The application was submitted and approved, granting $1500 to provide dictionaries to all the third graders in Greenfield’s Cesar Chavez Elementary School. Each student will receive a standard Webster’s Dictionary, a Spanish/English Webster’s Dictionary, and a Webster’s Thesaurus.  Dictionaries are required for third graders in Greenfield, which is a predominantly Spanish-speaking and low income area, so these books will meet a definite need.

Cielo Vista residents assisted with stamping each of these books with the Rotary emblem and preparing them for presentation by binding each set of three books with ribbon.

Cesar Chavez elementary school recognized National Dictionary Day on Thursday, October 20, and The Rotary Club was there to present the students with their Dictionaries and Thesaurus. 

This project was conducted in consultation with the Greenfield local school board and Cesar Chavez Elementary Administration. The Greenfield News will be running a story this month featuring this successful project.

One notable difference between the cougar and other big cats is that they can hiss, scream and growl but cannot roar.  In late September, Patty Perry, founder of Wildlife and Environmental Conservation, Inc. visited Nueva Vista with her 6-week old adopted cougar cub, Max.  Max was orphaned at one day old.  Patty was called to his rescue, and Max now lives at the WEC facility in Moorpark, CA.  Max has dark spots and bright blue eyes.  He is soft to the touch and has a wonderful deep purr / growl.

Patty founded Wildlife and Environmental Conservation, Inc. after years of practicing raptor rehabilitation at the Ojai Raptor Center, which treats over 1,500 native birds annually.  The WEC facility consists of 12 lovely acres and the entire property is fenced using 8-foot tall chain link, with additional security provided by surveillance cameras throughout. Wildlife conservation education for school age children is the major focus of WEC.  Patty presents programs to schools and churches, and also does community outreach and private programs.

Max is not the only “big” cat at WEC.  A serval and Siberian lynx share a 22-foot wide by 72-foot long enclosure. Inside this spacious habitat are lemon trees for shade, and an elevated platform with a cathouse built on top. The ground is secured with chain link and five inches of sand lay on top. The cats’ feeding area is sheltered under a 10-foot by 20-foot solid roof.

For the tigers, a pair of 20-foot by 30-foot retreat enclosures connect to a 10,000 square foot communal exercise habitat. The retreats are 9-gauge-chain link, 14 feet tall, and are completely covered with solid aluminum roofing over steel purloins. Concrete feeding slabs and automatic waterers are provided. Above the large exercise habitat are mist and fly spray systems. The tigers have their own platform and cat condos. A pair of metal 10-foot water troughs gives the tigers access to water for soaking and play.

The cougar has been known by more names than any other animal including mountain lion, mountain screamer, pi-twal, carcajou, puma, catamount and many others. Cougars are great athletes. Their long hind legs give them an incredible horizontal leaping ability of nearly forty feet in one bound, second only to the snow leopard which can reputedly cover forty five feet in a jump.

The cougar is a versatile predator and are capable of taking down a variety of animals, ranging from rodents to moose. Their predominant prey species in most parts, however, is deer.  They stalk and ambush prey employing their great speed and momentum to take down various species and then proceed to make the kill with a lethal neck bite.

Despite their prolific hunting profile, Cougars are not at the top of the food chain in many of their native ecosystems.  In many areas, they face stiff competition from bears, wolves and jaguars.  As a result, cougars have evolved developing unique survival strategies, including the ability to swim and climb trees.  Even with their vast geographic distribution and adaptive ability, cougar numbers are declining in the wild owning to loss of habitat and prey. Conflict with humans also does not bode well for cougars as they increasingly come into contact with people pushing into their territory.  Max’s role in educating the public about cougars is becoming ever more important as cougar and human habitats collide.

Look for us at the Resource Tables, enter our drawing, and please be there for our workshop Using Logical Models to Initiate Action and Sustain Change on Day One, August 19.

