The following post is from our Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS) Tidbit of the Month series. Each month, the RCCS Steering Committee creates practices to support our recovery culture within our programs and among staff. Click here to learn more about the RCCS.

RCCS Tidbit of the Month: Older Adults

A Component of the Five Awarenesses of the RCCS Program Culture

At ɫ��ɫ, we recognize that individuals in their 60s, 70s, 80s, and beyond continue to hold aspirations, dreams, and possibilities for growth. Our programs for older adults embrace this understanding while addressing the unique recovery challenges that can accompany aging.

A Whole-Person Approach

Our recovery-centered approach for older adults focuses on:

• Honoring autonomy and personal choice

• Recognizing wisdom gained through life experience

• Supporting continued growth and meaning

• Addressing specialized health and social needs

Addressing Unique Challenges

ɫ��ɫ's elder-focused programs provide specialized support for challenges, including:

• Physical health management

• Social connection after loss

• Finding purpose and meaning

• Navigating healthcare systems

• Supporting safe independence

Elements of Elder Recovery Support

Our approach includes tailored conversations around:

Meaning and Purpose:

We help individuals explore spirituality and personal values as foundations for continued growth.

Connection and Community:

We address isolation risk by supporting meaningful relationship development and community engagement.

Hope and Resilience:

Our teams help identify sources of joy, motivation and hope even during significant life transitions.

Comprehensive Health Support:

We provide education and advocacy to address both behavioral and physical health needs.

By honoring the whole person throughout the aging journey, ɫ��ɫ creates environments where elders can continue their recovery with dignity, purpose, and support.

Over 100 participants gathered for the (REI) on Friday, February 21, 2025. ɫ��ɫ joined eleven other organizations as event sponsors, participating in a resource fair that offered information and support materials to attendees.

The community-centered celebration featured student art and writing exhibits, creative workshops, and a complimentary taco lunch. Attendees enjoyed opportunities to socialize and engage in creative expression throughout the day.

Among the participants was Christina Seraj, a current member of ɫ��ɫ's program in Santa Ana. Christina served as a Success Coach for REI while hosting the Rock Painting Workshop and displaying her artwork at the event.

REI, located in Orange, California, offers valuable resources for adults living with mental health challenges and their family members. The academic program provides college general education classes, human services certifications, GED preparation, ESL courses, and enrichment workshops at no cost to eligible Orange County residents.

ɫ��ɫ's San Diego In-Home Outreach Team (IHOT) program recently participated in San Diego State University’s annual Spring Career and Internship Fair. Licensed team leads Sara Sanobari and Charis Tubbs represented the ɫ��ɫ San Diego region, connecting with students interested in behavioral healthcare careers.

The ɫ��ɫ In-Home Outreach Team (IHOT) is a centralized program that offers mobile teams to provide in-home outreach to adults with serious mental illness (SMI) who are hesitant or resistant to receiving mental health services. IHOT serves individuals throughout San Diego County.

We are proud to see IHOT’s commitment to community involvement. Thank you!

ɫ��ɫ's Morton Bakar Center recently celebrated the completion of a mentorship program designed to strengthen leadership teams across the organization. As one of the first programs to participate in this initiative, Morton Bakar Center’s leadership engaged in a comprehensive 90-day development experience.

The program provided participants with structured support and leadership development activities to enhance team dynamics and staff engagement. After meeting all program criteria, the team marked their accomplishment with a special graduation ceremony. During this event, leadership members signed a culture agreement articulating their shared commitments and received certificates to celebrate their achievements.

Team reflections highlighted the value of understanding different leadership styles, connecting work to personal purpose, embracing new challenges, and developing a unified vision for the future. This successful completion demonstrates ɫ��ɫ's ongoing investment in leadership excellence across its programs.

ɫ��ɫ proudly supported Peer Recovery Coach Lori Fischer at the on February 27, 2025. Lori, who serves in the Orange County AOT and Care Act program in Santa Ana, received a nomination for her outstanding contributions in the Peer Professional category.

ɫ��ɫ sponsored a table for the event at The Turnip Rose, a community event space in Costa Mesa, bringing together a supportive group including Lori’s parents, her best friend Trish Dauer (previous Clinical Director of AOT), and several program colleagues: Jessica Dirks (Program Administrator), Jyoti Gustafson (Team Lead), Lei Portugal Calloway (Peer Team Lead), and Michelle Dabbs (Regional Director of Operations).

The celebration provided valuable networking opportunities with Orange County community partners while featuring various raffle prizes, including an LA Lakers Sports Package and casino hotel experiences.

Lei Portugal Calloway, last year’s recipient of the same award, delivered the keynote address. She shared her journey of recovery and resilience while introducing attendees to the Japanese concept of Ikigai – finding purpose through the intersection of passion, talent, community needs, and sustainable work.

