Healing the San Gabriel Valley

“We have been seeing that within our older population, substance abuse can start to become an issue, especially after a big traumatic event,” says AltaMed substance abuse counselor Karen Stephanie Rodriguez.

Karen works with senior patients at AltaMed Viva Gold in West Covina and is part of the new San Gabriel Valley (SGV) Behavioral Health Expansion Project, designed to address the growing need for accessible behavioral health care.

Funded by generous supporters — including L.A. Care Health Plan; BMO; Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County; Ann Peppers Foundation; Mr. Cástulo de la Rocha, JD; Pasadena Community Foundation; and Epic Systems Corporation — the initiative increases access to trauma-informed care, reduces wait times for behavioral health services, and expands access to culturally responsive support for individuals and families.

“If a patient says, ‘I’m having a hard time staying sober,’ or ‘I’m having a lot of cravings and triggers,’ we step in,” says Karen. “We get referrals from the behavioral health program within the same week.” 

Timely support can make all the difference in the recovery process. 

Patients seeking support for substance use have access to a broad range of resources, including AltaMed’s medication-assisted treatment program, referrals to inpatient detox services, intensive outpatient programs, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) hotline, and our internal program, Restoring Balance Through Resilience, which provides individual and group counseling for those struggling with substance use.

“Some patients have told us, ‘I’m trying my best to stay active,’ so they attend groups as long as they’re held here or near their home,” says Karen. “We’re also trying to focus on those who may be more hesitant and just want to give it a try. We try to welcome them as best as we can so they don’t feel like they have to share. We also provide individual counseling for those who are in the contemplation stage and not completely ready to take action.”

As part of the SGV expansion effort, Karen leads another Viva Gold program, Aging Health, which helps seniors address the psychological, emotional, and neurological challenges that can come with aging, while also addressing the risks present around substance use for seniors.

Martha, 73, has been an AltaMed patient for the past eight years. She takes part in the Aging Healthy classes to learn how to manage her anxieties around memory loss as she grows older.