Recent News
The holidays are a classic time for families and friends to come together to celebrate, create memories, and relax after a long year. The smell of fresh pine, the warmth of stoked fires, the holiday cheer, and the festive music played in nearly every businesses and establishments.
The pandemic made it challenging for our residents in treatment to be with the family as the COVID-19 cases continues to rise. The Los Angeles County Health Department and CDC cautions that holiday gatherings and travel carry a high risk for getting or spreading COVID-19.
Despite the circumstances, we, at River Community, still manage to make it extra special for each of our residents by arranging a video chat with their loved ones on Christmas day. We even decorated an area to serve as the zoom background for the said virtual event. The residents and staff enjoyed the festive decoration and had their photo taken afterwards.
The participants at River Community were able to enjoy a painting group instructed by our very own Medications Support Counselor, Oriana Gregory.
Oriana is not only an amazing team member, she is an artist. She volunteered to lead the residents in painting a colorful nighttime landscape inspired by our own beautiful mountain surroundings.
Those who didn’t choose to paint the bear were able to create their art however they wanted. The event was so popular that another event is already being planned.
Let’s celebrate generosity and gratitude this holiday season.
Every year, we provide toys and gifts for our program participants to give their children for the holidays.
We rely on the generosity of many partners, community members, and staff to collect these gifts.
This year, in the giving spirit of the holidays, employees of March Products in Jurupa Valley collected toys for the Social Model Recovery Systems’ Holidays Gift drive. We would like to thank everyone at March Products for making this holiday season special for all our participants and their children.
Brandon James has been working with our agency, specifically at the Royal Palms and Rena B, in various capacities for 13 years.
After high school and prior to working in recovery, Brandon worked in the motion picture industry as a successful craftsman. As a craftsman, he applied his natural eye for photography, film, and set design to his work while developing new skills on the job.
His meth addiction derailed his advancement in the film business, however, Brandon's personal recovery led him to a new career working in recovery in 2008. Once Brandon started working in recovery, he discovered that he needed to further his education and that he was a far better student as an adult than he was in the spring of his life.
Brandon began by studying for and earning his CADC II certification with California Consortium of Addiction Programs and Professionals (CCAPP), which he maintains to this day. Recently, after years of hard work and perseverance, Brandon successfully completed the requirements to earn not one but two Associate degrees. He graduated in August 2021 with Associate of Arts degrees in Applied Photography and Arts and Humanities from Los Angeles City College.
As Brandon says, "This is just the beginning."
Best gift you can give a loved one this holiday season is the help they need to get better.
Get help in just a click or call away.
***Call 877-50-SOCIAL or 877-507-6242 for confidential support & treatment options if you or someone you know needs help.
In preparation for Red Ribbon Week, Staff and Residents worked together to create this year’s display celebrating child drug prevention with the national theme, “Drug Free Looks Like Me”.
The residents painted a backdrop with the lettering and incorporate it with the Halloween theme. They created masks and hung them in our lobby to make it more exciting.
Overall, the residents had fun painting and decorating then had their own photoshoot afterwards, which they said was their favorite part of the event.
Royal Palms dedicated the celebration to all the youngsters who have the chance to change their lives and encourage others to be drug-free.
Since its beginning in 1985, the Red Ribbon has touched the lives of millions of people around the world. In response to the murder of DEA Agent Enrique Camarena, angered parents, and youth in communities across the country began wearing Red Ribbons as a symbol of their commitment to raise awareness of the killing and destruction caused by drugs in America.
Enrique (Kiki) Camarena was a Drug Enforcement Administration Agent who was tortured and killed in Mexico in 1985. When he decided to join the US Drug Enforcement Administration, his mother tried to talk him out of it. "I'm only one person", he told her, "but I want to make a difference."
On Feb. 7, 1985, the 37-year-old Camarena left his office to meet his wife for lunch. Five men appeared at the agent's side and shoved him in a car. One month later, Camarena's body was found. He had been tortured to death.
In honor of Agent Enrique Camarena, and all those who fight to eliminate the destruction caused by drug use, Stepping Stones is celebrating Red Ribbon Week with the following activities:
Saturday – Sports Day/TEAM up against drugs!
Sunday – Pajama Day/Follow your Dreams!
Monday – Wear Red Day/ RED-y to live Drug Free!
Tuesday – Tie Dye Day/ Say “PEACE – out” to drugs!
Wednesday – Workout Day/Stay FIT not lit!
Thursday – Crazy Hair, Crazy Sock Day/Drug Free from Head to Toe!
Friday – Nerd Day/ Make smart choices!
Saturday – Spooky Face Paint Day/ Say no to Spirits by getting in the Halloween Spirit – Door Decoration Contest!
Residents also decorated press on nails with Red Ribbons, unfortunately they were lost during double scrub!
