THE LOOP
As 2022 draws to a close, we want to take the opportunity to thank all of you for an amazing year. Nearly three years into a global pandemic, we are still working our way to a “new normal.” As the work environment continues to be unpredictable, with COVID-19 still impacting how we work, the needs of our consumers, and the priorities for our staffwe continue to grow and expand our services.
Thank you for exemplifying our mission of “Uplifting the Human Spirit” and providing the superior services our consumers have come to expect. Our success is due to the commitment and talent of our dedicated staff. So, we want to thank you all for the hard work and commitment you’ve shown over the past year. Our combined strength is what makes us successful as an organization. “WE are WestCare!”
Moving into 2023, we look forward to all the amazing opportunities that await us as we grow our services and expand our footprint in other areas. More than ever, we wish you strength, happiness, and love and we thank you always for your resilience, commitment, and support. We wish you all a very happy end to the year and only the very best for 2023!
As we approach a new year, I’d like to take this moment to thank all of our staff for their continued service as well as maintaining WestCare’s COVID-19 and other safety protocols to make sure those that we serve and our teammates remain safe and healthy.
I'd also like to send my sincere thanks to all staff who have embraced the adoption of California Advancing and Innovating Medi-Cal, also known as CalAIM. This model has brought a new wholeperson approach to our system of care as well as payment reform that hinges on the outcomes of our services instead of the services themselves. We have also seen major changes to our SUD/Mental Health program’s documentation practices and to all who have adopted these – thank you!
This year, we have also seen some scope of work changes with programs including CCTRP and STOP, which our staff accepted and embraced. Additionally, we have seen various leadership changes within our programs and state. We are proud of everyone who has advanced in their career and are grateful for the new members of our WestCare family. We look forward to the amazing work that we will do together.
When we embrace changes in this field together, we are able to improve our services overall. What ultimately makes us successful is our ability to pull together and not pull apart during challenging times.
I’d like to close by humbly thanking all of our staff for their service to those that we serve and wish everyone and their families both a warm and happy holiday season and a great new year!
Shelton, Vice President
Program Spotlight: Richmond Health & Wellness Center
By Christopher Kirkparick, Program Director, Richmond Health & Wellness Center
The Richmond Health & Wellness Center provides residential Substance Use Disorder (SUD) and Withdrawal Management treatment services to 25 adult men (Age 18 and older) in a safe and supportive environment that utilizes gender-responsive and trauma-informed treatment approaches to meet the needs of the men in our care. Those that we serve may or may not also have a co-occurring mental health diagnosis. In addition to our primary treatment services, we provide case management, Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)curriculum, group and individual counseling, vocational assistance, and more. If interested in the program, please contact our team by calling (510) 216-4601.
Kudos to Amy
One staff who stands out for living and embodying the WestCare “Mission” is one of our counselors, Amy Crawford. Amy, daily serves our population to facilitate change in the thinking of our clientele and shows by living example of what can be accomplished with hard work and effort towards your recovery.
A Success Story
"In my stay at Richmond Health and Wellness, I have made a lot of progress towards fighting my disease of addiction. Coming here has allowed me to get to know myself. I now understand that sobriety is a lifestyle that I must do for myself. I am focusing on the internal factors that contribute to my addiction. I am now working on turning my tragedy into triumph. While in the program and as part of my recovery, I started a bible study to give back to my peers and become of service to the house. My goal is to
Donations
11.17: WestCare’s Fifth Annual Thankful Thursday
In November, our staff from across the state took part in WestCare’s fifth annual Thankful Thursday event by sharing personalized thank you cards with their fellow staff and enjoying a special lunch together! From our staff down in San Diego all the way up to Chico and everywhere in between – thank you for Uplifting the Human Spirit of your WestCare Family!
11.22: The 2022 San Joaquin County Veterans Stand Down
In November, the 2022 San Joaquin County Veterans Stand Down event allowed for our San Joaquin Valley Veterans team in Stockton to connect local Veterans with services and resources. Resources available for attendees ranged from housing and employment assistance to legal assistance and emergency aid in the form of hygiene kits, clothing, showers, etc.
Their team was able to screen quite a few Veterans and in doing so, were able to connect them and their families with local resources. This was a great opportunity for outreach as some of them were unaware of our services.
While in attendance, they also had the opportunity to connect with Assemblymember Carlos Villapudua and Stockton Mayor, Kevin Lincoln. On behalf of our SJVV team, we’d like to send our heartfelt thanks to all of our community partners for their time and energy that they put into presenting this important annual event for our local Veteran community!
11.22: SJVV Recognizes Their Vets with a Thanksgiving Feast!
Our San Joaquin Valley Veterans (SJVV) team in Fresno gave thanks to the Veterans that they serve in November by providing a Thanksgiving lunch for them and their families! Thank you to our dedicated team for their limitless support for our Veterans and their loved ones! To our brave women and men who served for our country - we are
11.22: MLK Residential's Men’s Unit Pays Tribute to a Friend
The men of our MLK Residential facility in Fresno held a balloon release on Nov. 11 for a client who passed away this year. In remembrance, they wrote positive messages on the balloons to signify their thoughts and memories of their lost brother in recovery. They played Sarah McLachlan’s, “In the Arms of an Angel” as they released their balloons into the night sky. It was a way of letting go and offered a sentimental way of expressing their grief.
11.22: The Living Room Gives Thanks to Friends & Community
Nothing says "A Place to Belong" more than great company and a home cooked meal! In November, the staff at The Living Room in Fresno along with the amazing team from BEAT, prepared and served a warm Thanksgiving meal to an absolutely packed house of their friends and community supporters!
Following the meal, they held several spirited rounds of BINGO! Thank you to everyone who was on hand for this special event and to those who helped make it as special as it was!
11 29: The Fraga Family Continues a Tradition in Memory of a Loved One Lost
In late November, the family of Richard Fraga, whom lost his battle to substance abuse in 2020, once again made a donation in his memory to benefit the men, women, and children that we serve at our MLK Residential facility in Fresno. He was represented by his mother, Martha Fraga; aunt, Carmen Garcia; and cousins, Kathy Pedroza, and Victor and Jackie Alvarado.
An ongoing tradition for the past three years with local programs like ours - each gift of hygiene items and warm clothing came with a special message from their family as well as a bible verse to help them along in their journey. His mother, Martha, wanted to share with all that we serve to never forget to take their recovery "One day at a time" while his aunt, Carmen, wanted them to know how addiction has affected their family and why they choose to give back.
On behalf of our WestCare family and those that we are so proud to serve, we’d like to send not only our heartfelt thanks to the Fraga family for this tremendous gesture - but strength as they continue to honor his memory!
12.8: The Family of Cheyenne Massey Shares Holiday Joy with the Children of MLK Residential
This month, we received a very special visit from John and Gwen Ockey Pfost,the parents of our beloved and late friend and member of the WestCare California family, Cheyenne Massey.In 2013, as our family had to say goodbye, we announced the renamed Cheyenne Massey Learning Center at MLK Residential in her memory. Every year since, they have brought donations for our children served at the program. We are so grateful forGwen and John and their dedication to honoring the memory of someone who impacted so many of those that we have served. Thank you for your gesture and allowing us to spend some time with this amazing woman!
