In this month’s newsletter we have some exciting agency updates, including program relocation news, and a grant celebration announcement. We have several Caught Caring submissions, and a Staff Spotlight. As always, we also have the latest updates from our IDEA, and Human Resources Teams!  

Two of our Encompass facilities are moving locations. 

Sí Se Puede: Our Watsonville residential treatment program, Sí Se Puede, has just made a temporary move to Maple Avenue to allow Encompass to rebuild our facility and expand services at the original location. The new Sí Se Puede Behavioral Health Center will match the quality of our facilities to the high standards of mental health and substance use disorder services we offer in the community. Not only will this new space expand our program capacities, but will also allow us to include residential and outpatient services on the same campus, setting the stage for warm hand-offs for individuals stepping down in levels of care.  

Relocation of programs to Encinal St: We have decided to end our lease at 716 Ocean Street, which means we will be moving all services currently offered there to our offices at 380 Encinal Street. There is a currently a workgroup made up of staff from throughout Encompass to guide the relocation process, with a specific focus on redesigning the Encinal space to accommodate program needs. While this will be an adjustment for everyone involved, combining two locations will contribute to our strategic plan objective of fostering a warm, safe, and collaborative environment for our employees and clients. The move is scheduled for June.

Unfortunately, the opioid crisis in the US continues to persist. According to the US Department of Health & Human Services, over 130 people die every day from opioid-related drug overdoses. The California Department of Health Care Services (DHCS) has implemented a program called the California DHCS Opioid Response (previously known as the California MAT Expansion Project) to increase access to Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) services, reduce unmet treatment needs, and reduce opioid overdose-related deaths in California. DHCS’ Opioid Response focuses on 3 goals: saving lives, ensuring access to treatment, and reducing the barriers to care. The program also focuses on populations with limited MAT access, including youth, people in rural areas, and American Indian & Alaska Native tribal communities. 

Encompass is proud to have recently received a grant from DHCS to expand MAT services for our Sí Se Puede Residential Center and Santa Cruz Residential Recovery programs. Encompass will use the funds from the grant for continuing education for our clinicians to include specialties in addiction medicine. The grant will also allow us to add two new Peer Specialists for each program. This is exciting news for our agency and the community members we help. To learn more about our Sí Se Puede Residential Center, check out this recent blog article.  

If you or a loved one is struggling with substance use disorder, call Encompass at 831-226-3728, Option 2. Our MAT team of peer specialists and licensed clinicians are here to help. 

We are so excited to feature our CFDP Director, Anne A, as our Staff Spotlight this month!  

Not only was Anne Caught Caring, but she was also accepted into the New Director Mentor Program (NDMP). NDMP offers a bridge for new maternal and child health (MCH) professionals to connect with seasoned MCH professionals who are willing to share their knowledge about state Title V programs. The program is designed to help new directors become acclimated in their new roles at an early stage of their tenure. 

When asked about this amazing opportunity, Anne explained “The New Director Mentor Program will provide me with an opportunity to connect with an experienced Head Start Director that understands the unique opportunities and challenges I face as a Head Start leader. The year-long mentor-mentee relationship will allow time for me to gather best practices and tools that will foster a positive work environment and generate innovative solutions for our program. Through the purposefully designed sessions and collaborative learning opportunities, I will gain valuable content knowledge and strategies to engage, inspire, and empower my team. I am looking forward to this important learning journey!” 

Congratulations Anne, we are so excited for you! Best of luck in the year ahead! 

Happy Black History Month! 

February is a chance to highlight and commemorate the incredible contributions of our African American Community organizers, members, leaders and activists, of both the past and present. Black American communities have been embedded within Santa Cruz County for centuries and are often forgotten and overlooked. We would like to shine a light on a few of these histories we remember, Ida B. Wells, Daniel Rodgers, and Erva Bowen. 

Today, the Black communities in Santa Cruz County continue to thrive through activism, art, connectivity and education. 

Interested in celebrating Black History Month and supporting Black owned businesses in Santa Cruz?  Check out a few local Black owned businesses: 

• Santa Cruz Learning Center -Tutoring, test prep, classes, summer camp 
• Everyone’s Music School- Music Education 
• Persephone Restaurant -Food and Beverage 
• Capitola Bar & Grill - Live Music, Sports Bar 

The IDEA team would like to leave you with a Black History Month film recommendation:  

Rustin (2023) - Netflix - The film is based on the true story of Rustin, who helped Martin Luther King Jr. and others organize the 1963 March on Washington to end to racism and racial segregation. Produced by Barack and Michelle Obama's production company Higher Ground.