 MUSIC
SOLUTIONS
An
Inside Look at Music Education for
Resident Children
AUGUST 2007 -
The Picerne Foundation of Oceanside
has awarded music educator, Dyana
Preti, a 12K, year-long grant to teach
music at Solutions Family Center.
Dyana Preti is an music instructor
with 20 years experience and is also,
along with her husband, Dan Preti,
a charter member of the Solutions
for Change Kiwanis Club.
"I wanted to volunteer to teach
at Solutions after I joined the Kiwanis
Club and found out just how great
this family-oriented program is",
she explained when asked how she became
interested and added "Then I
was blessed with this grant award
and now I can put in lots more hours
than I could have volunteered!"
The Music Solutions Project began
on June 15th with an eight week Summer
Program that has involved over 16
families with a total of 24 students
participating in piano, guitar, and
voice lessons. Lessons are also available
to graduates and other families who
are not living on site but maintain
steady participation. Students meet
with either Dyana Preti or with a
volunteer instructor once a week in
private lessons. Even the youngest
members of a family, starting at age
3, are able to participate in a Saturday
morning program called "Young
Musicians." Additionally, a guitar
group is held on Thursday's and a
vocal workshop is held on Friday mornings.
The Music Solutions classroom is colorfully
decorated and holds 4 keyboards with
headphones where students may log
in and practice independently. First
Steps in Music (a music education
center in Vista) has donated the use
of the keyboards, guitars and all
the educational books needed for the
current students to participate but
more keyboards and guitars are needed
to allow students the freedom to practice
at home and to continue coming to
their lessons once they move.
The summer program will end on August
17th with an Awards Celebration planned
for August 18th at 2 p.m. All students
who participated during the summer
will be recognized and those with
the highest number of practice and
participation minutes will receive
awards and prizes. Volunteers are
needed to help with this event and
donations of new or gently used keyboards
or guitars would be greatly appreciated.
Some of the youngest students would
greatly benefit from having 1/4 or
1/2 size guitars rather than full-size.
Sponsoring a music student would cost
$100 and would cover equipment they
would need to participate: a guitar,
soft case, and foot rest, or keyboard,
headphones, bench and stand. (First
Steps in Music is able to purchase
these items at cost so that more family
members may participate.)
Music Solutions will begin a Fall
Program the week after the Awards
Celebration and lesson times will
be changed to accomodate after-school
schedules. Anyone wishing to volunteer
as a part-time music teacher or classroom
helper would be welcomed.
Please call Solutions for Change at:
760-941-6545 to learn more.
HOMELESS
WITH CANCER
Encinitas
mother of three faces the battle of
her life
AUGUST 2007
- Meet LeAnn. She's been living at
Solutions for only a few months, but
already her life has started to drastically
change.
 "I
couldn't have handled any of this
without God, my higher power,"
admits LeAnn. LeAnn was recently diagnosed
with Stage 1 Breast Cancer. Before
breast cancer, though, LeAnn was battling
addiction. “Life was so unmanageable.
Meth was my drug of choice, and I
ended up in jail because of it. My
ex-husband introduced me to it, and
it was a constant struggle from there.
I found myself eventually evicted
because I couldn’t pay rent,
and there I was, homeless. I knew
there was just no way to beat addiction
homeless. I knew I needed help.”
LeAnn turned to a local treatment
program where she stayed for one year
and graduated. That’s when LeAnn
found Solutions. “I was tired
of any negativity in my life. I knew
that if I didn’t at least try,
I’d be cheating myself. Since
coming to Solutions, I feel like my
life is so much more manageable. This
place is the doorway to being able
to have my kids. Just my past birthday
I received 50% joint custody.”
LeAnn has two young children, Tyler,
10, and Heather, 12, and one adult
child living on their own.
“Living here at Solutions is
different then anything I’d
ever done before. Here you have to
save 30% of what you have coming in
for savings. It’s a safe place
to sleep.”
Having recently undergone a mastectomy,
LeAnn already says, “My health
is so much better already.”
LeAnn still faces treatment of chemotherapy
and/or radiation. At the time of this
interview, LeAnn was still in discussion
with her doctors.
“My goals are of course, to
find affordable housing, but to also
go to phlebotomist school, and work
at that while I study criminal justice.”
I
DID WHAT I HAD TO DO FOR MY BABIES
Meet
Nellie, Mother Of Five
JULY 2007 - "I
was a single mother of 5, working as a Night
Auditor at a hotel, in a studio apartment."