The annual event recognizes excellence across multiple categories, including Professional, Volunteer, Peer Professional, and the Hope & Courage award.

ɫ��ɫ's Kearny Vista Permanent Supportive Housing (PSH) program brought people together for a heartwarming Valentine’s Day celebration. The team organized a fun potluck featuring themed treats and a variety of dishes, creating an opportunity for connection and community building.

The program provides voluntary onsite support and case management for Kearny Vista PSH residents, focusing on housing stability and retention. Services can be accessed in the community based on individual preferences.

A big thank you to the amazing Kearny Vista PSH team! We appreciate all your hard work!

embraced the Valentine’s Day season with a lively celebration. Program staff created a joyful atmosphere by wearing heart-shaped glasses and decorating the center with Valentine’s-themed decor. The celebration included special treats for everyone, bringing warmth and community spirit to the day.

The program has 16 beds and operates 24/7, staffed by clinicians, nurses, therapists, counselors, and peer support specialists. Comprehensive support is offered through methods like the Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR), and Seeking Safety.

Thank you to the staff for creating a fun environment for all!

ɫ��ɫ's (CSU) team enjoyed a special Valentine’s celebration that brightened their workplace. Organized by administrator Satwinder Mahabir, the festive atmosphere included Valentine’s decorations throughout the program, thoughtful goodie bags, and a shared meal for all staff members.

Regional Director of Operations Janbir Sandhu appreciated the program’s ongoing recognition culture: “Thank you for consistently honoring your team, Satwinder, and for reminding them that they are seen and appreciated throughout the year!”

Alameda County Youth CSU assists adolescents in managing distress and maintaining stability. The program focuses on decision-making skills and harm-reduction techniques in a safe, respectful environment. They provide immediate, personalized support to stabilize symptoms and connect individuals to community resources.

We applaud the Alameda County Youth CSU team for celebrating their hard work and the impact they make!

ɫ��ɫ's and programs in Washington state brought tropical warmth to a snowy February day. On February 14, staff organized an “Aloha Days” celebration, transforming their workplace with Hawaiian shirts, colorful leis, and island-inspired refreshments.

The cheery gathering featured tropical non-alcoholic beverages, snacks, and pizza for all participants. The timing proved perfect, as staff woke up to several inches of snow that morning. Many commented on how uplifting it was to experience a taste of sunny paradise during the winter cold spell.

Both programs offer intensive mental health and psychiatric treatment for adults in crisis in a safe environment.

Thurston Mason E&T services emphasize choice-making skills and harm reduction. They provide immediate support to stabilize symptoms and connect clients to community resources.

Olympia Next Steps assists individuals ready to transition to a lower level of care after achieving stability.

“I was honored to have been chosen to lend my peer voice to the (PAG), their meetings in Sacramento, and the six virtual workgroups held throughout 2024,” Lei shares. “It’s because of this that I was able to identify a need and advocate for a 7th workgroup focusing specifically on the need for increased peer support and leadership, not only with the 988 Crisis Line and Crisis Care Continuum but peer support in general throughout California for the next five years and beyond.”

Her advocacy led to key recommendations for peer support services:

• Increasing awareness of peer support in behavioral health crisis services

• Expanding definitions to include peer-provided, peer-operated, and family peer support

• Enhancing training and supervision resources for peer supporters

The plan aims to transform behavioral health crisis services through four key goals:

• Increasing public awareness and trust in 988 services

• Establishing robust systems to connect people with appropriate support

• Delivering high-quality crisis response for all Californians

• Enhancing coordination of behavioral health crisis services

The complete strategic blueprint, is now available through.

The following post is from our Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS) Tidbit of the Month series. Each month, the RCCS Steering Committee creates practices to support our recovery culture within our programs and among staff. Click here to learn more about the RCCS.

RCCS Tidbit of the Month: My Community

A Component of the Five Awarenesses of the RCCS Program Culture

As the Southern California wildfires subside and cleanup begins, communities such as Altadena and the Pacific Palisades have shown remarkable support for those affected. This collective kindness is a vital source of resilience for individuals who have lost loved ones or homes.

A report by , the U.S. Surgeon General, Before the pandemic, many expressed feelings of insignificance and isolation, often stating, “I must bear all of life’s burdens alone.” Loneliness poses serious health risks, correlating with increased chances of cardiovascular disease, dementia, and depression.

At RCCS training, staff report many clients expressing feelings of isolation, especially in inpatient and residential settings. They often feel disconnected and say, “The only people who spend time with me are paid to be here.” To combat this, RCCS emphasizes the importance of “C�DzԲԱ𳦳پ��DzԲ�” and has developed resources to help clients rebuild meaningful relationships.

This month’s RCCS Tidbit explores connections with like-minded communities. As we celebrate Valentine’s Day, remember that quality time together truly matters, as our connections greatly influence our health and well-being.

