with friends.

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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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Uplifting the Human Spirit

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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 Swartwood Vice President of Marketing & Communications

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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

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