Nellie lived the life of addiction. When
she was only 14, a friend introduced her
to drugs. Through the rest of her teenage
years, her occasional use turned into an
addiction. Nellie eventually spiraled out
of control, and found herself running the
streets, in and out of hotels, and sleeping
wherever she could find a place to stay.
Eventually, a friend told Nellie about Solutions
for Change. "I called Solutions for
Change, and found out that they would only
take someone that had completed a treatment
program. So, I spent 11 months in a local
treatment program and then was accepted
into the Solutions for Change program."
"I was so impressed by the Solutions
for Change program. It was so surreal, like
a fairytale. I was finally in a place where
I could actually work on me. I
needed that. The staff here is always willing
to listen and that makes a big difference."
Nellie isn't in contact with any old friends.
"I've started a new life. I'm so focused
right now on getting my other kids back
with me, and be a mom. I was tired
of running, I did it for ten years."
With involvement in Options for Recovery,
NA, AA, and Mother & Me classes, Nellie
is building a successful foundation for
her family that will lead her on a path
to success.
"My kids are happier kids now. They're
free to be kids now. They're so much more
outgoing and explorative. They feel safe,
and that's good to see."
Nellie has continued to remain clean and
sober for over 14 months.
MEET
THE FRANCO KIDS
JULY 2007 - Angie
remembers what it felt like when her
home was raided for drugs, and her kids
were taken away.
 “I’ll
never forget when my little ones were
pulling on my shirt. That’s when
I knew it had to stop. I was dependent
on meth before. I went to jail for three
and a half months. I was scared, I was
away from my kids, it was horrible.”
“After jail, I went into a residential
program called FRC, the Family Recovery
Center, where I could prove that I was
really serious about quitting and getting
my life and my family back together.
It was a year-long program, and towards
the end, someone told me about Solutions.
I heard it was a great program that
helps you unite your entire family again,
and I knew that’s what I wanted.
I actually got accepted to Solutions
before graduating FRC, but told them
I wanted to finish FRC so I could finish
what I started. They let me do that.”
Angie was nervous moving to Solutions.
“I was doin’ it all by myself,
I didn’t have a husband, or someone
to help me like that. It was up to me.”
Angie dove right into the SFC set program
of anger management classes, parenting
classes, property maintenance, community
service, and more.
“We’re into a routine now,
it’s great.” Angie hopes
to shortly graduate the Solutions for
Change program, and obtain permanent,
affordable housing.
“If I could tell Solutions for
Change anything, I’d tell them
thank you for helping us and all of
your support. Solutions for
Change helped me get my children back.”
THE
STRUGGLE TO FIT IN
Meet
Jinny, Mother of Two
JUNE
2007 - To simply fit in growing
up, Jinny M. would get high with her family.
"Everyone knew that our house was the 'cool'
house, the house to get high at. It was
crazy," shares the 29 year old mother of
two.
 "I
started with my family, young, it's all
I knew. Then, my drug of choice eventually
became meth, and it all continued to go
downhill from there."
Jinny quickly found herself struggling to
afford living in an Escondido motel room.
"Escondido just had the cheapest motel rooms
around. I knew I had to get out of there
though."
“My Aunt was at the Oceanside Women’s
Resource Center, and had heard about Solutions.
She told me to look into it, but I knew
I wouldn’t pass the mandatory drug
test. I had to get clean. I was just so
tired of worrying every day how to pay rent,
where we were going to eat that night, and
all that. So, I knew I had to get it together.”
Jinny was eventually accepted into the Solutions
Intake and Access Center in February 2007,
and moved to the Family Center with her
two little girls shortly after.
“Before I came here, my oldest daughter
was acting out a lot. Now, she’s doing
so well. I think it’s the stability,
finally. We have a routine now, and we feel
safe. We can focus back on what is important.”
Jinny has been clean since January 1, 2007.
“It’s worth it. It really is
hard work, but if your mind is in it, and
if your kids are worth it, then you can
make it happen. There are rough days, but
you just have to keep moving forward and
be honest, and make the program work.”
“If I could say anything to our supporters,
I would tell them thank you. We truly appreciate
everything that they do to support Solutions.
Without this place, my two girls and I wouldn’t
have made it.”
Jinny will continue her schooling to become
a licensed vocational nurse, and she hopes
one day to own her own apartment in North
County.
“You know, before, my daughter would
miss a lot of days from school because we
were living in that motel. But, she’s
doing so well now, hasn’t missed any
days, and her grades are great. It’s
awesome.”
