With this publication, we are concluding the first year of distributing our every-other month newsletter. The goal is to increase our contact with the life’s blood of our organization, our alumni and community supporters. We want to be transparent about our financials, plans and goals. Our hope is for everyone to be able to hear our messaging, and as a result, see the vision we have for the future. Like recovery, we cannot do this alone. We need all the support and knowledge that our community has to offer in order to best help those in need.

If the reader has been keeping up with our newsletters, you would already know we have a ton of good stuff going on. For the first several years of my time here as CEO, we worked on the programmatic aspects of the organization. We upgraded our ability to deliver high quality substance-use treatment. We went from 28 staff to approximately 75, providing more care to our participants. We added therapists and greater medical/psychiatric oversight to our program to treat the underlying causes of addiction.

From a business perspective, we changed the work culture. We had many meetings and brainstorming sessions to get to the bottom of what our staff need from management in order to call this place home and make a career here. We increased salaries, provided bonuses, and expanded our medical benefits. We cared about our staff through COVID. We made them whole financially if they were out sick. We created a reputation in Riverside County as a place that takes care of business and delivers on it’s promises.

For the past 18 months our focus has been on the physical plant. ABC Recovery Center turned 60 this year. We realized the need for a new facility for the future, secured funding and we anticipate beginning to build this year. We remodeled the Recovery Residence Village over the past 18 months as well. We are now completing the last house in the village. Obviously, this has been a ton of work for our Facilities Maintenance crew. Danny Leahy’s Administration grew this into a 13 acre campus from a single house, it is only right we overhaul it, and add to it. It is actually something I am personally very proud of. I cannot wait until the new campus is complete. We will send out communications regarding a groundbreaking ceremony and an open house to celebrate its completion.

We have greatly increased our fundraising efforts. Grant awards over the past year have surpassed all revenues collected since ABC’s creation in 1963. These funds are earmarked for building/capital. the "Cost of Caring Fund" and programs we have implemented. ABC Recovery Center is doing big things! I say this to brag a little, but also because we want all of our alumni and supporters to know we take this sacred place seriously and we are good stewards. We are responsible to our stakeholders. We are here for ALL. We are grateful to everyone who supports us. We are a team not an individual. There are other plans we have for the future, but for now I will part with what I have reported here. Be on the look-out for our newsletters (next one in May) and please take some time to review our Annual Report, the first one of this administration. (link provided within the newsletter below)

We hope to see you all at a future event.

With Sincerity,

ABC Recovery Center is delighted to announce a grant agreement with the Desert Healthcare District for new funding of $332,561 dedicated to ABC’s “Cost of Caring Fund”. The Cost of Caring Fund helps to close the gap between service reimbursements and the actual costs of care. The Desert Healthcare District is a local government agency formed in 1948. Its mission is to achieve optimal health at all stages of life for all District residents. The District includes more than 400,000 residents and encompasses the entire Coachella Valley. The District and Desert Healthcare Foundation, together, are one of the largest funders in the valley. These funds are used to assist residents — especially the underserved — in accessing vitally needed resources, such as primary and behavioral healthcare. 

In 2021, ABC Recovery Center had almost $19 million in billable client revenue. The monies realized after receiving the reimbursements for these billable services was just over $5.65 million.  The funding from the Desert Healthcare District Foundation will help to ensure our Coachella Valley clients continue life-saving care regardless of their ability to pay.

Thank you, Desert Healthcare District, for all you do for our community and beyond.

Desert Healthcare District Team (from left to right) Donna Craig, Chief Program Officer, Meghan Kane (onscreen), Senior Program Officer, Ericka Huskey, Administrative and Program Assistant, Jana Trew, Senior Program Officer.

Since its inception in 2006, BIGHORN Golf Club Charities and its Members have gifted over $400 million in funding to support wellness, education, elderly, and enrichment services to the public. BIGHORN Golf Club Charities is the parent organization for both BIGHORN BAM, which funds a number of local cancer-related causes, and BIGHORN Cares, which funds specific projects for local non-profits that demonstrate a need and make a real difference in the quality of life for people in the Coachella Valley.

ABC Recovery Center subbmited a grant request for funding to attain AED's (Automated External Defibrilators) which was granted. Because of the severity and acuity of our detoxifying population, we need to be ready to immediately provide life-saving care.  An AED is used to help those experiencing sudden cardiac arrest. It's a sophisticated, yet easy-to-use, medical device that can analyze the heart's rhythm and, if necessary, deliver an electrical shock, or defibrillation, to help the heart re-establish an effective rhythm. Our campus is extensive consisting of a dozen or so buildings, each supporting our client populations. ABC wants the ability to place an AED in each building enabling our staff to have this technology within easy reach and apply this medical intervention when it is needed most.

