Prototypes Post Inspiring stories and news from Prototypes

Changing Lives for Expectant Mothers and Their ChildrenIN THE BEST OF TIMES, BEING PREGNANT CAN

BE HARD. For expectant women who are battling addiction or going through detox, the challenges and potential complications are far more daunting. Prototypes is a lifeline for these vulnerable women and their unborn children. By offering a range of services, known as integrated care, Prototypes works to remove the seemingly insurmountable barriers that prevent women from getting the help they need at the moment they need it most.

At Prototypes, a pregnant client is assisted with all aspects of her life, from keeping family court appointments to securing prenatal care and preparing for the birth. Whether a client is pregnant or a new mother seeking to regain custody of her drug-exposed baby, Prototypes will help her heal and teach her skills for continued sobriety, independence and good parenting.

Vel Linden, MSW, CATC, who manages Prototypes in Oxnard, has been working with this population for 15 years. “Having our mothers come into treatment, get sober while pregnant, give birth, and actually be able to bring their child back to our facility – that’s a huge accomplishment,” Linden says.

As many as 56 women can be in residence at Prototypes’ Oxnard facility at any one time, recovering from a variety of addiction issues, from alcohol and marijuana abuse to methamphetamine and heroin dependency.

Prototypes’ residential and detoxification treatments are available to all women regardless of their payment source. Prototypes has contracts with the county and private insurance companies to provide these services. In addition, Prototypes has affordable payment continued on page 6

1000 North Alameda Street, Suite 390Los Angeles, CA 90012

This issue of Prototypes’ newsletter highlights the important work we do to provide comprehensive and integrated care to mothers. By allowing these mothers to keep their children with them, moms have the opportunity to strengthen their bond, build crucial parenting skills, and support the healthy development of their child with the resources that Prototypes provides.

Prototypes’ recent accreditation by CARF further recognizes our commitment to improving the lives of those we serve. The accreditation report specifically highlighted the treatment that pregnant and parenting women receive without having to sacrificetheir maternal role.

I dedicate this issue to moms everywhere striving to create a healthier future for their children. Thank you to our partners and supporters, who allow Prototypes to continue to be one of the few organizations that helps mothers rebuild their lives, and in doing so, positively impacts the children who depend on them.

Cassandra Loch, LCSW, MBA, President and CEO

MESSAGE from Prototypes’ President and CEO

A MOTHER’S LOVE IS A POWERFUL FORCE. Becoming a mother has brought a new level of understanding for me on just how important it is for Prototypes to keep mothers and their children together through recovery. I could never imagine having to choose between my son and my health – a choice that many mothers impacted by addiction and other serious issues often are forced to make.

Children of Prototypes:

Tahra’s Story . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Pat Steger:

A Mother’s Perspective .. .4

The Prototypes Community . . . 5

Prototypes Continuum

of Care Illustrated. . . . . . . . 7

INSIDE

Prototypes

Receives CARF

Accreditation. . . . . . 2

Residential treatment programs are designed to accommodate expecting and new mothers in the recovery process.

Save the Date! September 24, 2014, 10:00 a.m. Celebrate National Recovery Month and our newly renovated Pomona Facility!

SPRING/SUMMER2014

1.

2.

RECOVERY IN RESIDENCE

n Residential treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental illness and trauma

n Detoxification

n Specialized services for mothers and children

n Confidential location for victims of domestic violence

n Vocational, parenting and life skills training

PROTOTYPES COMMUNITY SERVICES

nPrevention to promote healthy families n School-based health education programs

n Home visits and groups for new and expecting moms

COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES

n Medical and dental clinics

n Shelter and affordable housing

n Food banks

n Other nonprofit and government programs

PROTOTYPES HELPS REBUILD LIVES EVERY DAY at locations throughout Southern California and in the surrounding community.

OUTPATIENT AND INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

n Individual and group counseling for children and adults n Substance use and mental health treatment

n Case management

n Psychiatry

n Planned, structured, individual and group programs while continuing in school or work and living in the community

3. INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICESto treat the whole person

INDIVIDUALS IN NEED ARE REFERRED TO PROTOTYPESby hospitals/doctors, county public agencies and the justice system. Individuals can also self-refer.

PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNINGencompassing Prototypes’ services and other community resources

Prototypes Continuum of CareWe are experts in treating women and families who are struggling with addiction, mental illness and other complex issues.