Victor's exhbition "Dance of the Scribbles" debuted at the Artmosphere Gallery in Ludianha, India, this spring.  Sales of his work will be donated to charity-- specifically the Darpan School of Autism.  Before coming to India, he worked for twenty years as a behavioral counselor with chronically mentally ill adults in California, and was at Psynergy Programs for the last five.  Largely a self-taught artist, Marc took fine art classes at both Mission College and West Valley College in California. 

His exhbition consists of paintings that represent spontaneous creativity using a technique called scribbling.  Just like a child scribbles on every available piece of paper, Marc scribbles on paper and on canvas.  He seeks divergent shapes formed by the scribbles, turning them into human, animal and abstract shapes to form his compositions, making a beautiful creation out of chaos.

"Just like art is special, so are these children.  And it is a two-way relationship that I share with these children.  While they inspire me to paint, my paintings in turn are aimed to motivate them to feel special and unique," says the artist.

Everyone at Psynergy Programs congratulates Marc on his success, and especially on the success of his initiative to benefit others through his art.

A PSYNERGIZE! Team Shirt, featuring the MORE graphic (designed and conceptualized by Psynergy Residents!) will be provided to each walker and those who donate to our PSYNERGIZE! Walking Team. Family members, current and past residents, and community partners are encouraged to join our team or donate on our page:

www.nami.org/namiwalks11/SFO/lyndakaufmann

You can also mail team donations to:

Psynergy Programs, Inc.,
Attn:  Lynda Kaufmann,
18225 Hale Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037 
Please make checks payable to: NAMIwalks and reference “Team Psynergy.”

Psynergy Programs will also be providing a picnic for all attendees, so be sure to sign up or RSVP to Lynda Kaufmann:  Telephone 408-833-5115.

Plan to enjoy the day with us to socialize and network with other members of our Psynergize! NAMIwalks team.  Transportation for resident and staff participants will be provided by Psynergy Programs.

Family members, current and past residents, and community partners are encouraged to join our team or donate on our page:

www.nami.org/namiwalks11/SFO/lyndakaufmann

Or, you can mail team donations to:
Psynergy Programs, Inc.,
Attn:  Lynda Kaufmann,
18225 Hale Avenue, Morgan Hill, CA 95037

Please make checks payable to: NAMIwalks and reference “Team Psynergy.”

A PSYNERGIZE Team Shirt, featuring the MORE graphic (designed and conceptualized by Psynergy Residents!) will be provided to each walker and those who donate to our PSYNERGIZE Walking Team.

Psynergy Programs will also be providing a picnic for all attendees, so be sure to sign up or RSVP to Lynda Kaufmann, Telephone 408-833-5115.

The Equine Assisted Growth and Learning Association (EAGALA) is dedicated to improving the mental health of individuals, families and groups by setting the standard of excellence in Equine Assisted Psychotherapy and Learning, also known as "horse therapy" or "equine therapy." 

Equine Assisted Psychotherapy (EPA) incorporates horses experientially for emotional growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between a mental health professional and a horse professional working with clients and horses to address treatment goals.

Equine Assisted Learning (EAL) incorporates horses experientially for growth and learning. It is a collaborative effort between a mental health professional, horse professional and other specialized professionals working with the clients and horses to address learning goals.  Incorporating horses for emotional growth and learning is an experiential modality.  

Both are incorporated in the EAGALA model and involve setting up activities with horses that will require the client or group to apply certain skills. Non-verbal communication, assertiveness, creative thinking and problem solving, leadership, work, taking responsibility, teamwork and relationships, confidence, and attitude are several examples of the tools utilized and developed.

What differentiates the terms (EPA/EAL) is the populations being served; the goals and objectives of the services which have been agreed to in the contract/informed consent and the focus of facilitation based on the agreed upon goals. Incorporating horse for growth and learning is an experiential modality. This means that participants learn about themselves and others by participating in activities with the horses and then processing or discussing thoughts, beliefs, behaviors and patterns. EAGALA has over 3,500 members in over 35 countries. 

