Vista Hill Foundation

10/26/2023

Vista Hill and the ADAPT program honors Pregnancy and Infant Loss Awareness through commitment to service delivery and community outreach. Experiencing the loss of a pregnancy, infant, and/or a child may contribute to unimaginable pain and grief.

Vista Hill invites those who may need resources related to this loss access to non-judgmental support, information, and connection with others in the following resources:

https://www.emptycradle.org/
Pregnancy Loss & Infant Death — Policy Center for Maternal Mental Health - Formerly 2020 Mom
Loss & Grief in Pregnancy & Postpartum | Postpartum Support International (PSI)
Discussion Tool | Postpartum Support International (PSI)

10/24/2023

Vista Hill’s ADAPT staff attended and facilitated outreach at the Postpartum Support International, San Diego Climb out of the Darkness event. The Climb brings the community together to shine a light on Perinatal Mood and Anxiety Disorders, one of the most common complications of pregnancy and childbirth. To learn more about our ADAPT program, please view here - https://www.vistahill.org/programs-services/adapt/

10/13/2023

To celebrate Filipino History Month, we would like to put the spotlight on Jemma Samala, Administrative Assistant to Vista Hill President & CEO, Robert Dean and to Friends of Vista Hill. Jemma and her parents emigrated to the United States in 1966. Jemma speaks Tagalog, the national language of Philippines. She really appreciates that the Filipino culture focuses on having strong family ties, and values how food is central to all the family experiences. Jemma especially enjoys Filipino desserts, usually made of sweet rice including the special family recipe for “Bibingka Samala”. Food and family are the two important ways Jemma connects with her Filipino community.

10/10/2023

It is World Mental Health Day today. Let’s spread awareness about the importance of mental health, create opportunities for those who don’t have access to care, and encourage care and support for those with behavioral health challenges in our community.

10/05/2023

In honor of World Teacher’s Day, we would like to honor and acknowledge all the wonderful teachers Vista Hill has the opportunity to work with through our school-based mental health programs and the Special Education Teachers at the Stein Education Center.

10/05/2023

October 5th is National Depression Screening Day. Depression is one of the most prevalent mental health conditions in the US. Not everyone, who has depression, gets an official diagnosis. Depression is serious and doesn’t go away on its own. Find help, take control, get better!

10/03/2023

Vista Hill was honored to be represented at The Escondido Community Foundation’s Annual Grants Award Celebration on September 28. Two of our Escondido based behavioral health programs – Learning Assistance Center and Screening to Care – were awarded a joint grant of $25,000 to increase access to extracurricular pro-social activities and tutoring for many of the middle school aged students we serve in these programs.

10/01/2023

October 1-7 is Mental Health Awareness Week. This year’s official theme is anxiety. Anxiety is a common emotion that everyone experiences sometime in their life. But, people with anxiety disorders frequently have intense, excessive and persistent worry and fear about everyday situations.

Common anxiety signs and symptoms include:

Feeling nervous, restless or tense
Having a sense of impending danger, panic or doom
Breathing rapidly (hyperventilation)
Sweating
Trembling
Feeling weak or tired
Trouble concentrating or thinking about anything other than the present worry
Having trouble sleeping

Feeling anxious? You are not alone! Seek help.

09/22/2023

September 22nd is the Native American Day. The American Indian and Alaska Native community living in the United States continues to experience health disparities disproportionately, meaning that they have less access to physical and mental health services. VH’s Native American SmartCare, funded by California Area Indian Health Services, provides child and family behavioral health resources to Native American families in California. To know more about the program, please visit - https://www.nativeamericansmartcare.org/.

09/21/2023

Vista Hill’s PROMOTE! Program is looking for a Social-Emotional Education Specialist to provide school and community-based services to elementary school students and their parents/families utilizing the Incredible Years® Prevention and Early-Intervention Program.
Join us and teach students about understanding and identifying feelings; anger management skills; and problem-solving! To learn more, visit here - https://shorturl.at/abgzF

09/18/2023

We are excited to talk about La Mesa Stein Education Center’s most popular feature - La Mesa Adult Services Garden. Gardening has many health benefits, especially for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. The La Mesa Garden helps our program participants by reducing stress, providing light physical exercise, and giving an opportunity to enjoy the sun. They also enjoy gardening because it helps them build self-esteem and practice small motor skills.

If you truly love nature, you will find beauty everywhere.
— Vincent Van Gogh

09/15/2023

In celebration of Hispanic Heritage Month, we would like to share some fun facts / datos curiosos:

47% of Vista Hill employees are Spanish speaking;
In the PROMOTE! program, currently all staff are bilingual;
Friends of Vista Hill Executive Director, Rachel Peniche (pictured below with her father Herman) are Hispanic. Rachel’s paternal grandparents were born in the capital city, Mérida, Yucatán. They emigrated from Mexico to Los Angeles in 1954 where Herman was born. Rachel is a native San Diegan but loves visiting her very large extended family (100+ cousins) all throughout Mexico.

