Congresswoman Sylvia Garcia visits Santa Maria

Santa Maria was privileged to have a visit from freshman US Congresswoman Sylvia Rodriguez Garcia, on Monday July 29th, the first day of her summer recess from Congress.  Ms.Garcia spent time touring the Bonita House campus and meeting with staff to learn of the mission and programs that define Santa Maria. The restorative justice programs offered to women and their children were particularly highlighted.  Led by CEO Nadine Scamp, a discussion after the tour centered around congressional topics including funding for the opioid crisis and other behavioral health related topics.  Santa Maria is grateful to the Congresswoman’s keen interest in our work!

We are excited to announce the date for our upcoming Annual Luncheon in 2020!

Please Save The Date and plan to join us on Tuesday May 5th, 2020 at 11:30 am at the River Oaks Country Club.

More than 300 friends and supporters of Santa Maria gathered on Tuesday, April 30^th at the River Oaks Country Club for our Annual Luncheon which celebrates our commitment to walking with thousands of women, children and family members each year on their recovery journey.

Reverend Dr. Matt Russellwas presented with the Visionary award for his over two decades of work giving voice to and building welcoming communities for individuals in recovery and others who have been marginalized.

The RISE award was presented to D.E. Harvey Builders and Kirksey Architecture for their community outreach initiatives including their donation of time, talents and resources to complete a major a renovation project at our Jacquelyn facility last year.

We also featured two Santa Maria alumni, Sharon Hadley and Courtney Mendoza, who shared their inspiring stories of success in recovery.

Each guest walked away with a gift bag full of home goods generously provided by our presenting sponsor Palais Royal.

For the full press release of this event, click here.

We are so thankful to our sponsors and everyone who was part of this event and contributed to its success!

Santa Maria receives a $15,000 grant from the Charity Guild of Catholic Women to support a program for child development

On February 4, the Charity Guild of Catholic Women awarded $586,000 to 47 non-profit organizations that help children in need in the Greater Houston Area. Santa Maria is a proud recipient of a grant for the Healing Hearts residential program component to provide behavioral health services, support groups and child development activities for children impacted by maternal substance use.

The Charity Guild was originally founded in 1922 to support what is now the San José Clinic (SJC). The Guild continues their support to SJC but the impact has expanded as the resale shop has grown in size and reputation.

The presentation took place at the Charity Guild Shop located at 1203 Lovett Blvd. Presenter Joanne Creasey, of West University, serves as this year’s president.

A few of other awardees at this year’s event include the Holocaust Museum Houston, Second Servings, Social Motion, MECA, St. Theresa Catholic School and Saint Pius X.

Santa Maria is one of the 12 organizations in Texas to receive a grant from Episcopal Health Foundation (EHF) to focus on giving children the best chance at a healthy life.

EHF announced on January 23, a groundbreaking $3.4 million investment to 12 innovative organizations across the state that are implementing proven practices for early childhood brain development during pregnancy and the first three years of a child’s life.

EHF’s grant to Santa Maria for $546,971 will support our Caring for Two program; a family-based early childhood development program that serves pregnant women at risk for, or with histories of, substance use and trauma. The program works with women, their young children and other family members to ensure a healthy pregnancy, to teach and practice child brain development skills with mother and child, and to connect new mothers and their families to safe housing and other needed supports, such as behavioral health services. Santa Maria Hostel has teamed up with organizations like health clinics and social service agencies to offer the program at 18 different locations across Greater Houston.

Eleven more EHF’s grants were awarded to:

• Children’s Museum of Houston
• Texas Children’s Hospital in Houston
• First3Years
• Spring Branch Community Health Center
• Rupani Foundation
• People’s Community Clinic in Austin
• Family Connects at United Way of Greater Austin
• Angelina Counties and Cities Health District in Lufkin
• Palacios Community Hub
• TexProtects – Texas Chapter of Prevent Child Abuse America

For more information about our Caring For Two program, please contact:

Teresa Garcia, Senior Director of Intervention and Prevention Services
Phone: 713-691-0900
tgarcia@santamariahostel.org

To read the full press release from EHF, click here.

This new policy at Santa Maria, bans the use of all tobacco products, including cigarettes, cigars, pipes and smokeless tobacco, within all properties owned, leased, or occupied by Santa Maria.This includes parking lots, transportation vehicles, and employees’ personal vehicles parked on property. Employees are prohibited from using tobacco products during working hours.

