Vista Hill - Stronger Families… Brighter Futures Since 1957

Previous Front Page Stories

Stein Education Center Walkathon The annual walkathon for students and adult consumers is Friday, June 25, 2010 at the main campus on Decena Drive. Walk starts at 10:00 AM with food booths and festivities at 10:30. This year's theme is a celebration of nature: Flowers and Plants. Classrooms will adopt a flower or plant and display their ideas on T-shirts and posters. We thank the following businesses for their generous support: Sombrero Restaurants, Dave's Wholesale Warehouse, Midas Automotive, Jamba Juice and Soup Plantation on Mission Gorge Road. For promotional and volunteer opportunities call Kirsten at 619.281.5511 ext. 212.

Recreation Program at Stein Education Center The beginning of this school year has brought some new changes in our programs and services. We are pleased to announce that on October 1st the Recreation Program will be re-titled to Stein Special Care Services. We will be providing quality after-school services to working parents, in addition to respite services for children with autism and other developmental disabilities, between the ages of 4.9 and 22 years of age. For more information and enrollment criteria, please contact Chayo Chavez, Director, at 619.281.551 x221 or cchavez@vistahill.org.

April is Autism Awareness Month For the complete article.

Special Therapeutic Program at Stein Education Center The Union Tribune “Passages” feature article by Caroline Dipping, highlighted the center's Special Care Services, a therapeutic after school program for children and teens with autism and other developmental disabilities. It focused on the Jones family and the benefits their son Ruben has enjoyed since enrollment. For the complete story: Special recreation for young ones - SignOnSanDiego.com

ParentCare Quality Improvement Award The Don Allen ParentCare Family Recovery Center received a quality improvement award sponsored by the California Endowment. The award, “Adopting Changes in Addiction Treatment” was to recognize the agency for enhancing in the client's initial assessment process. Congratulations to Director Angela Rowe, LCSW and staff for making that first critical contact with a client more warm and welcoming.

Junior Seau Gives Back Special thanks to our friends at the Junior Seau Foundation who help us in so many ways – from passes to museums and ballgames to generous financial contributions and an annual Thanksgiving dinner for our client families. This year the traditional Thanksgiving meal was particularly delicious. Served at SEAU's The Restaurant, the food was great and in this economy, it was very, very much appreciated by Vista Hill ParentCare families. Junior's plan is to give back to the community, and we are truly thankful that our children, teens and families at Vista Hill are able to be the recipients of his wonderful generosity. Thanks so much, Junior!

The Nice Guys Really Are Nice! When the Nice Guys throw a party, they really know how to do it. Their 17th annual Nice Guys Community Christmas Party at Qualcomm Stadium was a huge success this year. In spite of the rain, 40 Vista Hill families enjoyed food, games, Santa Claus, crafts, and take-home food for their own holiday meal. They also received generous gift cards which were a very big hit.

Over the years, several Vista Hill clients have been helped specifically by the Nice Guys. Also, they serve on our committees, attend our events, make contributions, keep the live and silent auctions going, and cheer us on whenever possible. It's nice to have the Nice Guys in our corner!

From Hair to Eternity Veronica, a teen age student at Stein Education Center (main campus in San Diego) is one of those students who makes her staff members smile with pride at her accomplishments. For the past year and a half, Veronica has worked at a variety of vocational sites through the Workability Program. Currently she is a star employee at *Salon De Marcus, an upscale hair salon in San Diego.

Veronica is a diligent, reliable worker who is a true “girl's, girl.” She is cheerful, has an infectious smile and takes pride in her appearance all through the day. Employees of the salon look forward to the days when Veronica will be working. Veronica enjoys the environment she finds at Salon De Marcus, and looks forward to earning her paycheck so she can purchase things she likes, such as handmade costume jewelry.

Veronica's interest in doing a quality job while working at Workability job sites has helped her to adjust to several different working environments. Adapting to change has sometimes been challenging for Veronica, but having a job to do in a new place with the supports provided through the Workability Program has increased her adaptability. The Workability Program has broadened Veronica's opportunities to have a wider range of experiences in her adult life.

*Salon owner Marcus will donate 20% of a customer's styling total to the Workability Program if you mention Stein Education Center or Vista Hill. Marcus was part of the Paul Mitchell Artistic Group, consulting and inspiring internationally and is stylist to many well known celebrities. Contact Mr. Hanish at 685 2nd Street, San Diego 92101; SalonDeMarcus@aol.com.

Sweaters Will Warm Hearts of Vista Hill Families To encourage charitable acts and in honor of the 44th President of the United States Barack Obama, forty-four beautiful children's sweaters have been knitted by women in the San Diego community. These works of art have been donated to Vista Hill for the babies, toddlers and children in the programs at ParentCare Family Recovery Center. Special thanks go to Stacy Smith and friends for making this happen. Go to 44sweaters.blogspot.com to see a complete list of these artful knitters.

The Don Allen ParentCare Family Recovery Center Expands ParentCare is excited to announce our newest program addition called Incredible Families which started July 1, 2009. Through a contract with the County of San Diego Children 's Mental Health, clinical staff will conduct parenting classes based upon the evidenced based Incredible Years curriculum along with activity oriented parent – child visitation. It will include individual therapy with children involved in the Child Welfare Services in East County. This new venture receives financial support through Mental Health Service Act (MHSA) funds.

