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A Welcome by our Senior Vice President, Shawn Jenkins

In the Loop with WestCare California

A monthly newsletter that covers

the events of our programs in:

Bakersfield - Chico - Chowchilla/CCWF

Corcoran/CSP - Fresno - Hanford

Jamestown/SCC - Represa/Folsom - Sacramento

San Diego - San Luis Obispo/CMC - Stockton

Tehachapi/CCI - Vacaville/Solano - Wasco/WSP

Issue 46 - Volume 3 - August 2016

In This Issue

1. A Welcome by our

Senior Vice President,

Shawn Jenkins

2. California News

2. Veterans News

2 - 3. Treatment and

Rehabilitation News

4 - 5. Kudos!

5. Staff Recognition

Kudos!

5. Question of the Month

6 - 8. Program Directory

“WestCare Family,

It is my pleasure to announce the further expansion of our organization in the

service domains of Criminal Justice Services and Housing Opportunities all

within the past month! We have acquired four new in-prison treatment pro-

grams in Corcoran, Jamestown, Tehachapi and Wasco. These new programs

will join our four existing programs in Chowchilla, Represa, San Luis Obispo

and Vacaville for a total of eight in-prison programs! These programs have al-

lowed us to provide our treatment services within the walls of California’s prisons to lend a helping

hand to those who are currently repaying their debt to society. We have also expanded our hous-

ing services domain by adding on an exciting new collaborative project, the HERO (Homeless En-

gagement Resource Outreach) Team! HERO Team is a collaborative

project that will include staff from WestCare California, Fresno Eco-

nomic Opportunities Commission - Youth Sanctuary, Poverello

House and Turning Point of Central California. The HERO Team will

be hitting the streets of Fresno to work alongside the Fresno Police

Department Homeless Task Force, respond to requests for street

outreach and assessments generated from the City of Fresno and

coordinate with all Multi Agency Access Point (MAP) locations and other housing and support ser-

vices. These services and interventions are geared to removing barriers while providing linkages to

supportive services in an effort to achieve housing stabilization for homeless Veterans and other

chronically homeless individuals and their families within Fresno, CA. On behalf of all of our staff

and all of those that we serve, I

would like to welcome these brand

new programs and their staff to the

WestCare California family! Wheth-

er it’s anyone dealing with addiction,

Veterans, those within or exiting the

criminal justice system, those with a

mental health condition, those infect-

ed with or at risk of contracting HIV/

AIDS or those that are looking for a

permanent place to call ‘Home,’ we

are collectively here to help! Thank

you to all of our amazing staff for all

that you do and will do!”

Sincerely,

Shawn A. Jenkins, Senior Vice Pres-

ident, WestCare California

Shawn Jenkins

Follow us on

Social Media!

#WestCareCA

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California News

7/5 – 7/6 – Teen Bible Academy Volunteers

Lend a Hand During Service Week:

We were honored to have the wonderful volunteers from

Fresno Central Seventh-day Adventist Church's Teen Bi-

ble Academy come help out again at our MLK Residential

facility for two days in a row as part of their summer ser-

vice week! They assembled hygiene kits, planted flowers

and succulents, weeded our planters and spent time with

our kids in our Learning Center. Last summer, they not

only helped out at our MLK site, but our HomeFront pro-

gram for homeless female Veterans and their children.

Thank you, TBA, for your continued support and for

stopping by, giving your time and "Uplifting the Human

Spirit" of those that we serve!

Veterans News

7/25 - PG&E of Fresno Gather Donations

for Heroes:

We'd like to thank Barbara and the rest of her team

at Pacific Gas and Electric Company's Fresno branch for

collecting hygiene items, socks and even doggie treats for

the Veterans that receive services from our Fresno SJVV

office. Thank you, PG&E for your kindness and love for

our Veterans!

Treatment and Rehabilitation News

WestCare California Begins a New

Employment Experience Partnership:

We recently began a new employment partnership with

the S.t Francis Homeless Project that will help our ladies

in residential treatment obtain paid employment experi-

ence while helping a great local cause by baking and selling

all natural dog treats which will then be sold to support

the mission of the St. Francis Homeless Project to help

women who are experiencing homelessness or are deal-

ing with drug addiction. We are excited about the experi-

ence that our ladies will gain from this amazing new part-

nership!

