Summer 2014 - Prototypes

1000 North Alameda Street, Suite 390
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Save the Date!
September 24, 2014, 10:00 a.m.
Celebrate National Recovery Month
and our newly renovated Pomona Facility!
Prototypes Post
Inspiring stories and news from Prototypes
Changing Lives
for Expectant Mothers
and Their Children
IN THE BEST OF TIMES, BEING PREGNANT CAN
BE HARD. For expectant women who are battling
addiction or going through detox, the challenges
and potential complications are far more daunting.
Prototypes is a lifeline for these vulnerable women and
their unborn children. By offering a range of services,
known as integrated care, Prototypes works to remove
the seemingly insurmountable barriers that prevent
women from getting the help they need at the
moment they need it most.
MESSAGE from Prototypes’ President and CEO
A MOTHER’S LOVE IS A POWERFUL FORCE. Becoming a
mother has brought a new level of understanding for me on
just how important it is for Prototypes to keep mothers and
their children together through recovery. I could never imagine
having to choose between my son and my health – a choice
that many mothers impacted by addiction and other serious
issues often are forced to make.
This issue of Prototypes’ newsletter highlights the important work we do to provide comprehensive and integrated care to
mothers. By allowing these mothers to keep their children with them, moms have the opportunity to strengthen their bond,
build crucial parenting skills, and support the healthy development of their child with the resources that Prototypes provides.
Prototypes’ recent accreditation by CARF further recognizes our commitment to improving the lives of those we serve. The
accreditation report specifically highlighted the treatment that pregnant and parenting women receive without having to sacrifice
their maternal role.
I dedicate this issue to moms everywhere striving to create a healthier future for their children. Thank you to our partners and
supporters, who allow Prototypes to continue to be one of the few organizations that helps mothers rebuild their lives, and in
doing so, positively impacts the children who depend on them.
Cassandra Loch, LCSW, MBA, President and CEO
At Prototypes, a pregnant client is assisted with all aspects of her life, from keeping
family court appointments to securing prenatal care and preparing for the birth.
Whether a client is pregnant or a new mother seeking to regain custody of her drugexposed baby, Prototypes will help her heal and teach her skills for continued sobriety,
independence and good parenting.
Vel Linden, MSW, CATC, who manages Prototypes in Oxnard, has been working with
this population for 15 years. “Having our mothers come into treatment, get sober while
pregnant, give birth, and actually be able to bring their child back to our facility – that’s
a huge accomplishment,” Linden says.
As many as 56 women can be in residence at Prototypes’ Oxnard facility at any one
time, recovering from a variety of addiction issues, from alcohol and marijuana abuse
to methamphetamine and heroin dependency.
Prototypes’ residential and detoxification treatments are available to all women regardless
of their payment source. Prototypes has contracts with the county and private insurance
companies to provide these services. In addition, Prototypes has affordable payment
continued on page 6
SPRING/
SUMMER
2014
Residential treatment programs
are designed to accommodate
expecting and new mothers in
the recovery process.
INSIDE
Prototypes
Receives CARF
Accreditation. . . . . . 2
Children of Prototypes:
Tahra’s Story . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Pat Steger:
A Mother’s Perspective .. .4
The Prototypes Community . . . 5
Prototypes Continuum
of Care Illustrated. . . . . . . . 7
Prototypes Post
Prototypes Continuum of Care
SPRING/SUMMER 2014
We are experts in treating women and families who
are struggling with addiction, mental illness and other
complex issues.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ann McClanathan, Chair Person
Vice President of Business Development
myStrength.com
Michael Kemp, Vice Chair Person
Founder and Principal, Michael Kemp Architects
Ron Burkhardt, Secretary
Managing Director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Jim Quinn, Treasurer
Former Senior Management Executive
Margaret Kelly
Regional Vice President
West Government, Education & Labor OptumHealth
Brandon Matloff
Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual
Karen E. Pointer, Esq.
Partner and Attorney at Law
Lerman Pointer & Spitz LLP
Cindy Teti
Vice President, Luminous Capital
Cassandra Loch
President and Chief Executive Officer, Prototypes
ABOUT US
Prototypes is a lifeline to women who are
struggling with addiction and other serious
issues such as domestic violence and mental
illness. Many of these women are mothers
who face an impossible choice: give up their
children to foster care or a guardian, or
continue to suffer. Prototypes is a game
changer by allowing women to keep their
children with them during treatment so
they both get the help they need. And by
combining comprehensive treatment services
with practical life-skills training, we prepare
women for long-term success.
Prototypes provides comprehensive,
integrated, and evidence-based services to
10,000 individuals each year throughout
Southern California. Prototypes is an
internationally recognized, CARF Accredited
nonprofit organization dedicated to
improving communities impacted by
substance use, mental illness and
domestic violence.
PROTOTYPES RECENTLY RECEIVED A THREE-YEAR ACCREDITATION by
the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This
internationally recognized accreditation recognizes Prototypes’ longstanding
dedication and commitment to improving the lives of the clients served.