DOMESTICVIOLENCE

ADDICTION

HO

MELESSN

ESS

POVERTY

MENTALILLNESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ann McClanathan, Chair PersonVice President of Business Development myStrength.com

Michael Kemp, Vice Chair PersonFounder and Principal, Michael Kemp Architects

Ron Burkhardt, SecretaryManaging Director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

Jim Quinn, TreasurerFormer Senior Management Executive

Margaret KellyRegional Vice PresidentWest Government, Education & Labor OptumHealth

Brandon Matloff Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual

Karen E. Pointer, Esq. Partner and Attorney at LawLerman Pointer & Spitz LLP

Cindy TetiVice President, Luminous Capital

Cassandra LochPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Prototypes

ABOUT US

Prototypes is a lifeline to women who are

struggling with addiction and other serious

issues such as domestic violence and mental

illness. Many of these women are mothers

who face an impossible choice: give up their

children to foster care or a guardian, or

continue to suffer. Prototypes is a game

changer by allowing women to keep their

children with them during treatment so

they both get the help they need. And by

combining comprehensive treatment services

with practical life-skills training, we prepare

women for long-term success.

Prototypes provides comprehensive,

integrated, and evidence-based services to

10,000 individuals each year throughout

Southern California. Prototypes is an

internationally recognized, CARF Accredited

nonprofit organization dedicated to

improving communities impacted by

substance use, mental illness and

domestic violence.

prototypes.org

Prototypes Post SPRING/SUMMER 2014

2 Newsletter design by 2B Communications

PROTOTYPES RECEIVES CARF ACCREDITATION

PROTOTYPES RECENTLY RECEIVED A THREE-YEAR ACCREDITATION by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This internationally recognized accreditation recognizes Prototypes’ longstanding dedication and commitment to improving the lives of the clients served.

This is the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded and shows Prototypes’ conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. Through this process, Prototypes’ staff has demonstrated their commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.

Not only does this achievement recognize Prototypes’ high-quality programs, it also allows the organization to serve more people in need of comprehensive substance use treatment and mental health care. The CARF accreditation will ensure that no one in need of Prototypes’ services will be turned away.

PROTOTYPES AND PEGGY ALBRECHT

FRIENDLY HOUSE LA, two of Los Angeles’ premier nonprofit women’s addiction and mental health programs, hosted their second annual networking luncheon at the California Endowment in March.

More than 60 professionals from local treatment programs, public agencies and the recovery field enjoyed lunch while listening to a presentation by Los Angeles area psychologist Dr. Moe Gelbart. Dr. Gelbert shared his knowledge on “Parental Strategies For Raising Drug Free Kids.”

The sold-out event was an opportunity for professionals in the field to learn about the latest trends and services in the community, stay connected to other organizations and better serve individuals impacted by addiction and mental illness.

Prototypes’ VP of Business Development Nial Stimson, Friendly House’s Assistant Executive Director Monica Schneider and Presenter Dr. Moe Gelbart.

Prototypes and Friendly House Help Build Connections

TAHRA LISTENS WITH A KNOWING SMILE AS HER MOM GIVES HER A PEP TALK FOR HER VIDEO INTERVIEW. She is joining a group of other young adults who are sharing what it meant to them to have Prototypes help their moms. A current senior in high school with near-perfect grades, Tahra exudes the confidence of someone much older. And it is evident that her strength stems in part from the strong bond she shares with her mother.

Yet, her life might have been drastically different had she not joined her mom at Prototypes when she was just a baby.

Doctors found cocaine in Tahra’s system and, at a few days old, a social worker stepped in to take her away. The only way Betty would get Tahra back was to get sober and healthy. Knowing she wanted a better life for her only daughter, Betty sought help at Prototypes. She worked with her counselor at Prototypes to set goals to succeed in her recovery. At five months old, Tahra joined her mom at Prototypes.

“If she didn’t have me with her, I don’t think she would have stayed at Prototypes,” Tahra shared. Her mom was used to drugs ruling her life, even selling her furniture to make enough money for drugs. Prototypes provided Betty with the tools to understand her addiction, learn how to respect her body and become the mother she always wanted to be.

“There are no words to describe how great a mom she is,”Tahra says, smiling. She knows that without Prototypes, her future might not be so bright. She could have been in the foster care system and her mother would never have gotten the treatment she needed to regain her life.

According to Tahra, Prototypes never felt like “rehab.” Instead, it felt like a home for women who want to get better together, along with their children. “It would be a very different place at Prototypes if there were no children. They remind their parents to be better people,” Tahra explained.

Betty is now an employee at Prototypes, helping women who are in similar situations to succeed in their own recovery. Not only did Betty pass on the lessons she learned at Prototypes to her daughter, she also passed on her passion to help others. Today, Tahra is thankful she learned the importance of self-esteem and helps others at her school to believe in themselves.

Tahra is looking forward to graduation and studying nursing in college out of state, but admits that she is a little anxious about leaving her mom. In 10 years, Tahra hopes to be working in a hospital, staying close to her mom, and someday wants a family of her own. “I will definitely tell my kids about Prototypes,” Tahra says. “It made me the person I am today.”

3

CHILDREN OF PROTOTYPES:

Tahra’s Story

“I will definitely tell my kids about Prototypes. It made me the person I am today.”

