Asking for help is not always easy. For many people, it can take time before they feel ready to walk through the door, talk about what they are going through, or believe that life can feel different.
At Mid Valley Outpatient (MVOP), people are welcomed wherever they are in that process.
MVOP, a program of Social Model Recovery Systems, Inc., provides substance use treatment and support for adults, adolescents, and their families. MVOP serves people who may be trying to regain stability, repair relationships, improve their mental health, or find a healthier way forward.
MVOP follows the social model of recovery, which is built around connection. Participants are supported by trained professionals, peers, families, and others who understand that recovery is not something a person has to do alone.
The staff understands that no two people arrive with the same story. Some may be seeking help for the first time, while others may be returning after a setback. Instead of focusing only on what brought someone into treatment, staff take time to understand the whole person; their family, culture, experiences, challenges, and hopes for the future.
Care for Every Step
Recovery is about rebuilding trust, creating healthier routines, learning how to manage difficult moments, and feeling connected again.
At MVOP, participants receive support in many areas of their lives. Services include individual and group counseling, family sessions, treatment planning, educational groups, care coordination, life-skills support, and on-site therapy.
MVOP staff also helps participants navigate important needs outside of counseling, including Medications for Addiction Treatment (MAT), nicotine cessation, family reunification, DCFS support, aftercare planning, and connections to helpful community resources. The goal is to make sure no one feels they have to figure everything out on their own as they move forward.
Services are available in English and Spanish, allowing participants and families to communicate in the language that feels most natural and comfortable to them.
Helping Adolescents Feel Seen, Heard, and Supported
Adolescence is a time of tremendous growth, change, and self-discovery. During this stage of life, young people often carry more than adults realize, navigating challenges at home, social pressures, mental health concerns, academic expectations, and difficult experiences they may not yet have the words to express.
MVOP’s Adolescent Program provides a safe, supportive environment where young people can speak openly without fear of judgment or stigma. Through counseling, education, peer support, and family involvement, adolescents gain a better understanding of their experiences while developing healthy coping skills, emotional resilience, and stronger decision-making abilities.
Our goal is not to lecture or expect adolescents to have all the answers. Rather, it is to listen, support, and empower them to recognize their strengths, overcome challenges, and understand that a single mistake or difficult period does not define their future.
This commitment to supporting young people was evident during MVOP’s recent Youth Open House in El Monte, where adolescents, families, community partners, and staff came together to engage in meaningful conversations about mental health, substance use, recovery, and the importance of accessible support services.
Meet Gerry Barraza, MVOP Program Director
Since joining Mid Valley Outpatient in 2023, Program Director Gerry Barraza has worked to make MVOP a place where people feel comfortable asking for help and know they will be welcomed with understanding and respect.
Mid Valley Outpatient Program Director
For Gerry, this work is personal. “I feel this field chose me,” he shared.
Substance use has affected several generations of his family, and he has seen friends and loved ones struggle without knowing where to turn or what support was available in their community.
He has also witnessed how stigma, fear, and limited access to services can keep people from reaching out. Those experiences continue to motivate Gerry to help remove barriers to treatment and make sure people know they do not have to face these challenges alone.
