UNWRAPPED Magazine Spring 2015

Spring 2015 $5.99

Jessica Heron &

Gina Capitano:

Curators of the

Ranch

Jessica Heron & Gina Capitano:

Curators of the Ranch After passing through the serene landscape of Canyon Acres Ranch and entering the facility,

you are probably more likely to be warmly welcomed by Jessica Heron, Program Assistant.

When I first visited the newly renovated ranch, Jessica was more than happy to give me a tour

and provide me with some history behind the development of the facility and the wonderful

programs they offer. She knew the Ranch like the back of her hand and knew exactly how many

horses and chickens that reside there. Jessica Heron began working for Canyon Acres Ranch 13

years ago, which she started as an overnight group home staff. She later moved into the morn-

ing shift, became a house supervisor and, throughout her history at the Ranch, has taken on

many other roles like In-Home Safety Aide (IHSA), Crisis 1:1 and Youth Partner. After return-

ing from her maternity leave she then became a Program Assistant.

Jessica Heron is a proud mother of 3 children who keep her very busy. When

asked about how she balances work and home life, she simply shared that

she uses the same strategies she used with the families she has worked with:

she uses charts, chores and incentives. In Jessica’s spare time she likes to go

shoe shopping and help with her 16 year old son’s traveling basketball team.

Jessica also enjoys sleeping, watching sports and reading books in which

one of her favorite reads is the Harry Potter Series. After a long day of work

she loves to come home and watch TV with her kids. Frozen has been her

one and two year old’s favorite. When asked about what is it that has kept

her with Canyon Acres & Seneca FOA for 13 years, she stated “I like what

we do, the services we provide, my coworkers and seeing children and fami-

lies as they come in.”

If it wasn’t for Facilities Supervisor Gina Capitano, Seneca SoCalers and

the families they work with would not be safe and the work spaces would

be as nearly as comfortable. This October will mark Gina’s 14 year anni-

versary with Canyon Acres Ranch. Gina initial career was a painter, but

was hired as a Facilities Supervisor. During the course of her employment

she would outsource some of the work and repairs that she was not famil-

iar with. As these outsourced service providers were working on the

Ranch, Gina was able to learn from them, master their trade and implement

these skills in the work she does. Gina also had many other roles on the

Ranch in which she helped with care and the transportation of children

when it was group home. Today, not only does she service the Ranch, but

also all the Seneca SoCal locations.

Gina is a newlywed, enjoys camping and is in the process of remodeling her duplex. Gina also

has 15 years of snowboarding experience and loves to go to Whistler and Mammoth to hit the

slopes. When asked about what has kept her here for 14 years, she said “I love this place. I know

the quirks of the Ranch and you get to see horses and bunnies.” She then went on to say “I give

Seneca a lot of credit for being proactive in making the Ranch a nicer and cleaner place and

making it how it looks today.”

There is a lot of history at the Ranch. If you haven’t had a tour, make sure you connect with

Jessica or Gina. They have stories to tell and know the in’s and out’s of the property. In

speaking with them, I discovered that not only are they connected to the Ranch but the Ranch

is connected to them.

Headlines

-By Joe Garcia

Jessica Heron

Gina Capitano

“Diamond (left) and Simba (right) . They are both pit-bulls. I can honestly say they do have my demeanor because they are not vicious, they are love bugs. When I arrive home it is like clockwork...They are sitting by the garage door and as soon as I open the door they jump up, give me a kiss and then they will follow me around the house until I finally sit down. Then it begins....cuddling all night long.” -Telana Courseault (Compliance Manager)

“Petey (seen above) is a 7 year old Chihuahua/Poodle. He is my lovable, needy, and ex-tremely energetic first born cuddle-bug.”

-Jessica Filloon (Wrap QA)

Gelding Horses Buck & Cash (seen above). “Like me they

are very sweet and kind. We love to go trail riding and

camping together.”

-Sherry Gimple (Family Recruiter)

“This is my 10 year old dog Peepers.

She is the sweetest girl and has a way

of making every person she meets feel

like they are the best person she has

ever met. Much like the kiddos we

work with, she has had multiple place-

ments early in life due to her being

deaf. While she has slowed down in

many areas, she still acts like a puppy

and forgets all her manners when

food is present. We both love to eat,

sleep, go to the beach and cuddle on

the couch.”

