San Diego County CA— McAlister Institute, a non-profit organization that helps bring life-saving services in substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, life skills education, and vocational training to individuals and families regardless of their inability to pay, has received an $11,195 grant from Las Patronas to fund a wellness courtyard at the organization’s Kiva Learning Center for Women and Children (Kiva). Kiva, which receives its primary funding through contract with the County of San Diego’s Health and Human Services Agency, was established in 1981. With its founding, McAlister Institute became one of the first five organizations in the nation and the first in San Diego County to develop a residential program that allows women to live with their children in a safe, instructive, and supportive environment while they receive treatment.
The wellness courtyard will promote optimum health by supporting physical, emotional and spiritual wellness. Aligned with the County’s Live Well San Diego Initiative, the courtyard will address existing physical decline as well as offer a relapse prevention strategy through a fitness exercise station and mini-jogging path, which will offer residents an ongoing opportunity to exercise regularly to improve their physical health. Plans include an engraved sign within the courtyard to proudly display that it is named: “The Las Patronas Wellness Courtyard”.
“We are proud to support the McAlister Institute and its mission to provide professional services that heal the lives of individuals and families through recovery,” said Michelle Wiseman, Las Patronas President. “We are grateful to our many contributors who support our year-long fundraising efforts. It is because of their generosity that Las Patronas is able to fund requests for critical needs like the Wellness Courtyard at the Kiva program.”
Dedicated to building better health, the Wellness Courtyard will provide an ongoing vehicle for steps every resident can take to create a well-rounded and thriving life—physically, emotionally and spiritually—as it focuses on improving health and supporting healthy choices. The courtyard bolsters the ability of program residents to thrive, as it is integrated with the program’s treatment services to promote the very highest quality of life for Kiva’s clients.
“We are sincerely thankful that the generous support of Las Patronas will allow our clients to build on the recovery that their treatment services offer by providing them with a dedicated space to work on all areas of their health,” said Jeanne McAlister, agency founder and CEO.
McAlister Institute helps bring life-saving services in substance abuse treatment, mental health counseling, life skills education, and vocational training to individuals who could not otherwise afford help.