Volume 2 | June 2022
Our monthly news & updates
Thanks so much to all for your feedback on our new newsletter. As shared previously we have officially adopted new branding/logos for ABC Recovery Center. We will be hopeful to share our new website with you when our August Newsletter is sent out. We also hope to provide other information that may be beneficial. If you have upcoming news or information you'd like to have us share in this newsletter, please contact our development office at development@abcrecoverycenter.org. Our next newsletter will publish on August 1st, so please send your article requests to Maureen no later than July 25th.
A Message from the
Chief Executive Officer



Happy June to the ABC Family and Supporters,

I wanted to chime in and give an update on what is going on at the organization.

On March 31st we submitted a grant proposal to the Department of Healthcare services for funding for a new facility to be built on our existing campus. This would be huge boost to our mission and would provide the capital for a 50,000 square foot facility. We would make it all one story and handicap accessible. This proposal would position us for the future, as our existing facilities have taken significant wear and tear over the past 60 years. We will hope to share the good news of having this project funded in the coming weeks.
Since 2020 it has been a struggle to operate to our fullest capacity. We had to limit our admissions and quarantine everyone who came to us for help. We have seen most of those restrictions lifted over the past 6 months and we are happy to report we are fully staffed and providing care at pre-pandemic levels. Financially, the past two years have been tricky to navigate, and the job market is extremely competitive, so I thought it worth mentioning.

I want to take a moment to thank the ABC Recovery Center staff. Working in this field is not easy. We have a great group of people from every walk of life who run this operation. No one person can take credit for what we accomplish. It is truly a team effort, so to our newest team members and our most senior staff; thanks for what you do. The community we serve cannot see everything it takes to help those suffering, or the sacrifices and heartache our professionals endure in pursuit of our mission. Just know, I see it, and you make me proud daily. I am honored to work with you all for these many years.
 
With Sincerity,
Chris Yingling, CEO
ABC Recovery Center
ABC Recovery Center is pleased to participate in the West Coast Symposium on Addition Disorders taking place from June 2nd to June 4th at the La Quinta Resort. Topics on this year's agenda include:

- Healing the Family
- Harm Reduction
- Trauma
- Medication Assisted Treatment
- C-Suite and Leadership

ABC Recovery Center joins a community of industry leaders and mental health professionals to expand our network and unite our efforts learning with and from like-minded professionals addressing the significant challenges of our industry and those who seek our help.
UPCOMING - ABC CLIENT FAMILY DAY

Loving someone with a substance use disorder can be daunting. One might feel confused, helpless, and alone. Addiction impacts each family member, as they all are interconnected. There are challenges not only for the one who is recovering from substance use, but for the family members as well. As Allen Berger Ph.D. says,” when there is a problem in one’s family it becomes everyone’s problem”. The focus is on the clients getting sober, but equally important is the inclusion of the family in the treatment program. Substance use disorder is a family disease, and you cannot treat the disease nearly as successfully without supporting the whole family. Feelings are complicated within families, they share about loving their family member, but also feel angry and hurt at the same time. This can leave them feeling confused and lost.    

ABC Recovery Center presented the first Family Program of 2022 on May the 7th. We had 16 family members joined for a day of education and support. This was purposed to provide the foundation of treating both clients and families in understanding substance use disorders as a disease, and helping to eradicate stigma that often accompanies addiction.

As a family member myself, I know the impact of loving someone with this disease. Family members personalize the behaviors of their loved one. They may tell themselves things like “why are they doing this to me” and “why are the making poor choices, don’t they see how it is hurting me”.  How can a family member not personalize addiction when they have been so personally impacted?   Understanding addiction as a disease helps the family member cope with, and understand their own feelings about their addicted loved one.  

Families come to recognize the 3 Cs in Al-Anon:
1. I didn’t cause it
2. I can’t control it
3. I can’t cure it.

The families learn about family systems roles, setting heathy boundaries and communication skills. They are also provided information on resources like Al-Anon and CRAFT programing support. Then Next Family Day is on June 18th where we will present a full day of education and support. The family members are also provided with virtual support on Saturdays as we go through a CRAFT (Community Reinforcement and Family Training) support series. When clients and their loved ones receive support, families can begin the healing process.  
ABC Recovery Center's Family Program staff pictured from top to bottom: Kateria Session, Valencia Adair and Kelly Ryan, the clinical supervisor.
The nurses of ABC Recovery Center provide daily medical support and comfort to our clients with rigorous attention to their unique needs. Thank you to our nursing team for all you do.
On April 22, 2022 ABC Recovery Center sported blue and green to celebrate earth day.

Earth Day is an annual event which demonstrates support for environmental protection. First beginning in 1970, earth day has expanded wide and far over many countries.

