Casa de las Amigas Becomes Smoke Free Campus

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Casa de las Amigas 1 6 0 N . E l M o l i n o A v e . , P a s a d e n a , C A 9 1 1 0 1 F a l l 2 0 1 3

6 2 6 . 7 9 2 . 2 7 7 0 w w w . c a s a d e l a s a m i g a s . o r g

T H E O F F I C I A L N E W S L E T T E R F O R

O U R M I S S I O N

T H R O U G H A N

I N T E G R A T E D H E A L I N G

P R O G R A M F O R

B O D Y A N D M I N D T H A T

T A K E S P L A C E

I N A H O M E L I K E

E N V I R O N M E N T ,

C A S A D E L A S A M I G A S

H E L P S W O M E N W I T H

A L C O H O L O R D R U G

A D D I C T I O N R E C O V E R B Y

P R O V I D I N G T H E M W I T H

T H E T O O L S N E C E S S A R Y

T O L E A D P R O D U C T I V E ,

R E S P O N S I B L E A N D

S O B E R L I V E S .

L E V E L S O F C A R E

Onsite Detoxification

Sub-acute, 24-7 Facility

Residential Treatment

Primary, transitional and

extended in-patient services;

family groups; yoga, medita-

tion, relapse prevention

Day Treatment

Individualized alternative to

in-patient care with 30 hours of

weekly workshops focused on

addiction education, women’s

empowerment, social support

Intensive Outpatient

Structured and flexible, high-

intensity focus on recovery,

relapse prevention and

individualized counseling

Sober Living Facilities

Combined transitional sober

living with traditional treatment

services to ensure a successful

path to permanent sobriety

Camp Casa Brings Families, Clients & Staff Together For a Weekend Among the Pines

Camp Casa 2013, held the

weekend of October 18-20 at

Camp Seeley in Crestline,

marked one of many “firsts” for

Casa de las Amigas this year

and it was a tremendous outing

for our program participants,

family members and staff.

Our first Camp Casa offered on

-sight AA and Alanon meetings

for participants and family

members, hiking, crafts,

campfire storytelling, s’more’s,

of course, and much more.

“Seeing our residents join with

staff and family members up in

the mountains was a heart-

warming experience,” said

David Ripley, director of

programs. “I think we’ve started

an annual Casa de las Amigas

tradition for our residents and their families, and the Casa team.”

(more photos from Camp Casa 2013 are posted inside on page 2)

Casa de las Amigas Appoints New Executive Director The board of directors of Casa

de las Amigas is pleased to

announce that Leah Rodemich

assumed the position of

executive director effective

November 1.

Leah, herself a graduate of

Casa’s residential treatment

program, has been a long-term

member of Casa’s management

team, serving, among other

things, as associate director of

administration and most recently

as chief operating officer. Leah’s

promotion to the executive director

position marks the conclusion of

Shelly Wood’s temporary tenure as

interim executive director and a

period of transition at Casa.

The Board thanks Shelly for her

many contributions during this

period that will survive her brief

tenure with Casa.

“The Board and staff of Casa de las

Amigas are absolutely delighted to

see Leah assume the position of

executive director,” said Board

Chair Valerie Casey. “Leah has

a proven track record of

outstanding performance and

tireless dedication and

commitment to Casa. The Casa

community looks forward to

Leah’s able leadership and

vision as we work together to

fulfill Casa’s mission.”

Please join the board of

directors and the entire Casa

team in congratulating Leah!

Casa Earns 3-Year

C.A.R.F.

Accreditation Casa de las Amigas is

pleased to announce it

recently received the

highest accreditation from

the Commission on

Accreditation of

Rehabilitation Facilities

(C.A.R.F.) through 2016.

Obtaining and maintaining

full accreditation from

C.A.R.F. reflects a

significant degree of

teamwork and careful

commitment to providing

our program participants

the highest-quality level of

addiction treatment and

recovery services possible!

P A G E 2

C A S A D E L A S A M I G A S

A Message From Our Executive Director

Leah Rodemich

It is with great respect that I

step into my new role as the

executive director of Casa de

las Amigas. I am reminded

of my own journey of

recovery, those first dark days

and all the light that followed

with every interaction I have

with our clients and many of

our staff who, like me, are also

Casa Alumnae.

So many people have helped

me along the way: program

assistants, counselors,

administrators, and board

members. I am constantly

inspired by the intelligence and

courage of the people I work with.

I feel a great responsibility to our

clients and staff, and to the soul of

Casa de las Amigas. I hope to

return what has been so freely

given to me: restoration, respect,

and care, and I am excited about

the future and what we can do

together.