Tahra and her mother, Betty, pose for a picture. Watch Tahra’s story online at prototypes.org.

Changing Lives continued from cover

options for those without insurance or who do not qualify for government funding. With the Affordable Care Act, more people in need of mental health and substance use treatment now have insurance through the health exchange. “With our recent CARF Accreditation, we can now serve more women in need of residential treatment,” says Nial Stimson, CAS, Prototypes’ Vice President of Business Development. “Our services are affordable for women and families seeking treatment who cannot afford most addiction-treatment facilities.”

When a pregnant client is admitted to Prototypes, she is seen by a nurse and encouraged to take prenatal vitamins. If she is already seeing a doctor, that relationship is continued. If not, she is set up with insurance and connected with medical providers in the community so prenatal care can begin immediately.

Pregnant clients with opiate dependencies, including heroin, may be recommended for detoxification using a relatively new medication, Suboxone. According to Ronald Pollack, M.D., who treats women in Oxnard, Suboxone is considered a giant step forward, because it allows a person to detox quickly – in about a week’s time – without the painful side effects and

risk of premature birth or the long-term dependency of methadone. Suboxone is recommended for pregnant women past their first trimester. Prototypes is one of the only facilities in Ventura County using Suboxone to treat heroin dependency in pregnant women.

ONLY 14%of mental health and

substance abuse facilities

nationwide have programs

for pregnant and

postpartum women.

6

With her medical needs taken care of, the Prototypes’ client is then folded into what Linden calls “the full treatment milieu” as dictated by her unique needs. This can include communication groups, relapse prevention counseling, anger and stress management, and counseling for trauma and domestic violence. Counselors also determine if a member of the client’s family is available to help. “If the father of the child is present and a safe, sober support, we include him,” Linden says. “He may be able to join her for doctor visits, come onsite for family education, and even get therapy for himself.”

Vital for new mothers and mothers-to-be are Prototypes’ parenting classes and the parenting lab. “Women with children of all ages go there,” Linden says. The kids engage in a variety of activities while their mothers learn and experience the importance of reading, singing and talking to their children, and gaining a sense of the types of activities that are appropriate. She notes, “We encourage pregnant women to attend to learn basic baby care and parenting skills before their baby is born.”

Prototypes counselors help expectant mothers prepare for their baby’s birth, whether that means getting a breast pump or signing up for WIC, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children or just talking about their fears about motherhood. For clients with legal issues, Linden says, “We work with the courts and social services.” Once the baby is born, mothers and children live together at Prototypes while treatment is completed.

Patrick Zarate has been the division manager for alcohol and drug programs in Ventura County for eight years. He refers some 200 women a year to Prototypes, many of them pregnant or postpartum. “It’s a very high-risk population. If we can help prevent an addicted mother from passing harm along to her unborn or nursing infant, it’s a dual benefit,” he says.“It’s great to be able to have the mother and child remain together during treatment,” he continues. “These mothers are dealing with a variety of issues – from getting shelter and employment to reintegrating into regular society. They’re getting a lot of life, organizational and parenting skills at Prototypes.”

Zarate also points out that Prototypes offers mothers a unique detox opportunity, because there are few places a woman and her child can go for recovery. “Historically, women haven’t had the same access to drug treatment as their male counterparts,” he says.

For the staff at Prototypes, the best part of working with pregnant and new mothers is seeing former clients when they return for a visit with their children, whom the staff first met as newborns. Observes Linden, “Many former clients often tell us that Prototypes saved their life.”

“We refer some 200 women per year to Prototypes, many of them pregnant or postpartum. If we can help prevent an addicted mother from passing harm along to her unborn or nursing infant, it’s a dual benefit.” PATRICK ZARATEDivision Manager Alcohol & Drug ProgramsVentura County Behavioral Health Department

KATIE, NOW 30, HAS BEEN CLEAN SINCE 2012, and Pat is reaching out to other mothers to share her take on Katie’s story. “At Prototypes, they do the right thing by these women, no matter what it takes,” she says. “I keep thinking, what can I do to give back? What can I do to help other moms?”

Pat, an insurance executive in Southern California, found out about her daughter’s problems long distance. Katie was a hair-

dresser living in their hometown of Buffalo, New York, when she began to have problems. Being a hairdresser is hard, Pat says. “Their arms are in the air, they’re standing all day, leaning over to wash people’s hair, and always having to listen. All day long.” Katie was prescribed the narcotic painkiller Lortab to ease the pain in her back and legs from constant standing. In time, she became dependent on the pills. Besides soothing her physical discomfort, they lightened her psychic load.