This is the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded and shows Prototypes’
conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year
Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. Through this
process, Prototypes’ staff has demonstrated their commitment to offering
programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.
Not only does this achievement recognize Prototypes’ high-quality programs,
it also allows the organization to serve more people in need of comprehensive
substance use treatment and mental health care. The CARF accreditation will
ensure that no one in need of Prototypes’ services will be turned away.
PROTOTYPES
COMMUNITY
SERVICES
n
n
n
Prevention to
promote healthy
families
School-based
health education
programs
n
RECOVERY IN RESIDENCE
Home
visits and
groups for new
and expecting
moms
treatment
for substance use and
co-occurring mental
illness and trauma
n
Detoxification
n
Specialized
n
n
OUTPATIENT AND INTENSIVE
OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
n
services
for mothers and children
Confidential
location for victims
of domestic violence
Vocational,
parenting and
life skills training
2.
FRIENDLY HOUSE LA, two of Los Angeles’
Prototypes’ VP of Business Development Nial
Stimson, Friendly House’s Assistant Executive
Director Monica Schneider and Presenter
Dr. Moe Gelbart.
1.
n
use and mental
health treatment
n
n
Case
n
n
Psychiatry
n
Substance
management
n
3.
PROTOTYPES AND PEGGY ALBRECHT
n
Individual and group counseling
for children and adults
Prototypes and Friendly House
Help Build Connections
premier nonprofit women’s addiction and
mental health programs, hosted their
second annual networking luncheon
at the California Endowment in March.
COMMUNITY
SOCIAL SERVICES
Residential
Food banks
Other nonprofit
and government
programs
to treat the whole person
PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING
encompassing Prototypes’ services and other community resources
INDIVIDUALS IN NEED ARE REFERRED TO PROTOTYPES
by hospitals/doctors, county public agencies and the justice system. Individuals can also self-refer.
MENTAL
ILLNESS
POVERTY
Shelter and
affordable housing
Planned, structured,
individual and group
programs while
continuing in school
or work and living in
the community
More than 60 professionals from local treatment programs, public agencies and
the recovery field enjoyed lunch while listening to a presentation by Los Angeles
area psychologist Dr. Moe Gelbart. Dr. Gelbert shared his knowledge on “Parental
Strategies For Raising Drug Free Kids.”
The sold-out event was an opportunity for professionals in the field to learn
about the latest trends and services in the community, stay connected to
other organizations and better serve individuals impacted by addiction and
mental illness.
Medical and
dental clinics
INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
S
Newsletter design by 2B Communications
PROTOTYPES RECEIVES CARF ACCREDITATION
ESSNES
2
at locations throughout Southern California
and in the surrounding community.
HOMEL
prototypes.org
PROTOTYPES HELPS
REBUILD LIVES EVERY DAY
TION
ADDIC
ONLY
14%
of mental health and
substance abuse facilities
nationwide have programs
for pregnant and
postpartum women.
Changing Lives continued from cover
options for those without insurance or who do not qualify for government funding. With
the Affordable Care Act, more people in need of mental health and substance use treatment
now have insurance through the health exchange. “With our recent CARF Accreditation,
we can now serve more women in need of residential treatment,” says Nial Stimson, CAS,
Prototypes’ Vice President of Business Development. “Our services are affordable for women
and families seeking treatment who cannot afford most addiction-treatment facilities.”
When a pregnant client is admitted to Prototypes, she is seen by a nurse and encouraged
to take prenatal vitamins. If she is already seeing a doctor, that relationship is continued.
If not, she is set up with insurance and connected with medical providers in the community
so prenatal care can begin immediately.
Pregnant clients with opiate dependencies, including heroin, may be recommended for
detoxification using a relatively new medication, Suboxone. According to Ronald Pollack, M.D.,
who treats women in Oxnard, Suboxone is considered a giant step forward, because it allows
a person to detox quickly – in about a week’s time – without the painful side effects and
risk of premature birth or the long-term dependency of methadone. Suboxone is recommended for pregnant women past their first
trimester. Prototypes is one of the only facilities in Ventura County using Suboxone to treat heroin dependency in pregnant women.
With her medical needs taken care of, the Prototypes’ client is then folded into what Linden calls “the full treatment milieu”
as dictated by her unique needs. This can include communication groups, relapse prevention counseling, anger and stress
management, and counseling for trauma and domestic violence. Counselors also determine if a member of the client’s family
is available to help. “If the father of the child is present and a safe, sober support, we include him,” Linden says. “He may be
able to join her for doctor visits, come onsite for family education, and even get therapy for himself.”
Vital for new mothers and mothers-to-be are Prototypes’ parenting classes and the parenting lab. “Women with children of all
ages go there,” Linden says. The kids engage in a variety of activities while their mothers learn and experience the importance
of reading, singing and talking to their children, and gaining a sense of the types of activities that are appropriate. She notes,
“We encourage pregnant women to attend to learn basic baby care and parenting skills before their baby is born.”
