Staff classified as ‘temporary’ or ‘as needed’ are not eligible. Staff on a formal leave of absence are not eligible. Based upon schedules and approval by supervisors, all eligible staff who have provided a minimum of 12-months service through 8/31/18 will receive a maximum of one (1) regular (8-hour) Leave with Pay day off. Eligible staff less than full-time (40 hours) will receive commensurate (i.e. pro-rated) time off. This day must be scheduled in either September or October 2018.

Division Directors will be held responsible for ensuring that all eligible staff receive this use it or lose it benefit. Division Directors or supervisor will need to enter and approve ‘LWP’ through the ADP web timesheet system. Under ‘comments’ please enter ‘staff appreciation day’.

Thank you for your cooperation. Should you have any questions about this benefit please contact HR Director Tonie Diaz at adiaz@ssg.org.

Visit us at www.ssg.org SSG Newsle er July - August 2018

C DSeptember 2018

SSG’s annual Staff Appreciation Month

IT’S THAT TIME OF YEAR AGAIN… SSG’S 8TH ANNUAL STAFF APPRECIATION MONTH!

SSG’S WORKFORCE IS OVER 800 STAFF STRONG – AND TOGETHER WE ARE ABLE TO FULFILL THE AGENCY MISSION TO SERVE AND EMPOWER OUR COMMUNITY. SSG HAS A GREAT REPUTATION FOR SERVICE AND EXCELLENCE THANKS TO EVERYBODY’S COLLECTIVE EFFORTS!

IN HONOR OF STAFF APPRECIATION MONTH, SSG PROVIDES STAFF APPRECIATION PAID TIME OFF. THIS BENEFIT IS APPLICABLE TO CURRENT STAFF WHO REGULARLY WORK 20 HOURS OR MORE PER WEEK.

California State University Los Angeles (CSULA) Back to School Event

High school and middle school students from SSG’s Weber Community Center, OTTP-LA and APCTC joined over 70 other students from the Los Angeles and Long Beach area on the CSULA campus for the 8th annual Rehabilitation Counseling Department’s Back-to-School event on August 11th. The event featured a campus tour, team & interactive exercises and inspirational speakers for a full half day of fun activities. Both breakfast and lunch were provided to the participants. In addition, each youth participant received a free backpack of school supplies.Most importantly, the young participants learned that college is a possibility in their future. Graduates of the CSULA Rehabilitation Counseling program shared information about their personal paths to achieving their college degrees and also their rewarding professional careers in social services working with people with disabilities. One SSG participant announced that it was her fi rst time on a college campus and that she sees college in her future plans. Professor Frances Siu from CSULA not only encouraged the children to aspire to college, as well as the parents. This sparked the mother of an SSG youth participant to remark that after her son fi nishes college, it’ll then be her turn to do the same.

SSG’s Behavioral Health and Employment and Community Services programs are once again gearing up for a CARF accreditation survey scheduled for early this fall. Over the course of about 4 days, participating SSG sites host a team of experts as they conduct on-site surveys where we’ll get a chance to demonstrate our conformance to rigorous, internationally recognized CARF standards!

To have a little fun, our last CARF preparation meeting was a Hawaiian-themed event. Participants were encouraged to don their most festive Hawaiian clothing and accessories. The group enjoyed some delicious island foods and raffl e prizes as well. CARF assists service providers in improving the quality of their services, demonstrating value, and meeting internationally recognized organizational and program standards. The accreditation process applies sets of standards to service areas and business practices during an on-site survey. Accreditation, however, is an ongoing process, signaling to the public that a service provider is committed to continuously improving services, encouraging feedback, and serving the community. Accreditation also demonstrates a provider’s commitment to enhance its performance, manage its risk, and distinguish its service delivery. SSG has received numerous CARF accreditations, starting with APCTC’s Employment and Community Services, accredited since 2002 and SSG’s Behavioral Health programs starting in 2014. We are all working hard to showcase our wonderful services and hoping for another CARF gold seal of approval. For more info about SSG’s CARF preparation activities contact Peter Wong pwong@ssg.org.

