september newsletter • 2008 community catalysts of california employee anniversaries 17 years Sandy Caldwell - STK 14 years Maria Lamas - SM 7 years LeeAnn Hatten Rao - SM Sandra Rodriguez - EC Joseph Tengonciang - STK 5 years Maria Zuniga - VIS 4 years David Bergheim - SC Keltoum Cherki - SM Maria Lua - MCD 3 years Stephanie Morgan - FSO 2 years Ronald Allen - UK Wendy Ly - FSO 1 year Juliet Baker - FSO Evelyn Bardales - SM Erica Ramirez - FSO Jessica Rodriguez - MDO Belinda Thomas - PH congratulations! fresno•Self Advocacy conference The Fresno Office held it's first Annual Self Advocacy Conference on August 14, 2008 at the Clovis Veterans Memorial Building in Clovis, CA. It was a great success!! The Conference was held from 9AM - 2PM. There were topics such as: “Hands off my Money”, “Cultural Diversity” and “Clients Rights”. It was a terrific atmosphere where all in attendance shared great food, conversation and entertainment. We would like to thank all of our supporters who made this event a success: Sponsors Central Valley Regional Center Habitat for Humanity, Fresno Vendors Access Services The Empowerment Institute, Inc. Donors California Raisin Marketing Board Eagle Mountain Casino Starbucks Coffee Wal-Mart Oakland Raiders 99¢ Store Herrington Teddy Bears Speakers Dr. Connie Cha of the Empowerment Institute - “Cultural Diversity” Arthur Lipscomb of the Office of Clients’ Rights Advocacy - “Hands Off My Money” Leslie Woolcock of the Area 8 Board - “Clients Rights” Helpers Juliet Baker Christian Clary Shelley Cook Damarys Diaz Elizabeth Espinoza Pearl Gallardo Tim Gaston Tracy Harrell Stephanie Hernandez Gail Leal Daniel Lopez Maria Lopez Erica Ramirez Meg Salinas Maria Zuniga modesto•news from the north Congratulations go out to staff Christina Cervantez on her promotion to Direct Service Supervisor for the Modesto Office. Christina was also the July P.R.I.D.E. winner. Great job Christina! A warm welcome to new employees Jamie Boling and Michelle Oletta as Direct Service Aides in the Modesto Office. Modesto consumers Marisa E. and Travis B. and Stockton consumer Christopher B. went to the Christian Berets camp in Sonora from Aug. 4th to Aug. 8th. They had a great time with lots of stories and memories! Again our Advisory Committee had a busy month starting with a yard sale on August 2nd raising about $250.00. On August 12th they held a Spaghetti dinner at a local church and raised about $400.00. We hope to make the Spaghetti dinner an annual event. The Advisory is selling Entertainment books for $20.00. They still have an ongoing magazine drive and have another car wash planned for September. salinas•busy busy busy! The Salinas office would like to congratulate two of our consumers on their recent wedding. Cynthia A. and Omar V. were married on August 9, 2008 in King City, CA where they had a very beautiful wedding and reception. The newly married couple spent their two week honeymoon down in Southern California. Our office was very excited to hear that two consumers from our area won prizes from the Opportunity Drawing: Eugene H. won the $75.00 Sears gift card and Karen M. won the $10.00 Pizza Hut gift card. The consumers were very happy with their winnings! On August 14, 2008 our staff and consumers attended the Monterey County Fair for “Special Friends Day”. This included free entry to the fair, hot dog lunch and a few free rides. It was a great time for our area to show our support to consumer Larissa F. who was showing her lamb at the fair during the week long event. In August, the Salinas office celebrated Loreley Salazar’s birthday. We would like to wish her a very Happy Birthday and thank her for all of her hard work in the office. This month’s $10.00 Starbucks safety drawing winner was Alexander Bravo. ukiah•keeping it fun Consumers at the Plum House have really been enjoying the Farmer’s Market on Saturday mornings. Along with local produce, there is live music, fresh pastries and hot coffee…Yum!! Staff and consumers are excited about the start of college classes. Not only is there an atmosphere of scholarly instruction, break times are a lot of fun and a great chance to socialize! A group of consumers and staff attended the Redwood Summer games. They danced, competed, visited and ate. All of the consumers came home with medals! Everyone is already talking about going again next year. Allison J. had a visit from her mother. They went shopping and ate out at Applebee’s. She had a great time and was sad to see her mother go. Randy D., Paul S., and Eddie R. attended the Redwood Empire Fair. They had a lot of fun! There were a lot of animals, rides and games. Happy Birthday to: Marie Gentry, Darryl C., Paul S., Paul R., Karen Garcia, Mindy A., Shawn Mendelsohn, and Valerie