We have had a busy year, as

you’ll read in this issue of our

newsletter, including our first-

ever Camp Casa. We have also

been making refurbishments and,

among other important projects,

preparing the way for

implementation of our Electronic

Health Records system, made

possible through the generosity of

our supporters.

As we approach another

holiday season, there is

brightness all around. Casa de las

Amigas embodies the spirit of

giving in the truest sense. I wish

all of you the best in the closing

days of 2013, and good fortune in

the coming year. I thank you for

your support, and I thank our

board of directors for honoring

me with this opportunity.

Highlights

CAMP CASA 2013

Howard C. Samuels, PsyD, author , founder and CEO of

The Hills Treatment Center in Los Angeles, will be the next

featured guest as part of our

ongoing speaker series.

WHEN: Thursday, Jan. 16,

From 7 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.

WHERE: Pike Center at

our facility at 160 N. El

Molino Ave., Pasadena.

Dr. Samuels is a licensed

therapist with a doctorate in clinical psychology. He is

considered a leading drug and alcohol addiction expert,

specializing in the treatment of mood and addictive disorders,

love addiction and substance abuse intervention. He also is the

author of “Alive Again,” which demonstrates how addicts can

recover from alcoholism and drug addiction by following a 12-

step program to happiness and fulfillment in sobriety. Samuels

also serves as an addiction specialist on CNN.

Seating will be limited for this event. You may reserve a seat by e-mail to: Jacqueline@casadelasamigas.org

or by calling 792..2770 x 12

Howard Samuels, Author, Founder of the Hills Treatment Center, to Serve as Casa’s Next Guest Speaker January 16

Casa Celebrates National Recovery Month With Rally for Recovery Casa de las Amigas celebrated

National Recovery Month in

September with a special Rally For

Recovery, which included a barbecue

lunch grilled up by members of the

Pasadena Police Department.

We also were joined by

several of our board members,

representatives from L.A. County

Supervisor Michael D.

Antonovich’s office, friends from The Gooden Center and other members of the local business community and from across the

surrounding areas.

National Recovery Month, now in its 23rd year, highlights individuals who have reclaimed their lives and are living happy and

healthy lives in long-term recovery. It also is intended to honor those prevention, treatment, and recovery service providers who

make the programs available to men and women in need of help with overcoming addiction.

Thank you to everyone who turned out to help us recognize National Recovery Month, and a very special shout out to Pasadena’s

“grill team!” Lunch was fabulous and we enjoyed having all of you here at Casa de las Amigas to help us celebrate!

Casa de las Amigas’ official alumnae group, Las

Estrellitas, will hold its annual Holiday Party on Thursday,

Dec. 19 at 5:30 p.m. in the Pike Center.

The event marks the time of year when Las Estrellitas presents

the women in our residential treatment center with its annual

gift, purchased with money raised throughout the year through

various fundraisers, including BINGO and Movie Nights, Car

Washes, Walk-a-Thons and more. The gift is purchased for

“the house,” our original Casa. Last year Estrellitas members

gave The House a flat screen TV. The event also includes gift-

giving to all of the women currently enrolled in our residential

treatment program, photos with Santa and a delicious holiday

meal.

The annual holiday party is open to all women who are former

alumnae of Casa de las Amigas and their family members, and

marks a wonderful opportunity for women in sobriety to join in

celebration and support their “Little Sisters.”

As Las Estrellitas members, alumnae provide opportunities for

newcomers to create real connections with other sober women

who have walked the path before them—connections that often

last for lifetimes and serve to enrich the recovery process.

Las Estrellitas holds monthly meetings at Casa de las Amigas

on the 3rd Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Whether you

have an hour to spare or 100, Las Estrellitas needs you!

Please contact Cheryl De Salvo at 626.792.2770 or

by e-mail to: Cheryl@casadelasamigas.org.

You also can find Las Estrellitas on Facebook!

Las Estrellitas, Casa’s Official Alumnae

Group, Plans Annual Holiday Party

P A G E 4

C A S A D E L A S A M I G A S

San Marino Junior Alliance

SPOTLIGHT ON OUR SUPPORTERS

S T A F F

U P D A T E S

Kiersten Cherry has

been promoted to

executive assistant.

Leslie Ponce has been

promoted to

administrative assistant.

Leslie Conner is now

serving as the new

house manager of Casa

Serena, Sober Living

facility.

Congratulations to each

of you. You are valued

members of the Casa

de las Amigas team!

Casa de las Amigas puts the spotlight on one of its longest

and loyal supporters: San Marino Junior Alliance (SMJA).