ROTARY
VISITS THE IAC
Entire
Playground Area Built In Only One
Day
 JUNE
2007 - “We knew we wanted
to do a project that would help children,”
explains Sarah Nichelson, President
of the Shadowridge Rotary Club. The
SRC, in partnership with their high-school
aged youth program called Interact,
gave the playground at the Solutions
for Change Intake & Access Center
a complete makeover.
“There’s nothing more important
than trying to help these children that
have no say so of where they are in
life. It’s a day out of your life,
yes, but when you watch those kids walk
up to the playground, and point, and
say, ‘Oh wow, that’s our
new playground,’- it was awesome.”
Over 35 volunteers rolled up their sleeves
on Saturday, April 28, and install a
sprinkler system, lay sod, paint fencing,
reconstruct the outdated wooden playsets,
install a gazebo with sitting area,
layed brick pathways, and more.
“It was one of the best experiences;
the whole event was so successful. The
entire event was so awesome. We have
quite a few in the construction industry
and they were able to tap shoulders
and gather resources. It was amazing.”
For the dozens of children housed at
the Solutions IAC, this playground will
make the difference between another
sad day, and a happy one.
BEFORE:
AFTER: 
Thank you, Shadowridge
Rotary Club!
THE
THIRD WEEK OF RESIDENCY
It
Is What You Make Of It
JUNE 2007 -Kandy L. is one
of the newest residents at Solutions. “We’re
adjusting to this whole new schedule, which
has been… interesting,” Kandy
politely jokes, “But, it’s good.”
 Kandy
is not only adjusting to one new schedule,
she’s adjusting to five. With a 12-year-old,
10-year-old, 9-year-old, and 5-year-old, Kandy
has her hands full. “Living with a large
family at the Intake and Access center was
hard. It’s nice to have our own place
at the Family Center.”
Growing up, Kandy shares the fact that molestation
was a part of her childhood. Even after that
information was shared with family members,
she was still forced to hang around the predator.
Kandy continued to live and work in San Diego,
and eventually got married.
After 13 years of marriage, Kandy walked away
from an abusive relationship. “It got
to the point where I was actually hospitalized,
and he served time, 14 months, for what he
did. I had seen family members married and
divorced five times, and I didn’t want
that to be me. I really wanted to try and
make it work.”
About the Solutions for Change program, Kandy
shares, “It is what you make of it.
Some people don’t want to comply in
the beginning, but as you go through, you
realize that a lot does apply to your situation.
At first, the case managers may seem hard
on you, but they’re doing it for a reason.
Sometimes, people aren’t ready to admit
certain things, but in the end, it’s
to help you open your eyes. They’re
actually being nice.”
“I used to hardly spend much time with
my kids before. It was always work, then go
home, eat dinner, go to bed. Solutions gives
me an opportunity to be with my kids again,
and realize what I might have missed out on
before because of my addiction or domestic
violence relationship. It’s good to
know what a family with structure feels like.”
Kandy and her family will finish their fourth
week of program enrollment this week. “I
hope I can make new friends soon,” shares
Andrea, Kandy’s 10-year-old daughter,
with a smile and sparkle of hope in her eye.
GIRL
SCOUT TROOP #4391
Junior
Leadership 
MAY 2007
- Many 9-10 year olds are worried
about playing games and hanging out with
friends. But, these 9-10 year olds are different.
They’re girl scouts, and they’re
giving back to their local community.
Lori Knowles has been leading the troop
since they were kindergarten-aged Daisy
Girl Scouts. The troop has regularly hosted
activities for the children housed at the
Solutions centers for over four years. “A
while ago the girls were given a tour of
the Solutions for Change Family Center.
The girls laughed because when they saw
the library, it had no books. They ended
up choosing to hold a book drive that year
for Solutions. We expected the girls to
raise, perhaps, a few hundred books. 2,704
books later, we knew we were going to be
set.”
This year, the troop is going stronger than
ever with 16 members. “The girls like
to volunteer every month because they enjoy
developing their leadership skills. They
take turns leading activities for the younger
children at Solutions.”
For Saint Patrick’s Day, the children
made rainbows and leprechauns. For Mother’s
Day, the children made tissue paper flowers.
“Each month we do a new activity depending
on the theme that month,” explains
Knowles. “Next month, we’re
doing a summertime fun theme, where the
kids are all making a summertime craft,
and playing with the bubble machine. It’ll
be a lot of fun.”
For more information about volunteering
at the Solutions for Change Family Center,
please call: 760-941-6545.
ON
THE COMEBACK TRAIL
Linda
& Family
MAY 2007
- This month, Linda will celebrate
one year of clean & sober living. Linda
didn't grow up around drugs, and in fact, she
didn't even try drugs until she was 30 years
old.
