Rashmi Rajadhyax, Program Director at Idylwood Care Center, got up one morning and thought, “Life is worth living.”  As that thought passed through her mind she decided to wonder out of curiosity what do other people think about life in general and what kind of message are people saying to themselves on a regular basis. Are those messages positive or negative? So to find out more, she surveyed 228 people at Idylwood Care Center which included residents, staff, doctors, families and visitors and asked them what life means to them. She then comprised the list of all answers which included: Life is Worth Living • Life is Joy • Life is Beautiful • Life is Awesome • Life is Good • Life is Struggle, through struggles of life you find yourself • Life is Amazing • Life is Interesting • Life is Full of Meaning • Life is Happiness • Life is Wonderful • Life is Difficult • Life is Cavalcade of parade • Life is Crazy • Life is Challenging • Life is Great • Life is Full of surprises • Life is Family • Life is Enjoyable • Life is Fun • Life is Living • Life is Special • Life is Exciting • Life is Better than Death • Life is Short • Life is Precious • Life is Blessing • Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries • Life is Simple • Life is Rough • Life is Rewarding • Life is Everything • Life is Splendid • Life is Important • Life is Happy • Life is a Ball • Life is Prison • Life is to be Human • Life is What you make out of it • Life is Journey • Life is a Bowl of Honey, the More you Touch it, the Sweeter it Gets • Life is Everlasting • Life is Gold • Life is Full of Stress • Life is Blessing from God • Life is a Bowl of Roses • Life is Nice  • Life is Hard • Life is Complicated • Life is an Escalator with Ups and Downs • Life is Full of Choices • Life is On • Life is Full of Miseries  • Life is Bright • Life is 10% What you Make it and 90% How you Take it Rashmi said that it was a fun and satisfying experience to create something so simple that would inspire so much excitement and curiosity in people.  The final list was compiled and copies were handed out at the facility so everyone could share with their friends and families, and to clip on a bulletin board at work or home if they wanted to. “What it ultimately comes down to is that life is a field of unlimited possibilities. We have choices.  Life is all these quotes at one given time and life is inclusive of all,” said Rashmi.   “Use them, share them, and get inspired by them. It doesn’t matter how you use them, if they make your day happy and bright.” (download and share the image below to inspire others)

A values-driven organization identifies its values through a process of self-examination.  This involves identifying the organizational purpose, the needs of the customer, assessing all strengths, deficits, and opportunities, as well as threats to the organization’s mission. It also entails taking an extensive and comprehensive 360 degree look at the entire organization, in other words, a non-compromising organizational soul-searching. At Crestwood Behavioral Health, Inc. this self-examination involves a view of our organization, our communities, and our purpose which stems from four different perspectives. The first view we examine is from the perspective of the organizational leadership which consists of our Board of Directors, Chief Executive Officer, Chief Financial Officer, executive leadership, program administrators and campus leadership.  Next we include our front line staff, mid-management staff and program supervisory staff.  This provides perspectives from all viewpoints in Crestwood. The next vantage point that is vital to gaining the company’s full perspective is the client and family support system stakeholder group. This involves creating a safe space for our clients and their family voices to be heard.  The client and family are the primary voices to be listened to and it may take time, support and compassion to enable this perspective to be fully shared. At Crestwood we see this as the responsibility of the organizational leadership. One way we do this is to employ people with lived experience and have family members at the executive, management and front-line staff level job positions. The next perspective that we include is from our county partners, customers, and the communities we provide services to. This perspective enables us to understand the needs of the community and provides the opportunity to develop and enhance meaningful relationships with our partners so we can better understand and anticipate the needs of the communities we work with. Crestwood has developed its mission and values from gathering all of these different perspectives. Crestwood’s mission is to create a partnership with clients, employees, families, business associates and the community in caring for individuals of all ages affected by mental health issues. Together, we invest our energy to enhance the quality of life, social integration, community support and empowerment of mental health clients.  Crestwood promotes wellness and recovery by providing quality and cost-effective programs in a socially responsible manner, and works with families and communities to reduce the stigma associated with mental illness. The values that were developed from this framework are simple and come from the heart. Crestwood’s values are family, compassion, enthusiasm, flexibility, character and commitment. It is through these values that Crestwood views all aspects of our operations. These values reflect the strength and vulnerability of Crestwood, with a focus on trauma-informed approaches with love and gratitude for the people and communities we serve and the staff and partners we work with. Crestwood views all decisions, strategies, goals and objectives, and benchmarks for success based on these values.  