This is the moment to change it all — the business climate, the political climate, and how we take action on climate. Now is the time for the unstoppable courage to preserve and protect our health, our families, and our livelihoods.

act (boldly)
innovate (broadly)
implement (equitably)


Some of the ABC Team showed their Earth Day spirit dressing in blue and green.
Special Events - Gala 2023
Call for Gala Committee Members
Yes, we are already planning our Gala for 2023!

If you like to be a part of our gala committee, please let Maureen know. We are already considering the gala theme and looking into the artwork for the "Save the Date" announcements. We'd love to have your input and assistance. We anticipate having monthly committee meetings that are intended to provide updates, obtain volunteers, solicit support to obtain auction items, and more. The meetings could be in person or virtually via zoom and will be 45-60 minutes long. We will be reaching out to those who have responded to this request to identify the best day and time for the meetings. Once we see what works best, we will send out notifications solidifying our monthly committee meeting schedule. Join us!

Please contact Maureen at mgirouard@abcrecoverycenter.org to sign up for the committee or get more information.
Rock On!
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 March Rock Star was Jasmine Burden. Jasmine has filled many roles here at ABC and has recently transitioned into our newest Outpatient Counselor. The employees that voted for Jasmine shared,

"Jasmine goes above and beyond for our clients. She not only helps them out with case management, she's exceptional in facilitating groups and is great at helping clients feel heard."

"Jasmine always has a great attitude and is open to helping whenever she is asked. She is a hard worker and has taken on tons of new roles and responsibilities. She also has good rapport with the clients."

Our April Rock Star was Brian Sullivan. Brian is our Kitchen Assistant. He is hardworking, efficient, and always served food with a smile! The employees that voted for Brian shared,

"Brian has a positive attitude. He goes above and beyond. He is just AWESOME."

"Brian goes out of his way to teach the clients and kitchen staff how to work well together in the kitchen."
WITH GREAT APPRECIATION TO ABC RECOVERY CENTER'S TEAM

We are preparing for upcoming audits, specifically our CARF accreditation and Riverside County audit. To that end, our staff have trainings that need to be completed so that we meet compliance requirements. This means that management is often faced with the challenges regarding coordinating trainings and rescheduling or adjusting shifts to get adequate coverage for those that need to complete any trainings. We very much appreciate your understanding and your cooperation by completing any trainings or submitting any documentation needed for this process, and for supporting the team during the coverage adjustments. The level of cooperation and dedication you all provide to the ABC team is greatly appreciated. You guys are awesome!   
ABC Recovery Center Alumni Association News

The Alumni of ABC Recovery Center have plans in the works for the rest of this calendar year. The Alumni Breakfast are on the first Sunday of the month, here at ABC Recovery Center. The June breakfast is coming up on Sunday the 5th. There will be a Holiday Party the Monday before Christmas (December 19th). And, there will be an Alumni Dinner at Mitch's in the coming months. Stay tuned! Thanks for all!
Pictured: Andrea Courreges, Alumni Association President and Ashely Hinesley, Vice President.
ABC Alumni Committee Members not pictured: Brenda Hughes, Eloise Black and Angel Munoz.
A big "Thank you" to the owners of La Quinta's Nothing Bundt Cakes, Ellie Koch 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.
Thanks to all in the community who generously support our mission

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.
ABC Recovery Center's Core Values
We Value. . .
An organizational culture and delivery of service promoting the belief that no one life is more important than another. We value every person, every client as an individual and respect their journey providing dignity, and empathy to everyone seen and served.

Those who are like-minded and adhere to the science that addiction is a disease and those challenged with this disease deserve compassion, encouragement and every opportunity in attaining a new beginning. 

Our work towards an organizational future when we will have the capacity to open our doors to anyone who will need our services without concern for compensation.

The search for and incorporation of leading therapies, treatments, and care models that provide our clients the greatest opportunity for successful sobriety.

The unlimited courage of our clients who seek treatment, for their life-affirming decision to say, “no more” and taking difficult steps that will be life-changing.

All those who encourage and support our clients and help shepherd them on their life-long journey, as we extend our care by incorporating family members whenever possible. 

The time, education, training, effort and sacrifice of the employees at ABC Recovery Center, as they administer care to those we serve, often under difficult circumstances. Each one serving ethically and bench-marking our industry’s highest standards.

The fostering of teamwork and the creation of a culture that encourages collaboration rather than competition. Everyone on our team is an integral cog in the wheel, in support of our client's recovery. 

The support of our donor community, whose contributions we steward with the utmost care.

The legacy of all clients served and how their journey further affirms our dedication and informs our service.