-Kai Ramirez (Wrap Care Coordinator)

“Ellie (seen above) is an 8 year old German Shepherd who loves being

around people and running in the park. She hates fireworks and hav-

ing her toe nails clipped. She is a gentle giant who will bark when you

knock on the door, but then roll over on her back to get her belly

rubbed. Her best trick is looking cute while resting her head on your

lap and putting her paw on your leg until you pet her.”

-Sara Arpiarian (Clinic Therapist)

Here at Seneca SoCal, our pets are a vital support in the work we do.

After a long day, some of us come home to a warm fuzzy animal that is

excited we are there. We vent to them while they listen unconditional-

ly. We pet them to feed our senses. Or we walk and play with them

because they distract us. These are a few of our Seneca SoCalers furry,

feathery or shelled friends and family members.

Seneca SoCal Pets: Supports for the Supporters

“This is Ozzie (seen right). Like me, she loves to be loved. When I arrive home she is ready to play tug-of-war and go for a walk. Her favorite things to do are receive a rub on her tummy or play fetch at the dog beach.”

-Danielle Tellez (Wrap Youth Partner)

Lifestyle

“Stache (left) and I both are devoted Trojan fans! We

are loyal to those we love, we can be stubborn, love to eat

and sleep, love our morning runs together, and love to

have fun! We both have expressive faces too. He is my fur-

baby and he thinks he is human. “

-Inna Liu (Executive Director)

“I know he's not a dog, but here's my

little guy, Jackson (seen above).”

-Jamie Sinnott (Clinical Supervisor)

Samantha Perera (TBS Coach) w/ her pooches

Mozzie & Pixie (seen above).

“This is Lucy (seen right),

she's our eight year old

Staffordshire Bull Terrier.

Like me, she's short and

close to the ground, loves

rice and she's also not as

mean as she looks.”

-Josie Roemhild

(Wraparound Director)

“Bella (seen left) loves to hike, eat,

and smother your face with kisses.

She's a ball of sass and hates clothes,

especially this dress.”

-Karla Torres (Wrap Care Coordinator )

Nina Yamasaki’s (Parent Partner)

Tortoises: Herman (75 years old)

and Sebastian (2 years old).

Stache could also be

mistaken to be Joe

Garcia Senior Editor’s

dog (seen right).

“My dog’s name is Phoebe and we were meant to be. I adopted

her when she was a year old. She is a 2 year old French bulldog

who has a lot of attitude but loves to cuddle. When she wakes up

with allergies and rubs her face on the rug or wiggles to scratch

her back, that’s when I know I will also have allergies for the day. I

put her eye drops in her eyes and grab my eye drops to put into

my eyes. She is smaller than most Frenchies but that does not stop

her when a dog looks at her wrong or starts to bark at her. She

loves to eat, has no fear and once you scratch her head she is your

best friend.” –Jessica Barrera (Wraparound Care Coordinator).

CEO, Ken Berrick’s, Australi-

an Shepards Blue & Missy

(seen left)

Sophie (seen above) -Joe Garcia (Senior Editor)

Lifestyle

Strawberry Filling: 2 pounds fresh strawberries 1/2 cup sugar

Shortbread: 2 cups (260 grams) all-purpose flour 1/4 cup granulated white sugar 2 teaspoons baking powder 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/3 cup cold unsalted butter 1 large egg, 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract 1/2 cup (120 ml) cream, half and half, or milk

Whipped Filling:

1 (8 ounce) package reduced-fat cream cheese, softened

1/2 cup white sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups heavy cream

TBS has a new meaning…The Berry Season:

Chef Gloria Zapata’s Strawberry Shortbread

Strawberry season is now upon us. To celebrate, here is a simple and delicious recipe.

Strawberry Filling: Prepare the filling prior to starting the scone.

Clean strawberries and cut off the tops. Slice the strawberries into quarters. Place strawberries and sugar into the bowl, mix and place a lid

on top. Allow it to sit in the refrigerator for no less than 30 minutes.

Shortbread:

Preheat the oven to 375°F and place the rack in middle of oven. Then, lightly flour a 12 cupcake tin.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Cut the butter into small pieces and blend into the flour mixture

with a pastry blender or two knives. The mixture should look like coarse crumbs. Next, whisk together the egg, cream and vanilla extract and

add to the flour mixture, mixing just until the dough comes together. Do not over mix the dough.

Transfer to a lightly floured surface and then knead the dough gently for four or five times. Then, pat or roll the dough into a 7 inch round.

With a 3 inch round cookie cutter, cut out rounds and place the scones into the cupcake tin. Brush the tops of the scones with a little cream.

