It was an eventful March 2023, and we have quite a few Masada updates to share. Keep reading to learn more!
🧭 Leadership Changes
We would like to announce that Khai Nguyen will now be taking on Masada’s new Director of Information Systems and Analytics role, a position that is responsible for the development, management, and integration of data analytics and business intelligence necessary to support the mission, vision, strategies, and goals of the organization.
Khai will be responsible for the support and maintenance of existing organizational software solutions as well as the development and/or acquisition of new tools to address organizational needs. Khai’s current duties pertaining to Masada’s Support Services will be transitioned to Bernard Smith, Chief Administrative Officer. Please join us in congratulating Khai on his new role with Masada!
We are pleased to announce the promotion of Guadalupe Ceballos to her new role as Manager of Quality Assurance and Training. In her new role, Lupe will ensure the quality of services within the State of California mental health system and compliance with various legislative mandates, and State laws, rules, and relegations.
In addition, Lupe will oversee a full-service department which helps to not only maintain contract compliance, but also provides support to the staff and ensures quality of service delivery to our clients. Please join us in congratulating Lupe on her new role and responsibilities!
We would like to announce the promotion of Cheyla Bellamy to her new role as Manager of Program Support Services. In her new role, Cheyla will ensure the quality and efficiency of program support services including the implementation of an efficient onboarding process for Masada’s employees. Among many responsibilities, Cheyla will oversee the implementation of all DMH required surveys, trainings as well as all Patient’s Rights requirements.
In addition, she will oversee MediCal eligibility checks for all clients, monitoring of failed activities and denied claims. Please join me in congratulating Cheyla on her new role and responsibilities!
🎉 Congrats to Dalia Villafane on Becoming Licensed
🎉 Congrats on Getting Peer Support Certified Blanca!
❤️ Potocki-Lupski Syndrome Awareness
The Child FSP team came together on March 8th to support our Parent Partner Esperanza Taylor and her daughter, Iyari, by celebrating Potocki-Lupski Syndrome (PTLS) Awareness Day with her and her loved ones at work. The Child FSP team and other staff wore these green T-shirts that Esperanza provided for the team and some of us made monetary donations to assist in the ongoing research for PTLS, as there is still a lack of information on this syndrome.
For more information, please visit: https://ptlsfoundation.org/ptls-info/
🗓️ Women's History Month
Women’s History Month is a dedicated month to reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of women to United States history. From Abigail Adams to Susan B. Anthony, Sojourner Truth to Rosa Parks, the timeline of women’s history milestones stretches back to the founding of the United States.
The National Women’s History Alliance designates a yearly theme for Women’s History Month. The 2023 theme is “Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories.” This theme recognizes “women, past and present, who have been active in all forms of media and storytelling including print, radio, TV, stage, screen, blogs, podcasts, news, and social media.”
Click here to watch the History Channel’s Women of History documentary vault.
Women Who Inspire Masada
Submission by Terri Edwards:
Someone that greatly inspired me and my career in mental health is my paternal grandmother, Annie Mariah Green. While growing up, I was exposed to my grandmother being the owner and operator of a nursing home wherein the patients that were placed there came from the state mental institutions (children and adults). The way that she and the staff cared for the patients, treating them with dignity, making sure that their needs were met, and encouraging them to do things that they did not have an opportunity to do while in the state facilities greatly impacted who I am today as a person working in the helping profession.
Submission by Tiffany Flood:
Elyn R. Saks is associate dean and Orrin B. Evans Professor of Law, Psychology, and Psychiatry and the Behavioral Sciences at the University of Southern California Gould Law School, an expert in mental health law, and a MacArthur Foundation Fellowship winner who lives w/ Schizophrenia
Elyn Saks is one of many women that inspires me because she reminds me that as human beings we are resilient and can triumph if we are given the opportunity and means to do so.