7/26 - 28 - 2016 NAEH Conference in

Washington, D.C.:

Staff from Administration, Marketing, San Joaquin Valley

Veterans, Housing Services, HERO Team and MAP Point

attended the 2016 National Alliance to End Homelessness

Conference in our nation’s capital to learn the progress

that we have seen nationwide with ending chronic and

Veteran homelessness and what more can be done on the

part of community-based providers and collaborative

partnerships. Our Director of Marketing, Gabriela

McNiel, even took our marketing efforts on the road to

meet with congressional representatives on Capitol Hill

and discuss the many services that we provide. Amazing

work, team!

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Treatment and Rehabilitation News

(Continued from Page 2)

7/1 - MLK Residential Talent Show:

Our wonderful men, women, children and staff at our

MLK Residential facility held a talent show! The event fea-

tured singing, dancing, poetry, stand-up comedy, personal

testimonies and more! Thank you to everyone that helped

make this such an entertaining and uplifting event!

7/22 -23 - 2016 NAPVA Championships:

As in years past,

men from our MLK

Residential treat-

ment program

were once again a

part of the 22nd

Annual North American Pole Vaulting Association

(NAPVA) Championships event in the center of Old

Town Clovis! They helped set up and tear down the

event and enjoyed the festivities.

7/2 - MLK Bench-Press Competition:

Several of the men from our MLK Residential site partici-

pated in a 100, 200 and 300 pound bench-press competi-

tion. Each of the men received medals and trophies based

on their category and strength! Great job, gentleman and

thank you to our WestCare staff for organizing and over-

seeing the competition!

7/26 - Nurturing Parenting Celebration:

We would like to congratulate our 15 newest graduates

of the 15 week Nurturing Parenting class held at our MLK

Residential facility! This class aims to not only improve

parenting skills for mothers who are currently helping

themselves in residential treatment, but strengthen the

bond between them and their children. We are so proud

of all that they have accomplished and wish only the best

for them and their families in the future!

7/4 - Fourth of July at McKinney Plaza:

Our men at the McKinney Plaza Sober Living Environment

along with their children and alumni from the program

had a wonderful Independence Day BBQ!

7/16 - 2016 Big B.A.N.G. Football Clinic:

Our staff and clients took

part in the 2016 Big

B.A.N.G. (Building A New

Generation) Believe and

Achieve youth football

clinic at Bulldog Stadium in

Fresno. The event fea-

tured football lessons for

4th grade to 8th grade aged youth from past and present

NFL players including Robert Golden from the Pittsburgh

Steelers, Derron Smith from the Cincinnati Bengals and

Cameron Worrell from the Chicago Bears. Some of our

men from our MLK Residential program were on hand to

help set up and tear down the events and keep the

event’s participants hydrated. Great work, guys!

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Kudos! Michael P.

“I found my little friend on the

sidewalk. Once I picked my lit-

tle buddy up and put him in my

arms, he refused to leave my

sight. I guess he thought I was

his mommy or daddy : ) So, the

animal bird Sanctuary came to

WestCare to give my little

friend the treatment he will

need to survive. I called them worrying that he might not

survive in my care. I miss my little friend. God gave us a

few hours together. Thank you.”

James E. James E., a client from Fresno’s

Day Reporting Center (DRC), cre-

ated a special card in honor of a

Caltrans crew that was involved in

an accident on the freeway in Visa-

lia in early July leaving one of their

men severely injured in the hospi-

tal. James didn’t know this man, but

having worked on the NCCT

(Northern California Construction

Training) Caltrans crew through

the DRC himself, he wanted to

support one of his own. All of the

NCCT crew members, drivers and DRC staff signed it

along with the staff from the Caltrans yard. The card was

then hand delivered to the gentleman whom was still re-

covering from the accident in the hospital. Thank you for

“Uplifting the Human Spirit” with your huge heart and

wonderful art, James!

Gary Knepper: Welcome back to MLK

Residential Director,

Gary Knepper, whom has

been out on medical

leave since early May. A

“Welcome Back” lunch

was held for Gary on his

first day back in late July. We’re glad to have you back!

Danny R. Danny R. has been a tremendous help

with Wings Fresno deliveries and pick-

ups and has been a real pleasure to work with while helping those in need.