Bake for 15 - 20 minutes or until nicely browned and a toothpick inserted in the center of a scone comes out clean. Transfer to a wire rack.

Whipped Filling:

Combine the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla extract in a large cold mixing bowl. Fit the mixer with the whisk attachment and mix on medi-

um speed until smooth. While the mixture is still whipping, slowly pour in the heavy cream. Stop and scrape the bottom of the bowl a couple

of times while you continue whipping until the cream can hold a stiff peak.

To serve: Cut the scones in half and place the bottom half of the scone (soft side up) on a plate. Top with some of the strawberries and

whipped cream. Place the top half of the scone on the strawberries. Top with whipped cream and a few more strawberries. If there is any

juice from the strawberries, drizzle a little over the top of the scone. Serve immediately and enjoy..

Ingredients:

Directions:

-By Gloria Zapata (TBS/MHW Coordinator)

Food

“I just want to share how much I have enjoyed attending all of the trips with the Clinic, TBS, Wrap and Placement. Not only was it

so fun to spend the day together and get to know everyone better, it was so much fun seeing the teams bond, show people

around the Bay Area and see the different programs together. My goal was to have everyone feel more connected to Seneca but

these trips have fully exceeded my expectations and I think they accomplished so much more!”

-Inna Liu (Executive Director)

Clinic Meets Their Note Approver: This series is particularly funny because Bob

Slominski (yes, husband to Lori Slominski in HR) is the note approver for the clinic. So all the

therapists have a lot of interaction with him, but have never met. In the series of our three

trips to Oakland, the first group saw a baby picture of him (they are holding it in one picture

seen below left), the second one they saw a current picture of him (seen right) and the third

group got to meet him (seen below right)! It was very funny!

-By Inna Liu (Executive Director)

Personal Thank You From Seneca SoCal Executive Director Inna Liu:

highlights

OC Wrap Foodie Adventures: Wrappers Get a Taste of Santa Ana’s 4th St. Market

Every so often OC Wrap ventures off to a local restaurant

to try new food, have good conversation and just get out

of the office. For March 2015’s foodie adventure, Wrap-

pers went to Santa Ana’s 4th St. Market to sample some of

the artisan, hand crafted, culinary creations. 4th St. Mar-

ket is a trendy hipster food court that offers a variety of

restaurants with interesting choices. Many of the dishes

these food artisans offer can be described as a fusion of

genres or a twist on a classic favorite.

-By Joe Garcia

What is your favorite movie?

“Field of Dreams. Because it is about fathers and sons,”

Do you have a song that you have on replay or a favorite tune?

“First Circle ,by Pat Methany Group and Happy, by Pharrell”

What do you like to do in your spare time?

“All kids all the time. Me and my kids do little league,

goat club, drama club and Giants Baseball.”

What are some of your hidden talents?

“I think I am funny.”

Have you ever been mistaken for Chuck Norris?

- “No. But I have been mistaken for Eddie Rabbit and Cat Stevens when I was young.”

The word on the street is that OC Wrap has a fun and vibrant staff. It

wouldn’t be possible if it wasn’t for these two ladies. Parent Partners

Nina Yamasaki and Cynthia Reynolds (seen left) decorate the credenza

to get everyone in the holiday and seasonal spirit. I suspect these two

may be the ones responsible for the surprise birthday desk decorating

too!

On March 19th 2015 our CEO Ken Berrick visited the Seneca SoCal programs and some of the

new folks had an opportunity to meet and connect with him. I in particular, had an oppor-

tunity to sit down with him , interview him and ask him some of the most critical questions

that Unwrapped minds want to know. It went a little something like this……...

One thing that I gathered from this interview is that our CEO Ken strongly values children

and families. When I asked him “What are some words of advice or inspirational quotes

you would like to leave us with?” He simply stated……..

-“Keep children and families in the center of your work and everything else will follow.”

OC Wraparound agencies receive

adoption referrals on a regular

basis. At March’s Wrap Institute,

Allison Maxon, Regional Director

(seen left) delivered an outstand-

ing training that challenged our

misbeliefs, changed our thinking

toward adoption, informed us of

the trauma that adopted children

may have experienced and provid-

ed solid interventions that facili-

tate attachment.

March Highlights

When you start working for Seneca Kevin is one

of the first faces you will meet . In March he

facilitated the New Employee Orientation for

the new hires and seasoned Seneca SoCalers.