Prototypes counselors help expectant mothers prepare for their baby’s birth, whether
that means getting a breast pump or signing up for WIC, the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children or just talking about their fears
about motherhood. For clients with legal issues, Linden says, “We work with the courts
and social services.” Once the baby is born, mothers and children live together at
Prototypes while treatment is completed.
Patrick Zarate has been the division manager for alcohol and drug programs in Ventura
County for eight years. He refers some 200 women a year to Prototypes, many of them
pregnant or postpartum. “It’s a very high-risk population. If we can help prevent an
addicted mother from passing harm along to her unborn or nursing infant, it’s a dual
benefit,” he says.“It’s great to be able to have the mother and child remain together
during treatment,” he continues. “These mothers are dealing with a variety of issues –
from getting shelter and employment to reintegrating into regular society. They’re getting
a lot of life, organizational and parenting skills at Prototypes.”
“We refer some 200
women per year to Prototypes,
many of them pregnant or
postpartum. If we can help
prevent an addicted mother
from passing harm along to
her unborn or nursing infant,
it’s a dual benefit.”
PATRICK ZARATE
Division Manager
Alcohol & Drug Programs
Ventura County Behavioral
Health Department
Zarate also points out that Prototypes offers mothers a unique detox opportunity, because there are few places a woman
and her child can go for recovery. “Historically, women haven’t had the same access to drug treatment as their male
counterparts,” he says.
For the staff at Prototypes, the best part of working with pregnant and new mothers is seeing former clients when they return
for a visit with their children, whom the staff first met as newborns. Observes Linden, “Many former clients often tell us that
Prototypes saved their life.”
6
Tahra and her mother, Betty, pose for a picture.
Watch Tahra’s story online at prototypes.org.
CHILDREN OF PROTOTYPES:
Tahra’s Story
TAHRA LISTENS WITH A KNOWING SMILE AS HER MOM
GIVES HER A PEP TALK FOR HER VIDEO INTERVIEW.
She is joining a group of other young adults who are
sharing what it meant to them to have Prototypes help
their moms. A current senior in high school with nearperfect grades, Tahra exudes the confidence of someone
much older. And it is evident that her strength stems
in part from the strong bond she shares with her mother.
Yet, her life might have been drastically different had
she not joined her mom at Prototypes when she was
just a baby.
Doctors found cocaine in Tahra’s system and, at a few days
old, a social worker stepped in to take her away. The only
way Betty would get Tahra back was to get sober and healthy.
Knowing she wanted a better life for her only daughter, Betty
sought help at Prototypes. She worked with her counselor
at Prototypes to set goals to succeed in her recovery. At five
months old, Tahra joined her mom at Prototypes.
“If she didn’t have me with her, I don’t think she would have
stayed at Prototypes,” Tahra shared. Her mom was used to
drugs ruling her life, even selling her furniture to make enough
money for drugs. Prototypes provided Betty with the tools to
understand her addiction, learn how to respect her body and
become the mother she always wanted to be.
“There are no words to describe how great a mom she is,”
Tahra says, smiling. She knows that without Prototypes, her
future might not be so bright. She could have been in the
foster care system and her mother would never have gotten
the treatment she needed to regain her life.
“I will definitely tell my kids
about Prototypes. It made me
the person I am today.”
According to Tahra, Prototypes never felt like “rehab.” Instead,
it felt like a home for women who want to get better together,
along with their children. “It would be a very different place at
Prototypes if there were no children. They remind their parents
to be better people,” Tahra explained.
Betty is now an employee at Prototypes, helping women who
are in similar situations to succeed in their own recovery. Not
only did Betty pass on the lessons she learned at Prototypes to
her daughter, she also passed on her passion to help others.
Today, Tahra is thankful she learned the importance of selfesteem and helps others at her school to believe in themselves.
Tahra is looking forward to graduation and studying nursing
in college out of state, but admits that she is a little anxious
about leaving her mom. In 10 years, Tahra hopes to be working
in a hospital, staying close to her mom, and someday wants a
family of her own. “I will definitely tell my kids about Prototypes,”
Tahra says. “It made me the person I am today.”
3
THE PROTOTYPES COMMUNITY
It wasn’t a beautiful
bouquet or a blue box
from Tiffany’s. Still,
February 14, 2012, was
one of Pat Steger’s best
Valentine’s Days ever.
That was the day her
daughter, Katie, who
struggled with an
addiction to prescription
pills, checked into
Prototypes’ Oxnard
facility.
Pat Steger:
A Mother’s Perspective on Recovery
KATIE, NOW 30, HAS BEEN CLEAN SINCE 2012, and Pat is
reaching out to other mothers to share her take on Katie’s story.
“At Prototypes, they do the right thing by these women, no
matter what it takes,” she says. “I keep thinking, what can I do
to give back? What can I do to help other moms?”
