Counseled to Counselor

Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary; they will walk and not be faint.

- Isaiah 40:31

DAVID CARR, CADC II, CHIEF OPERATIONS OFFICER -

When I think of being a counselor, I am reminded of the honor it is to be part of a profession that helps clients on a pathway to recovery. I am also reminded of my own pathway that led up to being a counselor. I am a person who struggled with the disease of addiction for over 25 years, and my choices lead me on a pathway that would take me in and out of jails and prisons for many years until I came to the Merced Rescue Mission. I enrolled in the Hope for Men program where I was on a pathway that would lead to recovery.

During this recovery, I began thinking that I needed to change my career from a custom cabinet maker to a counselor. I signed up for the California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP) with the help of others around me.

The day finally came when I was sitting in class and was about to begin my journey of being a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor (CADC I). The instructor informed us that during the next 14 months, we would be challenged to learn and that we would be different people at the end of that time. She was right and going through school challenged me to be a better person. I finished the class and completed 4,000 hours of supervised counseling of others to submit my portfolio to take the state test to be certified as a CADC I. I am grateful to now be a professional counselor, meeting the needs of people and providing direction to others in their training to become counselors as well. I have now been on this counselor pathway for a number of years, and through this process, I have been able to sign off on the training hours for many others who are striving to become counselors themselves. I began pouring myself into other counselors so that they could have the same opportunity that I had.

Today I am a Certified Alcohol and Drug Counselor II (CADC II), and I am humbly willing to continue to serve to help others and bring co-workers along the same pathway to become professional counselors. 16 people from our staff have pursued training to be a counselor.

MISTY - Being a counselor means I can give back what was given to me. I believe you can only keep what you have by giving it away. It’s an opportunity to help another recovering addict live and not die. Thank you, Jesus! Addicts do recover, one day at a time, one step at a time, and we never have to do this alone!

HANNAH - Being a counselor for me means having the opportunity to help people develop meaningful and lasting relationships with themselves and others around them. I can assist people in finding their truth and living firmly in it with the realization that growth is something we carry with us daily.

DAVID - Becoming an Alcohol and Drug Counselor is very special to me. I believe I have found purpose in life and am confident that I will be able to help others.

RENEE - I have the opportunity to remind people that they matter - their story matters. I am honored to encourage people and let them know there is HOPE and steer them toward the type of environment that encourages growth. I see the whole person - spiritual, physical, and emotional - and share that all these things working together is vital to success.

STEPHEN - There was a time in my life when I was broken and lost. Thanks to the grace of God, a counselor helped me find purpose in my life. He guided me to a drug and alcohol-free lifestyle and to where I am today. As a counselor, I can pour the guidance of Jesus Christ into others. I help others realize they don’t need to use drugs. I help them find true meaning and purpose in their lives. I am a change agent for positive change!

AMANDA - I have been employed with Merced Rescue Mission for almost two years. I am currently the Housing Navigator for the Navigation Center and studying to become a drug and alcohol counselor. Deciding to become a drug and alcohol counselor may not be a path most people choose, but I believe it to be the perfect path for me. Being able to connect with clients while working with them through many different struggles, and knowing I have made a positive impact on someone's life is awesome.

JENNIFER - I am the Director of the Navigation Center and a Registered Alcohol and Drug Technician (RADT). I chose to go into this field because I am also a recovering addict. I know the struggles of addiction and have a passion for helping others understand and overcome their addictions.

BOBBY - I am called to give back and being a counselor helps me do that. I have emotional conversations, as people have with friends, where I practice being the person who actively listens and supports the other person. It’s a rewarding career for those who choose to invest themselves in helping clients.

MARK - I am able to help guide others to make healthier choices the way others helped me.

JENNIFER - Being a counselor means I am a change agent. I help people understand what they have been through and give them the tools to help get through the challenges they face. Most importantly, I let people know they are not alone.

MARISSA - I am part of something big. I am a part of helping someone change their future.