-By Joe Garcia, Senior Editor

-By Joe Garcia Senior Editor

Senior Editor’s 1:1 Interview with Seneca’s CEO.

Highlights

Eddie Rabbitt

OC Wrap Oakland Trip #2: A Story

Told Strength Summary Style

-By Nina Yamasaki (Parent Partner)

FAMILY STORY: This excited family of OC Wraparound team

members arrived early at Long Beach Airport for a team building

trip to meet other members of our Seneca family in Oakland. All

members were full with excitement and anticipation about what

great things we were going to learn during this busy day. We did

not know that through the day we would learn more about each

other and develop stronger relationships.

Our first stop was at Seneca Headquarters. This very energetic group entered to find friendly coworkers: Melanie and Katie greeting us and

willing to show us around (not to mention the wonderful refreshments). We learned and saw that Ken Berrick really is readily available to talk

with anyone, his office being the first door on the left. Katherine, very welcoming to us, spoke with us and informed us that OC Wrap is truly a

unique program, with different characteristics than other programs. We toured the facility and were invited in to meet new hires while in training

with Kevin. Kevin introduced as the “fun” program.

We traveled a little ways to a neighborhood that held the Building Blocks Preschool. This is truly an inspiring location and program. The staff were awe inspiring, and spoke in such a calm, gentle manner

Next stop was the Willow Rock Crisis Assessment Center. What a fabulous facility and spacious grounds. Cece gave us a tour and overview of the work being done at this location. We enjoyed lunch at this location and rejuvenated our spirit to see more wonderful Seneca surroundings.

Lori at the Foothill Administrative Office gave us a unique tour as we met everyone individually. Many of us were surprised at the number of employees Seneca has and how many applications come into this office on a daily basis. Lori facilitated a game which turned into a concert on the stairs with OC Wrappers.

Our last tour location was Oak Knoll. This unusual location has its own character in building style. We were informed of the past history and important stuff, like ‘every office has a bathroom’. Inna says there is a long time ‘friend’ on the campus, although that could not be confirmed on this particular day.

Our last leg of the trip was to the airport where Maria Elena stepped in ‘dog doodoo’. What a way to end our fabulous day.

Seneca/OC Wrap has strength in life area- EDUCATION: Wrappers were quick to learn a lot about each other: Important things like Nina doesn’t

like long sleeves, Josie doesn’t wear V necks, Maria Elena does not wear skirts or dresses, and that Lupe’s first visit to the United States was to

San Francisco as a foreign exchange student. We also learned that cute shoes are not practical for walking up, or down Anaconda Hill. Elizabeth,

our highly energetic YP transformed right before our eyes. She became interested in ‘everything’ Inna reported on and has educational goals be-

yond belief. This young lady wants to learn and then do every job Seneca offers.

Seneca/OC Wrap has strength in life area- RESOURCEFULNESS: Michelle has amazing packing abilities. She was able to pack for a 2night stay in

the Bay area using only her purse. WOW! And how could she survive without a change or two of shoes?

Seneca/OC Wrap has strength in life area- INNA : Inna is extremely knowledgeable in so many areas. Those in her car were unaware of all her

vast experiences and dedication to Seneca. Inna was great at getting us to all destinations without missing a beat in teaching us about all the

programs Seneca has to offer, her attention to detail in explaining their strengths and needs. Inna, once a stranger too many of us, working down

the hall in an unknown office became an important person that now seems like one should visit regularly for Seneca knowledge and opportunity.

Seneca/OC Wrap has strength in life area- ENVIRONMENT: Every location we toured had beautiful surroundings, colorful and comfortable work

spaces. Building Blocks is nestled in a neighborhood with a home-like character and a unique style. Willow Rock has space and more space, alt-

hough it is not designated for recreation. Wrappers could only imagine what we could have done with all that play area. We were also treated to

a sighting of the wild turkeys. Seneca Headquarters has a one of a kind waterfall and pond with a lovely view of the bay area, if you look just

right, through the trees. Foothill Administrative Office is blessed with an exceptional staircase perfect for Rapping with Wrappers. Oak Knoll has a

unique blend of greenery everywhere. We were graced with the presence of a field of deer welcoming us on arrival.

Seneca/OC has strength in life area- Family Relationships: OC Wrappers already have close ties to each other and were thrilled to meet more of

our Seneca family today. The best part of all locations was the people. Seneca has the most

welcoming, cheerful, compassionate and inspiring coworkers. Everyone was friendly, kind and

Photo on the right

was from the OC

Wrap Oakland trip #1