Volume 1 | April 2022
Our monthly news & updates
Welcome to ABC Recovery Center's inaugural newsletter. We plan on sending out our newsletter every other month.  It will apprise our community of ABC Recovery Center news, upcoming events, recognition of our award-winning staff, and sharing messaging from our Board of Directors and Chief Executive Officer, about programs and campus happenings. 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 Maureen at mgirouard@abcrecoverycenter.org. Our next newsletter will publish on June 1st, so please send your article requests to Maureen no later than May 25th.
A Message from the
Chief Executive Officer

Dear ABC Recovery Center Community,

Over the last six years, ABC Recovery Center has gone through many changes. Our Team has made great strides in transforming the facility into a model where our non-profit can compete with any provider out there. The first step was getting the right team together and hiring a multidisciplinary team capable of providing evidence-based curriculum. We needed to be capable of providing care from a whole-person perspective. People with substance-use disorders can be challenged biologically, socially, and psychologically. Therefore, our team is comprised of medical staff, peer support services, and behavioral health professionals. In the 12 step-community there are issues we refer to as, “outside issues”, but as a substance-use treatment facility we have to be a one stop shop for whatever ails our participants.
Our organization has experienced a lot of success in recent years doing what I have described above. The next step in our plans is to update the physical structures at our facility. ABC Recovery Center has been here for nearly 60 years. All of our buildings are in need of some love. Due to the foresight of our founders, we have land we can develop adjacent to our existing center. Around 1982, a woman named, Helen Bunn donated a 5.9 acre parcel to ABC Recovery Center. We have been working very hard to secure grant funding to build a completely new, state of the art facility on that land. One of the significant challenges we face is that many of the donor relationships that existed years ago have long since ended. Most of our founders and benefactors have passed on. Additionally, a large number of charitable foundations today do not fund capital improvement projects. Nevertheless, we are pushing to make the new facility a reality. We are currently working with the state to realize this dream, as well as reaching out to our community for support.

Most of our funding comes from service reimbursements: 77 percent comes from providing services to Medi-Cal clientele. The gap between our necessary operating expenses and our reimbursements grows as we do. For most businesses, having more clients helps to close the gap in funding. For ABC Recovery Center, the opposite occurs because of the significant safety net population that is served through Medi-Cal. For example our daily charge rate for our Detox services is $1,080, however our Medi-Cal reimbursement rate is only $300 for this service.

I want to take this opportunity to thank our community partners and supporters for what they do to help us survive and continue this important work. The world is a different place today than when our organization was formed. It’s unfortunate the impact drugs and alcohol have on our society go largely unaddressed. I am hopeful this mission of ours will soon receive the additional support it needs.
New ABC Recovery Center Logos

We are very excited to share our new logos which we will begin incorporating into our collateral needs and messaging. We expect our current logo (at the top of this newsletter) to be phased out by the end of May from all public messaging. You'll notice that the new logos maintain the blue and green colors from the previous logo, as well as, the iconic palm tree, we've just modernized it a bit. There is the "banner logo", a black and white logo for black and white print needs, and a vertical logo for specific print and placement needs that don't lend themselves to a banner sized logo.
On March 8th ABC Recovery Center joined the celebration with the rest of the world. International women’s day is celebrated by recognizing female achievements. This is a call to action, encouraging everyone to stand up for women’s rights and gender equality. In working with clients with substance use disorders, we know that sigma can have a negative effect. This can impact one’s self-esteem, damage relationships and even prevent those who suffer from addiction to seek out treatment. In our effort to break this stigma, we have started having conversations to bring awareness of our own biases. Equality and gender equality means that everyone has the same rights privileges and access to opportunities. To celebrate this day, we wore purple and had a get together with cake, refreshments and most importantly, fellowship. The International Women's days campaign theme this year is IWD: IWD 2022 #BreakTheBias.
The definition of "bias" is prejudice in favor of or against one thing, person, or group compared with another, usually in a way considered to be unfair.

Our staff together, as well as with our clients considered:
A gender equal world.
A world free of bias, stereotypes, and discrimination.
A world that is diverse, equitable, and inclusive.
A world where difference is valued and celebrated.

We brought this to our clientele and created an opportunity in our groups to reflect on: How have they experienced biases? Who has been inspirational in their life? The response was great as clients had a safe space to talk about biases. Some spoke about experiences in gender, social economic status, race, ethnicity and even homelessness.

Here at ABC Recovery Center our mission is to conquer addiction. We are committed to breaking the biases and overcome the obstacles that hinder wellness. Even though the celebration was on March 8th, we will continue to keep this in mind all year long. Treating each other with kindness, inclusivity, and the respect we all deserve, is a priority.
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.
From right to left: NBC News Anchor and Gala Host, Thalia Hayden, ABC Recovery Center Board Chairman, David Grey, ABC Recovery Center CEO, Chris Yingling, Gala Honoree Jerry Moe, Gala Entertainment, Drummer Danny Seraphine (formerly of Chicago) and the band, California Transit Authority
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 Rock Stars from January are Rosalinda (Rosie) Rodriquez and David Proctor. Rosie is ABC's unofficial ambassador as the person who greets you when you enter ABC's reception area. The employees that voted for Rosie shared, "What inspired me to vote for Rosie is she lights up the front desk and has been a valuable asset to ABC since she started.” “Rosie is creative, kind, and always lending a helping hand.”

David Proctor is one of our case managers. Employees shared that David goes "above and beyond." Other supportive and telling comments included, “David is great at supporting all clients, in particular with Medi-Cal needs which are vital to both the client and the organization.” “He carries a big caseload and still manages to meet all the client’s needs. It's definitely an honor to work with David.”

Our February Rock Star was Everett Wallace. Some of the comments made about Everett's contributions include: "Everett has been adapting to his new role as placed and has done so with grace and willingness."
 "Everett's consistency with client's, his work ethic, and he helps out whenever and wherever he is needed."

Everett has been with ABC Recovery Center since April of 2018. Since then, he's been known as a hard worker and a team player. He is currently our STOP Primary Counselor.



We are so fortunate to have these great employees on our team.
WITH GREAT APPRECIATION TO ABC RECOVERY CENTER'S STAFF

With the ongoing challenges of COVID-19, the nation is experiencing a "Great Resignation". As a result, employers are facing an unprecedented amount of employee shortages and turnover. ABC has been impacted by this situation, and as a result our staff have really stepped up. They have worked long days and multiple shifts to cope with staff coverage needs and shortages. We would like to give thanks to all the ABC staff members who worked hard and remained dedicated to ABC, our clients, and our mission. Today, more than ever, the need to provide an environment for those with Substance Use Disorders is crucial. To that end, ABC employee’s commitment, dedication, and support is greatly appreciated in the quest to help fulfill that mission.
ABC Recovery Center Alumni Association News

A message from Andrea Courreges, President and Ashley Hinesley, Vice Present of ABC Alumni Association:

We are so excited to institute our monthly Alumni Breakfast once again. We've greatly missed this opportunity to gather and share.

Please note that the April breakfast is on! But, there won't be a May breakfast.

We'll hope to see you soon.

Thanks so much to you all!

Andrea and Ashley
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.