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NCADD -- PASADENA 1998 ANNUAL REPORT
Our Golden Anniversary Only five years after a humble beginning in New York, a core of committed, recovering people in Pasadena began an undertaking that has remained faithful to the vision of those "good old timers" for half a century. This year we at the Pasadena Council are celebrating an important milestone: fifty years of service to the people of Pasadena and the San Gabriel Valley. In the following pages, you will find brief descriptions of the on-going projects and programs that have made the Pasadena Council a respected home for compassion and recovery in our community. This is not a time to rest on our laurels. While the successes of our past are great, the challenge of the present is greater still. In assessing the needs of the recovering community as we move into a new millennium, the following efforts are under development: ? Fund-raising efforts aimed at securing our current building as a permanent location -- Over one thousand recovering people and their families pass through our doors each week. Through 12-step meetings, outpatient-counseling services, employee assistance programs, legal and educational support, recovery is made available to many. In order to best insure that this lifeline remains available for years to come, we are planning the purchase of our current location at 181 N. Hudson. ? CalWORKs -- In 1998, AFDC was replaced by CalWORKs (California Work Opportunities and Responsibilities for Kids), a limited time, "Welfare-to-Work" public assistance program for those in need. We are currently developing strategies and mechanisms to better serve our current CalWORKs clients and to attract others who qualify for this program. ? Support for dual-diagnosis clients -- Many of those who seek help from the Council have the complicating factor of a psychological diagnosis in addition to a history of alcohol and/or other drug dependency. Referrals for these clients such as treatment programs and out patient programs are often limited. We are addressing this issue by both expanding our list of local referrals and refining our own out patient program to better accommodate dual-diagnosis clients. ? Hepatitis C -- A worldwide epidemic of Hepatitis C is now on our doorstep. Plans are also underway to aid in prevention of this serious health crisis in our community by providing low-cost testing. ? Exploring low cost/no cost testing -- Frequent and random drug testing is one of the most effective ways to aid a person in very early recovery, often providing the motivation to stay clean "just for today". Unfortunately, the current cost of such testing is prohibitive for many of our clients. New techniques of testing and new funding sources are being investigated to provide this service to those most in need.
Outpatient Program During 1998, our organization evolved from a Case Management / Recovery Service Program into a comprehensive Outpatient Chemical-Dependency Program. In 1998 we served over 200 outpatient clients with an average monthly census of forty. This program is comprised of many elements, including assessment, evaluation, treatment planning and supervised implementation of the treatment plan. In addition, we offer education on addiction and recovery to clients and family members, facilitated recovery support groups and weekly individual counseling. We provide supervised drug testing, job/employment assistance, and ongoing recovery and treatment support. This comprehensive program is highly structured and is facilitated by M.F.C.C.s and Certified Alcohol and Drug Dependency Counselors and interns. The Courts, the Department of Children's Services, Probation Officers, and other treatment professionals refer clients to us.
Special attention in the Out Patient Program is given to: ? Adolescent Services -- We offer specialized adolescent counseling provided by a licensed adolescent specialist. This program is held on Saturday to best accommodate the needs of adolescents. ? Bilingual Services -- In addition to full time bilingual counselors and volunteers, we have a facilitated, Spanish speaking 12-step study class that meets on a weekly basis. ? Programs Addressing Women's Issues -- Some of our out patient groups specialize in women's specific needs as they relate to recovery. ? Needs of the Family in Recovery -- Special attention is given in both groups and education classes to understanding addiction as a family disease (i.e., one which effects all members of the family unit).