He is very positive and motivated to

give back to his community and his

conduct as a resident in our program

has shown nothing but a great attitude,

humbleness and desire to give of him-

self. Danny is a great role model for

others in the program and even helps to be a peer support

to many. He has assisted with tutoring another client that

has difficulties with reading and writing and is always willing

to help when asked. Danny

does not let the drama of oth-

ers affect his outlook and con-

tinues to do for others be-

cause as he puts it, "It helps

me grow to be a better per-

son when I can give back."

Robert Motley

“Robert Motley had a hard life in

which he was addicted to meth for

over 35 years. He finally made the

decision to enter treatment and com-

pleted the 90 day Residential Treat-

ment program with WestCare Cali-

fornia in 2004. He phased up and

completed 10 months at Sober Living,

where he continued to go to 12 step

meetings and work. He graduated the program and

walked proudly walked the line in November, 2005. Rob-

ert was hired by WestCare and has continued to work as

the RMSC Maintenance Engineer from 2006 to the pre-

sent day. He continues to overcome obstacles and is a

living inspiration to the guys in the program as an Alumni

that through treatment programs and hard work, a new

life is possible. He encourages teens and young men by

advising them to ‘Stay in school, get an education, set

goals and achieve those goals.’ When I heard his testimo-

ny to the men at MLK Residential, I was moved to award

him with the WestCare Alumni pin.” – Celestino Rayos,

Men’s Residential Coordinator, MLK Residential

Community Action Council

We’d like to thank Cyn-

thia Sterling, Sean Hen-

derson, Evelyn Castro

and Steve Odom from

our Community Action

Council for taking a tour

of our Bakersfield Resi-

dential treatment facility and learning about all of the great

things that they are doing for their men in treatment!

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Kudos!

Sydney Hoetker and Bridgette Crunk

“The Caught Being Good Token was

given to Sydney Hoetker. Last week, I

had the pleasure of witnessing a previ-

ous client come in and thank Sydney for

her help. He stated that Sydney really

helped him in his recovery and was very

grateful for her.

The Uplifting the Human Spirit token

was given to Bridgette Crunk. She has

been very welcoming and helpful the

past 30 days that I have been here with

Westcare. She has a great attitude and

takes time to laugh, which I admire.

Thank you again Bridgette for making

me feel welcomed.” - Alex Torres, M.S., Employment

Development Liaison, STOP Area 3 - Fresno

Barbara Varner

Barbara Varner, Data Collection

Specialist at MLK Residential, de-

serves a standing ovation. The

lovely and lively Miss Varner re-

cently reached Level 75 on the

birthday scale!!

Sydney Hoetker and Bridgette Crunk

“Alma, our new Veteran Advocate,

helped a Veteran couple get and secure

housing after she did their intake just yes-

terday. She uplifted the human spirit in

every aspect!” - Raymond Gonzales,

Outreach Specialist, San Joaquin Val-

ley Veterans - Fresno

“I would say, ‘Keep your left up and

jab.’ This applies to everything that you

may encounter when you’re under at-

tack from life’s offenses. You keep your

left up shielding what comes at you to

give you time to assess and then jab at

the problem till it’s solved; maybe with

a knockout!” - Richard Duron, Outpatient Counselor,

Belmont Health and Wellness

Nhieu

“Nhieu is one of our newest

lifers and came in with an ea-

gerness to help with everything

that he could. He has assisted

with all of our most recent

community events and has

been a pleasure to supervise.

His willingness to give back is

demonstrated in his work ethic

from doing his job function du-

tifully in-house and with any

other volunteer event we have

had him participate in. Nhieu

takes direction well and takes

initiative to start assisting where he sees there is necessity

before needing to be asked. We look forward to continu-

ing to work with Nhieu as he transitions successfully back

into society. “ - Yolanda Martinez-Nunez, RMSC Voca-

tional Counselor, MLK Residential Question of the Month:

“What good advice would you give to a

teenager growing up in today’s world?”

Question of the Month for September:

“What item in your possession could you

absolutely not do without?”

Staff Recognition Kudos!

Johnny C. “Johnny C toured with me in

and out of Corcoran Prison in

the early ’90’s. He completed

my Phoenix House program at

Avenal State Prison in 2001.