Kirchgasler. Congratulations to Diana Ragan, our Safety Incentive winner!! merced•quick update First we’d like to welcome are new Direct Service Aids Irma Lua and Jonathan Whited and our new Social Rec. Aide Lydia Cortez. We all miss Shelley and hope she is having a great vacation! We had a great Safety Meeting with Officer Shane Ferriera who had a lot of great tips on safety. Some of our staff even had the opportunity to wear the Fatal Vision goggles! Consumers and Social Rec. Staff went to Yosemite Lake this weekend and had a great time. They swam, had a barbeque and played dodge ball. letter from our ceo•to all assembly members and state senators This letter was sent to all Assembly Members and State Senators. We have also held one-on-one meetings with various staff of both legislators and the Governor. In each meeting we have stressed the critical nature of our services and the damage created by the current budget stalemate. September 3, 2008 Dear Legislator, As you are aware, California’s budget is now more than 65 days late. More than ninety-percent of Community Catalysts’ programs and services are directly tied to the State Budget. As a nonprofit organization whose primary purpose is to provide critical daily services to nearly 1,000 individuals with developmental and other disabilities throughout California, we are faced with difficult decisions. Our ability to continue providing these necessary services will quickly come to an end. Dedicated, trained, and competent staff members will be forced to find alternative employment. Many of the thousands of community-based nonprofit organizations throughout the state are in danger of collapse. California’s “safety-net” for those individuals with chronic disabilities is in peril. Your immediate action to approve a budget is necessary. Sincerely, Jim Jenkins consumer anniversaries 17 years Eric A. - SM 16 years John M. - SM 15 years Paul C. - SM 14 years Arthur M. - SM Jason T. - SM 13 years Christina C. - SD Kathy N. - SM 12 years Kenneth P. - MCD 11 years Michael N. - SC 10 years Hector G. - EC Luz V. - EC 9 years Kathy F. - SC 8 years Martha C. - SAL Canh D. - FSO 7 years Kenneth W. - UK Randy D. - UK 6 years Dan C. - SC Erin G. - VIS Tammy S. - FSO 5 years Ross B. - SM Enrique A. - SAL Gilbert G. - SAL 4 years Omar P. - SM Maria G. - SAL Roberto M. - SM 3 years Richard S. - SC Ken C. - MDO Thelma C. - MDO Jean M. - UK Eileen C. - SC Paul S. - UK 2 years Harry H. - PH Katherine T. - PH Mark B. - PH Danielle F. - PH Diana D. - PH Keven W. - FSO Jonathan H. - FSO Christopher V. - SM Robin S. - SM Kimberly S. - MCD Robert P. - SC 1 year Becky B. - MCD Judy B. - EC Jacob S. - VIS Lac H. - SC Connie L. - SC Marcus B. - SAL Ruben S. - MCD Dave B. - MCD Sergio T. - SAL Keith W. - SD Susan L. - MCD congratulations! could it be depression?•magellan health services If an older adult has a decreased appetite or trouble sleeping, people usually blame the normal effects of aging. If the person is irritable, they might attribute it to medication side effects. If a senior is forgetful or confused, we fear Alzheimer’s. But rarely do we identify these symptoms as possible depression, despite the fact that approximately 15 percent of community residents and as many as 25 percent of nursing home residents suffer from depressive symptoms like these. Late-life depression affects 6 million Americans, but only 10 percent ever get treated. Seniors, families and even healthcare providers overlook its symptoms or misunderstand depression as untreatable or a weakness. For all of these reasons, family members should look critically for the warning signs of depression and learn what depression is (an illness) and how it is treated (very effectively). What is Clinical Depression? Clinical depression is a medical illness that requires treatment like any other, such as diabetes or arthritis. When a person is clinically depressed, his or her ability to function both mentally and physically is affected. What Are the Symptoms? People experience different depressive symptoms, which can vary in severity and duration. Generally, if a person experiences five or more of the following symptoms for more than two months, a doctor should be consulted: depressed or irritable mood, feelings of worthlessness or sadness, temper or agitation, loss of interest or pleasure in daily activities, change in appetite, change in weight, difficulty sleeping, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, memory loss, excessive guilt, thoughts about suicide or a suicide attempt. What Causes Depression? Depression may be linked to family history, certain medications or the use of alcohol. It also can be associated with a chronic illness. Particularly among the elderly, depression can be triggered by a stressful or