BEST NONPROFIT
THE LOOP A COLLECTION OF STORIES FROM AROUND CALIFORNIA
DECEMBER 2024
ISSUE 138
VOLUME 12
WestCare Family, As we reflect on the past year, we are thrilled to share the remarkable achievements and milestones that have defined WestCare California's programs in 2024. Our commitment to providing compassionate care, innovative solutions, and transformative spaces has propelled us to new heights, touching the lives of individuals and families in need. From Mental Health & Wellness to Treatment & Rehabilitation, Veterans Services, Criminal Justice, Housing Opportunities, and Education & Prevention - we have continued to uplift spirits, support our communities, and change lives throughout the Golden State! This past year was particularly special since we were proud to celebrate our golden anniversary with 50 Years of Uplifting the Human Spirit in California! We are truly proud of our journey that began in 1974 as an upstart residential facility in Fresno, CA, for male heroin addicts with 14 clients called The Third Floor to becoming a statewide provider of behavioral health and human services with a presence in 38 of California's 58 counties and over 2,500 clients served on a daily basis. As part of the celebration, we collaborated on a special edition of the WestCare Express that chronicles our story over these past five decades and presented two very special events to commemorate our anniversary. These events kicked off with an open house in February for our Gateway Campus in Fresno and the various programs and services offered there. In October, our second of two anniversary events was our First Annual Spirit Gala, where we raised funds for our Wings Advocacy Fresno program and recognized five inspiring community leaders for their selfless efforts in giving back to their community with our first round of Spirit Awards. On the topic of anniversaries and Wings Advocacy Fresno, we celebrated our first full year since this wonderful program joined the WestCare California family of programs! In support of their efforts, we hosted the First Annual Fiesta on Gateway mixer in May, various pillow drives, the aforementioned Spirit Gala in October, and the 30 Days of Giving Challenge in November to raise awareness and funds for their furniture bank that furnishes living units for newly-housed individuals, families, and Veterans, as well as women and women with children affected by domestic violence. For more information on how you can assist them and their committed volunteers in their mission of Restoring Hope & Dignity, please send an email to wingsfresno@westcare.com We also rolled out our CalAIM - Enhanced Care Management (ECM) & Community Supports Program to provide statewide Medi-Cal benefits available to eligible Medi-Cal members with complex medical and social needs. This program allows members to have their own care team, including a Lead Care Manager, who will work with the member and their doctors, specialists, pharmacists, case managers, social services providers and others to make sure the member gets the care that they need. Community Supports are services that help address members’ health-related social needs such as support to secure and maintain housing, access to medically tailored meals, support for short-term recovery and a variety of other community-based services. We were also proud to expand our service domain of Education & Prevention with the Opioid Education and Naloxone Distribution (OEND) program, who began providing educational and supportive services to reduce fentanyl-related opioid overdose deaths in Fresno County. For more information, please see page 3 of this issue. None of these achievements would have been possible without the dedication, passion, and hard work of our incredible WestCare team. Your commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of others is truly commendable and we extend our deepest gratitude for your unwavering dedication. From counselors and case managers to administrative staff and volunteers, everyone has played a crucial role in the milestones we celebrate today. To our WestCare team, partners, and the communities we serve: Thank you for an incredible year! Your work is the driving force behind our mission to empower individuals, strengthen families, and build healthier communities. Thank you and take care,
Mary Ann Knoy Vice President WestCare California
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Jenny Gonzalez Vice President WestCare California