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

SSGPreparations for the CARF site visit are underway!

Cheryl Gully, AOP Supervisor HOPICS

Vera Calloway, BACUP Director Naomi Kageyama, Director of Risk Mgmt. & Special Projects

Angela Kang, AP Recovery Director Jonna Howard, QA Manager WEBER

L to R: Dr. Frances Siu, Christopher Gutierrez, Mrs. Gutierrez

Jeff erson, Issac, Christian,Jesus Bañuelos, Case Manager WEBER

CONGRATULATIONS TO MONICA UY for 20 YEARS OF SERVICE!

SSG congratulates Jane Monica Uy on her 20th anniversary as Case Manager for APCTC Alhambra Center (formerly Metro Center). As one of the few bilingual professionals serving the Khmer (Cambodian) community in Los Angeles, Monica is a well-respected service provider always in demand. Southern California – notably Long Beach – is home to the largest and oldest Cambodian community in the nation. Monica has tirelessly served the community with sensitivity and understanding of the struggles of the Cambodian people, their history of trauma, their resiliency and the beauty of their culture. Eff ective case management services requires knowledge, energy, optimism and a sense of humor – all of which Monica has in abundance.

As a long-time dedicated member of APCTC, Monica enthusiastically reaches out to new staff to provide support and share knowledge. APCTC has a diverse and multidisciplinary team known for their compassion and tireless dedication to community service. Staff like Monica help new staff to understand and embrace APCTC organizational culture and respect APCTC’s history and mission.

The APCTC Alhambra team celebrated Monica’s 20-year anniversary on June 16, 2018. All of SSG joins APCTC in thanking Monica for her years of service. Way to go Monica!

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

CONGRATULATIONS TO JURY CANDELARIO for 20 YEARS OF SERVICE!

SSG congratulates Jury Candelario for 20 years of service with Asian Pacifi c AIDS Intervention Team (APAIT). Jury formally joined APAIT on May 6, 1998 as a Substance Use Counselor. During his career at SSG, Jury quickly advanced in management and was appointed Division Director in 2002. Under his leadership, APAIT continually expands its services by keeping abreast of relevant issues – often well before popular media – including but not limited to substance abuse, marriage equality, human traffi cking, transgender equality, and intersectional health parity issues facing ethnic LGBTQ groups. APAIT is known locally and nationally for being at the forefront of HIV/AIDS and co-morbid issues impacting LGBTQ communities. His advocacy work has been recognized over the years by the Public Broadcasting System’s (PBS) Local Heroes (2010), the Southern California Lambda Medical Group (2006), the Trans Latin@ Coalition (2016), and the White House Champions of Change (2011). Jury is known for his commitment to community-based research as well as direct services. He is currently facilitating the Filipino HIV-poz group Pinoy Plus and works tirelessly with the SSG Development Team to create a diversifi ed funding base that includes federal and local grants. As APAIT Division Director, Jury supervises an amazing team of 45 staff members. He has created and nurtured an active APAIT board that assists in special events, fundraising, and strategic planning. SSG congratulates Jury on his many successes over 20 years. Please see page 10 for a full interview with Jury.

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

APAIT presents at the National Queer Asian Pacifi c Islander Alliance Conference

July 27th, San Francisco, CA, Members of team APAIT attended and presented at the national Queer Asian Pacifi c Islander Alliance conference attended by over 750 queer, LGBTIA-2S. APAIT highlighted its work with homeless queer, trans people of color (QTPOC) communities through the Midnight Stroll project.

APAIT

APAIT, Trans Latin@ Coalition and Trans Wellness Center hosted the afternoon TRANS PRIDE soiree on June 15, 2018 at its K-town courtyard with make-over sessions. The event was sponsored by MAC Cosmetics, Paul Mitchell, and the Caitlyn Jenner Foundation.

L to R: APAIT Policy Coordinator Jazzmun Crayton, community member Sophia Hutchins, philanthropist Caitlyn Jenner, APAIT Housing Specialist Maria Roman, and APAIT Division Director Jury Candelario.

