In the Loop with WestCare California

Welcome to the WestCare California Loop!

April 2015

“As usual, I would like to thank everyone that has helped submit stories for this jam packed issue. I hope you

all enjoy the news about what our programs have been up to and please don’t forget to send any and all news

about your program for publication in our next issue.” - Michael Mygind, Special Projects Officer

Issue 31 Volume 3

Bakersfield - Chowchilla - Chico

Corcoran - Fresno - Hanford - Sacramento

San Diego - Stockton - Susanville

A monthly newsletter that covers

the events of our programs in:

Recent Happenings at WestCare California...

Employee Spotlight: Christy Glunz

“My name is Christy Glunz. I currently serve the WestCare Foundation in the capacity of

Contract Compliance Specialist for STOP program AREA 1. My job description allows

me to work firsthand with the Treatment Program Providers in our area in a collabora-

tive effort to ensure the best quality of service to the population that we serve. The po-

sition I work at within this organization is most rewarding as I have been given the op-

portunity to directly oversee the implementation of many new and exciting changes that

will benefit the futures of the population that we serve as we move ever forward in the

quest to uplift the human spirit. When I am not doing this important, rewarding work, I

am home enjoying the rewards of family with my loving husband and three wonderful

children. Just a few of my hobbies include crafting, baking, cooking, and attending our

children’s sporting events. My favorite hobbies….well, SLEEP of course, lol. : )”

Christy Glunz

4/1 - “Valley Youth Help at MLK”: As part of their third and final day of their iHeart Spring Break service projects at our

various sites, members on behalf of the Every Neighborhood Partnership & the Well Community Church helped clean up our

MLK site’s loading area and flower beds. They also assembled a mat in one of our courtyards. We would like to thank these

dedicated young members of our community and applaud them for completing over 90 hours of combined work!

Upcoming Events (See Page 3 for all details.)

On sale now!: Tick-

ets for Military Appre-

ciation night with the

Fresno Grizzlies.

May 21: Spring 2015

Graduation. 6:00pm at

the Tower Theater at

815 E Olive in Fresno.

3/25 - “A Happy and Proud Grandmother”: Congratulations to Tonya

Grier, Administrative Assistant at Bakersfield Residential, on becoming a

grandmother! Her Granddaughter, Avianna, was born on March 25th, 2015

at 5:55pm at 8lbs and 21 inches.

4/5 - “Easter at MLK”: “Happy Resurrection Day! The Sunday Morning Celebration from 9 am to 11 am for the children was

a hit! Games were played including an egg and spoon relay race, bean bag toss, spin and guess the number as well as a monkey

ring toss. Each child received a confetti egg for participating in the games as well as for winning their particular game. Last but

not least, the egg hunt! Each child found five eggs each. We were also able to share with the visitors during family visitation time

1pm to 3pm with a special treat bag as well. Peter Cottontail also visited the Men2Men’s unit during the family visitation. Special

thanks go out to the clients who helped organize and see the morning and afternoon activities through; without YOU, this

would not have been possible! It was a wonderful Day!” – Martha Gutierrez, Child Development Specialist

4/11 - “Oakhurst Veterans Stand Down”: Our Fresno SJVV

staff represented at the Oakhurst Veterans Stand Down event at the

Sierra Pines Church in Oakhurst.

Great work, guys!

4/8 - “Admin Gets a Surprise Visitor”: Staff at Admin received a visit from a sur-

prise visitor, a hen that they named Sally and designated the job of gate security to

for the day. We hope that she had a safe

journey after her job was done.

4/14 - “Homelink”: On Day 2 of the 25 Cities - Fres-

no, CA Sustainability Review, our WestCare California, Inc.

Leadership & Community Team members demonstrat-

ed the new database and technology known as Home-

Link. Great job WestCare!

4/18 - “1st Annual Women’s Day Conference”: A few of our

WestCare California, Inc. staff at-tended the 1st Annual Woman's

Day Conference at Parc Grove Commons! WestCare was able to

donate some goodie bags from bath & body works as well as items for

stress relief & wellness!