Our organization is driven to achieve objectives and goals relying on the courage and strength to maintain the highest level of integrity, while honoring these shared values. Having this values-driven perspective has allowed us to grow as partners in services with other community-based organizations such as Recovery Innovations, Turning Point and Dreamcatchers Empowerment Network. The understanding and recognition that our county and community partners provide the foundation for our services, enables Crestwood to develop community specific services, with the values of the community intertwined with Crestwood’s values. The opening of our MHRC programs in San Diego and Chula Vista are an excellent example of involving all of these perspectives.  Crestwood worked very closely with the county and community leaders to identify the needs.  The community-based providers and hospitals helped Crestwood to find the right locations for the programs. The recruitment of employees was focused on hiring people with lived experience and allowing them to provide a strong client voice, as well having family members involved at all levels of service. We worked to include the voices of Crestwood San Diego’s and Crestwood Chula Vista’s leadership teams so that they could participate in all elements of program development, making it strong and reflecting all of Crestwood’s mission and values. By being a values-driven organization and continuing to take a full 360 degree look at ourselves and our services, Crestwood will continue to grow and provide the best care possible for our clients and the communities we serve.

The Crestwood Nutrition and Wellness Initiative was started in May of 2013 under the direction of Margaret McDonald, Crestwood’s Director of Nutritional and Wellness Services.  One of the initiative’s first goals was to provide Crestwood facilities with new menus and recipes based on government guidelines and the latest nutrition research, using whole foods, rather than processed foods. In many of our Mental Health Recovery Centers (MHRCs), we have been able to greatly reduce or eliminate therapeutic diet orders because this diet is appropriate for the vast majority of our clients, including those with diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol.  The diet is appropriate for diabetics because we keep each meal within a certain range of carbohydrates, and we offer very few concentrated sweets.  We do most of our baking with whole wheat flour and serve real sugar in small portions. The diet is appropriate for those with high blood pressure and high cholesterol because we limit saturated fat by serving red meat only once a week and serving low-fat dairy products.  We also use very little added salt, and few processed or canned goods. Dietary Directors have reported that the costs have been about the same or a bit lower than the old diet. We offer two fish meals per week, three vegetarian meals per week, and limit red meat to one meal a week. Other meals provide lean proteins such as turkey and chicken.  The diet is high in fiber with lots of whole grains, beans, lentils, and fresh fruits and vegetables.  We include many plant sources of healthy fats such as oils, trans fat free margarines, nuts, and seeds.  Whenever possible, we avoid products with trans fats, high fructose corn syrup, and artificial colorings and sweeteners, and we make as much as possible from scratch.  We also offer meals from a variety of cultural backgrounds in order to appeal to our diverse client population. We have been monitoring client weights, lipid profiles, and HGBA1Cs (a measure of blood sugar levels over time).  In the facilities that have implemented our menus, we have seen a gradual weight loss in some of our overweight and obese clients, and an improvement in lipid profiles and a lowering of HGBA1Cs in some clients.  Dr. Zhongshu Yang, M.D., PhD from the University of California, Davis was so impressed with the change in weights and lab results at Crestwood Sacramento Center, that she applied for a grant to do a research project on our diet. She and a graduate student, Jennifer Papac B.S., recently presented a poster on our diet at UC Davis Medical School, titled “Crestwood Nutrition and Wellness Initiative in Long-Term Psychiatric Patients.”  They concluded that after implementing the diet, there was a reduction in the percentage of obese patients and an increase in the percentage of patients in the overweight and normal weight ranges. They also concluded that patients lost a significant amount of weight over the time period looked at, and that they showed a significant decrease in Body Mass Index (BMI) over that time period. Lastly, we have received positive feedback from Dietary Directors, kitchen staff, and the clients themselves.  Dietary Directors’ comments include, “There was some resistance at first from clients and staff, but they gradually accepted the changes and are getting excited about eating healthy”, “We are starting to see healthy weight loss and an overall change in clients’ attitudes toward making healthier choices”,  and “Clients are enjoying the meals and we are getting positive feedback.”  Clients also have their opinions about the new diet changes and made comments such as, “It’s like restaurant food”, “I feel better and it’s only been a week”, “I feel good, not so heavy”, and “I feel like I have more energy.” Going forward, Margaret plans to develop more nutrition and exercise-related groups, for clients, as well as health related in-services for staff.  Overall, Crestwood’s ultimate goal is to continue to improve the health and wellness of both our clients and staff through educating and serving them nutritious and delicious food that will make a difference in their recovery and lives.  In the words of Hippocrates, “Our food should be our medicine and our medicine should be our food.”