Pat, an insurance executive in Southern California, found out
about her daughter’s problems long distance. Katie was a hairdresser living in their hometown of Buffalo, New York, when she began to have
problems. Being a hairdresser is hard, Pat says. “Their arms are in the air, they’re
standing all day, leaning over to wash people’s hair, and always having to listen.
All day long.” Katie was prescribed the narcotic painkiller Lortab to ease the pain in
her back and legs from constant standing. In time, she became dependent on the pills.
Besides soothing her physical discomfort, they lightened her psychic load.
Katie started buying the drugs from dealers, and her dependence on them got out of
hand. She tried in vain to seek help in Buffalo. “She didn’t have health insurance,” Pat
says, “because she’d stopped paying for it, spending her money on more and more drugs.
Bills became a challenge. She lost her car. Then she was caught stealing from her job and
lost that. So no job, no car. Her life became this out-of-control death spiral.”
PAT’S ADVICE
for other parents whose
children are struggling with
an addiction: “Support them,”
she says. “Trust them. Set
rules for yourself and, most
important, love them.” With
limited contact during her
treatment, Katie cherished the
cards and letters she got from
family and friends. Pat also
notes that parents may have
feelings of guilt about their
child’s problems, and cautions
them to be mindful of how
those feelings can affect them
and their child. “Often,
I think our guilt makes us
treat them worse.”
4
Pat found a place for Katie at Prototypes, paid for her care, and Katie boarded a flight that
took her and her mother to Oxnard on Valentine’s Day 2012. “They greeted us, explained
the program, and Katie was placed in a private room. I left an hour afterward,” Pat recalls.
“That was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I wasn’t allowed to talk to
her for three days. I could call the counselor, though.” Pat visited Katie twice a week, on
Wednesdays and alternating Saturdays and Sundays.
Celebrate Mothers Lunch
PROTOTYPES IS THRILLED TO REPORT that the 2nd Annual Celebrate
Mothers Lunch exceeded expectations. Hosted by Prototypes Partners,
140 guests filled the rooftop of the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo on April 5 to raise
money and awareness for the importance of keeping mothers and children
together through recovery.
The inspiring day included a story of recovery from a Prototypes’ alumna
and an a cappella performance by her daughter of “Beautiful.” There was
also the premiere of Prototypes’ latest video featuring Tahra, a collegebound high school student who came to Prototypes with her mother
when she was just a baby.
Thanks to the guests, Prototypes Partners and event sponsor KBS Realty
on behalf of Union Bank Plaza, the day was a great success. The event
raised $28,000 for Prototypes’ Children’s Fund, ensuring that children
in the residential programs get the care they need to grow and thrive.
PHOTOS BY NICOLE WEINGART
Disney Volunteers
VOLUNTEERS FROM DISNEY INTERACTIVE’S
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM hosted a Spring Celebration for
the moms and kids at the Pomona Women’s Center in April.
The team first came to Prototypes to help with the annual
Harvest Festival and have remained committed to supporting
the organization.
Wednesdays included mandatory group counseling for visiting family members. Pat
learned about the physical and emotional challenges of recovery. It was a revelation
to discover that Lortab addiction had changed Katie’s ability to create endorphins, the
chemicals in our body that make us feel good, resulting in low energy when Katie began
to detox. “It can take some time to get your natural energy back,” Pat explains. “What
addiction does to your brain and body from a chemical standpoint was a compelling
piece of the story.”
During Katie’s three-month stay, Pat witnessed her daughter going through the
difficult emotional labor of recovery. “Katie literally cried for a month straight, facing
her emotional challenges and things she’d never dealt with: our divorce, my move to
California, and the reality of where she had landed.” Prototypes’ addiction therapy helped
Katie to understand what was happening to her body and to work on the emotional skills
she needed to take control of her life.
Katie is working again as a manager for a health spa, and she sees a counselor regularly.
Now Pat sees her daughter as a wiser, more empathetic person, who is able to set
boundaries. “She just gets it now,” Pat says. She amazes me.”
From left: Alumna Trish and her daughter;
Board Member Karen Pointer and her guests;
Prototypes Partners; Tahra and her mother,
Betty, review Prototypes’ Annual Report.
Disney Interactive’s
team pose with
Prototypes’
Parenting Center
staff in Pomona.
The Spring Celebration included games, treats, bunny ear
making and cookie decorating. Families also lined up for
a caricature drawing done by one of the volunteers. Moms
and kids got to select a children’s book to keep and had fun
hunting for Easter eggs on the playground.
It was fun not only for clients, but staff as well, who enjoyed
seeing everyone take part in the activities. “It was a heartwarming
experience to see these volunteers in action. They dedicated
their time, patience and talents,” said Joycelin Prothro, a supervisor
at the Pomona Women’s Center. “Everyone had a wonderful,
joyful experience. We are so grateful to our Disney volunteers.”