Katie started buying the drugs from dealers, and her dependence on them got out of hand. She tried in vain to seek help in Buffalo. “She didn’t have health insurance,” Pat says, “because she’d stopped paying for it, spending her money on more and more drugs. Bills became a challenge. She lost her car. Then she was caught stealing from her job and lost that. So no job, no car. Her life became this out-of-control death spiral.”

Pat found a place for Katie at Prototypes, paid for her care, and Katie boarded a flight that took her and her mother to Oxnard on Valentine’s Day 2012. “They greeted us, explained the program, and Katie was placed in a private room. I left an hour afterward,” Pat recalls. “That was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I wasn’t allowed to talk to her for three days. I could call the counselor, though.” Pat visited Katie twice a week, on Wednesdays and alternating Saturdays and Sundays.

Wednesdays included mandatory group counseling for visiting family members. Pat learned about the physical and emotional challenges of recovery. It was a revelation to discover that Lortab addiction had changed Katie’s ability to create endorphins, the chemicals in our body that make us feel good, resulting in low energy when Katie began to detox. “It can take some time to get your natural energy back,” Pat explains. “What addiction does to your brain and body from a chemical standpoint was a compelling piece of the story.”

During Katie’s three-month stay, Pat witnessed her daughter going through the difficult emotional labor of recovery. “Katie literally cried for a month straight, facing her emotional challenges and things she’d never dealt with: our divorce, my move to California, and the reality of where she had landed.” Prototypes’ addiction therapy helped Katie to understand what was happening to her body and to work on the emotional skills she needed to take control of her life.

Katie is working again as a manager for a health spa, and she sees a counselor regularly. Now Pat sees her daughter as a wiser, more empathetic person, who is able to set boundaries. “She just gets it now,” Pat says. She amazes me.”

54

THE PROTOTYPES COMMUNITY

Celebrate Mothers LunchPROTOTYPES IS THRILLED TO REPORT that the 2nd Annual Celebrate Mothers Lunch exceeded expectations. Hosted by Prototypes Partners, 140 guests filled the rooftop of the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo on April 5 to raise money and awareness for the importance of keeping mothers and children together through recovery.

The inspiring day included a story of recovery from a Prototypes’ alumna and an a cappella performance by her daughter of “Beautiful.” There was also the premiere of Prototypes’ latest video featuring Tahra, a college-bound high school student who came to Prototypes with her mother when she was just a baby.

Thanks to the guests, Prototypes Partners and event sponsor KBS Realty on behalf of Union Bank Plaza, the day was a great success. The event raised $28,000 for Prototypes’ Children’s Fund, ensuring that children in the residential programs get the care they need to grow and thrive. PHOTOS BY NICOLE WEINGART

From left: Alumna Trish and her daughter; Board Member Karen Pointer and her guests; Prototypes Partners; Tahra and her mother, Betty, review Prototypes’ Annual Report.

Disney Interactive’s team pose with Prototypes’ Parenting Center staff in Pomona.

PAT’S ADVICE for other parents whose

children are struggling with

an addiction: “Support them,”

she says. “Trust them. Set

rules for yourself and, most

important, love them.” With

limited contact during her

treatment, Katie cherished the

cards and letters she got from

family and friends. Pat also

notes that parents may have

feelings of guilt about their

child’s problems, and cautions

them to be mindful of how

those feelings can affect them

and their child. “Often,

I think our guilt makes us

treat them worse.”

Disney Volunteers VOLUNTEERS FROM DISNEY INTERACTIVE’S

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM hosted a Spring Celebration for the moms and kids at the Pomona Women’s Center in April. The team first came to Prototypes to help with the annual Harvest Festival and have remained committed to supporting the organization.

The Spring Celebration included games, treats, bunny ear making and cookie decorating. Families also lined up for a caricature drawing done by one of the volunteers. Moms and kids got to select a children’s book to keep and had fun hunting for Easter eggs on the playground.

It was fun not only for clients, but staff as well, who enjoyed seeing everyone take part in the activities. “It was a heartwarming experience to see these volunteers in action. They dedicated their time, patience and talents,” said Joycelin Prothro, a supervisor at the Pomona Women’s Center. “Everyone had a wonderful, joyful experience. We are so grateful to our Disney volunteers.”

Pat Steger: A Mother’s Perspective on RecoveryA Mother’s Perspective on Recovery

It wasn’t a beautiful bouquet or a blue box from Tiffany’s. Still, February 14, 2012, was one of Pat Steger’s best Valentine’s Days ever. That was the day her daughter, Katie, who struggled with an addiction to prescription pills, checked into Prototypes’ Oxnard facility.

KATIE, NOW 30, HAS BEEN CLEAN SINCE 2012, and Pat is reaching out to other mothers to share her take on Katie’s story. “At Prototypes, they do the right thing by these women, no matter what it takes,” she says. “I keep thinking, what can I do to give back? What can I do to help other moms?”