Roughly 40 years ago, SMJA designated Casa de las Amigas

as its primary charity, establishing a core mission to raise

funds exclusively for our agency.

SMJA presented a donation of $19,750 during its group

business meeting Oct. 11, which it holds at Casa annually.

MJA also supported our 18th Annual Charity Golf event

through a Platinum Level sponsorship of $5,000, bringing total

donations this year to $23,750. Since 1995 alone, SMJA has

donated more than $300,000 to support Casa’s programs.

SMJA is not just a financial supporter. Each year during the

holiday season, several of its members come to Casa to offer

our program participants a fabulous holiday party, complete

with singing, ornament decorating and a gift exchange for all

of the women in residence, delivering lasting joy for our

participants, many of whom are experiencing holidays alone

for the first time.

“The event SMJA holds each year here at Christmas time is a

wonderful occasion for our program participants,” said Casa

Executive Director, Leah Rodemich. “SMJA truly makes the

holidays extra special for the women we serve.”

Casa de las Amigas is very grateful to have San Marino

Karen Wicke, president of San Marino Junior

Alliance, second from right, presents Casa de las

Amigas with a donation for $19,750 on October 11.

Junior Alliance as a supporter. Its financial

contributions, combined with the group’s

community support and direct involvement with

our program participants are highly valued. On

behalf of our board of directors and staff, thank

you, SMJA, for all you do to help Casa de las

Amigas with our efforts to provide assistance to

women who are struggling to overcome the

disease of addiction.

Meet Flora Esquivel, Casa’s Admissions Coordinator

I arrived at

Casa de las

Amigas in

2010 as an

intern while

studying for

my

certification as a drug and alcohol

counselor.

After my internship ended six

months later, I remained on staff as

a counselor because I love it here so

much. I truly believe in our mission

and purpose.

As admissions coordinator, I am

typically the first person women in

need make contact with. My job

involves meeting women who most

often are in very fragile states,

emotionally and physically, so it’s

my responsibility to help them feel

safe and get them started on a path

toward recovery.

My goal is to ensure our residents

are given a full picture of what Casa

can do for them, so I begin with a

full assessment of their addiction

history, family background and

concerns, and other issues, so that

our treatment team can meet them

where they are “at.”

I also serve as our family group

facilitator because I’ve made it a

personal goal to work with families

of our clients to help educate them

about their role in the disease of

addiction. It is, after all, a “family

disease.”

Nothing gives me more pleasure

and joy than to see our clients make

the transformation necessary to

achieve lasting sobriety. I see

women come in completely broken

by the disease of addiction and by

the time they graduate they have

come full circle: They learn

acceptance, awareness and

ownership of their disease and

actions. They return to jobs, get new

jobs, reconnect with their families,

pursue educational goals and begin

living their lives on life’s terms.

As Casa moves into its 46th year of

service to women struggling with the

addiction issues, I reflect on what a

solid history we have of helping

women in need. I am very grateful

to be part of that history and to work

alongside such an outstanding team

of treatment professionals.

As a woman in recovery, I am also

grateful for what I get back by

working here. Every day I help

another woman begin her journey, I

am reminded of how fortunate I am

and I remain in gratitude.

Detoxification: A Critical First Step Toward Recovery

Casa de las Amigas Kicks Off Annual Giving Campaign Dec. 1

Casa de las Amigas officially launches its

annual giving campaign on December 1,

marking the time of year when we reach out to

you, our valued donors, asking for you to

consider making a contribution to our agency

to support our programs and services.

At Casa, we are recovery-centered. In 2014

we anticipate implementation of a new

program connected to our aftercare services:

Casa Career Connects (CCC). This new

program will offer our sober living residents an

enhanced career development program,

including internship opportunities at Casa

alongside administrative and programs staff;

volunteer opportunities with employer partners

in the community; job readiness workshops;

and a remodel of our existing Denver

Resources Room that will include the purchase

of new computers and an expanded resources

library.

Your annual giving contributions may also be

used to hire additional staff to oversee all

aspects of the CCC program.

“The goal of CCC is to offer the women we

serve a solid foundation in jobs preparedness

training so that, when the time comes for them

to return to work or school, they do so with

confidence, skills and work experience that will

bolster their opportunities for success,” said

Executive Director Leah Rodemich.

As a Casa Supporter, you may consider joining

our Casa de las Amigas Sponsorship Tree,

which offers three different giving levels:

INSPIRATION: ($5,000)

SERENITY: ($2,500)

HOPE ($1,000)

Donations to our annual campaign may also

include funds to support our Scholarship

Program, which provides funding that allows

us to make it possible to underwrite the cost of

treatment for women with little or no income.