In life we only get one chance for a few things – one of them is a first impression, so it’s vital we prepare ourselves to give an authentic and genuine one. In doing so, we share ourselves with others in the way we wish to be understood.  First impressions can be our calling card and they can be the one element or the one interaction that connects two people deeply. At Crestwood Behavioral Health, we believe in the value of the first impression so we strive to make it the most authentic and positive one possible.  We create the opportunity to meet the person, whether it’s a client, a coworker, a family member or visitor, exactly where they are at. We have drawn from a course created in the hospitality industry called First Impressions to teach the skills needed to make this welcoming and warm first impression.  We included it in the curriculum lessons from Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT), the 12-Step Program, Core Gifts, Trauma-Informed Care and Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP). The course framework focuses on the principles of commitment, leadership, attitude, service and support. The principle of commitment in the First Impressions course emphasizes how to do our very best each day, to make a difference in someone else’s life and by doing so, we then make a difference in our own lives. We commit ourselves to the Crestwood values of family, to holding ourselves with integrity, to compassionately doing our work, to being flexible and forthright, and to have a sense of humor and positive attitude about the serious and challenging moments that frequently occur in our day. The leadership principle in the course focuses on leading by example. No matter what position you hold in life or at Crestwood, we are certain that we all have an opportunity and responsibility to lead. In life we are all leaders and we must demonstrate our values each day so that we create a sense of positive peer pressure, creating a culture of caring behavior by “paying it forward.” Attitude is addressed in the course as being reflected in our actions. We promote healthy productive behavior through building skills to increase the self-esteem and sense of value of our clients and staff. We create an environment where skills are taught and practiced to enhance the lives of our clients, families and ourselves, whether it’s DBT, Trauma-Informed Care approaches or WRAP. This culture of learning creates a positive sense of self which turns into positive performance at Crestwood. The service principle in the First Impressions course focuses on the work we do and so much more. It is being committed to come to work on time and making each moment count. It is having a smile. It is consistently meeting the needs of those around us with healthy boundaries, dignity and compassion. And finally the principle of support is addressed on how it holds the first impression and the ongoing relationship together. Support of others starts with self-care. In Trauma-Informed Care approaches we say “put your mask on first, before you can help someone else”, so if you are not healthy and supported, then you cannot provide care and support to others.  Support includes anticipating the needs of co-workers, as well as clients. It is creating a healthy environment where we feel cared for and appreciated. This leads to our sense of pride in the work we do and the people we are. The First Impressions class at Crestwood teaches each of these values and allows our staff to spend time together sharing their thoughts and developing the rapport to truly emanate team work. The opportunity is always there for a positive first impression and at Crestwood we seize the moment to do so.