In 2003, Linda's oldest son was diagnosed
with lymphoma cancer. With five children to
look after, Linda felt overwhelmed,
helpless and depressed. Divorce shortly followed.
" I was going through my divorce
when I began using meth with friends as an escape
from it all," Linda explains. "I
started praying, 'God please heal him and I'll
stop.'" But, life began to turn chaotic
and spiral out of control.
Forced to make it on one income, Linda was desperate
to make ends meet, and began selling drugs.
"I would sell, and that in itself was
addicting because you could make so much money
in such a short time, but I knew it wasn't right,
and I had to stop."
In 2004, Linda found out she was pregnant
with her 6th child. "I stopped when
I was pregnant," shares Linda, " but
picked up again shortly after," and
soon had a run-in with the law. 
"That was definitely my rock bottom.
In May 2006, I lost my kids and my apartment.
I tried self-enrolling in drug-rehab programs,
but I was in such denial. Finally, I was court-ordered
to CRASH, and that program worked. I graduated
February 28th from there."
Linda did have a Medical Insurance Technician
Certificate to fall back on, but with a criminal
history, entry-level positions were all she
could find.
"Because I've been doing so well now,
and I'm headed on the right path, I have 3 of
my children back with me. My oldest, who was
faced with lymphoma cancer, is now in remission.
I'm in parenting classes now here at Solutions
for Change, and anger management. I've got 2
of 4 years of probation complete. I'm very active
in caring for my children, and my goal is to
bring all 6 of my kids back together under one
roof. I'm seeking a job right now that pays
a livable wage."
Linda is on the right path once again.
"I'm so grateful for everything now,
it's so nice. I haven't had a home in 12 years,
and this, I can now call this our home!"
Linda's goals include graduating the Solutions
program, obtaining a job that pays livable wages,
moving into affordable housing with all 6 kids,
and continuing to watch her children grow healthy
each and every day.
NEW
SOLUTIONS
The
Kuchinsky Family
MAY 2007 - Husband Walter,
and wife Lillianna sat down with us at the
end of April to share details on the struggles
their entire family endured. "Life
was hell. We didn't have a partnership, there
was no communication. All we cared about was
our next high. We were selfish and centered.
We knew we loved our family, but we didn't
kno w
how to make it better."
Lillianna lost her Mom when she was 16 years
old from a drive-by shooting in San Diego.
From then, Lillianna lived with her Aunt,
and was the mother figure for her two younger
sisters.
Walter grew up in Fallbrook, and began drinking
in high school. Although his mom and dad divorced
when Walter was only 7, Walter's mom "worked
hard and did the best she could." As
the youngest of 7 children, "I just
chose the wrong road. I was footloose and
fancy free. I was running the streets at 14,
15 years old with other delinquents."
Walter found himself in juvenile court for
1 1/2 years, and later, in county jail for
9 months.
Lillianna and Walter struggled to make it
on their own. But soon, multiple evictions
piled up on their credit,and housing was getting
harder to acquire."We finally moved
to Vegas so Walter's sister could help care
for our kids while we tried to just get away
from the drugs and all the negative things."
Walter got a great job as an Industrial Mechanic,
and was quickly promoted for his hard work.
Walter stuck with the job for almost ten years,
and money was finally good, with Walter making
close to $85,000 a year. But soon the couple
got caught up in the casino life, and drugs
and alcohol followed.
"We just didn't take priorities straight.
I knew I loved my family but I didn't know
how to make it better," shares a tearful
Lillianna.
The worst was yet to come. Walter's job
became suspicious of his drinking, and Walter
was forced to quickly find a new employer
to avoid being fired. Lillianna moved back
to San Diego with her sister, and Walter joined
shortly after.
Together, the couple tried to make it once
again on their own, but drugs and alcohol
took control. Their kids went to live with
family members, and Walter and Lillianna were
alone. Walter lost his job, and ran the streets
once again.
In February 2006, Walter woke up sick
after a 2-month binge on heroin and alcohol.
"I had to reach out for help, I just
couldn't do it anymore. I was tore up and
done. I couldn't see my kids, I didn't have
my family. I knew I needed to rest up and
get my mind back together and come up with
a plan. I reached out to Lillianna's Aunt
for help."
Walter soon enrolled in Victory Outreach,
where he was taught the word of God and was
introduced to Jesus Christ. Lillianna reached
out to Walter shortly after and said she wanted
her family back.