Practice

Focus on individual relationships and community ties by considering these questions:

• What strengths does the client bring to their community?

• What is one action they can take to connect?

• What is one action they might consider stopping?

• How can these connections support their recovery journey?

Programs can evaluate their welcoming practices for new clients, as a genuine sense of welcome counteracts isolation and fosters belonging.

�ձ���𳦲�����’s Orange County AOT team showcased community resilience at the on February 1 in Anaheim, California. When faced with unexpected vendor challenges, Peer Team Lead Lei Portugal Calloway was quick to locate a new vendor and had the team ready within three hours, ensuring ɫ��ɫ's presence at this important community event.

The team’s booth at Center Street Promenade became a hub of activity, offering community resources, program information, and wellness materials. Visitors enjoyed candy, pens and journals, brochures, and hundreds of Fentanyl testing strips while experiencing the parade, food, entertainment, and vendor offerings. Staff member Stephanie Espinoza supported program participation, with her member even trying frog legs for the first time.

As a second-year sponsor, this event aligns with ɫ��ɫ's CHEI mission statement:

ɫ��ɫ is committed to advancing cultural diversity, humility, equity, and inclusion (CHEI) at all levels of our organization. We lead with our deepest values to advocate for change on a broader scale — and transform our own system of care to reduce inequities and healthcare disparities while increasing our accountability, transparency, and inclusiveness. We are committed to ensuring all diverse groups — including all races and ethnicities, all expressions of gender identity and sexual orientation, religion, and members of any protected group — feel supported, valued, and have a sense of belonging within ɫ��ɫ.

�ձ���𳦲�����’s Kaiser South Bay ICT team has found an innovative way to stay connected with ɫ��ɫ updates through their weekly review of the Friday Flash, �ձ���𳦲�����’s internal newsletter that shares announcements, stories, and organizational news. Taking turns based on the on-call schedule, team members share and summarize the latest updates with their team members.

This engaging practice, implemented in November in response to our Engagement Survey, ensures that everyone stays informed about communications from leadership. The shared responsibility of presenting the newsletter’s content helps maintain consistent engagement while building team connections.

The administrative team at ɫ��ɫ's (MCRT) recently came together to create vision boards for 2025. This creative exercise allowed team members to visualize personal and professional goals.

Fleet Coordinator John Marinas shared how the supportive work environment at MCRT enables his aspirations: “Many of my goals, not just for 2025, are on this board, and how I’m able to make them happen is because of the work-life balance I’m able to have working here!”

Lori Fischer, a at ɫ��ɫ's program, has been nominated for the. This recognition honors her outstanding contributions in the Peer Professional category.

Lori’s journey in mental health advocacy is particularly inspiring. After spending 13 years at Patton State Hospital and participating in ɫ��ɫ's program in Santa Ana, she joined the AOT team in February 2019. Her transition from program member to peer support professional demonstrates her dedication to peer advocacy and community support.

MHA will honor all nominees at their Celebration Luncheon on February 27, 2025, at The Turnip Rose Promenade in Costa Mesa. The event recognizes excellence across multiple categories, including professional, volunteer, and client “Hope and Courage” awards.

As MHA noted in their announcement: “The caliber of your contributions is great, as is the positive impact that you make for all of us who work to improve the quality of life for those with mental illness. Thank you for setting the benchmark for excellence."

Congratulations, Lori, on this well-deserved recognition!

The following post is from our Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS) Tidbit of the Month series. Each month, the RCCS Steering Committee creates practices to support our recovery culture within our programs and among staff. Click here to learn more about the RCCS.

RCCS Tidbit of the Month: Kindness

A Component of the Five Awarenesses of the RCCS Program Culture

At ɫ��ɫ, we are committed to recovery-based services. As part of that journey, we’ve made significant strides toward reducing and eliminating the use of coercion and force in mental health care.

At ɫ��ɫ, we recognize that fostering kindness is essential to creating healing environments and supporting recovery. As we enter 2025 after a challenging year marked by global conflicts and social divisions, the practice of kindness becomes even more crucial in mental healthcare.

The Power of Kindness

Research shows that kindness has tangible benefits for both mental and physical health. Studies demonstrate that stress and anxiety are reduced for those who practice kindness, mood is improved, and social connections are enhanced. Recipients of kindness experience increased well-being, enhanced self-esteem, and decreased feelings of isolation.

Building Better Relationships

Our Recovery-Centered Clinical System (RCCS) emphasizes that while we cannot change others, we can transform our relationships through intentional practices. Kindness is a powerful tool for bridging differences and creating meaningful connections, particularly in therapeutic settings.

Positive Assumptions

A key component of practicing kindness in healthcare environments is maintaining positive assumptions. This approach involves believing in people’s capabilities, good intentions, and commitment to recovery. We create spaces where healing can flourish by fostering an atmosphere of trust and mutual respect.