The Crestwood Wellness and Recovery Center in Redding has incorporated an additional and powerful therapeutic tool in their dynamic recovery program known as Motivational Interviewing.  Motivational Interviewing is a person-centered therapeutic approach using a process that is infused with collaboration and personal choices and honors the person’s autonomy and self-direction. There are five principles to Motivational Interviewing, which includes developing empathy to elicit engagement; identifying discrepancy between where the person is not and where they want to be; avoiding conflict while passively rolling along with any perceived resistance; avoiding the development of counter positions between client and staff; and supporting the client’s belief in their own abilities to build self-worth. John Dalton, the facility’s Wellness and Recovery Director, explained, “Almost instantly after beginning the use of Motivational Interviewing, I noticed the clients being less resistive and more communicative.  We were able to elicit new information from each of the clients and there was the development of enhanced therapeutic relationships as clients and staff worked together toward each client’s self-identified goal.” Many of the clients involved with the Motivational Interviewing therapy stated that they felt in greater control of their own recovery, and that the staff working with them truly heard what they had been trying to say to others for years. The facility staff who have utilized the Motivational Interviewing technique also identified that it creates a collaborative conversation that leads to tremendous growth, empowerment, and healing.  By using the client’s own goals, beliefs, abilities, and reasoning, clients were less likely to resist the process of making positive changes in their lives.  The key to the therapy is the process of asking, listening, and informing the client in a reflective manner what was said during the conversation.  This interactive role between the clients and staff, which is grounded in the understanding of the importance of the clients’ perceptions and desires, has led to multiple success stories. One of their clients said, “I never knew that I possessed the ability to change my life in such a profound way.  My Service Coordinator helped me to hear my own voice, and then cheered me on as I began to make the changes in my life that I wanted to change.” Motivational Interviewing is just one of many tools that can be used in the recovery journey.  Yet, for many, it is that unique inner voice that once identified, heard, and acknowledged, can then be nourished, cultivated, and supported to help clients make self-empowered changes toward health and stability.

Most of us have suffered some degree of trauma during our lifetime.  A glimpse at human history shows us that we live in a traumatized world.   Since trauma is not fully acknowledged as a universal experience that requires continued attention, in many cases, it perpetuates.  It is crucial to recognize our unaddressed trauma because a high degree of stress does not merely cause discomfort, it disturbs us physiologically, mentally, emotionally, and spiritually.   We begin to operate from the part of the brain directing survival instincts rather than from an integrated, whole-brain perspective. The question of how best to heal trauma is a complex issue.   The Strategies for Trauma Awareness and Resilience (STAR) program, led by Carolyn Yoder, helps to clearly outline the causes, types, effects, obstacles, needs of trauma, as well as breaking the cycle of trauma.  “Unaddressed traumas affect not only those directly traumatized, but their families and future generations,” says Carolyn Yoder. These are all valuable concepts to consider and/or revisit for people who work in the mental health field.  It is also beneficial for our personal healing.  The more importance that is placed on self-awareness and growth, the greater amount of internal resources can be found to handle triggering events and unresolved pain.  Our capacities expand, building a repertoire of emotionally-intelligent responses to pain rather than dissociating or denying our trauma.  Conversely, if our society were to fully recognize its trauma, we would be less likely to place labels on the already wounded.  This would not only bring more awareness toward how trauma is treated, but would instill more compassion towards the traumatized. Breaking the cycle of trauma requires fortitude and courage.   It begins with the acknowledgement of the traumatic incident(s). The process of self-inquiry, grieving and honestly identifying fears is deeply transformative.  As Yoder states, “it unfreezes the body, mind and spirit so that we can think creatively, feel fully, and move forward again.” Trauma healing is about transformation.  Through personal reflection, we can break our own cycles.   By creating our own personal healing practice, we move a little closer to a society that endeavors to do the same. At Crestwood, we take a trauma-informed approach to care that includes being aware that the majority of our clients experience trauma and that the trauma then becomes the lens through which they view and experience the world.  The initial trauma-informed care training Crestwood received came through a SAMHSA grant. It has impacted the design of our programs in the environmental planning with comfort rooms, a library area and a Serenity Room.  The training included an introduction to trauma-informed care services and an overview of creating a trauma-informed care service model for our programs. We are continuing to work with trauma consultants, such as Raul Almazar, from Almazar Consulting & Senior Consultant to the National Center for Trauma

