“A helping hand can be a ray of sunshine in a cloudy world.”

-Jennifer Betts

Alumni and staff of Salinas Residential Program at groundbreaking for new Recovery Center.

It is good advice for me to take a moment and breathe. As we end our fiscal year on June 30 and begin a new year July 1, I see all the growth we have accomplished in the past year and what we look forward to. – I watch with anticipation as our new Recovery Center in Salinas is being built, Avila Construction making great progress every day on Shawn Capps’ design from Ward Ruhnke & Wald Architects. I am working everyday now with our new Hope Housing team, planning to open our new Bridge Housing program in Marina next month. I take time to breathe and feel appreciation for donors like Bryan’s (see his story below) whose contributions are not small. And I reflect on the amazing teens who are graduating this month, teens who have learned to advocate for their health and their community. I breathe easy!

-Anna Foglia, C.E.O

A Second Chance

at Mother's Day

Imagine a Mothers Day when mom is in jail for DUI or hospitalized for a drug overdose. Now imagine a group of moms, some with babies and toddlers, all enjoying brunch in a cozy Victorian home.

Moms in treatment for alcohol or drug dependency frequently miss out on traditional Mothers Day celebrations. Often, they grew up in homes with substance abuse, neglect, poverty, and domestic violence. They turned to alcohol or drugs to numb the pain. Mother’s Day BBQs turned into alcohol-fueled fights. Repeating the cycle learned in their youth, they found themselves in the black hole of addiction. Emotional bonds with their kids were seriously damaged, leading to feelings of guilt, shame, and resentment.

It takes enormous courage and commitment to regain control and resist falling back into addiction. That's why Sun Street Centers celebrates moms in recovery at its Mothers Day Brunch, held for women in the Hollister Women's Perinatal program where moms learn to recognize situations that trigger harmful behavior and develop new strategies to address them. They learn to maintain their own health and that of their children. They work to rebuild trust, repair relationships, and provide emotional support, guidance, and stability for their children.

Addiction results in a loss of connections to family, friends, jobs, a home and hope for a safe and stable future. Sun Street Centers embraces a successful social model of recovery, helping families rebuild their connections. The values of honesty, tolerance, and willingness to help others, are the same values that help moms maintain their recovery and reclaim a second chance at Mothers Day.

A Generous Donation to Support

Men and Women on the Path to Healing

Alumni and staff of San Luis Obispo

Welcome To Sun Street Centers

Board of Directors!

(left to right) Julie Edgcomb (Board President), Brenda Granillo (Board Member), Bryan Kiefer (Board Secretary), Anna Foglia (CEO of SSC), and Mark Kooiman (Board Member)

Join us in welcoming Bryan Kiefer, the newest addition to Sun Street Centers' Board of Directors, stepping into the role of Board Secretary. Bryan is a graduate of Lehigh University with a Bachelor of Science, he dedicated two impactful years to the Peace Corps in Colombia, furthering his education with a Master of Business Administration from Harvard Business School and a Master of Arts from Wesleyan University.

On a personal note, Bryan shares a beautiful life with his beloved wife Nancy, and together they are proud parents to five sons, with four of them residing right here in California. The joy extends with seven adorable grandkids. Bryan Kiefer brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our team at Sun Street Centers.

"I first learned about SSC through my friendship with Bob Brunson, but I became much better acquainted when my nephew spent 3 months at Sun Street. I jumped at the chance to join Sun Street's Board of Directors because 1) I feel I can help, especially in fundraising, a field in which I have some experience, and 2) I support wholeheartedly Sun Street's mission of providing education, prevention, treatment, and recovery without regard to income level. I have seen first hand how successful Sun Street is in transforming the lives of its clients, and I want to play a role - however small - in such important and meaningful work."

-Bryan Kiefer

Sun Street Centers

Employee Spotlight

Meet Vanesa Vazquez Brown, Clinical Supervisor for the Salinas Men’s Residential program. With a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology and a Master of Arts in Marital and Family Therapy under her belt, Vanesa's career path is guided by a passion for helping others, nurtured by her own life experiences.

