Violet Heintz Education Academy

WestCareFresno, California

Social Justice IssueWestCare is one of the

many agencies in Fresno, California that addresses the social issues of substance abuse and oppression for adults and adolescents.

WestCare has many different programs within the agency that is able to provide for many different populations.

ProgramsOutpatient Services for

Adults and Adolescents Short Term Residential

Program (30 days) Long Term Residential

Program (60-180 days)Residential Men's

Program with ChildrenMoney Management

ClassesTransitional Living

Program

Family Support GroupsParenting Nutritional Classes &

Smart- 2: Model of Care for Children

Computer Learning Center

Veteran’s ServicesResidential Program

for Pregnant, Postpartum, and Parenting Women and their Children

Violet Heintz Education Academy

Violet Heintz WestCare’s adolescent outpatient program

Violet Heintz is a school that accepts those who are in grades 9-12 who are on probation and were referred by the Adolescent Outpatient Drug-Free Program (AODF).

The community within the agency

includes teachers, probation officers, a clinician, a psychologist, guards, a nurse, and WestCare substance abuse counselors.

Students accepted to the school currently are or have faced a substance abuse issue and WestCare treats those who have been referred to them by clients’ probation officers.

Educational classes for drugs and alcohol, HIV/AIDS, and relapse prevention are offered by the WestCare counselors at the outpatient program through individual and group counseling.

Counseling impacts the community

by giving clients hope and motivation they have never received.

WestCare’s program is funded by Fresno County Department of Behavioral Health, the City of Fresno, Drug Medi-Cal or Minor Consent Drug Medi-Cal.

Populations-At-Risk At Violet Heintz, WestCare addresses the needs for adolescents who have or are currently suffering from substance abuse and are on probation. Issues that treated clients have

are: Substance abuse Legal issues with probation Relationship issues with their

families Some behavior health issues

such as anger management.

Most of the clients claim to be in a gang or associate themselves with members of gangs.

A majority of clients are in single parent households with usually the mother or are in custody of someone who is not their maternal parent such as a grandmother.

A great number of clients have parent(s) that have or are currently experiencing a substance abuse issue themselves.

WestCare’s Mission & AimsThe agency’s mission is to

empower clients to eventually benefit for not only themselves, but for their families and communities.

WestCare does not solely concentrate on those experiencing a substance abuse issue, but those that are oppressed.

WestCare treats both male and female adult and adolescents that are dealing with any type of oppression such as substance abuse, pregnancy, parenting, homelessness, etc.

Services provided by WestCare counselors at Violet Heintz Treatment plans: A treatment

plan is made within 30 days of client’s admission. It consists of: A statement of the substance

abuse problem and other problems the client may have

The goals to be achieved by the client for each problem

The action steps to be taken by the counselor

The target dates that the goals are to be achieved by. (The client and counselor have 90 days to complete goals and actions).

A medical doctor needs to sign the treatment plan within 15 days of the treatment plan’s effective date.

Group counseling sessions: One hour long, two days a week. Group counseling serves 4-10 clients at a time in order to be able to bill Medi-Cal for it.

Services provided by WestCare counselors at Violet Heintz Cont’d Individual counseling sessions: First occurs

during intake assessment where the counselor asks personal and demographic questions to the client for a better understanding of them. This prepares the counselor to develop the client’s treatment plan. Individual counseling is also present for:

Collateral counseling which includes face to face interviews with significant persons in a client’s life such as family member(s), significant others, friends, etc. Probation officers or social workers would not be qualified for collateral, but rather professional.

Crisis counseling: Face to face with clients when an actual relapse has occurred or a circumstance which presents an imminent threat of relapsing is disclosed to counselor.

Discharge planning where both client and counselor discuss what client will do after completing the program.

Progress Notes: Made every month and gives a description summary of the progress the client has made for the treatment plan problems, goals, and action steps. Information about client attendance and participation is also disclosed here.

Possible Implications with ClientsWorking with an adolescent population that undergoes substance abuse and legal issues can have its implications.

Most of the clients at Violet Heintz have never been respected by their families or peers so they don’t show respect to others because they feel they don’t deserve it. A great number of clients

have never been helped and are not used to it.

Clients tend to view authority as people simply doing their jobs, not actually wanting to help them.

A great number of clients have gone through other systems such as juvenile hall or continuation schools and are “over it” which causes them to not be cooperative. Clients tend to be stubborn and

think they are always right. Because most have experienced other programs, some think WestCare is “a joke” and pointless. Typically as an adolescent, one sticks to their belief(s) and does not care about anyone else’s.

The Universal Declaration of Human Rights Says…

Everyone has the right to education. Technical and professional

education shall be made generally available and higher education shall be equally accessible to all.

Everyone has the right of equal access to public service in his country.

No one shall be subjected to torture or to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment.

Everyone has the right to a standard of living adequate for the health and well-being of himself and of his family… including necessary social services. 

Pictures of the Community

East of VHEA

Apartments west of VHEA

Next door to VHEA- Fresno CountyAdult Probation

Student search location

Lunch location

Questions to other countries:

Are there any programs in your country that

treat adolescents who undergo substance

abuse and/or probation?

Do you think clients that have violated laws

such as felons deserve to have rights?

What do you think about WestCare’s outpatient

program that is provided to juveniles in Fresno,

California? Thoughts, opinions, suggestions?