On June 22, APAIT offi cially launched the community-led Midnight Stroll program in Hollywood at Step Off Vine. Midnight Stroll is an after-hours social service cafe for homeless queer, trans, gender non-conforming, and LGB folks living in the streets of Hollywood. Thanks to City Councilmember Mitch O’Farrell (in yellow sweater), Mayor Eric Garcetti, our amazing community partners, volunteers, and our Shero who led this movement, APAIT Policy Coordinator Jazzmun Nichala Crayton (right of Councilmember O’Farrell).

Midnight Stroll Offi cial Program Launch

TRANS PRIDE at APAIT Courtyard

L to R: Associate Director Gabriela Leon, Policy Coordinator Jazzmun Crayton, Orange County Director of Clinical Services and Operations Hieu Nguyen, and former Service Navigator Peterson Pham.

Orange County Pride Festival June 23rd, Santa Ana, CA, Team APAIT Orange County led its Pride Festival contingent with the #ACCESStoSTATUS mobile testing unit (MTU) van. Featured in the image are APAIT Senior Case Manager Johann Oritzo (in orange shirt) and former Service Navigator Peterson Pham.

SAVE THE DATE for the 1st Indigenous Pride Los Angeles

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

APAIT Board of Advisors

On July 26, 2018 APAIT launched the new fi scal year (July) with its Hawaiian-themed Annual Board of Advisors Induction Meeting at its new K-town digs. APAIT’s Advisory Board primarily serves as a fundraising board, agency ambassador, and support to the Division Director. After fi ve years at the helm, outgoing President Pei Chang of Berkshire Hathaway passed the gavel to incoming President Robert Maullon of Neutrogena, a Johnson and Johnson company. Robert is joined by Richie Nguyen of Da Vita Medical Group as incoming Board Vice-Chair. APAIT’s board is also represented by its Orange County site through members Lillian Chu, Esq., of Manatt, Phelps, & Phillips, LLC, and Elizabeth Creager of Health Net, a Centene company. The board also welcomed new member Scott Robertson, Director of the Center for Behavioral Health & Recovery at Adventist Health and Medical Center - Glendale.

APAIT

AP Recovery Art Therapy ProjectAP Recovery clients took part in an art therapy project where they created a mural at the Adams board and care location. The mural is located in a space that’s shared with AP Recovery staff and clients living at the board and care. BACUP Director Vera Calloway and staff member Juan Burgueno partnered with AP Recovery Division Director Angela Kang, staff and clients on the creation of the mural.

AP RECOVERY

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Some Dates to RememberSeptember-October

9/1 Labor Day (SSG Holiday)

9/11 Patriot Day

10/10 World Mental Health Day

10/31 Halloween

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

BACUPArt Corner

Featured Artist InterviewDavid “STAVA” Michael

SSG Alliance client, David “STAVA” Michael, has been visiting BACUP for a number of months. From the very beginning, David has impressed staff and visitors alike with his art and range of creative interests.Art exists amongst David’s earliest memories. From a young age, he devoured books on art and was also fascinated by English composition and music. Books in his library included those on Impressionism, Expressionism and the Classicists, and David considers Da Vinci, Raphael and the Dutch—including Van Gogh--to be major infl uences during his youth.The term Renaissance Man comes to mind when one is talking to David. His infl uences are extraordinarily vast—from psychology and the work of Freud and Carl Jung to modern art and classical music. “I love music. It’s therapeutic. I also love verse and prose.Since coming to BACUP, David has had the opportunity to continue his interests. He is drawing more in his sketchbook and painting canvases. With encouragement from BACUP’s Juan Burgueño and others, David uses his sketchbook for drawing and documenting “raw data” and journals as a way to record thoughts and information that is pertinent. “As an artist,” David says, “a person must have a style that is only your own.”When David completes the Alliance program soon, he plans on getting an apartment and keeping up with his artistry and his involvement with BACUP. “I like to keep my literature and music close so I can always work on my art and my compositions.”