Crestwood Behavioral Health Inc. started a big growth spurt in the spring of 2014 from Solano to San Diego. That year we opened two new distinct programs, with some exciting and significant outcomes and contributions. In April 2014, we opened our sixth Psychiatric Health Facility (PHF) at our Solano campus and in June, we opened our seventh Mental Health Rehabilitation Center (MHRC) on our first campus in San Diego. These programs are very different, but serve the same type of clients at different points in their recovery. The PHF is a soft place to land for clients who need to stabilize during a time of crisis. The MHRC is a gentle, homelike space conducive for clients to transition back into the community. The commonality between both programs is that they share the best of all of the research and practices that Crestwood has used in space conversion and intentional space utilization such as the welcoming room, comfort room, serenity room, living room, dining room and library The welcoming rooms are dedicated to the ritual of welcoming which is based on the research and information shared by Bruce Anderson of Community Activators. It also reflects the principles of Crestwood’s First Impression program. The welcoming ritual is our way of greeting the new client when they come through our doors. This initial engagement in our welcoming room is frequently one of the most important moments in treatment. The welcoming room has comfortable furniture, fruit and snacks and a quiet, peaceful environment for the client to be welcomed into our facility. The assessment process is also part of our welcoming ritual. We use a conversation approach for the assessment and we utilize the CARF-accredited Primary Assessment that is designed to be a narrative discussion with the client. This has been an effective tool in initiating the relationship with the client, setting them at ease and garnering the most accurate and authentic information. Crestwood’s comfort rooms provide clients with a calming place to be. We designed our comfort rooms based on extensive literature review, visits to calming and comfort rooms in New York State, attendance at conferences and interviews with experts in the field.  Our comfort rooms are used as a tool to teach individuals calming techniques in order to decrease agitation and aggressive behavior. The goal for clients in using the comfort room is to develop practical skills that can be used in inpatient settings and after being discharged from care. Our serenity rooms are based on research from a New York State grant on Positive Alternatives to Restraint and Seclusion (PARS) and serve a dual purpose. The first is to provide a space that is calming and self-regulating for clients to be in that then reduces the likelihood of coercive treatment. The secondary purpose is to honor the spiritual growth of each client by creating a sacred space designed to support them on enriching their spiritual journey. Our serenity rooms are dedicated to support the internal growth and opportunity for contemplation, meditation and introspection. The living rooms in our programs are designed to be an environment that is specifically for the community to congregate and visit. It is based on the promising practice in the Living Room model from Recovery Innovations. The space is less clinical and is as homelike as possible. The colors are comforting and the furnishings are aesthetically pleasing.  This room can be used for community meetings and occasionally for groups and staff interactions. It is a place where people are treated with respect, have choices and feel safe.  The other elements of the Living Room model that are in place include peer providers, Wellness Recovery Action Plan (WRAP), inclusion and comfort. This model is closely aligned with the full-array of trauma-informed care approaches that we employ. Our library space is designed to provide another indoor space to be used by and for the clients.  This space has resources including self-help books, meditation books and books for leisure. The space is light and open at all times for clients to use. Crestwood’s dining rooms support our wellness initiative which includes healthy heart diets and exercise. This room is also used for recreation activities, movies, arts and crafts, games and therapeutic groups. One room that we don’t have in the programs are the restraint and seclusion rooms.  Crestwood has an initiative to eliminate the use of restraint and seclusion so we have created a trend of decreased restraints and a greater understanding and awareness of the issues surrounding their use.  In 2011, Crestwood received a grant from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to attend the Effective Use of Peer Programs to Prevent the Use of Seclusion and Restraints Conference in Boston. Crestwood was recognized at that training as one of the leaders nationally on reducing seclusion and restraint throughout our organization. Our level of seclusion and restraint for similar programs was one-fifth the national average according to SAMHSA consultants. Crestwood incorporates trauma-informed approaches into each program, as well as using WRAP principles and Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT) assumptions to create antecedent plans for clients and staff. As a result of creating these types of innovative spaces in our programs, Crestwood has been recognized by SAMHSA for the effective use of space and the positive effect it has on each client’s outcomes. All of these spaces are designed to provide our clients with the best environment possible to support their recovery.

