Solutions for Change -- Life Inside Solutions

GROUP PLAYS SANTA TO HOMELESS FAMILIES
By Dean Calbreath, Union-Tribune Staff Writer

December 23, 2007

VISTA – Even when Walter Kuchinsky was homeless several years ago, he would not allow himself to forget about Christmas.
Kuchinsky – who was on the streets because of drug and alcohol abuse – still managed to hit the 99-cent stores, pick out some toys and take them to his three sons, who were staying with relatives.

“Here you go,” he'd say.

These days, things are different. Kuchinsky, of Vista, has kicked his addictions, landed a job and has a stable home with his wife and children. Yesterday, he celebrated the holidays by distributing toys to families at North County Solutions for Change, the organization that helped him turn his life around.

Solutions, funded by church donations and government grants, offers up to 18 months of housing for homeless families, as well as meals, job training, college placement, addiction-recovery programs and classes in parenting, work ethics and personal finance.

More than 50 families live in Solutions' two centers in Vista, including 138 children. The goal is to bring the families to the point where they are making enough money to live on their own.

Advertisement“All our resources are directed toward helping families with kids,” said Chris Megison of Vista, who founded the group in 1999. “For some people, the image of homelessness is an old guy on the street drinking out of a paper sack. For us, it's a scared 9-year-old girl clutching on to her mother's hand.”
With the approach of Christmas, the focus shifts to helping the children enjoy the holidays. Yesterday, the group's headquarters looked like a warehouse stacked with Barbie dolls, Star Wars figures, puzzles, games, balls, toy trucks and makeup kits donated at 20 North County drop-off locations.

Decades, a skateboard shop in Vista, contributed dozens of skateboards. A Union Bank worker who anonymously donates boxes of toys to Solutions each year provided 20 new fishing poles. Volunteers from North Coast Church helped bring the toys to the headquarters.

This was all a surprise to the parents staying at the centers, who were awakened at 7 a.m. yesterday and summoned to the headquarters, where they could pick out toys for their children. As they made their way through the stacks of toys, they were guided by a dozen formerly homeless people who have completed the Solutions program and are now volunteering to help others.

“It is so good to see these people getting their lives together,” said Leanna Hurlbutt, a Vista mother of three who became homeless after her divorce. She now holds down two jobs as a cashier and bookkeeper, but she still finds time to volunteer at Solutions.

“I know that they're going to be self-sufficient, just like I am now.”

Kuchinsky, who got a job as an industrial mechanic after going through the group's 12-step addiction program, said “it's really exciting to see the adults come in and get all choked up, sometimes with tears in their eyes.”

Kuchinsky said he, too, felt a wave of emotions last year when he picked out a football, basketball and scooter at Solutions for his sons. “It was just amazing to see their eyes light up on Christmas Day and to see that they were happy and they could trust me again,” he said.

TODAY'S YOUTH ARE FACING A CRISIS
Solutions for Change has decided to take a proactive stance

OCTOBER 2007 - Today’s youth are facing a crisis. On top of the consistently prevalent problems associated with drugs, gangs, and just generally growing up too fast, our young ones are having to deal with a problem more subtle, but perhaps just as dangerous—the lack of a good education.

According to tests conducted by the state of California in 2005, half of the 4th graders in our state are reading at a level considered “below basic.” Studies show that if students are not reading at the appropriate level by 2nd or 3rd grade, their chances of catching up are greatly diminished. This is because by around 4th grade, teachers tend to give less individual attention to students who are struggling with reading. And this struggle often continues-all the way to high school! In fact, most high school dropouts read at only a 3rd grade level. And according to the U.S. Department of Labor, those who do not complete high school make an average of $18,000 per year, as opposed to $28,000 with a high school diploma, or $50,000 with a bachelor’s degree.

Terrific Kids Homework Club Statistics aside, the bottom line is this—in order for our kids to have the best chance of succeeding in life, they need a good education. A good education starts with the ability to read, and read well.

Solutions for Change has decided to take a proactive stance. We are not going to let our kids fall through the cracks and get behind. August 27, 2007 marked the beginning of our Terrific Kids Homework Club. The mission of Homework Club is to provide a supportive, productive, and fun learning environment for our children to complete their homework and receive the assistance they need to succeed to get the most out of their educational experience. In order to accomplish this, children in Kindergarten through 5th grade from the Solutions Family Center and Intake and Access Center attend Homework Club for an hour and a half after school Monday through Thursday.