ACE Overcomers named Central Valley Opportunity Fund Grantee in collaboration with UC Merced and Merced Mission

ACE Overcomers, in partnership with Merced County Navigation Center and UC Merced, will launch a new program to provide individuals experiencing homelessness with life skills training to help them move toward employment and housing stability.

Funded by a grant from the Central Valley Opportunity Fund at the Central Valley Community Foundation, ACE Overcomers’ “Building Healthy Life Skills” project draws on a proven curriculum to address the effects of childhood trauma on teens and adults through evidence-based intervention.

“We are excited to collaborate with our partners at the Merced County Navigation Center and UC Merced Translational Research Center on this innovative project to address the psycho/social needs of individuals experiencing homelessness,” said Dave Lockridge, Founder, and CEO of ACE Overcomers. “Individuals in residence at the Navigation Center will have the opportunity to attend ACE Overcomers Building Healthy Life Skills classes that will give them the tools necessary to overcome some of the barriers they may be facing as a result of experienced trauma. UC Merced’s Transitional Research Center will study and evaluate the effectiveness of the program in real-time.”

“None of this would be possible without the funding provided by the Central Valley Opportunity Fund,” Lockridge continues. “The Fund’s commitment to addressing the underlying issues contributing to homelessness in our community and their trust in our vision to doing this work means so much. We are grateful for their support!”

The Central Valley Opportunity Fund (CVOF) is dedicated to improving the lives of residents of the greater Merced community. Founded in 2017 by private, philanthropic investors with a passion for Merced, CVOF is administered by the Central Valley Community Foundation (CVCF). Prioritizing three focus areas - Youth Development, Economic & Workforce Development, and Housing & Homelessness - CVOF seeks to utilize the power of collective impact philanthropy by serving as a catalyst to draw in additional public and private resources and establishing regional partnerships to pursue strategic, research-driven investments aimed at equitable, lasting, and systemic change.

For more information about the Building Healthy Life Skills project and other ACE Overcomers programs, please visit: www.aceovercomers.org

For more information on the Central Valley Opportunity Fund and other Central Valley Community Foundation funds, please visit: www.centralvalleycf.org

To learn more, click here.

Quilts of Love

Quilting group from Hilmar

We have all heard the phrase, “A stitch in time saves nine.” A group of ladies in Hilmar have been lovingly stitching quilts together to change and save lives. Through their hard work and generous spirits, they are making a difference in the lives of many. Their quilts provide warmth, beauty and cheer to people in our Mission programs. The colorful quilt hanging in the lounge for the Hope for Families apartments, located on the Village of Hope campus, brightens the day for families with young children staying there. The child-size quilts also bring joy to the children. Men and women in the Hope for Veterans apartments, also located on the Village of Hope campus, are enjoying the patriotic theme on the quilt that brightens their lounge. In addition, the quilts provide warmth and beauty to make the living quarters for the women in the Hope for Women program bright and cheerful.

Jenifer Schaper, Hilmar High School Home Economics teacher, started an adult quilting group in her classroom in 2007. In 2013 when Jenifer retired, the group needed a place to meet. A shop at one of the ladies’ homes was quickly converted into a sewing room.

Several ladies approached Jenifer and Yvonne, the leaders of the group, asking if they would consider starting a second group. In 2015 that happened. Both groups started with a mutual interest in quilting. It has led to great friendships and fellowship. The ladies find it a bonus to share their quilts with the Merced Rescue Mission.

The Mission wants to express its gratitude to the quilting group in Hilmar for their wonderful contribution that brings warmth, love, and joy to so many on a daily basis.

Pictured here are women in the Hope for Women program who are recipients of some of the quiltes.

Sobering Rooms

When plans were still in the visionary stage, Yvonnia Brown, who at that time was the Director of the County Behavioral Health and Recovery Services, recommended that we include space for Sobering Rooms in our Respite Care building. Currently in Merced County, when law enforcement finds a person who is intoxicated or under the influence of drugs and is in need of a place to “sleep it off,” the only alternatives are the hospital for detox or booking a person into jail. Sobering rooms are a less expensive alternative that has been tried throughout the State of California with good results. With this background, the Mission did build space in its new Respite Care facility for Sobering Rooms.