Alternative therapeutic approaches have been used to treat a variety of medical and psychiatric issues.   It is often found that an unbalanced physiological system can negatively affect a psychological system, producing symptoms of pain, stress, and nervousness, which can then worsen an existing disease. As more evidence becomes available through scientific research, it appears that stabilizing a person’s physical state, leads to improving their mental state and overall well-being. With this concept in mind, Crestwood Wellness & Recovery Center in Redding decided to conduct an assessment and analysis of their clients and found that many of their clients possessed muscular skeletal complaints that they claimed affected their mood and psychiatric condition. To address this need, the facility’s treatment team decided to incorporate a chiropractic approach to help their clients. The treatment team contacted Dr. Ronald Henninger, a local chiropractor, to begin the process of treating their clients. This new chiropractic approach is in addition to the existing modalities used in their clients’ wellness plans and with the intention of offering enhanced treatment from a greater holistic perspective. Dr. Henninger has a passion for treating people with physical and psychological issues and said, “Working with these clients is rewarding and fulfilling, they are truly special and wonderful people.” The response from the clients has been overwhelmingly positive to this chiropractic program.  One female client, who has utilized a wheelchair for many years, said that after her first few chiropractic adjustments, “I can now sit up much straighter and my back doesn’t hurt. I feel so much happier.” The staff also reports a male client who often mumbled and was hard to hear, is now speaking much louder and with greater clarity after receiving chiropractic treatment from Dr. Henninger. The holistic approach of using chiropractic medicine, in addition to traditional mental health tools, appears to be beneficial in treating clients with both physical and psychological symptoms. Once again, Crestwood continues to lead the way with innovative approaches in mental healthcare and helping to inspire others toward success.

We experience many changes in life. Change can often be frightening, daunting and it can cause anxiety and resistance.  There are seasonal changes, economic changes and personal changes for each of us. The definition of change includes the act or process of making or becoming different and to undergo transformation. What we do know about change is that it is inevitable. Change is the only constant in life, it is the one thing we can count on, and it can be an incredible opportunity for growth. Crestwood Behavioral Health Inc. has change as one of our primary goals in providing mental health recovery services. In the world of mental health recovery, change is the goal as a person moves through the recovery process.  Change allows a person to learn new behaviors, to let go of characteristics that are no longer needed and to replace them with more beneficial ones. It can be as simple as learning to take a bus or as dramatic as letting go of fear and replacing it with trust.  It can be learning to let go of regret and replacing it with gratitude and learning to let go of selfishness and replacing it with kindness and love. It is through change that people learn to live independent lives and to support each other and themselves. So as we face change, remember that it is an opportunity to stand and take that next step forward and it is in this movement that we will continue to grow and thrive.

Crestwood’s Values Providing a Compass for Growth At Crestwood Behavioral Health Inc., we are excited about new opportunities.  So as Crestwood continues to grow, we always use our corporate values as the lens for every decision and change in direction. Our values are our compass to move forward as an organization and are revisited frequently throughout the year and always when we are faced with new opportunities, threats or decisions. Our values are simple: Commitment, Enthusiasm, Flexibility,  Integrity, Family, and Compassion. Each of these values holds its own set of principles and beliefs that act as a guiding force to us as a company internally, as well as externally in our relationships with stakeholders and partners. Commitment is the glue that holds our organization together. It is the promise to follow through and to stay uncompromising to our vows and obligations.  Commitment is what binds us together as a work force; it is the motivation to get up and be on time for work because you don’t want to let your coworkers or clients down. It is the pledge to provide recovery-based, socially-responsible services for our clients. Enthusiasm is exemplified in our tenure of excited and motivated employees. The average length of employment for Crestwood is seven years. Crestwood employees have  a strong pride in themselves and a natural enthusiasm for the work they do.  It is often seen in our facilities that staff members with 20 years of tenure are still as excited about what they do as our newest employees. Flexibility is the hallmark of Crestwood. We continuously adjust and reinvent service models to utilize the most current research, evidenced-based practices and to meet the ever evolving needs of our communities. Flexibility allows us to provide our clients with the most appropriate programs and services. We understand – and strive to meet – the range and variety of mental health needs of our clients, their families and their communities. We provide innovative and effective programs and services that enhance our clients’ wellness and promote their recovery. Integrity/Ethics is the cornerstone for all we do. Ethics is defined as morals, beliefs, and principles that are a system or defense for right and wrong conduct.  It seems simple, yet as we often read in news articles, hear at industry meetings, or observe in our own communities, it is often not so simple. Crestwood as an organization holds ethics as a core value.  In all of our partnerships, integrity, trust, respect and dependability are all non-negotiable. We hold corporate responsibility at the highest level of commitment. Through our continuous quality improvement and our performance improvement process, we analyze and recommit to providing the most ethical and efficient services to all of our stakeholders. Family is the foundation that Crestwood was built on. We have a rich background of being founded by a family who are committed to the operations. Our partnerships with clients, their families, our staff, the community, business associates and volunteers all comprise the Crestwood family. We focus on family involvement and education and make every attempt, where appropriate, to bring in families as a part of client care. Compassion at Crestwood is demonstrated with warmth, kindness and caring in everything we do for our clients and staff. We seek compassionate employees in the recruitment process and we nurture compassion in the training, supervision and general operations.  We honor the preservation of each client’s self-respect and dignity. At Crestwood we live these values and use them as the barometer for our success and view all of our corporate decisions through this lens. And with our values, Crestwood is excited to take on the challenges and opportunities that this new period in behavioral healthcare brings.

