The Express (November 2022)

THE

Express

OUR WESTCARE STORIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD

WestCare Family,

Welcome from Dick Steinberg

President

Welcome to another uplifting issue of The Express! Every November, we remind ourselves of the many things that we are thankful for. On November 17, our global family of programs came together to share words of thanks with each other as part of an annual tradition that is now in its fifth year - Thankful Thursday I’d like to thank our amazing Human Resources team for once again helping arrange this organization-wide effort as well as everyone who participated! We have an absolutely amazing team and it’s our honor to celebrate that! Thank you for all that you do for your fellow staff and those that we serve!

On the topic of thankfulness, it’s hard not to think of the duty and sacrifices that have been made by the active-duty members of our armed forces as well as the estimated 16.5 million U.S. Veterans living today according to data from the 2021 Census. With this, November is the perfect time for honoring these heroes with observances including Military Family Appreciation Month, the U.S. Marine Corps’ 247th Birthday on November 10, and Veterans Day on November 11. To all of these brave men and women and their friends and loved ones that have stood by them through good times and bad times - thank you.

As a Veteran who has the honor of serving alongside many other Veterans in this organization, it warms my heart to know that we are recognized in the communities that we serve as a valuable lifeline for those who gave their all to ensure our nation’s continued freedom. With unique Veterans programs in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Guam, Illinois, Iowa, Nevada, Oregon, Washington, the Republic of Palau, and most recently, Kentucky and Tennessee - we are hitting our mark by supporting our Vets in a multitude of ways including through housing, employment, and linkages to VA benefits. We have also continued to see exciting growth in our capacity to serve Veterans and their families such as with the recent awards of funding from the VA’s Staff Sergeant Gordon Fox Suicide Prevention Grant Program to California, Oregon, Kentucky, and Tennessee. Through our efforts, we are not only doing our part to help, but are truly giving thanks each and every day for all that they have done for us and our country. To our dedicated staff within the domain of Veterans Services, thank you!

To our entire WestCare Family, I hope that you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday full of rest and new memories made with your loved ones. I'd also like to send a special thank you to our residential staff who did not get to be home for Thanksgiving, but dedicated their time to ensuring that those that we serve had a memorable holiday. I am thankful for your time, commitment, and heart that you put into caring for those that we serve. Thank you for joining us in Uplifting the Human Spirit and until next time…

Dick Steinberg

WestCare Arizona is "Spooktacular"

By Emily Selby, Counselor

Throughout the month of October, WestCare Arizona celebrated recovery and Halloween with events around the community. We attended the annual Walk Away from Drugs event along with various community partners of ours. This is an annual event that WestCare Arizona attends to promote a drugfree community all while having fun and meeting people in the community. We also participated in a Trunk or Treat event and provided candy and prizes for kids in and around the community. This event is a local favorite and brings hundreds of residents out to enjoy! Although October is a busy month for us, we are committed to Uplifting the Human Spirit in our wonderful community!

WestCare Arizona @westcareaz

The 11th Annual Fresno AIDS Walk

In November, WestCare California proudly presented our 11th Annual Fresno AIDS Walk at Woodward Park in support of The Living Room and their continued services for those infected, affected, or at risk of HIV/AIDS. After being presented virtually the past two years, we were happy to be back to an in-person format with our friends, family, and community partners. While this annual event is a fundraiser, it is also a tremendous event for awareness of the virus, remembrance for those that we’ve lost to it, and support for those who live with it. This year's event was only made possible by the compassion and hard work of so many individuals! We would like to thank everyone that participated in, sponsored, donated volunteered, planned, performed, ran a vendor booth, or helped in any way to support our event and our cause! Through your generosity, enthusiasm and heart, you have helped make this year one to remember for years to come! Thank you!

WestCare California

@westcarecalifornia

@WestCareCA

Our First Treatment Gradua

By Victoria Osuna, Executive Director

On Oct. 17, with great pride and satisfaction, we held our graduation. Six of our participants from Guara Bi - Dominican finished their treatment, which lasted a year and a half, reintegrated into society. It is worth mentioning that one part of our therapeutic staff at the program, another serves capacity with our Community Action Council (CAC), and another works for the Dominican Republic’s National Drug Council/Consejo Nacional De Drogas (CND) It was an honor to not only be able to present this first graduation ceremony, but have Chief Executive Officer for WestCare Foundation, Mr. Ken Ortbals, and our Chief Operating Officer of WestCare Caribbean and Latin America, Mr. Cristian Duarte, in attendance along with our graduates’ loved ones.

Guara Bi

Reinforcing Liaisons

By Yolanda Gonzalez, Program Assistant and HR Coordinator

As part of the activities related to the visit of our Chief Executive Officer, Mr. Ken Ortbals, we received a visit of the President of the National Drug Council/Consejo Nacional De Drogas (CND), retired Major General Jaime Marte Martínez and the Director of Universidad Tecnológica de Santiago (UTESA), María Elena Cruz Batista. Guara Bi - Dominican Republic in collaboration with the CND reaffirmed its commitment to support the most vulnerable sectors of the country through training, awareness, and specialized guidance on the prevention of drug use. This commitment seeks to implement actions to prevent the use of psychoactive substances. Mr. Cristian Duarte recognized and thanked the work and assistance of the CND and its president, General Major Marte Martinez. During the visit, Major General Marte Martínez commended Guara Bi and our therapeutic staff for their commitment to serving vulnerable members of our community.