Pat, an insurance executive in Southern California, found out about her daughter’s problems long distance. Katie was a hair-

dresser living in their hometown of Buffalo, New York, when she began to have problems. Being a hairdresser is hard, Pat says. “Their arms are in the air, they’re standing all day, leaning over to wash people’s hair, and always having to listen. All day long.” Katie was prescribed the narcotic painkiller Lortab to ease the pain in her back and legs from constant standing. In time, she became dependent on the pills. Besides soothing her physical discomfort, they lightened her psychic load.

Katie started buying the drugs from dealers, and her dependence on them got out of hand. She tried in vain to seek help in Buffalo. “She didn’t have health insurance,” Pat says, “because she’d stopped paying for it, spending her money on more and more drugs. Bills became a challenge. She lost her car. Then she was caught stealing from her job and lost that. So no job, no car. Her life became this out-of-control death spiral.”

Pat found a place for Katie at Prototypes, paid for her care, and Katie boarded a flight that took her and her mother to Oxnard on Valentine’s Day 2012. “They greeted us, explained the program, and Katie was placed in a private room. I left an hour afterward,” Pat recalls. “That was probably the hardest thing I’ve ever done in my life. I wasn’t allowed to talk to her for three days. I could call the counselor, though.” Pat visited Katie twice a week, on Wednesdays and alternating Saturdays and Sundays.

Wednesdays included mandatory group counseling for visiting family members. Pat learned about the physical and emotional challenges of recovery. It was a revelation to discover that Lortab addiction had changed Katie’s ability to create endorphins, the chemicals in our body that make us feel good, resulting in low energy when Katie began to detox. “It can take some time to get your natural energy back,” Pat explains. “What addiction does to your brain and body from a chemical standpoint was a compelling piece of the story.”

During Katie’s three-month stay, Pat witnessed her daughter going through the difficult emotional labor of recovery. “Katie literally cried for a month straight, facing her emotional challenges and things she’d never dealt with: our divorce, my move to California, and the reality of where she had landed.” Prototypes’ addiction therapy helped Katie to understand what was happening to her body and to work on the emotional skills she needed to take control of her life.

Katie is working again as a manager for a health spa, and she sees a counselor regularly. Now Pat sees her daughter as a wiser, more empathetic person, who is able to set boundaries. “She just gets it now,” Pat says. She amazes me.”

54

THE PROTOTYPES COMMUNITY

Celebrate Mothers LunchPROTOTYPES IS THRILLED TO REPORT that the 2nd Annual Celebrate Mothers Lunch exceeded expectations. Hosted by Prototypes Partners, 140 guests filled the rooftop of the Luxe Hotel on Rodeo on April 5 to raise money and awareness for the importance of keeping mothers and children together through recovery.

The inspiring day included a story of recovery from a Prototypes’ alumna and an a cappella performance by her daughter of “Beautiful.” There was also the premiere of Prototypes’ latest video featuring Tahra, a college-bound high school student who came to Prototypes with her mother when she was just a baby.

Thanks to the guests, Prototypes Partners and event sponsor KBS Realty on behalf of Union Bank Plaza, the day was a great success. The event raised $28,000 for Prototypes’ Children’s Fund, ensuring that children in the residential programs get the care they need to grow and thrive. PHOTOS BY NICOLE WEINGART

From left: Alumna Trish and her daughter; Board Member Karen Pointer and her guests; Prototypes Partners; Tahra and her mother, Betty, review Prototypes’ Annual Report.

Disney Interactive’s team pose with Prototypes’ Parenting Center staff in Pomona.

PAT’S ADVICE for other parents whose

children are struggling with

an addiction: “Support them,”

she says. “Trust them. Set

rules for yourself and, most

important, love them.” With

limited contact during her

treatment, Katie cherished the

cards and letters she got from

family and friends. Pat also

notes that parents may have

feelings of guilt about their

child’s problems, and cautions

them to be mindful of how

those feelings can affect them

and their child. “Often,

I think our guilt makes us

treat them worse.”

Disney Volunteers VOLUNTEERS FROM DISNEY INTERACTIVE’S

COMMUNICATIONS TEAM hosted a Spring Celebration for the moms and kids at the Pomona Women’s Center in April. The team first came to Prototypes to help with the annual Harvest Festival and have remained committed to supporting the organization.

The Spring Celebration included games, treats, bunny ear making and cookie decorating. Families also lined up for a caricature drawing done by one of the volunteers. Moms and kids got to select a children’s book to keep and had fun hunting for Easter eggs on the playground.

It was fun not only for clients, but staff as well, who enjoyed seeing everyone take part in the activities. “It was a heartwarming experience to see these volunteers in action. They dedicated their time, patience and talents,” said Joycelin Prothro, a supervisor at the Pomona Women’s Center. “Everyone had a wonderful, joyful experience. We are so grateful to our Disney volunteers.”