Our Outpatient Program is staffed by: ? Ted Reyes is a graduate of Glendale College's Alcohol and Drug Studies program. He is bilingual in Spanish and has been extremely helpful in working wit h our Spanish-speaking clients. ? Sharon Hofmann works at the Pasadena Council and at Glendale Adventist Hospital's Alcohol and Drug Services Department. Sharon?s expertise includes counseling our female clients and working with our dually-diagnosed mentally ill clients. She facilitates two education group per week. ? Lee Meyers is both a Certified Alcohol and Drug counselor and is certified as an HIV/AIDS counselor and educator. She was the driving force behind beginning a chemical dependence group for HIV and AIDS patients at the Aids Service Center. ? Pat Barney earned her certificate in Alcohol and Drug Abuse Counseling through Pacific Oaks College and her MA in Clinical Psychology. Pat is currently a registered MFCC intern. ? Bob Steinman is a Social Worker with the Department of Children and Family Services who has worked at the Maryanne Frostig Center specializing in adolescent development. Bob earned his MA through the California Family Study Center/Philips Graduate Institute and is currently certified as a substance abuse and addiction counselor.
Underwrite A Recovery The Underwrite A Recovery Foundation (UAR) was created by Council Staff in collaboration with the St. Luke Share Unit Alumni Association and Hospital administration. The UAR funds treatment scholarships at several San Gabriel Valley programs including St. Luke Share Unit. Treatment is provided for individuals who cannot afford them. Since its inception in 1989, UAR has dispensed almost two million dollars in treatment services. In 1998, Council staff referred and facilitated 47 individuals and families for medical, residential and intensive day treatment programs.
Volunteers The Council is a vehicle of service for public spirited men and women who recognize that the quality of their lives depends, in part, on being of service to others. We do not treat our volunteers as ?heros? but rather as individuals who recognize that in order to ?keep it? they must also give it away. Volunteers are a central part of the Council?s service and philosophy. In every phase of our activities volunteers play a meaningful role from answering telephones and clerical support to MFCC Interns providing low cost counseling and psychotherapy services. Some of our volunteers are physically disabled and give time at the Council in order give something back to the community for the benefits they receive. And of course there are volunteers who have been with the Council for many years who simply want to help us help others. The services rendered to the community by these special people include: staffing the reception desk; dispensing referral information; sharing experience, strength and hope; psychotherapy, psychiatric consultation and pastoral counseling; typing, data entry, internal audits; painting, cleaning, catering, grounds maintenance, carpentry, cabinetry; computer training, computer repair and upgrading; fund-raising, mailing, telephoning and providing much needed love, warmth and friendship for clients, staff and each other.
Drinking Drivers Our services to Pasadena and Glendale Municipal Courts include assessment, referral and client tracking. Our Glendale office is a full time Court Referral Center and handles the largest volume of these cases. In 1998 we handled 710 such cases to successful completion.
Domestic Violence and Abuse In cooperation with Affiliated Psychiatric Medical Group headed by board member John Key, Ph.D., and the I Am Foundation headed by Ted Knolls MA, the Counsel is currently offering specialized services in the area of domestic violence and sexual abuse. Employee Assistance The purpose of the Employee Assistance Resource Network (E.A.R.N.) is to provide effective employee assistance services to businesses and organizations whose size and budget have made them unable to access such services in the past. Employee Assistance services primarily consists of assessment, treatment planning and referral, crisis intervention, benefits analysis, grief counseling, work-site wellness education, and management consultation and training. In 1998 we were honored to sign a new Employee Assistance contract with the Huntington Library in Pasadena and the Santa Monica AIDS Project. We now serve 18 client companies with more than 1,850 employees. The effectiveness of the E.A.R.N. program has been documented by an independent evaluation study by the Claremont Graduate School Division of Organizational Strategy and Evaluation. This study indicates that over the last 3 years this program has achieved:
? 95% plus client retention rate ? 15% reduced annual absenteeism in client companies ? 20% reduced employee grievances ? 9% increased employee's well-being in the workplace ? 90% success rate in resolving employee problems
During the coming year, we plan an increased marketing of the program to small and medium sized businesses in an effort to provide this valuable and cost-effective service to as many employers and employee clients as possible, while maintaining a level of service which is unsurpassed.
Drug and HIV Testing In August ?96 we began to offer supervised urinalysis drug testing to clients, courts and community members onsite at Council Offices. Commencing in November of ?96 the Council began offering HIV testing. On the first Monday of each month free, confidential HIV testing is available at Council offices provided by AltaMed Health Services Corporation.