Submission by Mike Heaton & the OT Department:
April is Occupational Therapy (OT) Month. In honor of our profession and Women’s history month the Occupational Therapy department wants to highlight Eleanor Clarke Slagle (1870-1942). Eleanor was inspired to work as an occupational therapist while employed at various state hospitals in Illinois. Eleanor quickly became enamored with the profession and how engagement in everyday occupation can help people experiencing mental health symptoms to walk the road to recovery.
When Eleanor became an OT, the profession was not organized or considered a unique profession. She became general superintendent of Occupational Therapy for the Illinois State Hospitals and was a founding member of the American Occupational Therapy Association and various other organizations which promoted the growth and organization of the profession. We thank her for jump starting the profession as it burgeoned into the vibrant and growing field it is today.
Submission by Esmeralda Diaz:
I am motivated and inspired by historical figure Frida Kahlo. Her courage, strength and resiliency are inspirational. She went through a lot of health issues and difficulties and used art to cope with her struggles. As dark as it was, there was also beauty & relief with her art work. She helped refugees and used her strengths to stand up for what she believed. Frida was unapologetic in a time where a woman’s voice was not valued. She was an artist who loved life and also fought for the rights of others.
💡 Quotes for Gender Equality
March is known for Women’s History Month but it is also regarded as Gender Equality Month, which is a call to celebrate the history, contributions and wellness of community members who are impacted by gender-based bias and oppression.
To continue to shed some light to this movement of equality in humanity, Esmeralda Diaz–our FSP Clinical Supervisor–shared daily quotes throughout the month of March.
“If you truly put your heart into what you believe in even if it makes you vulnerable, amazing things can, and will happen.”
— Emma Watson
“Feminism is not just about women; it’s about letting all people live fuller lives.”
— Jane Fonda
“Nothing is absolute. Everything changes, everything moves, everything revolves, everything flies and goes away.”
— Frida Kahlo
“We have to teach our boys the rules of equality and respect, so that as they grow up gender equality becomes a natural way of life. And we have to teach our girls that they can reach as high as humanly possible.”
— Beyonce
“You know, you do need mentors, but in the end, you really just need to believe in yourself.”
— Diana Ross
“I don’t want to think about what I’m leaving. I just think about who I am every single day behind closed doors and behind cameras. And that’s what I focus on.”
— Serena Williams
“Justice is about making sure that being polite is not the same thing as being quiet. In fact, oftentimes, the most righteous thing you can do is shake the table.”
— Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez
“Perseverance is failing 19 times and succeeding on the 20th.”
— Julie Andrews
“We allow our ignorance to prevail upon us and make us think we can survive alone, alone in patches, alone in groups, alone in races, even alone in genders.”
— Maya Angelou
“Diversity is being invited to the dance. Inclusion is being asked to Dance. Equity is allowing you to choose the Music.”
― Cynthia Olmedo, Workforce Development Specialist
“Achieving Gender Equality requires the engagement of women and men, boys and girls. It’s everyone’s responsibility.”
― Ban Ki-Moon
“Yesterday I dared to struggle. Today I dare to win.”
― Bernadette Devlin
“I’ve been absolutely terrified every moment of my life—and I’ve never let it keep me from doing a single thing I wanted to do.”
― Georgia O’Keeffe
“If you believe in your idea of change and are willing to work hard, sooner or later that dream will be a reality.”
― Naomi Tulay Solanke
“Both men and women should feel free to be sensitive. Both men and women should feel free to be strong.”
— Emma Watson
“Think like a queen. A queen is not afraid to fail. Failure is another stepping stone to greatness.”
― Oprah Winfrey
“Always be a first-rate version of yourself instead of a second-rate version of somebody else.”
― Judy Garland
“No matter what happens in life, be good to people. Being good to people is a wonderful legacy to leave behind.”
― Taylor Swift
“True beauty is knowing who you are and what you want and never apologizing for it.”
― Pink
“Society as whole benefits immeasurably from a climate in which all persons, regardless of race or gender, may have the opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, advancement, and remuneration based on ability.”