It wasn’t a beautiful bouquet or a blue box from Tiffany’s. Still, February 14, 2012, was one of Pat Steger’s best Valentine’s Days ever. That was the day her daughter, Katie, who struggled with an addiction to prescription pills, checked into Prototypes’ Oxnard facility.

TAHRA LISTENS WITH A KNOWING SMILE AS HER MOM GIVES HER A PEP TALK FOR HER VIDEO INTERVIEW. She is joining a group of other young adults who are sharing what it meant to them to have Prototypes help their moms. A current senior in high school with near-perfect grades, Tahra exudes the confidence of someone much older. And it is evident that her strength stems in part from the strong bond she shares with her mother.

Yet, her life might have been drastically different had she not joined her mom at Prototypes when she was just a baby.

Doctors found cocaine in Tahra’s system and, at a few days old, a social worker stepped in to take her away. The only way Betty would get Tahra back was to get sober and healthy. Knowing she wanted a better life for her only daughter, Betty sought help at Prototypes. She worked with her counselor at Prototypes to set goals to succeed in her recovery. At five months old, Tahra joined her mom at Prototypes.

“If she didn’t have me with her, I don’t think she would have stayed at Prototypes,” Tahra shared. Her mom was used to drugs ruling her life, even selling her furniture to make enough money for drugs. Prototypes provided Betty with the tools to understand her addiction, learn how to respect her body and become the mother she always wanted to be.

“There are no words to describe how great a mom she is,”Tahra says, smiling. She knows that without Prototypes, her future might not be so bright. She could have been in the foster care system and her mother would never have gotten the treatment she needed to regain her life.

According to Tahra, Prototypes never felt like “rehab.” Instead, it felt like a home for women who want to get better together, along with their children. “It would be a very different place at Prototypes if there were no children. They remind their parents to be better people,” Tahra explained.

Betty is now an employee at Prototypes, helping women who are in similar situations to succeed in their own recovery. Not only did Betty pass on the lessons she learned at Prototypes to her daughter, she also passed on her passion to help others. Today, Tahra is thankful she learned the importance of self-esteem and helps others at her school to believe in themselves.

Tahra is looking forward to graduation and studying nursing in college out of state, but admits that she is a little anxious about leaving her mom. In 10 years, Tahra hopes to be working in a hospital, staying close to her mom, and someday wants a family of her own. “I will definitely tell my kids about Prototypes,” Tahra says. “It made me the person I am today.”

3

CHILDREN OF PROTOTYPES:

Tahra’s Story

“I will definitely tell my kids about Prototypes. It made me the person I am today.”

Tahra and her mother, Betty, pose for a picture. Watch Tahra’s story online at prototypes.org.

Changing Lives continued from cover

options for those without insurance or who do not qualify for government funding. With the Affordable Care Act, more people in need of mental health and substance use treatment now have insurance through the health exchange. “With our recent CARF Accreditation, we can now serve more women in need of residential treatment,” says Nial Stimson, CAS, Prototypes’ Vice President of Business Development. “Our services are affordable for women and families seeking treatment who cannot afford most addiction-treatment facilities.”

When a pregnant client is admitted to Prototypes, she is seen by a nurse and encouraged to take prenatal vitamins. If she is already seeing a doctor, that relationship is continued. If not, she is set up with insurance and connected with medical providers in the community so prenatal care can begin immediately.

Pregnant clients with opiate dependencies, including heroin, may be recommended for detoxification using a relatively new medication, Suboxone. According to Ronald Pollack, M.D., who treats women in Oxnard, Suboxone is considered a giant step forward, because it allows a person to detox quickly – in about a week’s time – without the painful side effects and

risk of premature birth or the long-term dependency of methadone. Suboxone is recommended for pregnant women past their first trimester. Prototypes is one of the only facilities in Ventura County using Suboxone to treat heroin dependency in pregnant women.

ONLY 14%of mental health and

substance abuse facilities

nationwide have programs

for pregnant and

postpartum women.

6

With her medical needs taken care of, the Prototypes’ client is then folded into what Linden calls “the full treatment milieu” as dictated by her unique needs. This can include communication groups, relapse prevention counseling, anger and stress management, and counseling for trauma and domestic violence. Counselors also determine if a member of the client’s family is available to help. “If the father of the child is present and a safe, sober support, we include him,” Linden says. “He may be able to join her for doctor visits, come onsite for family education, and even get therapy for himself.”

Vital for new mothers and mothers-to-be are Prototypes’ parenting classes and the parenting lab. “Women with children of all ages go there,” Linden says. The kids engage in a variety of activities while their mothers learn and experience the importance of reading, singing and talking to their children, and gaining a sense of the types of activities that are appropriate. She notes, “We encourage pregnant women to attend to learn basic baby care and parenting skills before their baby is born.”