The Mission is working collaboratively with the County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, Central California Alliance for Health (CCAH Medi-Cal), Golden Valley Health Centers, the City of Merced Police Department, and others to implement a Sobering Room program. We are hoping to begin this program in September if all things fall into place. Policy manuals have been put together and are being reviewed. Funding sources have been sought and Cal-Aims has responded with a program to help fund the first year of operation. The Mission is excited to collaboratively offer this new service to the County of Merced for the benefit of everyone.

Power of Prayer

Years of prayer provided a foundation for the development of the Village of Hope campus.  Following years of fruitless looking, through help from E.J. Lorenzi, the Mission was able to locate an appropriate property where a dream could be realized.  More prayer and the generosity of many allowed sketches and diagrams to become detailed plans which were turned into buildings.  Buildings have become homes and places of healing, and lives are being changed.  The power of answered prayer is evident at the Village of Hope.

DAV Chapter 31 (Disabled American Veterans) is a non-profit organization dedicated to advocating, assisting, and supporting America’s Veterans and represents the Atwater and Merced area. The group recently invited Bruce Metcalf, the Executive Director of the Rescue Mission, to speak at their May meeting to share about the work of the Rescue Mission.  He discovered at the meeting that members of the DAV often got together for lunch once a month in addition to their regular meetings.  Upon hearing this, DAV Chapter 31 was invited to come to have their lunch once a month at the Village of Hope campus. On June 16th, members of the DAV Chapter 31 - California, members of the Marine group MCCV, and members from the VFW 4327 Merced, came to the campus and shared lunch together with veterans who are living in the Hope for Veterans building. This gathering was a huge success as stories were shared and new friendships developed. At this event, the MCCV (Marines) presented a plaque to the Mission recognizing their work with homeless veterans. The Mission looks forward to hosting these veteran groups on a regular basis and appreciates their interest in reaching out to care for disabled veterans in our community. Another demonstration of the power of prayer in positively impacting lives.

Grand Opening, Village of Hope

A Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting for our Village of Hope campus, Phase I, was held on April 22nd. Mayor of Merced, Matt Serratto, and Lloyd Pareira, Chairman, Merced County Board of Supervisors each gave remarks recognizing this great accomplishment which will benefit our whole community. Thanks to all who joined and shared this very special moment with us.

Mark Mayo, our Board Chair, welcomed everyone and provided a short history of the Mission. Paul Cauwels, Board Vice Chairman, gave the opening prayer. Founding partners were recognized by CEO Dr. Bruce Metcalf for their contributions toward purchasing land and building the facilities. Among these were Bill and Carolyn Ahlem, who donated the first seed money, Cori Lucero, Central Valley Opportunity Fund, Stephanie Sonnenshine, CEO Central California Alliance for Health, and Interim President Richard Moreland, Dignity Health Mercy Merced.

Special thanks were given to Jim Xu from Golden Valley Engineering, and Skip George, our contractor, Commercial Construction.

A reception followed and many people toured the facilities. A big thank you to Central Valley Community Bank for providing cookies for the event. Our chef Darryl provided mouthwatering appetizers.

WE DO RECOVER!

"Through Jesus Christ all things are possible. We do recover!" - David Carr, MCRM COO

"I didn't let my past be an excuse to fail. I made it my reason to succeed!" - Crystal Cheney, Navigation Center, Service Coordinator

"Graduating from college had never crossed my mind. After getting my GED at adult school, I enrolled in college and graduated with honors! God and hard work have brought me a long way!" - Jennifer Carr, Director, Navigation Center

"Success comes in cans, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." - Kenny Locken, Navigation Center staff

CONGRATS TO ALL, ON YOUR GRADUATION FROM MERCED COLLEGE!!!