Help to Homeless Pregnant Women ParentCare also provides services to women through another new program, Perinatal Case Management . Generous supporters have allowed us to give “new start kits” to the homeless pregnant women who are trying to get their lives together. Basic needs such as diapers, toiletries, bus passes, and other essentials are being provided. Not long ago one of our case managers reported being so moved by a client when she said, “You made my day” upon receiving a basket of basic need items such as shampoo and bath tissue.

Special Needs Students Get Help on Campus. Some developmentally disabled students struggle with untreated mental health issues that interfere with being successful at school. Enter a three-way collaborative pilot project between Vista Hill, San Diego Unified School District and the San Diego Regional Center started in July 2008. Located at the Whittier Center campus in a Clairemont neighborhood, psychiatric services are provided for youth at risk for school and placement failures.

Project director, Mark Chenven, M.D., states the program is expected to reach 50 youth during it's year of funding. Each student admitted into the program receives a mental evaluation and outpatient treatment services. The program is modeled after a similar psychiatry clinic service offered at the Stein Education Center. For more information, contact Dr. Chenven through Victoria Hilton (vhilton@vistahill.org).

Using Newspapers in the Classroom. Many students at the Stein Education Center Transition Campus on Mission Gorge Road enjoy participation in a daily reading program. Special education teachers use the SRA Corrective Reading Strategies, which is designed to teach problem readers effective reading skills in order to recognize and comprehend printed materials. The Newspapers in Education program offered by the Union-Tribune, provides students with a daily newspaper to further their skills and enjoyment. To see the UT web article on our students go to http://www.nie.uniontribune.com

Helping Children and Teens Through Hard Economic Times. Parents can easily overlook the effects of the economy on the psychological well being of their kids. Since kids don't “pay the bills,” they're often not noticed as a part of the crisis. While most parents may try to shield their children from the stress, a child may readily sense the tension and worry from overheard adult conversations or the ever present television news.

Financial setbacks such as a lay off or housing worry within a family may produce strong reactions in kids. In the absence of age appropriate information and engagement, the child may be a quiet carrier of the family's pressures and troubles. Depending upon the child's own psychological make-up, they may experience sleep problems, anxiety, display negative behaviors and have problems concentrating at school or in sports. For the complete story click here.

A New Trend in Kid's Birthday Parties? Most young girls and boys expect to receive gifts at their own birthday party. But how about when a kid uses her birthday party as a way to give something to someone else less fortunate? Kana (Photo) and Mari Tsurudome Garcia (Photo) turned 10 and 7 this summer. Instead of the usual present list, the birthday girls collected dozens of grocery bags chock full of non-perishable items for families in need. The girls and their parents sent invitations to their birthday parties including information about Mother Hubbard's Cupboard, the emergency food program at ParentCare which was established by the San Diego Women's Foundation. Kana and Mari tell us it felt so good that they want to do it again next year! Learning to be charitable starts early!

Legends & Legacy at the Hard Rock Hotel Brings in $200,000
for Vista Hill Programs. It was a hip and happening scene at Vista Hill's 19th Annual Gala at the Hard Rock Hotel San Diego on November 8th. The 320 guests danced the night away to the music of Super Diamond with “Surreal Neil.” Rock stars Madonna and Cher posed for souvenir photos; and a silent auction and opportunity drawing were held during the cocktail hour. Attendees played their parts by dressing in leather and theme attire. Co-chairs Heidi Dorman, Robin Gitman, their Gala Committee and the Vista Hill Staff encouraged everyone to rock the night away. (Complete story, video & photos)

Sister Corita, Yes We Can serigraphs. In 1986, shortly before her death, Sister Corita was commissioned to design a serigraph for then, Los Ninos Education Center at Vista Hill Foundation in San Diego. Yes We Can was the artist's proof of 200 limited edition individually signed prints. She chose the words, Yes We Can, because that is the mantra of Stein Education Center (formerly Los Ninos). Children, adults teachers, parents and siblings who work each day, who don't give up, who make step forward in the spirit against unbelievably difficult odds. Click here for more information.

New Addiction on Campus: Raiding the Medicine Cabinet. A recent article in the Wall Street Journal – Health Journal reported that Generation Rx or what's commonly known as college-age students are getting high from prescriptions (opiates) in their parents' medicine cabinets. In 2006, 2.2 million people, (ages 12+) admitted abusing pain relievers. Those 18-25, admitted the highest usage. Comparatively, these drugs are used far less frequently than alcohol and marijuana; however, they are far more addictive. The problem is the availability. More prescriptions are being written and filled. And if these Rx-ers can't find what they want at home, they go through an online pharmacy. Keg parties have been replaced with "pharm parties," whereby everyone dumps their stash in a big bowl and eats them like candy. The mortality rate for accidental opiate overdoses has climbed four to five times higher than the heroin epidemic of the 70s. For more information click here: For specific program information available through Vista Hill click here.

College-age Adults and Problem Drinking or Drug Use. College students (and their parents) should consider an assessment and possibly treatment with a health professional about their alcohol or drug intake. For more program information click here.

The Bridges Adult Intensive Outpatient Program offers a free and confidential assessment by calling 858.518.2192.

Combined Approach Most Effective for Adolescent Depression. A combination of therapy and medication helps depressed adolescents heal faster than therapy or medication alone. This is according to a study published in the October Archives of General Psychiatry. Click here for the full story.