― Sandra Day O’Connor
Groups at Masada
Positive Parenting Group Training
On March 9th & March 16th, Masada’s Wrap and FSP team completed their In-person/Online Positive Parenting Training with our parent partners.
Many thanks to Esmeralda Diaz and Mireya Romero for your collaboration! We are all excited for what this parenting group can bring to our Wrap and FSP Masada families. We hope bringing our parent partners together and sharing information, role playing, and learning from one another was a rewarding experience as it was for Masada.
The teams played ice breakers, and our parent partners won books such as “Self-Love” workbooks, “The Whole Brain Child”, etc. as well as prizes such as Mental Health Matters stickers and Feelings coloring books. A big shout out goes to Mireya who donated the books and put together some beautiful binders with all the slides and handouts presentation. We know that others supported her in this process as well, so thank you all for coming together and caring for our families. Masada is confident that our parent partners will strive to continue to support our caregivers and families.
Occupational Therapy Adult Social Skills Group
The OT Adult Social Skills Group was started in October 2022 to assist clients with increasing their social skills, to minimize the effects of isolation felt through the COVID-19 pandemic and to promote a sense of community amongst clients and staff. The group is designed to have clients practice social skills through engaging in occupations such as painting, playing interactive games and planning future activities. At the end of each session, the group reflects on their individual strengths and challenges in order to promote insight and continue to progress with socialization goals.
The social skills group is run by the newest member of the Occupational Therapy team, our Certified Occupational Therapy Assistant, Jessica Quirarte. She always brings a high level of energy and enthusiasm to every group whether she is working with 2 clients or 10. Many thanks to Jessica Quirarte for putting this feature and this group together!
Teen Social Skills Group
Congratulations to the OT department for starting their first group for teens on February 27th! Many thanks goes to Pam Tschumi for facilitating the group and putting this feature together!
The purpose of the teen social skills group is to help adolescent clients develop social confidence and decrease isolation. The group offers adolescents an opportunity to interact with peers while building social competencies by enhancing communication, collaboration, active listening, and understanding different perspectives. Additionally, the group aims to foster teamwork, conflict resolution, and negotiation skills.
Clients will develop social skills through participation in various exercises, games and activities. Some of the group activities will include escape room games to facilitate collaboration; charades to practice non-verbal communication and debate activities to increase perspective taking. Through active participation in this group, clients will have the opportunity to build social skills while connecting with peers and having fun.
The teen social skills group meets on Mondays at 4:30 pm for clients between the ages of 14 and 16 years old.
The Zoom link for the group is:
https://masadahomes-org.zoom.us/j/84556436786
Meeting ID: 845 5643 6786
Passcode: 565960
Please email Pam Tschumi <p.tschumi@masadahomes.org> and Michael Heaton <m.heaton@masadahomes.org> with questions and any client referrals.
Developing Social Skills Group
“A Developing Social Skills” Group is held at Palmdale Aerospace Academy and is facilitated by our Case Manager, Ruth Fleming. Clinical Supervisor Martin Ribeiro, LMFT also played a huge part in starting the group by coordinating with the school as well as assisting Ruth. Please join us in celebrating the first group in Lancaster Outpatient!
🧘🏽♀️ Donate Yoga Mats
Donate your yoga mat for Norwalk’s Wellness Yoga Group. Mats can be new or used!
The Wellness Yoga Group will be hosted by Erika Sanchez (FSP Therapist) and Jessica Quirarte (Certified Occupational Therapist Assistant).
The group will focus on psycho education on yoga, yoga practice, deep breathing and mindfulness practices to strengthen and complement coping skills and progress with therapy.
The group will begin on April 4, 2023, with classes continuing every 1st and 3rd Tuesday of the month from 2:00 PM – 3:00PM at the Norwalk Office (12715 Pioneer Blvd, Norwalk, CA 90650).