Art Photography by Juan Burgueño

HOPICS R&E

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Homeless Connect Day 2018This event occurred earlier this year.

On March 29, 2018 HOPICS (organizer) held its annual SPA 6 Homeless Connect Day. The event was held at Watts Labor Community Action Committee (WLCAC) on 109th and Central in Los Angeles, CA. The theme for this year's event was Neighbors Helping Neighbors. At this event, HOP served over 250 families, individuals and transitional age youth (TAY), with same day services such as legal aid, documentation, housing and health, mental health, healthcare, food, hygiene and grooming services and other services for families such as child care.HOPICS welcomes your input! If there is any interest in helping plan SPA 6 Homeless Connect Day 2019, please feel free to contact Ashlee King via e-mail aking@hopics.org or via phone at (323)948-0444 ext. 772.HOPICS thanks its partners that helped provide services: Central City Clinic, Exodus, AADAP, DMH/Triage Team, SHIELDS, WLCAC, SCHARP, Testimonial, First 2 Serve, New Directions Communities, Fathers and Mothers Who Care, VOA, Bell Shelter, WorkSource Center, Trade Tech, Homeless Court/Offi ce of LA City Attorney, Amadeaeus Experience, CBEST, DMV, Nana Queens, LAHSA, WLCAC, Children’s Collective, Crystal Stairs, Parents in Partnership, Champions of Caring Connections, Family Solution Center, DPSS, LAPD, WLA Veteran Center, LA County, Sanctuary of Hope and Greater LA VA.

National Institute of Mental HealthAs part of the SSG Research & Evaluation Team’s project with the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Director Erica Shehane attended the annual NIMH Outreach Partnership Program meeting in Bethesda, MD in July 2018. NIMH researchers presented on current research related to mental health, such as genetics and mental illness, collaborative care, and mobile health and mental health care. There were also opportunities for NIMH parnters to engage with NIMH Director, Joshua Gordon, about the vision and future of NIMH. For more information about R&E’s project with NIMH and/or to receive bimonthly newsletters on mental health news, email Erica Shehane at eshehane@ssg.org.

Science News: A Shorter—but Eff ective—Treatment for PTSD

August 8, 2018: First-line treatments for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) often require many treatment sessions and delivery by extensively trained therapists. Now, research supported by the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) has shown that a shorter therapy may be just as eff ective as lengthier fi rst-line treatments. The study appeared in the March 2018 issue of JAMA Psychiatry. In this study, the researchers examined whether another trauma-focused therapy—called Written Exposure Therapy (WET)—may provide practitioners and patients with an equally eff ective, but shorter, treatment option. To compare the effi cacy of WET with other interventions such as CPT, the researchers randomly assigned participants with PTSD to either WET or CPT. Participants were assessed for PTSD symptom severity at baseline and at 6-, 12-, 24-, and 36-weeks after the fi rst treatment session. WET was found to be as eff ective as CPT at all time points. In addition, individuals assigned to WET were less likely to drop out before completion of the treatment (6.3 percent) than participants in the CPT group (39.7 percent). Participants in both treatment groups reported high levels of satisfaction with the treatment they received.For more information on this Science News article, please visit:https://www.nimh.nih.gov/news/science-news/2018/a-shorter-but-eff ective-treatment-for-ptsd.shtml

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Development Team

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September is National Suicide Prevention Awareness Month

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

Asian Pacifi c Counseling & Treatment Centers (APCTC)A Message of Hope -‘Glor’s Story’ – an NBC

