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Dear Friends of Epiphany,
These are more than words for the Daughters of Charity and in turn for those who are successful in ministering with us. These virtues or charisms were actually “handed Like most people, I really love down” to us by St. Vincent who Thanksgiving and all that it means to imparted them to the first Sisters from the time of our founding on November us as Americans, families and friends. 29, 1633, and all our agencies Today, I am particularly reflecting on what Thanksgiving impart and expect these values of all means to me as a member of our staff team who show those who work with us. The staff of up every day to make lives better for the individuals God Epiphany were excited to get these sends our way. In the 390-year history of the Daughters T-shirts and wear them proudly, knowing that they are living of Charity, the Sisters have never been alone in carrying the words they carry on their backs and are happy to be out our Vincentian charism in our thousands of ministries. on this Vincentian team at Epiphany Center. I thank God for Our donors and our associates have been key to our each of them and their sharing their talents and a part of effectiveness. their lives with all of us at Epiphany Center. This issue of FOCUS shows those members of the Epiphany I also thank God for each of you Team who were present when the picture was taken. We who help to make our work possible now have 65 staff members who work in nine different and so effective. programs serving over 200 families a year and we recently received a five-year Federal grant for our newest program, May God bless you and those you love and pray for, an Intensive Outpatient Program in collaboration with San Francisco Family Treatment Court. The T-shirts display our Vincentian Values of Respect, Compassion, Inventiveness, Advocacy, and Simplicity.
Melissa Belbahri to retire after 25 years of service!
Nurse Practitioner| Epiphany Employee Since 1999 EPIPHANY CENTER | 1
We have been blessed to have had Melissa Belbahri, NP on staff for a quarter-century. Since the late 1990’s, she has worked tirelessly in our Pediatric Clinic alongside Dr. Clem Donahue, MD providing primary care to children in our residential program and Parent-Child Center as well as children of former clients - many of whom they have treated from infancy into adulthood. Together they have conducted over 5,000 clinician visits to date and work to keep more than 60 children healthy each year. We are so grateful for Melissa's compassion and dedication to our clients. Her passion, expertise, and guidance have been inspiring and played an immeasurable role in our collective success. Melissa, we THANK YOU for your unwavering commitment to excellence, your lasting contributions, and for being an invaluable part of the Epiphany team. We will miss you!
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Thankful for those that make it happen... Erin McSweeney
In-Take Case Manager | Employee since 2018
I came to Epiphany Center because I have lived this experience. I, too, had been in a program for women and it changed my life. It made me change the course of what I wanted to do. Before recovery, I had worked at Kaiser Permanente for over 10 years. Once I started recovery, I knew I didn’t want to go back to my old life. I wanted to do something where I felt I could give back to women like me who were lost and searching for a way to change their lives. I found this at Epiphany. I stay at Epiphany Center because of the incredible staff I work with and our shared passion for supporting our women to succeed in recovery. One of the most beautiful things I’ve ever seen is clients coming in broken, alone, scared, and unable to trust people and then transforming and becoming proud of themselves and their accomplishments. Our women come here to get clean, sober, and to heal, but often are also working through many other challenges. I am most fulfilled when I see a woman come to Epiphany, take the suggestions given to her and be able to reunite with her child as a healthy, clean, and sober mother. I feel
Lynette Jones
Parent-Child Center, Site Supervisor Employee Since 2015
“Epiphany and I were in Love at first Sight. What makes me stay is
the rewarding work we do with the children. We can see how they learn and develop from day one at the Center. Then, to see them grow into capable preschoolers is incredible to watch. I am so thankful, amazed and delighted when I see their parents succeed in their work and school and build a new, comfortable, safe home with their children.” EPIPHANY CENTER | 2
so deeply for them because I have been in their shoes. I have been homeless, I have been separated from my children, I have been in an abusive relationship, I have spent time in custody, and I have been hopelessly unable to stop. But I found a program that taught me the tools I needed to make changes in my life to fight the battle against addiction and remain in recovery. Epiphany’s program does just this and I want this for every woman who comes through Epiphany’s doors. I have a life I never thought I could have and I never let myself forget how blessed I am. Today I know I make my mother proud. Today I make myself proud. This happened because I found a program that helped me to do what I needed to do. At Epiphany, we give women the tools they need so they can do it too. The moments I am most grateful for at Epiphany are when our clients realize they CAN do it!"
Suzy Yu
Childcare Teacher Employee Since 2013
“I am so grateful for the opportunity to support and see our mothers and their children succeed in our programs. There is nothing
more fulfilling than when the children and mothers embrace their special needs and learn to adapt to the world at large. Knowing that I am part of a team that does everything in its power to make sure families stay together is such a blessing to be a part of."