👋🏿 Welcome to the Masada Team
Masada strives to achieve a well-balanced staff by promoting in-house talent while also welcoming new ideas. Even though we continue to face challenges related to the COVID-19 global pandemic, our main goal remains the same: To provide outstanding mental health services to our communities.
We appreciate the fresh ideas and energy that our newest teammates contribute, and we are excited to share our knowledge and expertise. We welcome the following staff who joined the Masada team this past quarter:
- Cindy Lopez, Lancaster Wraparound/IFCCS Therapist
- Yolanda Calderon, Lynwood Wraparound Parent Partner
- Jasmine Hernandez Lopez, Gardena Wraparound Facilitator
- Rosa Huerta, Gardena FSP Child and Family Specialist
- Casey Estrada, Lynwood Wraparound Child and Family Specialist
- Kimberly Bardales, Gardena Wraparound Child and Family Specialist
- Sandra Molina, Lynwood Outpatient Parent Partner
- Sandra Garcia, Norwalk FSP Case Manager
🙏🏾 Employee Appreciation Day
Employee Appreciation Day is held on the first Friday of March annually. For 2023, it falls on March 3rd. Although the celebration is unofficial, Employee Appreciation Day has been observed in the U.S. for many years.
Officially, the holiday began to appear in workplace calendars around 1995 and has since grown into a respected tradition. Its creation is credited to Bob Nelson in collaboration with his company, Workman Publishing. As one of Recognition Professionals International’s founding board members, Nelson’s vision was to designate one entire workday across the nation for recognizing employee achievements.
🙏🏾 Employee Appreciation Day
Social Work Breaks Barriers That Prevent People and Communities from Thriving
Social Work Month recognizes the vital contributions of social workers. Through a range of services including but not limited to counseling, case management, and crisis intervention–social workers play a crucial role in promoting and advocating for social justice, equality, and quality of life. As highlighted in the COVID-19 Pandemic, they are essential in responding to crises and emergencies by providing necessary support to help individuals and vulnerable communities rebuild.
Let us take this time to celebrate and raise awareness about the importance of social workers and their impact on society.
For more information visit: https://www.socialworkers.org/News/Social-Work-Month
🏆 February Raffle Winners
☘️ March Raffle Invitation
Open Positions at Masada
Below are the open positions we have at Masada Homes. If you know of someone who is a great fit be sure to let us know!
A referral bonus of $250 will be provided to any current employee who refers someone that gets hired by Masada.
Rancho Cucamonga Office:
- Full-Time Occupational Therapist
Hawaiian Gardens Office:
- Full-Time Community Therapist
Norwalk Office:
- Full-Time, Full-Service Partnership (FSP) Adult Case Manager
- Full-Time Support Specialist
- Full-Time, Full-Service Partnership Therapist – Adult
- Full-Time, Co-Occurring Disorders (COD) Counselor
Bellflower Office:
- Full-Time Child and Family Specialist/Rehab Specialist (Bellflower/Gardena)
- Full-Time Wraparound Parent Partner
Gardena Office:
- Full-Time Wraparound Therapist
- Full-Time Occupational Therapy Supervisor
- Full-Time Quality Improvement Clinician
- Full-Time Community Therapist
- Full-Time Therapeutic Behavioral Specialist (TBS) Supervisor
- Full-Time Administrative Specialist
- Full-Time Wraparound Parent Partner
Lynwood Office:
- Full-Time Parent Partner
- Full-Time Case Manager
- Full-Time Community Therapist
- Full-Time Child and Family Specialist/Rehab Specialist
Lancaster Office:
- Full-Time Occupational Therapist
- Full-Time Child and Family Specialist/Rehab Specialist
- Part-Time Community Therapist (Hybrid)
- Full-Time Community Therapist (Hybrid)
- Full-Time Wraparound Therapist
- Full-Time Wraparound/IFCCS Parent Partner
- Full-Time Wraparound/IFCCS Clinical Supervisor
Los Angeles Office:
No open positions at this time