Collaboration As in past years, we maintain collaborative relationships with many community agencies in the field of alcohol and drug treatment. The following agencies, projects and groups represent Council collaborative activities and partners in 1998: St. Luke Medical Center, Las Encinas Hospital, City of Pasadena, Pasadena Aids Service Center, Day One, Pasadena Healthy Cities Project, Pasadena Altadena Health Partnership, Passageways, AltaMed Health Services Corporation, Bishop Gooden Home, East L.A. Recovery Center, East Los Angeles City College Alcohol and Drug Studies Program, Glendale Community College Alcohol and Drug Studies Program, USC Medical School, Social Security Administration, County of Los Angeles Dept of Public Health-Office of Alcohol and Drug programs, Pasadena Municipal Court, Glendale Municipal Court. Education Council staff and volunteers continue to make presentations to enhance awareness of alcohol and drug dependence prevention and treatment. Some of the Outreach Events of 1998 include: Resident Training Program at USC School of Medicine 1998 Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL) Health and Safety Faire "Health Connections'98" for the Pasadena Area Community Collage Presentations to the Alhambra School District, American Red Cross, P.A.L.M. , Pasadena Community Health Center, Safe and Drug Free Schools Health Fair Expo for Saint Luke Medical Center. Meetings The Council is open seven days a week 365 days a year from 5:30 a.m. until 10:30 p.m. to host community self-help and support meetings. Our current roster of nearly 40 weekly 12-step meetings include: Alcoholics Anonymous, Al-Anon, Al-Ateen, Codependency Anonymous, Narcotics Anonymous, Marijuana Anonymous, Adult Children of Alcoholics, Overeaters Anonymous, Debtors Anonymous, Sexual Addictions Anonymous. In 1998, well over two thousand such meetings were held.
Weekly Meetings
AA Sunday 6:15 AM Upstairs Sunrise AA Sunday Noon Upstairs Came to Believe AA Sunday 5 PM Upstairs Big Book Comes Alive SA Sunday 6 PM Upstairs-Back NA Sunday 8 PM Upstairs SOS AA Monday 6:15 AM Upstairs Sunrise AA Monday Noon Upstairs-Front OA Monday 7:45 PM Upstairs-front Al-Anon (Spanish) Monday 8:00 PM Upstairs-back Nuevos Caminos AA Tuesday 6:15 AM Upstairs Sunrise AA Tuesday Noon Upstairs Progress not Perfection Private Tuesday 6? 9 PM Upstairs-Group Rm. I am Foundation SA Tuesday 7:30 PM Upstairs-Group Rm. AA Tuesday 8 PM Upstairs Step Study AA Wednesday 6:15 AM Upstairs Sunrise NA Wednesday Noon Upstairs I can?t; We can Al-Anon (Spanish) Wednesday 6 PM Upstairs Nuevos Caminos Al-Ateen (Spanish) Wednesday 6 PM Upstairs-small room Al-Anon/ACOA (Spanish) Wednesday 7 PM Downstairs AA Wednesday 8 PM Upstairs AA Thursday 6:15 AM Upstairs Sunrise AA Thursday Noon Upstairs Hudson Nooners Al-Anon (Spanish) Thursday 8 PM Upstairs AA Friday 6:15 AM Upstairs Sunrise NA Friday Noon Upstairs How It Works and Why MA Friday 6:30 PM Upstairs-front Joint Effort SAA (Closed) Friday 6:30 PM Upstairs-rear AA Friday 8:30 PM Upstairs Cakes & Chips AA Saturday 6:15 AM Upstairs Sunrise SAA Saturday 10 AM Upstairs AA Saturday Noon Upstairs As Bill See?s It NA Saturday 1:30 PM Upstairs Dose of Recovery S-Anon Saturday 5:30 PM Downstairs AA Saturday 8 PM Upstairs Candlelight
Monthly Meetings NA 1st Wed. 6:15 PM Hospitals & Institutions NA 2nd Sunday 12:45 PM Upstairs Public Information NA 2nd Sunday 1:15 PM Upstairs Phone Lines NA 2nd Sunday 2:00 PM Upstairs Area Service Committee |