5
THE PROTOTYPES COMMUNITY
It wasn’t a beautiful
bouquet or a blue box
from Tiffany’s. Still,
February 14, 2012, was
one of Pat Steger’s best
Valentine’s Days ever.
That was the day her
daughter, Katie, who
struggled with an
addiction to prescription
pills, checked into
Prototypes’ Oxnard
facility.
KATIE, NOW 30, HAS BEEN CLEAN SINCE 2012, and Pat is
reaching out to other mothers to share her take on Katie’s story.
“At Prototypes, they do the right thing by these women, no
matter what it takes,” she says. “I keep thinking, what can I do
to give back? What can I do to help other moms?”
Pat, an insurance executive in Southern California, found out
about her daughter’s problems long distance. Katie was a hairdresser living in their hometown of Buffalo, New York, when she began to have
problems. Being a hairdresser is hard, Pat says. “Their arms are in the air, they’re
standing all day, leaning over to wash people’s hair, and always having to listen.
All day long.” Katie was prescribed the narcotic painkiller Lortab to ease the pain in
her back and legs from constant standing. In time, she became dependent on the pills.
Besides soothing her physical discomfort, they lightened her psychic load.
Katie started buying the drugs from dealers, and her dependence on them got out of
hand. She tried in vain to seek help in Buffalo. “She didn’t have health insurance,” Pat
says, “because she’d stopped paying for it, spending her money on more and more drugs.
Bills became a challenge. She lost her car. Then she was caught stealing from her job and
lost that. So no job, no car. Her life became this out-of-control death spiral.”
PAT’S ADVICE
for other parents whose
children are struggling with
an addiction: “Support them,”
she says. “Trust them. Set
rules for yourself and, most
important, love them.” With
limited contact during her
treatment, Katie cherished the
cards and letters she got from
family and friends. Pat also
notes that parents may have
feelings of guilt about their
child’s problems, and cautions
them to be mindful of how
those feelings can affect them
and their child. “Often,
I think our guilt makes us
treat them worse.”
4
Pat found a place for Katie at Prototypes, paid for her care, and Katie boarded a flight that
took her and her mother to Oxnard on Valentine’s Day 2012. “They greeted us, explained
the program, and Katie was placed in a private room. I left an hour afterward,” Pat recalls.
“That was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I wasn’t allowed to talk to
her for three days. I could call the counselor, though.” Pat visited Katie twice a week, on
Wednesdays and alternating Saturdays and Sundays.
Celebrate Mothers Lunch
PROTOTYPES IS THRILLED TO REPORT that the 2nd Annual Celebrate
Mothers Lunch exceeded expectations. Hosted by Prototypes Partners,
140 guests filled the rooftop of the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo on April 5 to raise
money and awareness for the importance of keeping mothers and children
together through recovery.
The inspiring day included a story of recovery from a Prototypes’ alumna
and an a cappella performance by her daughter of “Beautiful.” There was
also the premiere of Prototypes’ latest video featuring Tahra, a collegebound high school student who came to Prototypes with her mother
when she was just a baby.
Thanks to the guests, Prototypes Partners and event sponsor KBS Realty
on behalf of Union Bank Plaza, the day was a great success. The event
raised $28,000 for Prototypes’ Children’s Fund, ensuring that children
in the residential programs get the care they need to grow and thrive.
PHOTOS BY NICOLE WEINGART
Disney Volunteers
VOLUNTEERS FROM DISNEY INTERACTIVE’S
COMMUNICATIONS TEAM hosted a Spring Celebration for
the moms and kids at the Pomona Women’s Center in April.
The team first came to Prototypes to help with the annual
Harvest Festival and have remained committed to supporting
the organization.
Wednesdays included mandatory group counseling for visiting family members. Pat
learned about the physical and emotional challenges of recovery. It was a revelation
to discover that Lortab addiction had changed Katie’s ability to create endorphins, the
chemicals in our body that make us feel good, resulting in low energy when Katie began
to detox. “It can take some time to get your natural energy back,” Pat explains. “What
addiction does to your brain and body from a chemical standpoint was a compelling
piece of the story.”
During Katie’s three-month stay, Pat witnessed her daughter going through the
difficult emotional labor of recovery. “Katie literally cried for a month straight, facing
her emotional challenges and things she’d never dealt with: our divorce, my move to
California, and the reality of where she had landed.” Prototypes’ addiction therapy helped
Katie to understand what was happening to her body and to work on the emotional skills
she needed to take control of her life.
Katie is working again as a manager for a health spa, and she sees a counselor regularly.
Now Pat sees her daughter as a wiser, more empathetic person, who is able to set
boundaries. “She just gets it now,” Pat says. She amazes me.”
From left: Alumna Trish and her daughter;
Board Member Karen Pointer and her guests;
Prototypes Partners; Tahra and her mother,
Betty, review Prototypes’ Annual Report.
Disney Interactive’s
team pose with
Prototypes’
Parenting Center
staff in Pomona.
