Don’t miss tonight’s meeting. The speaker is Winston Taw the Peer Specialist from Project Return Support Network. Project Return is in its 18th year as a client-run peer support program. Taw will speak about the “Hacienda of Hope” and the “Hope Well.” The Hacienda of Hope and the Hope Well are two programs that are co-located in a friendly, welcoming residential complex in Long Beach. The Hacienda of Hope is a short-term residential respite program for people in crisis who are living with mental illness. Hope Well, co-located with Hacienda of Hope, is an information and resource center managed by peers providing linkage to community services and is open to anyone in need of assistance. At Hope Well, a peer specialist will help develop an individualized action plan and monitor progress toward clear goals.

The effectiveness of peer-run respite homes like Hacienda of Hope has been documented throughout the United States. This model is now available in Southern California through the efforts of the California Mental Health Services Authority (CalMHSA), Mental Health America Los Angeles (MHALA), and the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health (LADMH)..

More information about Hacienda of Hope, Hope Well and the Project Return Peer Support Network is available at there informative website HERE. This months meeting promises to be informative and helpful. Please plan on attending at 7:30 p.m., Monday, November 18. Please also attend the Caring and Sharing support group before the meeting.