Santa Clara County Mental Health: Certificate of Appreciation

This is a certificate for my participation in Phase I and Phase II of the Mental health Plan.  This must have been tart up of Access, and the Mental Health Call Center.  I played a very big role in selecting the Unicare Computer System.  Also at Call Center we became the authorization point for out patient fee-for-service providers.  I guess that is what is being referred to s Phase i and Phase II.  It is signed (not personally) by Allan Rawland, Mental Health Director, and Robert Sillen, Health and Hosptial Executive Director.

Employee of the Month Letter

As part of Virginia Street Project I was honored as employee of the month for  Santa Clara County.  Our program was honored, so they gave placards to all of us.  Her is a letter from the County Executive.

Virginia Street Project Acknowledgement from Nikki Chrisman

Our boss at Virginia Street project was Nikki Chrisman.  We were part of a longitudinal study about whether or not intensive services to those with serious mental illness could improve the quality of life, while also saving money.  This study concluded that both of these could be achieved.  Money savings came from keeping patients out of intensive high-cost services.  There was a comparison between Community Companions (now part of Momentum) Down town Mental Health and Virginia Street Project.  Although Virginia Street Project was the most costly, it also saved the most money by diverting people from the hospital and keeping them out.  Nikki would contract cancer and pass away shortly after this.

Access Staff-to-staff Mementos

We had some good times at Mental Health Access, and we had some hard times.  Towards the end, our bosses transferred to us the manager from hell.  It was really true, we had a boss whose goal was to get rid of everyone.  It was shortly after this that Access closed and the Callcenter took over.  The mementos were attempts to deal with some of the stress caused by this boss.  SO if you have the boss from "hell" talk to me; I've been there.

Earthquake Relief: Northridge Earthquake

I had the opportunity to go to Los Angeles for a week after the earthquake of 1994.  We stayed in a tall hotel in L.A. where the building shook a few times from aftershocks.  I was assigned to a crisis center in San Fernando at Northridge University.  It was pretty busy.  This is where people came who were applying for federal aid, needing to talk to insurance adjusters.  There was a health clinic. The staff for that were from the South, Georgia or Tennessee.  I talked with individuals and families about bout how they were coping.  We had a comic book to hand out that discussed regaining a sense of control after a tragedy.  There was also water bottled by Coors which was available for people to take.

We had staff at several sites.  At one site they helped someone get into the hospital.  I did not have so much excitement. 

We drove around the area to see the destruction.  It was funny to see how the damage was so random, one block destroyed and the next fine.  We say the apartments that had pancaked, and the parking garage which came down.

Sue Villanueva was our lead.  I ate Thai food for the first time, very hot but great peanut sauce.

Lay Off Notice Santa Clara County

Within a year of my working for Santa Clara County at Virginia Street Project, and moving the family to San Jose, I received a lay-off notice.  This came just a few months after I was honored with our program as "Employee of the Month."  This wasn't a very fun time, as I realized it would be difficult to find employment with the same income, and our income was spread thin as it was.  I looked at contracted programs with mental health, but they didn't pay enough to support a family.  I looked at social services, and actually applied and interviewed for a couple of jobs.  I was told I didn't have enough court experience.  While I didn't have experience in Santa Clara County, I had been in federal court, tribal court, and courts in Utah and Nevada.  I had lots of experience in court, just not the court they worked with.
In the end the lay-off notice was rescinded.  I was going to stay with Virginia Street Project.  After we had the farewell dinner for a couple coworkers, within an hour, I got notice I was being transferred.  One of the employees for whom we had the farewell was staying.  A couple others left county employment, including our psychiatrist.

Santa Clara County Mental Health: Access

Although our program closed, its spirit lives on in our hearts.  Of this picture we have said goodbye to Dr. Hong Pham.  I was able to attend his funeral with Trish.

frnt: Sue, Barbara, Dr Llajavic, Cris, Trish, Dr. Becker, Dr. Hong Rafael bck: Dr Pazdernik, Eladio, Me, Mark.

Of course many were missing. We were pretty much a 24-hour opheration so we could never go out all together.  This is a celebration shortly before we closed.  A great bunch of co-workers.

Cleto Genelza: A friend and coworker has passed away

June 2011

http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?n=cleto-genelza&pid=152151880
A friend from work passed away this week after a long struggle with cancer.  He and I use to compare notes with regards to our children.  His daughter was a hockey player, and he use to always let me know how she was doing.  I met him when she was in high school, and he would update me as she graduated and then was off to school.  Several years ago we switched buildings and I had less contact with him; but I would see him in the parking lot at times.  Then about a year he left the county.  Now I realize this was because of his illness.  So I want to let Cleto know I will miss him, and his family know that he was appreciated.