The Spring Celebration included games, treats, bunny ear
making and cookie decorating. Families also lined up for
a caricature drawing done by one of the volunteers. Moms
and kids got to select a children’s book to keep and had fun
hunting for Easter eggs on the playground.
It was fun not only for clients, but staff as well, who enjoyed
seeing everyone take part in the activities. “It was a heartwarming
experience to see these volunteers in action. They dedicated
their time, patience and talents,” said Joycelin Prothro, a supervisor
at the Pomona Women’s Center. “Everyone had a wonderful,
joyful experience. We are so grateful to our Disney volunteers.”
5
ONLY
14%
of mental health and
substance abuse facilities
nationwide have programs
for pregnant and
postpartum women.
Changing Lives continued from cover
options for those without insurance or who do not qualify for government funding. With
the Affordable Care Act, more people in need of mental health and substance use treatment
now have insurance through the health exchange. “With our recent CARF Accreditation,
we can now serve more women in need of residential treatment,” says Nial Stimson, CAS,
Prototypes’ Vice President of Business Development. “Our services are affordable for women
and families seeking treatment who cannot afford most addiction-treatment facilities.”
When a pregnant client is admitted to Prototypes, she is seen by a nurse and encouraged
to take prenatal vitamins. If she is already seeing a doctor, that relationship is continued.
If not, she is set up with insurance and connected with medical providers in the community
so prenatal care can begin immediately.
Pregnant clients with opiate dependencies, including heroin, may be recommended for
detoxification using a relatively new medication, Suboxone. According to Ronald Pollack, M.D.,
who treats women in Oxnard, Suboxone is considered a giant step forward, because it allows
a person to detox quickly – in about a week’s time – without the painful side effects and
risk of premature birth or the long-term dependency of methadone. Suboxone is recommended for pregnant women past their first
trimester. Prototypes is one of the only facilities in Ventura County using Suboxone to treat heroin dependency in pregnant women.
With her medical needs taken care of, the Prototypes’ client is then folded into what Linden calls “the full treatment milieu”
as dictated by her unique needs. This can include communication groups, relapse prevention counseling, anger and stress
management, and counseling for trauma and domestic violence. Counselors also determine if a member of the client’s family
is available to help. “If the father of the child is present and a safe, sober support, we include him,” Linden says. “He may be
able to join her for doctor visits, come onsite for family education, and even get therapy for himself.”
Vital for new mothers and mothers-to-be are Prototypes’ parenting classes and the parenting lab. “Women with children of all
ages go there,” Linden says. The kids engage in a variety of activities while their mothers learn and experience the importance
of reading, singing and talking to their children, and gaining a sense of the types of activities that are appropriate. She notes,
“We encourage pregnant women to attend to learn basic baby care and parenting skills before their baby is born.”
Prototypes counselors help expectant mothers prepare for their baby’s birth, whether
that means getting a breast pump or signing up for WIC, the federal Supplemental
Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children or just talking about their fears
about motherhood. For clients with legal issues, Linden says, “We work with the courts
and social services.” Once the baby is born, mothers and children live together at
Prototypes while treatment is completed.
Patrick Zarate has been the division manager for alcohol and drug programs in Ventura
County for eight years. He refers some 200 women a year to Prototypes, many of them
pregnant or postpartum. “It’s a very high-risk population. If we can help prevent an
addicted mother from passing harm along to her unborn or nursing infant, it’s a dual
benefit,” he says.“It’s great to be able to have the mother and child remain together
during treatment,” he continues. “These mothers are dealing with a variety of issues –
from getting shelter and employment to reintegrating into regular society. They’re getting
a lot of life, organizational and parenting skills at Prototypes.”
“We refer some 200
women per year to Prototypes,
many of them pregnant or
postpartum. If we can help
prevent an addicted mother
from passing harm along to
her unborn or nursing infant,
it’s a dual benefit.”
PATRICK ZARATE
Division Manager
Alcohol & Drug Programs
Ventura County Behavioral
Health Department
Zarate also points out that Prototypes offers mothers a unique detox opportunity, because there are few places a woman
and her child can go for recovery. “Historically, women haven’t had the same access to drug treatment as their male
counterparts,” he says.
For the staff at Prototypes, the best part of working with pregnant and new mothers is seeing former clients when they return
for a visit with their children, whom the staff first met as newborns. Observes Linden, “Many former clients often tell us that
Prototypes saved their life.”
6
Tahra and her mother, Betty, pose for a picture.
Watch Tahra’s story online at prototypes.org.
CHILDREN OF PROTOTYPES:
Tahra’s Story
TAHRA LISTENS WITH A KNOWING SMILE AS HER MOM
GIVES HER A PEP TALK FOR HER VIDEO INTERVIEW.
She is joining a group of other young adults who are
sharing what it meant to them to have Prototypes help
their moms. A current senior in high school with nearperfect grades, Tahra exudes the confidence of someone
much older. And it is evident that her strength stems
in part from the strong bond she shares with her mother.