4/18 - “NoTown Roller Derby”: WestCare was proud to participate in a recent roller derby bout on multiple levels. MLK men’s cli-ents helped set up for the event and clean the skates and bearings for our hometown team, NOtown Roller Derby. Meanwhile, our Fres-

no SJVV staff were on hand to provide information on their veterans services.

4/11 - “24th Annual Fresno State First Nations Powwow”: We would like to thank our phenomenal staff for representing West-Care California, Inc. at the 24th Annual Fresno State First Nations Powwow! The Powwow was open to all individuals & families and in-

cluded arts/crafts booths, information booths, several dances, great food and fun. Until next year!

4/18 – “Spring Fling”: Staff from the Living Room took part in the 2015 Spring Fling resource fair. The event provided health

information and resources directed towards those in the LGBTQ community. The event also featuring live entertainment

including a fire swallowing demonstration!

4/23 - “Waste Management and Valley Schools Spread the Joy of Reading”: Local schools were invited to participate in the

“Waste Management Books for Buddies” book drive in honor of Earth Day! The schools included Malaga Elementary, Marshall Elementary,

Quail Lake Environmental Charter School and Sequoia Elementary. The students from each of the participating schools collected a total of 5,277 books over the course of the campaign which were then donated to WestCare California’s Martin Luther King residential treatment

facility and the Poverello House. The winning school, Malaga Elementary, collected 2,163 books and was on hand to donate half of the books that were collected by all of the schools to the women and children of WestCare!

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

Monthly Question: “Looking back on high school, what class do you wish you would have taken and why?”

““I wish they let girls take shop in school. I wanted to be a carpenter when I grew up. I do lots of pro-

jects, but have no formal training. However I did build a greenhouse, turn my front porch into a bed-

room and turn two carports into a fitness studio and a living room.”

- Barbara Varner, Data Collections

Next Month’s Question: “What is the best trait that you got from your mother and how has it helped shape your life?"

Criminal Justice Corner

“WestCare staff at SATF are busy giving the Inmate population “tools” for a positive change, but there is more happening behind

the scenes such as the creation of the first CBT Providers Fair at SATF. This isn’t your typical providers fair. This fair will have a

confirmed number of 22 representatives from all over the state. The WestCare Providers Fair will have a representative to ad-

dress all the needs of the inmate population we serve upon parole. Probation, parole, aftercare programs, job placement , and

college professionals are scheduled to attend. Bob Brown, Transitional Counselor, has worked diligently and coordinated with

the SATF staff all April to the point that this Fair on May 6th will be in CDCR’s newsletter. Great Job SATF Team!!!!”

- Deon Duffey, SATF, Program Director

4/23 – “Annual Litter Day”: CalTrans holds an annual event

to raise awareness of the litter problem in CA. The event was

also held to recognize the ef-

forts of affiliated programs and

their parolee works crews that have gone out to clean up free-

way areas. Staff from Fresno’s Day Reporting Center were on

hand for this event to celebrate all that we have accomplished

with this partnership and look

forward to what it holds for our clients in the future.

Mark Your Calendars!

4/23 – “Honor a Hero, Hire a Vet Job and Resource Fair”: San Joaquin Valley Veterans’s Hanford office received the Kings County Service

Provider Award at the Honor a Hero Hire a Veteran (HAHHAV) Job & Resource Fair. This HAHHAV was held in partnership with West Hills

College, the State of California Workforce Services, Kings County Veter-

ans Employment Committee (VEC), Kings County Economic Development

Corporation, Job Training Office - WIA and the American Legion Hanford Chapter. Employers conducted interviews on the spot with candidates

referred from vendors. Jobseekers were able to interact with employers from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. A Veteran Affairs doctor and nurse were on hand to assist veterans with VA disability concerns. Vendors received free sandwiches and potato salad for lunch provided by

Gunny’s Sandwiches of Lemoore and the Veterans received fried chicken, potato salad & homemade cookies donated by the American Legion Hanford. Vendors either praised the event or requested attendance in next year’s job fair.