Her journey with Sun Street Centers began as an intern in 2018 through the Service-Learning program at CSUMB, which then evolved into a role in the Prevention Department on the Monterey Peninsula. Embracing challenges and seizing opportunities to grow, Vanesa's commitment to making a difference led her to become the Director of Family Services at Pueblo Del Mar Family Recovery Center while pursuing her Masters. Her journey is a testament to perseverance, dedication, and the power of turning passion into purpose.

“PDM was a safe place for the families.

A lot of them were reunited with their children, for a lot of them this was the first time they had somewhere safe.”

After the closing of the Pueblo Del Mar program, Vanesa transitioned to Clinical Supervisor with Men’s Residential where she provides individual, family, and couple’s therapy. When clients come in for treatment, she collaborates with the Residential team to conduct assessments, review counselor assessments and treatment plans, and support the client and counselor in the treatment journey. She also facilitates groups, including the Seeking Safety curriculum, which helps clients cope with trauma from substance abuse and PTSD.

“I am grateful for the families. I am grateful for being part of their live and for being part of their recovery, it really is a privilege to be there for them.”

“I know they have been through so many challenges and so many barriers, along with stress and fear, but they are doing it, they are resilient. They are the best examples of recovery.”

One story that is close to her heart is that of a couple who were homeless and had been living under a bridge. The couple had children who had been living with other family members for a few years. Now, the family has been reunified and they all live happily together in a place they call home. Giving the parents and their children the opportunity to be a family again.

“For me, the best feeling is seeing the change in the clients. Seeing how they improve and how much better their life gets. A lot of clients here come in with nothing, feeling hopeless and then you see the brightness come back into them.”

Time to Toss Your Cap,

Congratulations on Your Graduation!

(left to right) Omar R, Rasheeda A, and Ivette V - Graduates from Soledad HIgh School

It's graduation season, and we are thrilled to celebrate the graduation of our STEPS Program Youth Leaders! High school is not just about academics; it's about self-discovery, forging lifelong connections, and creating memories that will shape your future. As you embark on this new chapter, filled with its share of highs and lows, remember that the most fulfilling moments come from accomplishing what you set out to do.

"I would like to congratulate all of our Sun Street Centers STEPS Program graduating seniors, Class of 2024! Our STEPS youth leaders play a very important role in our prevention efforts that help shape our community into a healthier and safer place for their peers and our future generations. We are proud of all the amazing work that the youth have taken part in.

A heartfelt THANK YOU to our graduating seniors for all the time and effort we have received through your volunteer hours, working on different campaigns each month, park clean-ups, trainings and presentations, and resource fairs among other efforts. Keep reaching for the stars and best of luck in all your new endeavors!"

-Reyna Alcala, Program Director of Prevention Services

Cristal Cornelio, Everett Alvarez High School

Erik Mendoza, Salinas High School

Exael Cornelio, Everett Alvarez High School

Genaro Jaurrieta, Rancho San Juan High School

Josue Martinez, Alisal High School

Leslie Rubio, Everett Alvarez High School

Wilber Navarrete, Everett Alvarez High School

Yareli Rivera, Salinas High School

Angel Vega, Portola Butler High School

Gaby Ortiz, Portola Butler High School

Joe Ballesteros, Portola Butler High School

Leslie Arreola, King City High School

Lizbeth Garcia, King City High School

Luis Tejeda, Portola Butler High School

Ivette Vargas Jimenez, Soledad High School

Omar Ramirez, Soledad High School

Rasheeda Alkhaili, Soledad High School

In Loving Memory of

Ileen Groves

Ileen during Expanding Horizons Conference at Pueblo Del Mar

Our friend, Ileen Groves passed away last February 2024 but her spirit lives on in her many great deeds! Ileen spearheaded The Expanding Horizons conference at Pueblo Del Mar for 7 years. Established through Leadership Monterey, Ileen and her volunteer cohorts Amanda Holder, Pat Wilkinson, and Amber Sanchez, created a beautiful day for recently homeless families to feel empowered and special. Ileen recruited top speakers from Women’s Professional Network, Monterey Peninsula Chamber, and other community members she knew through her Bookkeeping Express business. As we are opening Hope Housing in Marina in just a short time, I hope to have Expanding Horizons return in honor of Ileen Groves, empowering women and men once again. She was compassionate, funny, smart, energetic, and truly ‘empowering’! Hope Housing will provide bridge housing, substance use disorder and serious mental illness support for women, men, and families experiencing homelessness. 