Practice:

The path to extending kindness to others often begins with self-kindness. Consider adopting the “good neighbor policy”: If you wouldn’t say it to a neighbor, don’t say it yourself.

Building Self-Kindness Through Daily Actions

• Create moments for self-reflection and rest

• Step away from social media occasionally

• Celebrate small accomplishments

• Connect with nature

• Engage in activities that bring joy

• Spend time with pets

• Practice gentle self-talk

Remember: Whatever you manage today is enough. During challenging times, focus on small victories—even simple acts of self-care are achievements worth celebrating.

�ձ���𳦲�����’s Villa Fairmont MHRC staff came together for a magical holiday celebration, creating an evening of connection and community spirit. The leadership team thanks all Villa Fairmont staff for their daily dedication to client care and recovery-centered values.

The Haven of Healing
 
In the darkest hour of my weary soul,
When shadows loomed and hope took its toll,
I stumbled upon a place serene,
A refuge nestled where hearts convene.

The doors stood open, arms stretched wide,
A sanctuary where fears subside.
They called it a crisis residential home,
But to me, it became where I’d truly belong.

The walls whispered stories of despair,
Yet woven within was love’s gentle care.
The staff, like beacons in a tempest's roar,
Guided us safely to the shore.

Each clinician, a tapestry of grace,
With wisdom etched upon their face.
They saw beyond the wounds and strife,
Believed in the spark of a brighter life.

"You're not your pain," their voices said,
"You are the dreams that lie ahead."
In their eyes, a compassion so rare,
A quiet promise: we’ll always care.

Group sessions, where words became wings,
Sharing struggles and the joy it brings.
We learned together, we healed as one,
Under the warmth of a rising sun.

They taught us to sit with the weight of the past,
To honor the pain, yet not let it last.
To feel, to process, to let it all go,
To plant the seeds of a life we’d sow.

The clinical staff, with patience divine,
Mapped out paths where stars align.
“Setbacks aren’t endings," they gently said,
“They’re just a pause to rest your head."

Their kindness wove strength in every thread,
Turning despair into hope instead.
Every gesture, every thoughtful word,
Was like music in my soul unheard.

They didn’t just teach; they truly believed,
In the power of lives being reprieved.
Every client, a story yet untold,
Each one is a treasure worth more than gold.

They listened deeply; they saw my truth,
They didn’t judge my fractured youth.
They gave me tools, they gave me light,
To navigate through the endless night.

And in their care, something shifted inside,
A warmth replaced where fear would reside.
I learned to trust, to breathe, to be,
To see a future meant for me.

Oh, how they cared, these hearts so pure,
With every action, they sought to ensure:
We are not broken, we are not lost,
Healing is worth whatever the cost.

And the people beside me, walking this road,
Carried burdens they silently showed.
Together, we built a family anew,
Bound by struggles and the breakthroughs too.

For this place wasn’t just a roof or a bed,
It was where my spirit was quietly fed.
It was where hope was stitched and sewn,
Where I realized I’m never alone.

Now, as I stand on steadier ground,
I look back to where love was found.
A crisis program, yes, by name,
But to me, it’s a light that forever remains.

To the staff, whose hearts refuse to tire,
You fan the flames of life’s fragile fire.
You don’t just work; you live to care,
To guide us through when life feels unfair.

And to the clients who shared the pain,
We walked through the storm and felt the rain.
Yet here we stand, alive, reborn,
With every sunrise, a brand-new morn.

A thousand thank-yous could never suffice,
For showing me love, for being so nice.
For teaching me strength, for showing me how
To live in the present, to cherish the now.

So here’s my ode to this haven of grace,
A timeless memory I’ll never erase.
For in your care, I found my start—
A journey of healing, a mended heart. 

The decorated doors have become a source of daily cheer. Each unique design brings smiles to those passing by and showcases the creative spirit of the Sanger Place community.

Each year, we gather artwork and poetry from our members across ɫ��ɫ to create the annual recovery calendar. Our theme for 2025 is My Recovery Superpower.

We received submissions across the spectrum of ɫ��ɫ programs representing our diverse geography, levels of care, and the individual uniqueness of the communities we serve. Each thoughtful piece we received displayed our clients' courage, compassion, and resilience.

As we welcome 2025, we want to thank our ɫ��ɫ team for all the hard work they do each and every day to make a difference in our clients’ lives. We also wanted to give our clients a huge, “THANK YOU” for displaying hope, resilience, and courage every day — true superpowers!

Thank you to everyone who submitted their work. The time and energy you put into each piece are greatly appreciated and admired. We wish there were more months in the year so we could make space for each submission!

Please see the gallery below for our selected artists for the 2025 Recovery Calendar! (Please note: names are credited with the artist’s consent.)