Yesterday, the 75-year-old Pasadena Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (PCADD) celebrated its new location, located in the heart of Pasadena.
The long-lasting program, now operated by the non-profit Social Model Recovery Systems, has brought healing and hope to the lives of countless adults and teens struggling with addiction and mental health trauma.
The move to the new space–a brick building featuring a brightly lit modern interior, featuring multiple meeting rooms for group and individual therapy, case management and other support services–was catalyzed by damage to the prior space caused by Tropical Storm Hilary last summer.
“I’m committed to increasing the public’s access to addiction and mental health treatment. A lot of suffering is being caused by addiction and mental illness, including the homelessness crisis our County is experiencing,” stated Supervisor Kathryn Barger. “We’re doing better on meeting the needs that exist, but government alone will not fix this. Collaboration with nonprofits like Social Model Recovery Systems is what will get people the help that they need and, more importantly, that they deserve. I love this program. I’m all in.”
Tours of PCADD’s new location, along with meet and greet opportunities with the devoted staff who work there, were offered before and after the ribbon-cutting ceremony.
“I look to hire and bring people into our organization that have the personal passion it takes to bring us forward,” said Bruce Boardman, Chief Executive Officer of Social Model Recovery Systems. “When people get out of high school and are going into college, very few say ‘I think I’m going to go into the substance abuse treatment field.’ This work takes personal passion.”
Pasadena Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence is located at 44 S. Mentor Avenue, Pasadena, CA 91106.
Photos from the event can be viewed here. B-roll of the grand opening is accessible here. Audio clips of the comments made by Supervisor Barger and CEO Boardman are available here.
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Background: About Pasadena Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence
The Pasadena Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (PCADD) was founded in 1949 with the goal of fostering healthier and more resilient communities through support and education for those impacted by alcoholism and drug dependence.
The PCADD serves over 400 clients annually and is one of 12 treatment programs operated by Social Model Recovery Systems. PCADD also offers Full-Service Partnership, a program funded by the Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health that provides a holistic set of services such as housing, education, job training and case management to adult clients with severe mental illness–doing “whatever it takes” to put them on the path to recovery.