In implementing the new tobacco ban, Santa Maria will be offering symptom relief or tobacco-cessation treatment to interested staff and clients.

This project has been possible thanks to the support of Taking Texas Tobacco Free, an organization who is part of the University of Houston’s prevention program who is commited to reducing the incidence of tobacco-related cancers among Texans by assisting community behavioral health centers across the state to adopt and implement comprehensive tobacco-free campus policies. The organization is funded by the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas and partners with Integral Care of Austin/Travis County and the University of Houston’s HEALTH Research Institute on these projects.

Smoking, it’s no small problem. According to the CDC, people with behavioral health conditions such as major depression, schizophrenia, and alcohol or drug dependence are more likely than those without such conditions to smoke and to smoke more heavily; in addition, they account for nearly half of all tobacco-related deaths each year. Texas has a higher rate of death attributable to smoking relative to the remainder of the U.S., at 273 per 100,000 adults.

To highlight the importance of this new policy, we are planning a kickoff event at two of our facilities. Where we will have educational materials on site as well as a carbon monoxide monitor to measure the amount of CO2 in the lungs.

When:             Friday Feb. 1.

Where:             10 a.m. – noon, Jacquelyn House, 2005 Jacquelyn Drive, Houston, 77055
1 p.m. – 3 p.m., Bonita House, 2605 Parker Road, Houston 77093

For the full press release from UofH, click here.

Our 9th Annual Run For Recovery kicked off with a non-competitive 1k Kids Fun Run, followed by a competitive and non competitive 5k Run/Walk.

Our sincere appreciation to all of our sponsors, volunteers, community members, staff and race participants for making the 9^th annual Houston Run for Recovery a success.

Over 400 participants joined us at Cleveland Park for a morning of fun, dancing and running to celebrate recovery. This annual fundraiser benefits Santa Maria, Star Drug Court and The Council on Recovery; organizers of this event.

Click to watch VIDEO

THANK YOU to all the participants, sponsors and volunteers!

For her commitment to helping Santa Maria in our mission to empower women and their families to lead healthy, successful, productive and self-fulfilling lives, Kathryn Griffin-Griñan has received the Houston Texans Community Quarterback Award. This award was presented at Nrg Stadium on December 2^nd. Kathy, along with other 8 finalist was awarded $5,000 that will go to Santa Maria.

Every year, United Way of Greater Houston partners with the Houston Texans and BHP to present the Community Quarterback Awards. This Awards recognize individuals who have shown true volunteer leadership in their communities and have gone above and beyond in their volunteer roles.

Kathy Griffin, serves as the Human Trafficking Director for Harris County Constable Precint One. Kathy has worked very close with Santa Maria for many years to help transform the lives of thousands of women who have been affected by the disease of addiction.

Please join us in congratulating Kathy, she truly represents the meaning of community and outstanding selflessness.

On Wednesday November 28, Constable Alan Rosen and the Precint One Office organized their annual Car Wash and Toy Drive. For this year, they chose Santa Maria as the beneficiary agency for their fundraiser. This was an all day event that started at 7am at the Dr. Gleem Car Wash on Ella St.

On Wednesday, December 12, Constable Alan Rosen along with several members of the Precint One Office came to Bonita House to personally deliver the toys to our women and their children. We’d like to thank them and everyone who donated to this Fundraiser. It was such a pleasure to watch this happen and to witness the joy spread around campus.

“We are not just about law enforcement we are about integrating and being a part of the community… And this is a group of people that are trying to go trough the healing process and we want to be there to encourage them and support them.” –Constable Alan Rosen mentioned during a short interview at Santa Maria.

The renovation project was valued at over $300,000 and included a generous amount of donated materials and volunteer time. Volunteers participated in refurbishing the dining room and two group counseling rooms. They also landscaped the outdoor green space and playground area and installed new playground equipment and a shade sail.

Click to Watch VIDEO!

The project’s design team contributed over 320 hours towards the planning and design of the renovation. The design team was led by Kirksey Architecture and included LKB Architecture, Rivers Barden Architects, Powers Brown Architecture, Terralab Landscape Architects, and Harvey Builders.

We are extremely thankful to the 40+ corporate sponsors and over 100 volunteers who made this project possible.