After a Winter stay at Operation Hope (a Vista
temporary shelter), the Kuchinsky family was
introduced to the Solutions for Change
Intake and Access Center. Walter and Lillianna
soon moved in, and transferred to the Family
Center in July 2006. They completed weekly
group meetings, random house inspections,
random drug testing, learned how to save money,
pay bills on time, begin to clean up their
credit, undergo marriage counseling, and more.
In April 2007, the Kuchinskys were accepted
for the New Solutions program, an affordable
housing program, and next step in the fight
to permanently end the Kuchinsky family's
homelessness.
Walter and Lillianna have seen the changes
in their children. "Our kids are happy,
they smile and talk a lot more, and they're
proud of who they are. They don't worry about
where mom is anymore. They want to get up
in the morning. It's great."
Walter and Lillianna hope to establish a positive
rental history, enroll their children in youth
sports, and continue working hard and caring
for their kids.
THE
COMEBACK TRAIL: Jesus & Kortni Garcia &
Family 
A Family of Six
APRIL 2007 - The Garcia Family entered
the Solutions for Change Intake & Access Center
10 months ago with little more than the clothes
on their backs. The large family of six consisted
of Jessica, 10, Makennah, 4, Cyress, 2, Makayla,
1, and of course, Mom & Dad.
Jesus & Kortni moved to the Family Center
in August 2006, and they're working hard to make
sure the life they want to lead becomes a reality
- not just a dream.
"Solutions has given us the accountability,
encouragement, and motivation we need to keep
moving forward. And we're doing it."
Both Kortni & Jesus believe that in order
for a young couple to survive such hardships,
they must accept responsibility for their own
individual actions. "It's a lot of teamwork...
we've realized everything we do now affects the
other person. We know to communicate now, even
on the small things."
Jesus & Kortni are now attending three 12-step
meetings each week to enforce individual growth
and responsibility. The couple also meets with
case managers once a week, attends school full-time,
and works full-time.
Kortni is studying diligently to become a Certified
 Alcohol
and Drug Counselor. Jesus is studying at a local
community college to achieve his certificate as
a Welding Technician, and working full-time at
a large grocery chain.
"Solutions has given me serenity, guidance,
and piece of mind." comments Jesus.
The Garcia's youngest children are all enrolled
in daycare, and their oldest daughter, Jessica,
age 10, is close to completing her first entire
year of school - uninterrupted.
Another first for the Garcia family: "We
actually sent out Christmas cards this year!"
Kortni adds, "It's a good feeling. We're
going to succeed thanks to Solutions."
MEET
A MIRACLE: The Scott & April Update
10 Months Later
"The
feeling of walking down the street and people
actually looking at me and seeing our lifestyle
every day as we do this... it was the worst feeling
I've ever felt...in my life." ~Scott
APRIL 2007 - Last
May, Solutions released one of the most
powerful forms of media the organization had ever
produced. It was the video slideshow of Scott
& April. View
Here
Now, over 10 months later, we sat down with Scott
& April to get an update.
"We were at the Intake and Access Shelter
for 3 months, and we've now been at the Family
Center for 8 months," shares April,
clean, sober, and excited to share the good news.
"Scotty doesn't bounce around from job
to job anymore," she adds, smiling,
"and the kids are doing great."
"I'm working full-time now as a Deli
Clerk," shares Scott. April is studying
full-time to become a Holistic Health Practicioner,
and is busy in the afternoons with their three
kids, ages 14, 9, and 3.
The weekly schedule consists of case management
meetings, community service (a requirement for
Family Center shelter residency), 12-step sponsor
interaction, and lots of activity for the Resident
Board, which April is now Vice-President of.
"When I came to Solutions, I had absolutely
no job skills," shares April, "I mean,
none. And now, here I am learning new job skills
every day, through work and here, and this is
one of my top goals, is to graduate." says
April.
Relationships with family have been renewed.
Especially important is the relationship with
April's father, since the couple plans to marry
one day, and "he has to ask my Dad,"
April adds.
The couple has been clean and sober since April
3, 2006. Scott & April's two oldest, ages
14 and 9, are active in soccer and baseball, and
are both "just doing so well in school,"
beams Mom.
Scott & April have accumulated over $1,300
in savings, completed anger management & parenting
classes, and have learned basic financial management.
What's next for Scott & April? A goal
of $2,000 in savings, and permanent, affordable
housing.
"I pay all my bills on time now, which I
have to say, I never did before. It's an overwhelmingly
good feeling." says April. "It
all falls back to Solutions. We wouldn't have
a quarter of the accomplishments we have now if
it wasn't for them. I can now say we're truly
a functioning family of society."
Will you help?
Sign
Up to Receive Monthly Resident Stories & Upcoming
Event Info.
MORE>
|
news