grievous event, like the loss of a spouse or a home. In other cases, there is no apparent cause. What Are the Risks of Untreated Depression? Those with untreated depression suffer a tragic decline in quality of life. Moreover, untreated depression can create health risks in older adults. It can weaken the immune system, which makes an individual more susceptible to other illnesses. In the worst case, depression leads to suicide. The suicide rate in older Americans is more than 50 percent higher than the nation as a whole. Up to two-thirds of these deaths are attributed to depression that went untreated or misdiagnosed. How Is It Treated? A mental health professional can perform a clinical interview to determine if the symptoms are, indeed, depression. A professional trained in geriatrics, including a geriatric psychiatrist, nurse, social worker or psychologist, is the most qualified. Once diagnosed, 80 percent of clinically depressed individuals, including older adults, can be treated effectively. Some depressed individuals, especially those coping with a life change, may benefit from psychotherapy or support groups. In other cases, antidepressant medication will be prescribed. The most commonly prescribed antidepressants are selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs), which include Prozac, Zoloft, Paxil and Celexa. Other groups of antidepressants are tricyclics, monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOIs) and norepinephrine and serotonin reuptake inhibitors (NSRIs). Most of these drugs are equally effective but differ in their side effect profiles. Can Depression Be Prevented? In some cases, major depressive illness can be avoided, especially when it is linked to life events. Maintaining friendships and relationships with family members ensures emotional support during difficult times. Also, developing hobbies and interests serves to keep the mind and body active. And, as always, physical fitness and a healthy diet can help us avoid serious illness that may lead to depression. Getting help: If you would like more information, you can call our Employee Assistance Program toll-free number 800-523-5668. © 2007 Magellan Health Services Phillip Menchaca Community Catalysts of California is proud to announce that Phillip Menchaca was selected to receive the Catalyst P.R.I.D.E. Award~Leading by Example for August 2008. Phillip has been with Community Catalysts of California for almost 4 years and is a Direct Service Supervisor for the Supported Living Program in the Stockton area. Phillip is being recognized for his ongoing dedication to not only the Supported Living Program, but to Community Catalysts of California as a whole. He provides excellent service to his consumers on a regular basis through the SL Program, but is always willing to help out where he is needed with the REST and TRIPS Program as well. He is someone who truly displays each of the Core Values both when working with his consumers and through his interaction with fellow staff. He maintains positive communication and inspires others with his “can do” attitude and great sense of work ethics. Phillip is dependable, professional and a great example of a team player. He plays a valuable part in the lives of many who are striving to succeed as active members of their community. We appreciate the great service and dedication to the vision of Community Catalysts of California that Phillip has provided and would like to recognize him for his hard work and for Leading by Example. Thanks for Leading Us In the Right Direction! Consumer Catalysts of the Month September 2008 Lynn Brown Lynn Brown has been with Community Catalysts of California in the Independent Living Services Program in the Santa Clara area for almost 2 years. In this time Lynn has made great progress on her goals. The biggest area of improvement is in her social skills. Lynn used to rarely get out of her home but since working with Community Catalysts of California she has attended summer camp at Easter Seal Camp Harmon. She has made these huge steps in a short period of time. Lynn enjoys helping others and remains very involved in volunteering at a nursing home. She has grown immensely since she has been interacting socially. Lynn is very proud of keeping her home nice, clean and organized. She loves to iron! In addition to all the things Lynn has going on she is also taking care of her 90 year old mother. Lynn’s hobbies are watching TV, listening to music, and spending time with her family. She also has a great time going shopping when she gets the chance. We are very proud of the accomplishments and steps that Lynn has taken to enrich her life and that is why she has been chosen as the Consumer of the Month for September! Congratulations Lynn!