After a brief snack time, students buckle down and break out their homework. On a given day, there are usually between 16 and 20 kids in attendance. Thus far we have had the help of some wonderful tutors from the community. On average, we have about one tutor per every 2 or 3 kids. Besides giving our kids the attention they need, Homework Club is a great opportunity for our children to be surrounded by good role models who can often have an amazing and positive influence on these children. After homework, we have a group activity that emphasizes healthy character qualities such as compassion, forgiveness, integrity, respect, self-discipline, and cooperation. Finally, we take time to read silently or in groups, depending on each child’s reading ability. We firmly believe that a daily exposure to reading is one of the best things we can do to improve our children’s success in their academic endeavors.

We’ve only just begun and already we are seeing a great response from many of the students involved. With enough support from the community we can assure that Homework Club is continually an enjoyable and productive environment. Let us know if you are interested in tutoring and getting to know some amazing kids. We always appreciate volunteers who can commit to being here from 4-5:30 PM once a week or bi-weekly. If you cannot be here, there are other ways you can help. We are constantly seeking donations of school supplies and snacks for the kids. With your help, we can counteract this problem that our kids are facing in school and give them the best shot to succeed.

SOLUTIONS FOR CHANGE GRADUATES SEVEN IN VISTA
By Shannon Wingard for the North County Times

September 21, 2007

No caps and gowns were needed Thursday night to celebrate the achievements of seven graduates from North County Solutions for Change, who had taken the steps necessary to go from homelessness to living normal lives.

Jesus Garcia said he spent years of doing drugs and "gang banging" before he knew he needed to change for his family.

Garcia completed a drug rehab program before entering Solutions for Change, which he said provided services and housing for his family while he tried to "get back on (his) feet."

Garcia said he has been sober for two years, he has a residence and job, and is living a substance-free life, which are all requirements to graduate. It was difficult to change, he said, but "I just put one foot in front of the other."

Executive Director Chris Megison said during his speech that each graduate wanted a better life and took the difficult steps to achieve it.

"They all had the determination to change; not only for themselves, but for their kids," he said.

Megison said he and his wife founded the Vista-based Solutions for Change in 1999 to address family homelessness in North County. The organization provides housing and other services to homeless families with children.

"We keep telling them, 'You are worth it,' " Megison said.

He said each of the graduates has worked hard to overcome struggles with drugs, alcohol or abuse. Most importantly, he said, they realize they have the tools necessary to sustain better lives.

"There was a point where we could see that you could taste it," he reminded the graduates. "Once you got to that point, it's like nothing could stop you."

When she first entered Solutions for Change's program, Kortni Muser told the guests, she "felt like everything was going to be OK."

Muser has been married to Garcia for nine years. The couple and their four children moved into the organization's housing in August 2006 after each had completed rehab.

Now, she said, she has been "clean" for more than two years and her children have attended the same school for more than a year, which was a first for them.

Although she struggled at times, Muser said, the organization ultimately "showed me how to save my own life."

"I am a different person," she said. "I now have the tools to live."

Another graduate, Lena Ballaro, said the program prepared her for a better life.

She said she lived through a cycle of abusive relationships until "finally, I reached the point where enough was enough."

When she got involved with Solutions for Change in fall of 2005, she said "for the first time in my life I felt safe."

Two years later, Ballaro said she has worked hard to not only become a dental assistant, but to live an overall happier life.

"Once the healing began, I was able to set and meet goals," she said.

MUSIC SOLUTIONS STUDENTS HONORED
Summer session particpants receive 70 hours of lessons in voice, piano, and guitar

SEPTEMBER 2007 - On Saturday, August 18th, residents of the Solutions Family Center took time to celebrate the accomplishments of students involved in the Music Solutions program. The ceremony marked the close of the summer session of the program created by music educator Dyana Preti and funded by the Picerne Foundation. The 24 students who participated in the summer session were the recipients of approximately 70 hours of high-quality lessons in piano, voice, and guitar. Apart from many private lessons, a Young Musicians Group made up of children ages 3 and up met weekly to practice basic music skills.

The event was attended by residents of the Family Center as well as teachers and students from First Steps in Music, Preti’s other music education endeavor. These guests provided excellent musical entertainment ranging from a medieval guitar / flute duet, to a young six-piece rock band covering Guns N’ Roses and Bachman-Turner Overdrive. Music Solutions Awards Ceremony

Finally, all of the students received awards to honor their hard work and dedication. Two students who proved especially steadfast in their practice and participation were Anthony Sims, age 8, and Anita Martinez, age 14. They were given a guitar and keyboard, respectively, to continue their musical endeavors now and as they move on in life.

The question of the day posed by Preti for all those involved was, “What does music mean to you in your life?” Responses from students and performers ranged from “It’s fun” to “Music is my life.”

The fall program has already begun and is open to all residents of the Solutions Family Center, regardless of age or skill level. The Music Solutions program is always seeking donations of new or gently used keyboards and guitars, as well as volunteers to teach music lessons.