09/13/2023

Vista Hill had a wonderful time at San Diego County’s National Recovery Month Celebration – Recovery Happens – on August 26th at the Waterfront Park! Our ParentCare staff participated in the resource fair and provided information and giveaways to event attendees. It was a great opportunity to connect with the community!

09/11/2023

Vista Hill Foundation recognizes the trauma and mental health effects that the attacks on 9/11 have had on countless Americans across the world.

09/10/2023

Today starts the National Su***de Prevention Week. If you are struggling, take a minute to reach out to someone you trust. Know the signs - Find the words - Reach out! ***dePrevention

09/08/2023

Vista Hill is very proud of Irma Contreras, former ParentCare participant and current Senior Billing Technician with Vista Hill’s ParentCare East program, for overcoming obstacles and maintaining sobriety for 21 years! We wanted to share a wonderful article, published in San Diego Union Tribune last week, on her inspiring journey. Please visit here for the article - https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/someone-san-diego-should-know/story/2023-08-31/someone-san-diego-should-know-irma-contreras

09/06/2023

Thank you to the Linus Project who creates and donates made with love quilts for our ParentCare, Dependency Drug Court and ADAPT moms. We are also grateful to Mary Jo Ball for personalizing each quilt with the baby’s name on it. We love passing out these special deliveries to our program participants.
To date 250 quilts have been gifted to our newborns and their mothers. We think this is sew neat!

09/04/2023

Vista Hill wishes you a very happy Labor Day! Vista Hill offices and programs will be closed on Monday, September 4th and will reopen on Tuesday, September 5th. Have a safe long weekend!

09/01/2023

September is National Su***de Awareness Month. Su***de is a topic that hides in the dark. Often it goes unaddressed, even when we may sense someone is struggling. You can make a difference by learning the warning signs, knowing the risk factors, and bravely having an open and honest conversation with someone you care about.

Some of the more common symptoms are:
Feeling like a burden
Being isolated
Increased anxiety
Feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
Increased substance use
Increased anger or rage
Extreme mood swings
Expressing hopelessness
Sleeping too little or too much
Talking or posting about wanting to die

08/30/2023

Let’s help create an understanding community for people experiencing grief by raising awareness. Reach out to people who are grieving and support them. There is no expiration date on grief!

08/29/2023

08/23/2023

Vista Hill Foundation would like to wish Rancho Bernardo Rotary Club Presidents – Laura Mello from The Rancho Bernardo Sunrise Rotary Club and Alan Turner from Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo – our heartiest congratulations for receiving the “Rotarian of the Year” for Rotary District 5340. The two Rotary Club presidents have worked together to support mental health initiatives in San Diego Community.
Vista Hill would also like to take the opportunity to thank Rotary Club of Rancho Bernardo, Alan Turner, and Chuck Pretto for raising $22,000 from Rotary Clubs throughout San Diego County to support five programs that focus on youth and provides a range of mental health services.
We are grateful for your support!

08/18/2023

A big thank you to Grossmont Healthcare District for their generous $30,000 grant award. This grant will help pregnant and parenting mothers faced with a Dual Diagnosis of Substance Use Disorder and a mental health condition at our Don Allen ParentCare Family Recovery Center (East) in La Mesa. The funds will provide specialized mental health services to East County residents looking to make critical lifestyle changes and establish a safe, nurturing home environment for their children.

08/09/2023

Happy International Day of the World’s Indigenous People! Today we would like to highlight a unique Vista Hill program, of which we are especially proud - Native American SmartCare. This program, funded by California Area Indian Health Services, helps address the critical shortfall of psychiatric resources available for clinics that serve Native American families in California. This program provides guidance to parents and guardians, strategies to youth and their families, and support to new moms and dads to feel better, improve communication, and set positive goals . To learn more, please visit - https://www.nativeamericansmartcare.org/. ,

08/07/2023

VH Screening to Care’s Wellness Event was a success! The focus of the event was on environmental wellness and how nature and physical activities can be used for stress management and self-care. Over 40 participants attended the event and joined in a nature scavenger hunt. The kids participated in soccer drills and played a soccer game. The attendees were given a short presentation on environmental wellness and enjoyed snacks and drinks. All the kids that attended the event were given backpacks, school supplies, and Walmart gift cards!
Thank you National Charity League, Inc. San Dieguito Chapter for donating backpacks for the event!