Prototypes counselors help expectant mothers prepare for their baby’s birth, whether that means getting a breast pump or signing up for WIC, the federal Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants and Children or just talking about their fears about motherhood. For clients with legal issues, Linden says, “We work with the courts and social services.” Once the baby is born, mothers and children live together at Prototypes while treatment is completed.

Patrick Zarate has been the division manager for alcohol and drug programs in Ventura County for eight years. He refers some 200 women a year to Prototypes, many of them pregnant or postpartum. “It’s a very high-risk population. If we can help prevent an addicted mother from passing harm along to her unborn or nursing infant, it’s a dual benefit,” he says.“It’s great to be able to have the mother and child remain together during treatment,” he continues. “These mothers are dealing with a variety of issues – from getting shelter and employment to reintegrating into regular society. They’re getting a lot of life, organizational and parenting skills at Prototypes.”

Zarate also points out that Prototypes offers mothers a unique detox opportunity, because there are few places a woman and her child can go for recovery. “Historically, women haven’t had the same access to drug treatment as their male counterparts,” he says.

For the staff at Prototypes, the best part of working with pregnant and new mothers is seeing former clients when they return for a visit with their children, whom the staff first met as newborns. Observes Linden, “Many former clients often tell us that Prototypes saved their life.”

“We refer some 200 women per year to Prototypes, many of them pregnant or postpartum. If we can help prevent an addicted mother from passing harm along to her unborn or nursing infant, it’s a dual benefit.” PATRICK ZARATEDivision Manager Alcohol & Drug ProgramsVentura County Behavioral Health Department

1.

2.

RECOVERY IN RESIDENCE

n Residential treatment for substance use and co-occurring mental illness and trauma

n Detoxification

n Specialized services for mothers and children

n Confidential location for victims of domestic violence

n Vocational, parenting and life skills training

PROTOTYPES COMMUNITY SERVICES

nPrevention to promote healthy families n School-based health education programs

n Home visits and groups for new and expecting moms

COMMUNITY SOCIAL SERVICES

n Medical and dental clinics

n Shelter and affordable housing

n Food banks

n Other nonprofit and government programs

PROTOTYPES HELPS REBUILD LIVES EVERY DAY at locations throughout Southern California and in the surrounding community.

OUTPATIENT AND INTENSIVE OUTPATIENT TREATMENT

n Individual and group counseling for children and adults n Substance use and mental health treatment

n Case management

n Psychiatry

n Planned, structured, individual and group programs while continuing in school or work and living in the community

3. INDIVIDUALIZED SERVICESto treat the whole person

INDIVIDUALS IN NEED ARE REFERRED TO PROTOTYPESby hospitals/doctors, county public agencies and the justice system. Individuals can also self-refer.

PERSONALIZED ASSESSMENT AND TREATMENT PLANNINGencompassing Prototypes’ services and other community resources

Prototypes Continuum of CareWe are experts in treating women and families who are struggling with addiction, mental illness and other complex issues.

DOMESTICVIOLENCE

ADDICTION

HO

MELESSN

ESS

POVERTY

MENTALILLNESS

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Ann McClanathan, Chair PersonVice President of Business Development myStrength.com

Michael Kemp, Vice Chair PersonFounder and Principal, Michael Kemp Architects

Ron Burkhardt, SecretaryManaging Director, Newmark Grubb Knight Frank

Jim Quinn, TreasurerFormer Senior Management Executive

Margaret KellyRegional Vice PresidentWest Government, Education & Labor OptumHealth

Brandon Matloff Financial Representative, Northwestern Mutual

Karen E. Pointer, Esq. Partner and Attorney at LawLerman Pointer & Spitz LLP

Cindy TetiVice President, Luminous Capital

Cassandra LochPresident and Chief Executive Officer, Prototypes

ABOUT US

Prototypes is a lifeline to women who are

struggling with addiction and other serious

issues such as domestic violence and mental

illness. Many of these women are mothers

who face an impossible choice: give up their

children to foster care or a guardian, or

continue to suffer. Prototypes is a game

changer by allowing women to keep their

children with them during treatment so

they both get the help they need. And by

combining comprehensive treatment services

with practical life-skills training, we prepare

women for long-term success.

Prototypes provides comprehensive,

integrated, and evidence-based services to

10,000 individuals each year throughout

Southern California. Prototypes is an

internationally recognized, CARF Accredited

nonprofit organization dedicated to

improving communities impacted by

substance use, mental illness and

domestic violence.

prototypes.org

Prototypes Post SPRING/SUMMER 2014

2 Newsletter design by 2B Communications

PROTOTYPES RECEIVES CARF ACCREDITATION

PROTOTYPES RECENTLY RECEIVED A THREE-YEAR ACCREDITATION by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This internationally recognized accreditation recognizes Prototypes’ longstanding dedication and commitment to improving the lives of the clients served.