Yet, her life might have been drastically different had
she not joined her mom at Prototypes when she was
just a baby.
Doctors found cocaine in Tahra’s system and, at a few days
old, a social worker stepped in to take her away. The only
way Betty would get Tahra back was to get sober and healthy.
Knowing she wanted a better life for her only daughter, Betty
sought help at Prototypes. She worked with her counselor
at Prototypes to set goals to succeed in her recovery. At five
months old, Tahra joined her mom at Prototypes.
“If she didn’t have me with her, I don’t think she would have
stayed at Prototypes,” Tahra shared. Her mom was used to
drugs ruling her life, even selling her furniture to make enough
money for drugs. Prototypes provided Betty with the tools to
understand her addiction, learn how to respect her body and
become the mother she always wanted to be.
“There are no words to describe how great a mom she is,”
Tahra says, smiling. She knows that without Prototypes, her
future might not be so bright. She could have been in the
foster care system and her mother would never have gotten
the treatment she needed to regain her life.
“I will definitely tell my kids
about Prototypes. It made me
the person I am today.”
According to Tahra, Prototypes never felt like “rehab.” Instead,
it felt like a home for women who want to get better together,
along with their children. “It would be a very different place at
Prototypes if there were no children. They remind their parents
to be better people,” Tahra explained.
Betty is now an employee at Prototypes, helping women who
are in similar situations to succeed in their own recovery. Not
only did Betty pass on the lessons she learned at Prototypes to
her daughter, she also passed on her passion to help others.
Today, Tahra is thankful she learned the importance of selfesteem and helps others at her school to believe in themselves.
Tahra is looking forward to graduation and studying nursing
in college out of state, but admits that she is a little anxious
about leaving her mom. In 10 years, Tahra hopes to be working
in a hospital, staying close to her mom, and someday wants a
family of her own. “I will definitely tell my kids about Prototypes,”
Tahra says. “It made me the person I am today.”
3
Prototypes Post
Prototypes Continuum of Care
SPRING/SUMMER 2014
We are experts in treating women and families who
are struggling with addiction, mental illness and other
complex issues.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Ann McClanathan, Chair Person
Vice President of Business Development
myStrength.com
Michael Kemp, Vice Chair Person
Founder and Principal, Michael Kemp Architects
Ron Burkhardt, Secretary
Managing Director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank
Jim Quinn, Treasurer
Former Senior Management Executive
Margaret Kelly
Regional Vice President
West Government, Education & Labor OptumHealth
Brandon Matloff
Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual
Karen E. Pointer, Esq.
Partner and Attorney at Law
Lerman Pointer & Spitz LLP
Cindy Teti
Vice President, Luminous Capital
Cassandra Loch
President and Chief Executive Officer, Prototypes
ABOUT US
Prototypes is a lifeline to women who are
struggling with addiction and other serious
issues such as domestic violence and mental
illness. Many of these women are mothers
who face an impossible choice: give up their
children to foster care or a guardian, or
continue to suffer. Prototypes is a game
changer by allowing women to keep their
children with them during treatment so
they both get the help they need. And by
combining comprehensive treatment services
with practical life-skills training, we prepare
women for long-term success.
Prototypes provides comprehensive,
integrated, and evidence-based services to
10,000 individuals each year throughout
Southern California. Prototypes is an
internationally recognized, CARF Accredited
nonprofit organization dedicated to
improving communities impacted by
substance use, mental illness and
domestic violence.
PROTOTYPES RECENTLY RECEIVED A THREE-YEAR ACCREDITATION by
the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This
internationally recognized accreditation recognizes Prototypes’ longstanding
dedication and commitment to improving the lives of the clients served.
This is the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded and shows Prototypes’
conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year
Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. Through this
process, Prototypes’ staff has demonstrated their commitment to offering
programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.
Not only does this achievement recognize Prototypes’ high-quality programs,
it also allows the organization to serve more people in need of comprehensive
substance use treatment and mental health care. The CARF accreditation will
ensure that no one in need of Prototypes’ services will be turned away.
PROTOTYPES
COMMUNITY
SERVICES
n
n
n
Prevention to
promote healthy
families
School-based
health education
programs
n
RECOVERY IN RESIDENCE
Home
visits and
groups for new
and expecting
moms
treatment
for substance use and
co-occurring mental
illness and trauma
n
Detoxification
n
Specialized
n
n
OUTPATIENT AND INTENSIVE
OUTPATIENT TREATMENT
n
services
for mothers and children
Confidential
location for victims
of domestic violence
Vocational,
parenting and
life skills training
2.
FRIENDLY HOUSE LA, two of Los Angeles’
Prototypes’ VP of Business Development Nial
Stimson, Friendly House’s Assistant Executive
Director Monica Schneider and Presenter
Dr. Moe Gelbart.
1.
n
use and mental
health treatment
n
n
Case
n
n
Psychiatry
n
Substance
management
n
3.