08/01/2023

As the children are going back to school, Vista Hill is honored to support students in the San Diego County through services like PROMOTE!, Learning Assistance Centers, and Screening to Care. These services provide mental health intervention and treatments as well as implement school-based social-emotional learning programs that teaches important life skills to advance students’ education. Vista Hill’s Stein Education Center is another program that provides individualized care to school-aged children with autism spectrum disorders, intellectual and developmental disabilities, severe emotional disturbance, or multiple disabilities. Vista Hill is committed to building stronger families and brighter futures!

07/27/2023

Vista Hill dedicated the administrative building to the late James “Jim” Silberrad Brown at an event honoring the San Diego businessman and philanthropist. This dedication was a way to acknowledge Jim’s service to the San Diego community as well as his contributions – through his volunteer work and donations - to Vista Hill. Vista Hill is grateful that Jim’s wife, Marilyn Creson Brown, along with Jim’s four children and three of his grandchildren were in attendance to commemorate Jim’s legacy. A certificate from the San Diego County was also presented to the Brown family proclaiming June 27th as James S. Brown Day. Jim served on the Board of Directors of Vista Hill Foundation from 1988 to 2017, including a term as Chairman.
Vista Hill is grateful for the continued support and friendship of the Brown family!

07/20/2023

A big shout out to Crown Point Catering, Inc for donating hot dogs and buns for the Stein Education Center Carnival. Our students, clients and their families, and staff really enjoyed the treat!

07/19/2023

A big Thank You to National Charity League, Inc. San Dieguito Chapter for sending amazing volunteers to help us with our event. They were eager to participate, flexible, and patient. Thank you for all your support! We really appreciate it.

07/18/2023

We are grateful to our long-time supporters and donors, “Hot Dog Lady” Faith Stagg and Ann Mound, for managing the hot dog station - the busiest spot in the Stein Education Center Annual Carnival!

07/13/2023

VH’s Stein Education Center Adult Services’ clients celebrated Independence Day by taking in some sun and enjoying lemonade, sandboxes and fruits. They had a wonderful time!

07/11/2023

July is Minority Mental Health Awareness month. Nearly one in five adults in the United States has a mental health condition. Minority groups are more likely to experience the risk factors that contribute to mental health disorders. These risk factors include inaccessibility of high quality mental health care services, discrimination, cultural stigma regarding mental health care, and overall lack of awareness about mental health.

07/07/2023

Happy World Chocolate Day! Eating dark chocolate in moderation not only helps with mental health and self-care, but has been seen to benefit your physical health as well. Take a break with a bar of dark chocolate!

What’s your favorite brand of chocolate?

07/04/2023

Vista Hill wishes you a very happy 4th of July! In honor of Independence Day, Vista Hill offices and programs will be closed on Tuesday, July 4th and will reopen on Wednesday, July 5th. Have a safe weekend!

07/03/2023

A child that loses a parent is an orphan.
A husband that loses his wife is a widower.
A wife who loses her husband is a widow.
However, there is no word for a parent that loses a child.

National Bereaved Parents Day is today. On this day, we recognize parents and parent figures that have been affected by the loss of a child to show them that they are not alone. Please spread the message, keep that conversation going, raise awareness and show the bereaved parent community that they are NOT alone.

06/23/2023

Vista Hill is very grateful to the Art Pratt Foundation of Old Mission Rotary Club of the Old Mission Rotary Club for this amazing check for $9,466 to pay for flooring in our new Stein Education Center Adult Services building in Chula Vista. We look forward to unveiling the completed building soon.

06/21/2023

On National Cucumber Day, June 14th, Vista Hill’s Stein Education Center clients helped make pickles!

06/18/2023

Fathers play a critical role in children’s health and development, beginning in the prenatal period and continuing through early childhood and adolescence. Supporting father's mental health leads to better health outcomes and well-being of their children. ADAPT recognizes the unique peripartum experience of fathers and offers therapeutic services during the peripartum period. Whether you are a dad trying to support a partner or may be experiencing sadness and worry yourself, we recognize and support you. For more information on Vista Hill’s ADAPT program, please view - https://www.vistahill.org/programs-services/adapt/

06/15/2023

This month we will take the opportunity to spread awareness about Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD). Around 12 million people suffer from PTSD in the United States and despite effective treatment being available, most people don’t get the help they need.

06/14/2023

Ralph’s Community Contribution Program makes fundraising easy for its shoppers. Ralph donates to local organizations based on the shopping you do every day. Once you link your Shopper’s Card to an organization such as Vista Hill Foundation, all you have to do is shop at Ralphs and swipe your card. Ralphs donates annually to participating organizations based on your percentage of spending. For more information, please view - https://www.ralphs.com/i/community/community-contribution-program.