This is the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded and shows Prototypes’ conformance to the CARF standards. An organization receiving a Three-Year Accreditation has put itself through a rigorous peer review process. Through this process, Prototypes’ staff has demonstrated their commitment to offering programs and services that are measurable, accountable, and of the highest quality.

Not only does this achievement recognize Prototypes’ high-quality programs, it also allows the organization to serve more people in need of comprehensive substance use treatment and mental health care. The CARF accreditation will ensure that no one in need of Prototypes’ services will be turned away.

PROTOTYPES AND PEGGY ALBRECHT

FRIENDLY HOUSE LA, two of Los Angeles’ premier nonprofit women’s addiction and mental health programs, hosted their second annual networking luncheon at the California Endowment in March.

More than 60 professionals from local treatment programs, public agencies and the recovery field enjoyed lunch while listening to a presentation by Los Angeles area psychologist Dr. Moe Gelbart. Dr. Gelbert shared his knowledge on “Parental Strategies For Raising Drug Free Kids.”

The sold-out event was an opportunity for professionals in the field to learn about the latest trends and services in the community, stay connected to other organizations and better serve individuals impacted by addiction and mental illness.

Prototypes’ VP of Business Development Nial Stimson, Friendly House’s Assistant Executive Director Monica Schneider and Presenter Dr. Moe Gelbart.

Prototypes and Friendly House Help Build Connections

Prototypes Post Inspiring stories and news from Prototypes

Changing Lives for Expectant Mothers and Their ChildrenIN THE BEST OF TIMES, BEING PREGNANT CAN

BE HARD. For expectant women who are battling addiction or going through detox, the challenges and potential complications are far more daunting. Prototypes is a lifeline for these vulnerable women and their unborn children. By offering a range of services, known as integrated care, Prototypes works to remove the seemingly insurmountable barriers that prevent women from getting the help they need at the moment they need it most.

At Prototypes, a pregnant client is assisted with all aspects of her life, from keeping family court appointments to securing prenatal care and preparing for the birth. Whether a client is pregnant or a new mother seeking to regain custody of her drug-exposed baby, Prototypes will help her heal and teach her skills for continued sobriety, independence and good parenting.

Vel Linden, MSW, CATC, who manages Prototypes in Oxnard, has been working with this population for 15 years. “Having our mothers come into treatment, get sober while pregnant, give birth, and actually be able to bring their child back to our facility – that’s a huge accomplishment,” Linden says.

As many as 56 women can be in residence at Prototypes’ Oxnard facility at any one time, recovering from a variety of addiction issues, from alcohol and marijuana abuse to methamphetamine and heroin dependency.

Prototypes’ residential and detoxification treatments are available to all women regardless of their payment source. Prototypes has contracts with the county and private insurance companies to provide these services. In addition, Prototypes has affordable payment continued on page 6

1000 North Alameda Street, Suite 390Los Angeles, CA 90012

This issue of Prototypes’ newsletter highlights the important work we do to provide comprehensive and integrated care to mothers. By allowing these mothers to keep their children with them, moms have the opportunity to strengthen their bond, build crucial parenting skills, and support the healthy development of their child with the resources that Prototypes provides.

Prototypes’ recent accreditation by CARF further recognizes our commitment to improving the lives of those we serve. The accreditation report specifically highlighted the treatment that pregnant and parenting women receive without having to sacrificetheir maternal role.

I dedicate this issue to moms everywhere striving to create a healthier future for their children. Thank you to our partners and supporters, who allow Prototypes to continue to be one of the few organizations that helps mothers rebuild their lives, and in doing so, positively impacts the children who depend on them.

Cassandra Loch, LCSW, MBA, President and CEO

doing so, positively impacts the children who depend on them.

Cassandra Loch, LCSW, MBA,

MESSAGE from Prototypes’ President and CEO

A MOTHER’S LOVE IS A POWERFUL FORCE. Becoming a mother has brought a new level of understanding for me on just how important it is for Prototypes to keep mothers and their children together through recovery. I could never imagine having to choose between my son and my health – a choice that many mothers impacted by addiction and other serious issues often are forced to make.

1000 North Alameda Street, Suite 390Los Angeles, CA 90012

Children of Prototypes:

Tahra’s Story . . . . . . . . . . . .3

Pat Steger:

A Mother’s Perspective .. .4

The Prototypes Community . . . 5

Prototypes Continuum

of Care Illustrated. . . . . . . . 7

INSIDE

Prototypes

Receives CARF

Accreditation. . . . . . 2

Residential treatment programs are designed to accommodate expecting and new mothers in the recovery process.

Save the Date! September 24, 2014, 10:00 a.m. Celebrate National Recovery Month and our newly renovated Pomona Facility!

SPRING/SUMMER2014