Asian American short documentarySSG/Asian Pacifi c Counseling & Treatment Centers (APCTC) has a long history and national recognition on their work with API’s in Los Angeles struggling with mental health. Glorivic Parong (Program Support Specialist) of APCTC shared her personal journey of recovery for an NBC News documentary titled ‘Glor’s Story’. Other APCTC staff including Al Choi (Program Manager), Dr. Silvia Yan (Program Director) and Dr. Brett Sevilla (APCTC Medical Director) were also interviewed for this moving and educational short video that aired on NBC 9/3/18. The suicide rate among Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders in 2016 was approximately half of the general population, according to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) data. Suicide ranks as the ninth leading cause of death among Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders and the 10th leading cause of all deaths in the U.S. But for Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders between the ages of 15 and 19, suicide was the leading cause of death in 2016, according to CDC data, accounting for 31.8 percent of all deaths. “The pressure to succeed academically, fi nancially, and career-wise is considered a common cause for depression among Asian Americans,” Silvia Yan, Program Director of adult services and training director at APCTC, said. As the Asian-American population — the fastest growing ethnic group in the country — continues to rise, it faces the challenge of accessing the culturally sensitive mental health services it needs.This short can be viewed at this URL: https://www.nbcnews.com/news/asian-america/talking-about-depression-can-be-hard-asian-americans-services-can-n904816SSG supports National Suicide Prevention Month. If you or someone you know is in crisis, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255, text TALK to 741741 or visit SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for additional resources.

Glor Parong, SSG’s Program Support Specialist at the Asian Pacifi c Counseling & Treatment Centers, said she was always scared to talk about her depression because she was taught to keep those problems within the family.

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SSG NEWS HIGHLIGHTS

How did you get started with APAIT?I was a volunteer for the Buddy Program and provided emotional support to end-stage AIDS patients in the mid-90s. The experience of caring for someone dying was surreal and life changing. I joined APAIT formally as a Substance Use Counselor in 1998 and eventually became Division Director in 2002.

What has been some professional highlights you’ve had in your twenty year career at APAIT?So many but I’d highlight a few. Working in collaboration has always been a great fuel whether it is with other SSG divisions like Alliance, APCTC, HOPICS, OTTP, Project 180, or SILVER; or the many external partners over the years. It truly takes a village to support the many communities we serve at SSG.

I’ve also had the privilege to serve under two US Presidents – Clinton as part of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacifi c Islanders and Obama as part of the National HIV/AIDS Strategy. We can never take for granted the policy implications that our leaders set forth, so stay civically engaged regardless if your role is a case manager, a social worker, or an administrator. Stay engaged.

How has SSG helped shape you and in turn your division APAIT?SSG is a great place for mentorship and I’ve benefi tted from this tremendously from our Founding APAIT Director Dean Goishi to our SSG boss Herb Hatanaka, to APAIT Board Chairs like Dr. Lois Takahashi and SSG Board of Director member Sanjay Chhugani, to Congresswoman Judy Chu. In turn, I’ve had the opportunity to pay it forward to my colleagues who have gone on to fulfi lling careers in social work, law enforcement, the medical and legal fi elds, and even in entertainment. It’s great to maintain these relationships over the years; some have gone on to join APAIT’s advisory board to help raise funds and serve as ambassadors of the organization. These relationships helped APAIT evolve and thrive over thirty-one years. Relationships matter so nurture them even when you’ve moved on from the company.

What’s been the most impactful work that you or APAIT have accomplished over the years?Defi nitely working with our clients. Being able to make meaningful impact is what our work here at SSG is all about. This impact could be as simple as providing basic necessities like food from our pantry, or crisis emergency housing to prevent homelessness, to providing wrap around care for hate crime victims, or counseling someone coming out to their family; they’re all examples of what impact we bring to the social service fi eld. The cherry on top is when we witness clients come from a place of isolation and resignation to a place of self-determination and advocacy not just for themselves but their community. I love stories like these and I’ve seen many over my twenty year career here at APAIT/SSG.

Where do you see APAIT in the next decade?There’s so much work to be done. We’ve begun to expand our behavioral health services to indigenous populations, genderqueer/gender non-conforming youth, and seniors. We are also working to continue supporting LGBTQIA-2S community grapple with the housing and homelessness epidemic. We are also exploring international work through strategic partnerships with nongovernment organizations (NGOs) to adapt interventions with our respective communities. As I wrap up graduate school at USC this fall, I also look forward to more clinical work and eventually doing more community-based research.

Jury Candelario, APAIT’s Division Director, celebrated twenty years of service with SSG on May 6th, 2018.

Jury Candelario - 20 Years of Service