PROTOTYPES AND PEGGY ALBRECHT
n
Individual and group counseling
for children and adults
Prototypes and Friendly House
Help Build Connections
premier nonprofit women’s addiction and
mental health programs, hosted their
second annual networking luncheon
at the California Endowment in March.
COMMUNITY
SOCIAL SERVICES
Residential
Food banks
Other nonprofit
and government
programs
to treat the whole person
PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNING
encompassing Prototypes’ services and other community resources
INDIVIDUALS IN NEED ARE REFERRED TO PROTOTYPES
by hospitals/doctors, county public agencies and the justice system. Individuals can also self-refer.
MENTAL
ILLNESS
POVERTY
Shelter and
affordable housing
Planned, structured,
individual and group
programs while
continuing in school
or work and living in
the community
More than 60 professionals from local treatment programs, public agencies and
the recovery field enjoyed lunch while listening to a presentation by Los Angeles
area psychologist Dr. Moe Gelbart. Dr. Gelbert shared his knowledge on “Parental
Strategies For Raising Drug Free Kids.”
The sold-out event was an opportunity for professionals in the field to learn
about the latest trends and services in the community, stay connected to
other organizations and better serve individuals impacted by addiction and
mental illness.
Medical and
dental clinics
INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICES
DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE
S
Newsletter design by 2B Communications
PROTOTYPES RECEIVES CARF ACCREDITATION
ESSNES
2
at locations throughout Southern California
and in the surrounding community.
HOMEL
prototypes.org
PROTOTYPES HELPS
REBUILD LIVES EVERY DAY
TION
ADDIC
1000 North Alameda Street, Suite 390
Los Angeles, CA 90012
Save the Date!
September 24, 2014, 10:00 a.m.
Celebrate National Recovery Month
and our newly renovated Pomona Facility!
Prototypes Post
Inspiring stories and news from Prototypes
Changing Lives
for Expectant Mothers
and Their Children
IN THE BEST OF TIMES, BEING PREGNANT CAN
BE HARD. For expectant women who are battling
addiction or going through detox, the challenges
and potential complications are far more daunting.
Prototypes is a lifeline for these vulnerable women and
their unborn children. By offering a range of services,
known as integrated care, Prototypes works to remove
the seemingly insurmountable barriers that prevent
women from getting the help they need at the
moment they need it most.
MESSAGE from Prototypes’ President and CEO
A MOTHER’S LOVE IS A POWERFUL FORCE. Becoming a
mother has brought a new level of understanding for me on
just how important it is for Prototypes to keep mothers and
their children together through recovery. I could never imagine
having to choose between my son and my health – a choice
that many mothers impacted by addiction and other serious
issues often are forced to make.
This issue of Prototypes’ newsletter highlights the important work we do to provide comprehensive and integrated care to
mothers. By allowing these mothers to keep their children with them, moms have the opportunity to strengthen their bond,
build crucial parenting skills, and support the healthy development of their child with the resources that Prototypes provides.
Prototypes’ recent accreditation by CARF further recognizes our commitment to improving the lives of those we serve. The
accreditation report specifically highlighted the treatment that pregnant and parenting women receive without having to sacrifice
their maternal role.
I dedicate this issue to moms everywhere striving to create a healthier future for their children. Thank you to our partners and
supporters, who allow Prototypes to continue to be one of the few organizations that helps mothers rebuild their lives, and in
doing so, positively impacts the children who depend on them.
Cassandra Loch, LCSW, MBA, President and CEO
At Prototypes, a pregnant client is assisted with all aspects of her life, from keeping
family court appointments to securing prenatal care and preparing for the birth.
Whether a client is pregnant or a new mother seeking to regain custody of her drugexposed baby, Prototypes will help her heal and teach her skills for continued sobriety,
independence and good parenting.
Vel Linden, MSW, CATC, who manages Prototypes in Oxnard, has been working with
this population for 15 years. “Having our mothers come into treatment, get sober while
pregnant, give birth, and actually be able to bring their child back to our facility – that’s
a huge accomplishment,” Linden says.
As many as 56 women can be in residence at Prototypes’ Oxnard facility at any one
time, recovering from a variety of addiction issues, from alcohol and marijuana abuse
to methamphetamine and heroin dependency.
Prototypes’ residential and detoxification treatments are available to all women regardless
of their payment source. Prototypes has contracts with the county and private insurance
companies to provide these services. In addition, Prototypes has affordable payment
continued on page 6
SPRING/
SUMMER
2014
Residential treatment programs
are designed to accommodate
expecting and new mothers in
the recovery process.
INSIDE
Prototypes
Receives CARF
Accreditation. . . . . . 2
Children of Prototypes:
Tahra’s Story . . . . . . . . . . . .3
Pat Steger:
A Mother’s Perspective .. .4
The Prototypes Community . . . 5
Prototypes Continuum
of Care Illustrated. . . . . . . . 7