Formerly the Assistant Administrator at Nueva Vista, Adam has been part of Psynergy Programs' management team for nearly three years. Adam handles admissions, staff training, and works with clients on discharge planning.  He also manages an interdisciplinary team coordinating several departments, including nursing, dietary, and psychiatric care to manage client cases.

"Adam has been a bright, positive force in the lives of our clients here at Psynergy," says Jean Edwards, one of four partners who own Psynergy Programs.  "We are so pleased to have an administrator of his caliber and compassion graduate to the top job at our newest facility."

Conference Room, Transitions – MHA
11:00- 11:30 a.m. Meet & Greet
11:30 - 1:00 p.m. Lunch /Speaker

784 High Street, San Luis Obispo, CA. 93401
To RSVP, call Lynda Kaufmann 408-465-8280 ext. 411

“People with mental illness have to learn how to have fun," says speaker Arturo Uribe, MSW, LCSW, Chief Operations Officer, Psynergy Programs.

"At Psynergy, we take an individualized learning approach and encourage our clientele to do what they are 'ready, willing and able' to do and to participate in activities that are enjoyable and meaningful,” says Uribe.

Let's meet for lunch and more commentary on community reintegration on October 16 in San Luis Obispo.

Family Connections Workshop Participants:
Christopher Zubiate, MSW, President & CEO, Psynergy Programs, Inc.
Darlene Prettyman, RN, Family Liaison, Psynergy Programs, Inc.
Arturo Uribe, LCSW, Chief Operating Officer, Psynergy Programs, Inc.
Lynda Kaufmann, Government & Public Affairs, Psynergy Programs, Inc.
Moderator: Dorothy Hendricks

The Family Connections workshop is located in Salons G and H, Saturday, August 28, 1:45 - 3:15 p.m.  Also, be sure to stop by our resource table in the Exhibit Hall.  The conference is located at the San Francisco Airport Marriott,  August 26  - 28. 

The hotel ls located at 1800 Old Bayshore Highway, Burlingame, CA  94010  (650) 692-9100.  The conference agenda is available online at:
http://www.namicalifornia.org/webdocs/conferenceagenda.pdf

Some possible benefits of these skills groups are learning to be in the moment instead of worrying about the future or past, learning the purpose of emotions and how to manage them, developing relationships where all involved are getting their needs met, and developing acceptance of distressing situations.

To learn more about Balanced Living or any other program at Psynergy, please visit our Contact page or send an email to info@psynergy.org.

This is an exciting plan for Cielo Vista.  A team of landscapers and architects were employed to finalize our vision which includes a new entrance with a covered structure and a walled-in front that will allow privacy for meditation, groups, family visits and just enjoying the sun. There is also a similar structure on the Elm Street side that will allow residents to exit into a private outdoor dining room from the indoor dining area.  Over 50 trees with be planted to add shading, privacy and beauty.  The project is planned to start in mid-November and is scheduled to be completed in April of 2010.

At our first meeting we introduced Psynergy owners/backgrounds - their mission and vision for this unique facility.  Our plan to meet every other month at Nueva Vista and will have an agenda that is recommended by families and consumers--the persons involved in this group.  On alternate months we will meet in Tulare county.

Proposed topics include:  Meet the Doctor/Ask the Doctor;  Meet the Nurse/Staff - Let's Get Acquainted; Educational Information-Serious Mental Illnesses; Conservatorship - Understanding the Conservator's Role and Your Role; Patient Rights Advocates - their Role; Family Rights Advocates - Their Role; Family Members - Our role;  Communication Skills; and Health Care Directives.

To Join Us, please call Jean Edwards at (408) 465-8280 or email her at jedwards@psynergy.org.

Staff, residents, family members and the founding partners joined together on June 5 to celebrate Nueva Vista’s fourth anniversary , and the opening of the new family lounge.

The luau theme was “a blast”  with welcome leis and a menu that included a roast pig, baked mahi-mahi, frozen Hawaiian Style beverages and, wait for it—VOLCANO CAKE!  Some of Psynergy’s own clinicians and doctors provided live music for the hula dancers. Congratulations to everyone at Nueva Vista on four years of growth and friendship.