Prevention Pathways

Monthly Bulletin: June

Check out this monthly bulletin from California Department of Health Care Services' Advance Behavioral Health Prevention California which highlights latest news and events.

Click the link below to view this monthly newsletter. Don't forget to subscribe to receive future announcements.

Announcements/

Upcoming Events

Juneteenth Monterey County

Bring your lawn chairs and come out to support the 5th year of the Juneteenth Jubilee with local black businesses, food vendors, black history, speakers, music, endless entertainment, Kids Zone and the 2024 Crowning Ceremony.

Saturday, June 15, 2024

Starting at 1:00pm

Laguna Grande Park

(1249 Canyon Del Rey Blvd. Lakeside 1&2, Seaside 93955)

Radio Interview Treatment & Recovery Services

Sun Street Centers' Prevention Department and Men's Residential Program will be teaming up with Radio Bilingue Inc. for a radio interview about treatment and recovery services.

Tune in on Thursday, June 20, 2024

4:30pm-5:30pm

via Radio 90.9FM or Facebook Live (Sun Street Centers)

Community Forum: Impact of Secondhand & Thirdhand Smoke

The Latino Coordinating Center, in partnership with the Monterey County Health Department Tobacco Program, will be hosting a Community Forum. This forum is a significant platform to address secondhand and thirdhand smoke issues that are significantly impacting our community.

Thursday, June 20, 2024

6:00pm-8:00pm

Bread Box Recreation Center

(745 N. Sanborn Rd, Salinas 93905)

Community Forum: Impact of Youth Substance Use

Sun Street Centers' Prevention Department will be hosting a forum for the community to learn about the risks associated with youth substance use and how parents can start the conversation with their child about substance use.

Wednesday, June 26, 2024

5:30pm-7:30pm

Frank Paul Family Resource Center

(1296 Rider Ave, Salinas 93905)

Youth Mental Health First-Aid Training

This training for high school students teaches students to recognize signs that tell them if their friends or classmates are experiencing a mental health or addiction challenge or is in crisis and ways to help them find the support they need.

High school student participants will receive a total of 5 community hours & a YMHFA Training completion certificate. (Student must attend all three trainings to receive a certificate of completion.)

*Deadline to register: Tuesday, June 18, 2024

Training Dates:

Monday, June 24 | Wednesday, June 26 | Friday June 28

4:30pm-6:00pm

128 E. Alisal Street, Salinas 93901

STEPS Program Summer Schedule 2024

STEPS is an afterschool drug and alcohol prevention peer to peer mentoring program of students representing our local high schools, and community service volunteers. If you are interested in joining, check out the summer schedule below!

STEPS Program in Salinas:

Wednesday's & Thursday's

12:00pm-2:00pm

128 E. Alisal Street, Salinas 93901

831-753-5150

STEPS Program in Soledad:

Monday's & Wednesday's

1:30pm-3:30pm

Soledad Hartnell Campus

1505 Metz Road, Soledad 93960

831-401-5252

STEPS Program in Monterey Peninsula:

Tuesday's & Thursday's

12:00pm-2:00pm

1201 Echo Ave, Seaside 93955

831-401-5505

STEPS Program in King City:

Tuesday's

12:30pm-2:30pm

Darlene Acosta Youth Center

641 Broadway Street, King City 93930

831-235-3438

Sun Street Centers' Job Opportunities

Are you looking to join the Sun Street Centers team? We are currently seeking seeking candidates for different positions throughout our agency. Click the link below to view current open positions.

Recovery • Counseling • Education • Prevention

www.SunStreetCenters.org