Yet, for many more years, habit

had him stuck in street, gang,

drug, crime and prison subcul-

tures. Johnny paroled to West-

Care in 2014, completed the program and is an Alumni

now. Because of WestCare, Johnny got a job with the city,

and has worked and remained out of trouble for the last 2

years. Johnny said, ‘I do not mess around anymore.

‘Through recovery, a new life is possible and Johnny is yet

another testimony of that.” - Celestino Rayos, Men’s

Residential Coordinator, MLK Residential

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Program Directory

Fresno Office

1505 N. Chestnut

Fresno, CA 93703

(559) 251-4800

Services: Management, Administra-

tive Support, Human Resources,

Accounting/Billing, Contract Compli-

ance, IT Support, Marketing/Media,

Procurement, Creative Services

Administration

The Living Room

901 E. Belmont

Fresno, CA 93701

(559) 486-1469

Services: Case Management, Hot

Meals Program, Housing Opportuni-

ties for Persons With AIDS

(HOPWA), Linkage to Testing and

Medical Care, Social Support

Education and Prevention

MLK Residential

2772 S. MLK Blvd

Fresno, CA 93706

(559) 265-4800

Services: Men’s/Women’s Short

Term Residential, Men’s/Women’s

Long-Term Residential, Residential

Treatment Program for Women and Children (M’ella), Resi-

dential Treatment Program for Men and Children: Papa Natal,

Residential Multi Service Center (RMSC)

Y-MAX Adolescent Program

410 E. 7th St,

Suite 5, 7, 9

Hanford, CA 93230

(559) 584-8100

Services: Adolescent Outpatient

Drug-Free Program

Treatment and Rehabilitation

Liberty Plaza (Sober Living)

4605 E. Liberty Fresno, CA 93702

(559) 237-3420 Ext. 20367

Services: Sober Living for Women

Bakersfield Residential

2901 S. H Street Bakersfield, CA

93304

(661) 398-4303

Services: Men’s Long-term Residen-

Belmont Health & Wellness

611 E. Belmont Fresno, CA 93701

(559) 237-3420

Services: Admissions, Adolescent

Outpatient Drug-Free Program,

Adult Outpatient Program,

Day Reporting Center (DRC)

McKinney Plaza (Sober Living)

1388 & 1398 E. Bulldog Ln

Fresno, CA 93710

(559) 237-3420 Ext. 20367

Services: Sober Living for Men

Crisis Psychiatric Response

Services (CPRS)

209 E. 7th St.

Madera, CA 93638

(559) 673-3508

Services: Mobile emergency

department response services,

Mental health services, crisis intervention, wellness planning, dis-

charge planning, Consumer centered and team based interven-

tions, Service coordination to adults and older adults receiving

services from designated hospital emergency departments within

Madera County who are deemed appropriate for an assessment

for involuntary psychiatric treatment pursuant to California Wel-

fare and Institutions Code Section 5150

Mental Health and Wellness

Supportive Overnight Stay

(SOS)

2772 S. MLK Blvd

Fresno, CA 93706

(559) 512-6802

Services: Provide a safe, supportive

environment to spend the night for

individuals who arrive at an ER with a mental health condition

needing services that don’t require a legal hold, Case Manage-

ment and transportation to ensure client engagement with

outpatient mental health services, Linkages to outpatient men-

tal health programs and supportive services such as housing,

food stamps, general assistance and SSI

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Program Directory (Continued)

Veterans Services

Merced

399 George Drive

BLDG. F

Merced, CA 95341

(209) 662-6073

Stockton

4545 Georgetown Pl.

Building D

Stockton, CA 95207

(209) 662-6073

Fresno

1617 E. Saginaw Way

Suite 102

Fresno, CA 93704

(559) 255-8838

San Joaquin Valley Veterans (SJVV)

Services: Drop-In and Ancillary Services, Supportive Services For Veteran Families (Services provided to Veterans through SSVF

include: Short-term case management, legal assistance, housing counseling services and placement assistance, financial planning ser-

vices, financial assistance for move in, eviction prevention, utilities, transportation, childcare and emergency supplies.)