The Discharge with Dignity Program that has produced extraordinary results. Crestwood Wellness and Recovery Center in Redding has created the Discharge with Dignity Program that is helping to instill self-esteem and confidence in their clients who are being discharged. Many of the clients at the facility have found themselves, due to a variety of reasons, owning very little possessions. Although the facility has helped many of them to obtain needed clothing and personal care supplies, it wasn’t uncommon for the clients to pack their limited possessions in plastic bags as they left the facility. So even though the clients had progressed in their wellness, enjoyed relief from their recent troubling symptoms and gained new tools to effectively re-engage in the community, they often felt undignified arriving at their new residence with their possessions packed in plastic shopping and garbage bags. To help alleviate this issue, the facility staff began the Discharge with Dignity Program to collect backpacks, suitcases, and related items. Now as clients prepare for discharge, they are notified of the Discharge with Dignity Program and are offered suitcases or backpacks to store and transport their possessions in. They are also offered toiletry items, such as travel-size soaps and shampoos, to accompany their luggage. This simple gesture and assistance has made a remarkable difference in the attitude and confidence of the facility’s clients who are continuing on their journey of wellness and recovery. “It is heartwarming to see clients hold their heads up high with their suitcase in hand,” said Nicoletta Groff, Administrator.  Many of their clients have stated that arriving at a new residence with nice luggage, instead of garbage bags, has fostered self-worth and pride. First impressions and perceptions are very powerful, not only for the new acquaintances, but also for the clients.  The Discharge with Dignity Program gives these clients that little boost of confidence that helps them to shine.

Two Amazing Graduates who are Making a Difference and Giving Back When Crestwood San Diego opened in June 2014, a client named J. was admitted to the program in its second week of services. It was then that J. and staff created and began working on her personal plan for recovery. In just a little over three months, J. became Crestwood San Diego’s first “graduate” meaning that she had successfully completed the program and was ready for discharge to the community.  J. felt that her experience at Crestwood was so valuable that she decided to return to the facility as a peer volunteer to assist others on their personal journeys of recovery.  After a couple of months of work as a peer volunteer, J. was offered a paid position as a Rehabilitation Assistant at Crestwood San Diego. She accepted that offer and has since completed a Peer Training course through NAMI.  J. continues to work in this capacity at the facility, providing inspiration and support to the clients, as well as staff. Crestwood Chula Vista  opened in June 2015, and one of the clients  adm itted there shortly after was A.   A.  soon became a participant in the Crestwood Chula Vista’s Dreamcatchers  Empowerment Network  Vocational Program , designed to provide support and education to those with the goal of finding employment. Following J.’s lead from Crestwood San Diego ,  A. became  Crestwood C hula Vista’s second “graduate”.  A. n ow  returns twice  a week to the facility  in the role of peer volunteer, providing meaningful support to others. In addition to providing peer support, A.  also  leads a  weekly bible study group at the  facility .  He currently has the  goal of becoming a Rehabilitation Assistant like J., and is well on his way to achieving that goal with the support of staff at Crestwood Chula Vista.