This purchase could not just improve the quality of life, but rather be lifesaving. ABC Recovery Center has had the need to expend life-saving measures 10 times in the last two years. The population we serve are generally in fragile condition medically and thanks to Bighorn Cares, we will have the abilities to provide the care necessary.

Please take the time to review our annual report. We want to share our story with you through our clients, donors and leadership.

It's been a long road.

Thanks so much for helping us along the way.

ABC offers a three-day in person family program workshop that meets once a month. We start on Friday evening with an opening circle, education and discussion on understanding the disease of substance use disorders. Saturday is a full day of education on family systems, communication and boundaries and Sunday we have a discusses of developing resources for family and an Al-Anon panel meeting.  The program is centered around education and is facilitated in a supportive environment that explores the depth of addiction, family systems, boundaries, communication skills and recovery for the entire family. The program is free and opened to family members who would like to improve their relationship with their loved one who struggles with substance use disorders. The goal of the program is to gain understanding and to jumpstart the healing process.

ABC Recovery also provides a weekly webinar on Thursdays from 4:00 to 5:00pm. The webinar series is a weekly series that guides in supporting family members with loved ones who struggles with substance use disorders utilizing the CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) method. The Webinar is designed to continue helping loved ones learn specific skills to positively impact their family member with a substance use disorder, increase effectiveness of supportive change.

Every month, the ABC Recovery Center team identifies our Rock Stars. This is a peer designation which makes it even more special. Rock Stars are member of our staff who are going above and beyond the expectations of their positions. They are making our mission happen and are integral to the important changes we are helping our clients make in their lives.

Monthly, staff are included in the request to nominate a Rock Star. They are asked what inspired them to nominate their peer and are provided six criteria to select from that apply to their nominee. The survey is tabulated, and the winners are announced by Human Resources.

Our January Rock Star is Barbara Bell. Barbara has been with ABC Recovery Center since November 1, 2021. She is a dedicated employee, consistent and demonstrates ongoing motivation to help those struggling with addiction. Barbara is a team player and is always willing to step up to the plate when her team needs assistance. Barbara is an asset to our community, always willing to support the clients in their daily challenges and does not give up. Thanks Barbara!

Pictured is Lisa Wolfe, Program Manager and Barbara Bell, Behavioral Health Technician I.

Pictured: Andrea Courreges, Alumni Association President and Ashely Hinesley, Vice President.

ABC Alumni Committee Members not pictured: Brenda Hughes, Eloise Black and Angel Munoz.

The Alumni of ABC Recovery Center have plans in the works for the rest of this calendar year. The Alumni Breakfast is on the first Sunday of the month, here at ABC Recovery Center. The next breakfast is on Sunday March 5th.

The alumni of ABC Recovery Center gather for dinner annually to help raise money for the clients of ABC Recovery Center. The money raised at this dinner goes towards the alumni's holiday party and for gifts and needs of our clients who are in treatment during the holidays, and their children and families.

A big "Thank you" to the owners of La Quinta's Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ellie Koch Tropple and Jeff Tropple. Their thoughtful generosity in providing cakes for us each month helps us recognize and celebrate those in our organization who have been given another year, and a second chance at life.

Thanks so much Ellie and Jeff and thanks to your amazing team.

February Birthdays - Pictured Left to Right: Crystal Calderon - Behavior Health Technician, Jorge Reyes - Janitor, - Brock Jenikovsky, Director of Operations

As one of Southern California's leading destinations for addiction treatment, ABC Recovery Center promotes wellness and healing for all stages of recovery. When we first meet the clients who arrive at our door, we don’t know what the future will hold. We welcome them without judgment and provide an individually tailored holistic and multi-disciplinary team approach that has successfully helped many others overcome their battle with substance use disorders. ABC is Licensed by the State Department of Health Care Services, as well as being accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF).

ABC Recovery Center offers a full continuum of services for those who have made the decision to make significant changes to their lives. We offer the following programs: Detoxification (Detox), Residential Treatment, Intensive Outpatient Program, Outpatient Program, and our Transitional and Sober Living Programs. We also provide a family program, perinatal services, and specialized groups for LGBTQIA constituents.

We are helping provide a future for over a thousand people a year, and that doesn’t include the number of people whose futures will be impacted when our clients are returned to them, sober and safe. We are here to provide them every opportunity to have the future they want.