Please keep Casa de las Amigas and the

women we serve in your hearts and minds this

year as you consider your year-end giving plans.

And, be assured that, as we celebrate another

holiday season, we also recognize our successes

here at Casa de las Amigas and your role.

Our growth over the last year, both with

respect to our services and infrastructure,

particularly the implementation of our

networking project connected to the 2013

annual campaign, are a direct result of your

commitment to what we do and your

generous support.

Casa is very grateful to our donors and wish

each of you a season of warmth and boundless

joy!

DONATE ONLINE!

Don’t Forget: You may always donate to

Casa de las Amigas from the

comfort of your home or office.

Pease Visit our

“How You Can Help” page at:

www.casadelasamigas.org.

David Ripley, Director of Programs

The detoxification process from alcohol

and drugs is a crucial period in early

recovery that is typically overlooked by

hospitals and treatment centers. It has been

reduced to a medical event, largely devoid of

heart and soul. Proper diagnosis, monitoring

of symptoms, and the prescribing of

medications to ensure a safe detoxification

are paramount, but along with these steps

another avenue opens that is often missed

today: focused human contact, or one

alcoholic talking to another.

This connection is at the heart of Alcoholics

Anonymous (AA). If you have read about the

early history of this 12-step program, then

you know that AA Founders Bill Wilson and

Bob Smith both took “wet drunks” into their

respective homes. It was a dangerous venture

that occasionally resulted in seizure and

death. However, the founders took the risk,

recognizing the importance of service, and

also the potential heart connection, or sacred

bond that might be formed, and how this

paved the way for lasting sobriety.

With the help of our generous supporters,

Casa de las Amigas was able to transfor m

one of our existing “Casitas” into a multi-bed

detoxification facility this year, which allows

our team to now offer a full spectrum of

addiction care. Today, when a woman arrives

at Casa de las Amigas to begin the

detoxification process, she will be seen by a

doctor and medically monitored as she begins

the withdrawal process. And, just as critical,

she will be met with focused heart and soul.

She will come to know our dedicated staff as

more than healthcare providers.

At Casa de las Amigas, we understand what

it means to be new in recovery. The

detoxification process is more than just

coming off of alcohol and drugs; it is also a

threshold, a critical first step toward

recovery, and should be honored as such. It

is the beginning of a new life.

At Casa de las Amigas our detox process

provides medical care infused with heart and

soul. DR

For more information about our

Detoxification Facility and the intake

process, please call Flora Esquivel,

admissions coordinator at:

626.792.2770 x 30.

2013-2014 Board of Directors

Executive Committee

Valerie Casey, Chair of the Board

Robin E. Newquist, Vice Chair

Pat Lile, Secretary

LeeAnn Havner, Treasurer

Board Members

Fran Allen

Julie Barbour

Monty Bernstein

Sally De Witt

Pegine Grayson

Michael Lattimore

Maureen McDonald

Elizabeth Savage

George Seitz

Millie Steinbrecher

Patsy Van Dyke

Charles Weinstein, Ph.D.

160 North El Molino Avenue

Pasadena, CA 91101

Phone: 626.792.2770

Fax: 626.792.5826

www.casadelasamigas.org

Casa de las Amigas

Janis came to Casa in December of 2012 suffering with anxiety and depression following

years of drinking. She had long been in denial about her alcoholism, however, with family

support and guidance she finally surrendered.

“I was in a dark place when I arrived at Casa. I just wanted to sleep to escape. I didn’t

realize how wounded I was but staff here and all the women here did. I was afraid I was

going to get kicked out for sleeping so much. But Casa doesn’t shoot the wounded. Slowly

I began to come alive again. I felt a spark of hope and I started feeling like I was getting it.

“My counselor had my family come out and we talked about my treatment plan. I was

afraid of that meeting at first but then I realized it was beneficial to getting help. After the

meeting I felt more willing and I wasn’t afraid of the process anymore. Everyone really

showed me that they would support me.

“When I got here I was feeling completely hopeless. Today, I have hope and joy. I am

working again. I view my sobriety as a gift from God. I’m filled with gratitude for what

I’ve been given here and I never want to lose that gratitude.

“It took a village in my case. Everyone here on staff got involved. There are so many

good things that go on here. We’ve been to camp, we have sisterhood and fellowship and

meetings—so many wonderful programs that make it much easier for women to find their

way. I’m still taking it one day at a time, but the days have become brighter for me. I no

longer feel hopeless. I actually have very high hopes for myself. Casa Rocks!”

TRANSFORMATIONS