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Joji Gale Johns
In-Take Treatment Specialist| Employee since 2018
What drew me to Epiphany were the agency’s values; they are different from other residential programs and they aligned with my faith and how I viewed connecting to help others.
and got involved in drugs, something she stated was the "only stable thing" in her life. It was at this moment that I realized that in order to build trust, to provide appropriate treatment, and to connect with services, I needed to come from a place of empathy, respect, understanding, and compassion to increase the chances of building good rapport. And a great rapport we built over time! Healthy communication builds healthy relationships. For once in her life, she built the confidence to have trust in others and herself and eventually graduated the program. I let our women know they matter. When clients are in a group participating and engaging, it makes me feel fulfilled. I witness a community coming together and working together, while individually doing the hard work to succeed in life for themselves and their children. It's a privelege for me to accompany clients on their journey. I see them during intake on their first day until they graduate. I tell them, "You are the driver of your own car. I’m here in the car to help you navigate." On their way out of program, I’ll hop out of the car but they can look in the rearview mirror, and I’ll be there."
In Her Words...
with such knowledge and care. They opened my eyes to better ways to parent my baby, Leo, and helped me feel proud. Every day I feel a little braver to go out on my own. The parenting counselors have taught me how to really be there for Leo. I feel such a strong bond with him. He’s such a happy baby because we are here. Recently, I received housing but decided to stay in Epiphany's transitional program longer to strengthen the skills I have learned. I have more work to do, and I know that after moving into independent housing, the real work starts. I recently spent my first weekend away from Epiphany. When I returned, some women asked, “How did you feel? Were you tempted to use?” I said “no” because I have so much going for me now. When I do move into my own place and no one from Epiphany is around to hold my hand, I know I will be ready. Epiphany has equipped me with all the tools I need. Thank you for not giving up on me.
Trauma-informed care is being able to see the person as a whole without re-traumatizing or devaluing them, especially, while in treatment. Coming from a place of compassion to give the individual the opportunity to enhance their experience while gaining abstinence is (in my opinion) the correct approach for client and provider to work together without resistance. I had my “ah ha” moment (an Epiphany!) when I saw a client for the first time as a "whole" person instead of just another woman entering our program. She had abandonment issues, had a history of self-sabotaging, placed herself in risky and dangerous situations, was displaced a few times through the foster care system,
When I arrived at Epiphany, I was pregnant and homeless. I had been living in tents under the freeway. Someone told me to call Epiphany Center but I was really scared. Even pregnancy did not stop me from staying on the streets. After I had my baby, I was mandated to get into a program or risk losing my newborn. I called Epiphany. I was expecting only shelter. I never imagined an opportunity to find myself through their programs. The real me. I wasn’t always homeless and unemployed. I had hopes; Epiphany helped me to find my way back to them. I am so comfortable at Epiphany. There is no judgment, only compassion. The recovery staff is amazing and they support us
Save the Dates EPIPHANY CENTER | 3
Epiphany Center Client
Benefit Party & Show One Giant Leap
Celebrating Mothers Luncheon
F E B R U A RY 29, 2 0 24
M AY 8 , 2024
no n p ro f i t o rga n i zat i o n U.S. POSTAGE PAID SAN FRANCISCO, CA
M O U N T ST. J O S E P H – ST. E L I Z A B E T H
PERMIT NO. 7744
100 Masonic Avenue, San Francisco, California 94118
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Volunteer Spotlight
Leah Hannon Fourth Year Medical Student Epiphany Center Volunteer
As a fourth year medical student, I decided to return home to San Francisco to advance my experience in Addiction Recovery. I was warmly welcomed at Epiphany as an Assistant Health Education Instructor to Nurse Practitioner Melissa Belbahri. Every week I researched and helped teach a topic according to the most updated medical guidelines, such as smoking cessation and prevention of sexually transmitted infections. What impressed me most about Epiphany is its philosophy of keeping families united. Allowing mothers to engage in recovery with their children alongside them is not only crucial for her successful commitment to recovery, but is also significantly less traumatic for the child. Their approach is all-encompassing, including positive parenting skills classes, well-child checks by the on-site pediatrician, consistent access to psychiatric care, and continued daycare after they have graduated the program and are pursuing employment or school. As a future Family Medicine physician specializing in Addiction Medicine, I intend to model the philosophy of Epiphany and hope to return to continue growing this phenomenal place!
Newsweek Names Epiphany Center on List of "America's Best Addiction Treatment Centers" for 2023! OUR MISSION Epiphany Center strengthens family life through programs faithful to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, rooted in Judeo-Christian values and the tradition of service of the Daughters of Charity of St. Vincent de Paul. Epiphany Center provides client-centered care to a diverse population of women, children, and families, who are most vulnerable in our society. Our purpose is to enhance the physical, socialemotional, intellectual and spiritual growth of each person in our care. Our vision is to create a safe environment that reflects the belief that each person E P I P His Acreated N Y CbyE God, N T E isR endowed | 4 with unique gifts, and is worthy of respect. We believe that our care for individuals enriches their present and future lives, the lives of their families and, through them, the community in which we live.
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