Hanford

410 E. 7th St

Suite 5

Hanford, CA 93230

(559) 584-8100

HomeFront

3605 Eugenia

Fresno, CA 93725

(559) 266-1169

Services: Transitional housing for fe-

male Veterans with/without children for

up to two years, case management

Veterans Plaza

119 N. Calaveras

Fresno, CA 93721

(559) 241-8751

Services: Transitional housing

for male Veterans for up to

two years, case management

Housing Opportunities Housing Services

2443 S. Orange Fresno, CA 93725

(559) 241-8753

Services: Assistance with supportive housing to

families who are currently or chronically home-

less, Housing programs to assist individuals and

families with or without disabilities, Project LiftOff: Housing programs for low

income families with a disabled family member, Emergency Solutions Grant

(ESG), Fresno Madera Continuum of Care (FMCoC) Coordinated Entry

Multi-Agency Access

Program

MAP Point at the Pov

412 F Street Fresno, CA

93706

(559) 512-6777

Services: Coordinated intake/assessment pro-

cess connecting individuals facing housing, sub-

stance abuse, or mental illness challenges to

supportive services. Criminal Justice

Bakersfield

2901 S. H St.

Bakersfield, CA 93304

(661) 326-0485

Fresno

2772 S. MLK Blvd

Fresno, CA 93706

(559) 265-4800

Specialized Treatment for Optimized Programming (STOP)

Services: Case management, treatment placement in residential, outpatient and sober living, domestic violence education, voca-

tional training, pre-employment, job placement services and transportation from prison to treatment.

Chico

2585 Ceanothus Ave.

Suite 170

Chico, CA 95973

(530) 830-1180

Area 1 Area 3

Sacramento

1804 Tribute Rd.

Sacramento, CA 95815

(916) 564-4400

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Program Directory (Continued)

Would you like your program featured in the WestCare Loop? Please send all content to michael.mygind@westcare.com

All received content will also be submitted for possible publication in WestCare’s national newsletter, The Express. 8

Calif. Men’s Colony

CA Highway 1

San Luis Obispo, CA 93409

(805) 547-7900 Ext. 7966

Re-Entry Hub - Women’s Services:

Services: Provides 250 female inmates where treatment services

are based on the Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) principles

with a strong focus on continued treatment upon parole.

Folsom State Prison (FSP)

300 Prison Rd,

Represa, CA 95671

(916) 985-2561 Ext. 4086

Calif. State Prison

2100 Peabody Rd.

Vacaville, CA 95687

(707) 451-0182

Stockton

1609 N. Wilson Way

Stockton, CA 95205

(209) 642-8488

Custody to Community Transitional Reentry

Program (CCTRP)

Services: Provides treatment services to female inmates (83

in San Diego, 50 in Stockton) who have a minimum of 45 day

and a maximum of 2 years left on their sentence. We provide

an array of gender responsive trauma informed services in-

cluding substance abuse, mental health, domestic violence,

education, vocational and employment readiness.

Long Term Offender Program (LTOP) - Women’s

Services: A cognitive based program that includes substance

abuse treatment specifically structured for long-term offend-

ers who will not be released in the near future.

Central Calif. Women’s

Facility (CCWF)

23370 Road 22

Chowchilla, CA 93610

(559) 665-1408

San Diego

3050 Armstrong St.

San Diego, CA 92111

(619) 359-8266

Long Term Offender Program (LTOP) - Men’s

Services: Serves Long Term Male Offenders who will

not be released in the near future. Provides access to

cognitive behavior therapy programs, substance abuse,

criminal thinking, anger management and family rela-

tionships.

Criminal Justice (Continued from Page 7)

Single Level Substance Use Disorder Treatment

(SUDT) Program - Men’s Services: Provides evidence-

based SUDT programming to male inmates who are high-risk

offenders.

Wasco

701 Scofield Avenue,

Wasco, CA 93280

Corcoran

4001 King Avenue

Corcoran, CA 93212

Tehachapi

24900 Highway 202

Tehachapi, CA 93561

Jamestown

5100 O'Byrnes Ferry Rd.

Jamestown, CA 95327

Multi-Level Substance Use Disorder Treatment

(SUDT) Program - Men’s Services: Provides multi-level

evidence-based SUDT substance abuse, criminal thinking, an-

ger management and family relationships programming for

male inmates who are high-risk offenders.

For information on our soon to be opened in-prison SUDT programs, please contact our Deputy Administrator of

Criminal Justice Services, Virginia Sparks, by calling (559) 251-4800 Ext. 20916