Enjoy these photos from our 5th Annual organization-wide Thankful Thursday events! More photos can be found online via our social media pages.

Guidance/Care Center (GCC) Provides Hope After Hurricane Ian

On Sept. 27, Hurricane Ian made its way across the Gulf of Mexico and towards the west coast of Florida. Although the eye of the storm was 65 miles away, the Category 3 storm brought flooding and made its impact felt throughout our island chain. In addition, there were several fires that occurred in Key West most likely from the flood waters hitting live electricity then spreading due to windy conditions. As a result, thousands of families were impacted. Homes in Bahama Village took on four to five feet of water and the Flagler Fire left 40 families homeless. Anxiety and despair were felt by many, but the Guidance/Care Center (GCC) felt the call for hope. GCC is the disaster crisis counseling provider, a critical needs facility and part of the Monroe County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD). Our role is to assist with mental health crisis support, case management, and help individuals obtain their psychiatric medications through our Indigent Drug Program, Americares. In the past two months, GCC staff have been readily available to assist with the crisis and have taken to the streets to provide outreach. There have been many community events in the hardest hit areas and visits to facilities like the Florida Keys Overnight Temporary Shelter (KOTS) where we could simply do a check in with residents, listen to their stories, and help provide resources to them.

By Maureen Dunleavy, LMHC., Regional Vice President

Natural disasters such as hurricanes have long-lasting effects on communities and their residents. We have learned this from experience. Recovery is a process that continues long after disaster recovery support has left the community. Unfortunately, Hurricane Ian was not the first storm and it will not be the last. We know that our GCC staff and Florida Keys residents will continue to experience mental health symptoms like anxiety each year, leading up to those hurricane months. These feelings increase each time a new storm is pending. It is easy to panic when you see the news and live through the “cone of uncertainty.” Vicarious trauma and anxiety can also be felt after witnessing what other storms have done and how they have impacted other parts of our WestCare family. What we do know is that providing mental health services such as crisis support and outreach during hurricane recovery fosters hope. This comprehensive approach saves lives. We will be thrilled when this hurricane season ends on Nov. 30, but will hope that next year is a quiet one.

Taking Steps Towards a Healthier Life

By Maritza Portillo, Administrative Services Coordinator

As a women and children’s center, The Village South recognizes the importance of celebrating Breast Cancer Awareness Month and our responsibility to our community to provide awareness and information on this important topic.

This year, we had the privilege to host Dr. Perla Del Pino White from Memorial Primary Care She provided valuable health information to our ladies regarding breast cancer. Topics such as “Knowing your risks” and “Taking preventative measures and testing” were at the forefront of the presentation. Our clients were engaged and observant during Dr. White’s presentation.

The realization that one in eight women can develop breast cancer in their lifetime was an eye-opener for many in the room, which prompted questions and inquiries. Taking the time to receive yearly physicals that include suggestions for a healthy diet, lab tests for glucose/sugar levels, blood pressure and cholesterol checks, and performing self-examinations is a start to knowing your numbers early in life, which can be used to compare future changes in one’s body. During her visit, Dr. White stressed the need to quit smoking as it is a factor in the development of breast cancer. Lastly, what we all need is a good night’s rest as most adults require seven to nine hours to avoid a lack of concentration and productivity as well as depression. Let us all take this time whether male or female to start preventative measures for our overall health! The Village South, Inc

Georgia Strengthens Treatment with Activity and Teamwork

By Micheal Bigby, Program Director

This month has been a very active month for WestCare Georgia’s clients and proof that becoming sober and whole can be both impactful and fun. This month, we were gifted tickets to take all of our clients from the Youth Academy and Guidance Center to watch the Atlanta Hawks play.

In addition, some of our clients from the Guidance Center got to take a five-day, four-night hike with Adventures in Recovery (AIR) This trip was full of activities like yoga, meditation, and breathing exercises as well as a 16-mile hike up the North Mountain. This trip truly made a positive impact on our clients.

Lastly, we gathered all of our clients from Guidance Center and Youth Academy for a kickball tournament in Carrollton. The teams were comprised of clients and staff from both centers and the competition was electrifying. WestCare board member, Derrick Boazman, presented trophies for first and second place as well as the youth and adult MVP Hustle Awards.

While supporting our clients and uplifting their spirits, we aim to take a holistic approach to treatment. Therefore, we understand that fun activities are also important and impactful in conjunction with the programs and curriculums that we teach.

By

During the extremely cold winter months in Sioux City, Iowa, the Warming Shelter opens its doors to the homeless with the help of generous donors from the Sioux City area. The Warming Shelter is open 24/7 from Nov. 1 until May 5 and then reopens again for the hot summer months during the afternoon hours to prevent our brothers and sisters who are experiencing homelessness from overheating due to heat exposure. The Warming Shelter is run by its Executive Director, Tessa Shanks, and only two to three other staff members. The Warming Shelter also has a board of directors that helps manage the funding given to the shelter. This shelter has functioned with no government support to maintain the ability to allow anyone and everyone to enter the shelter without meeting any sort of criteria. This is all thanks to the many charitable organizations including churches and individuals that give their time, supplies, meals, and other much needed donations.

The overnight shelter provides sleeping quarters for 80 males, 20 females, and has a family room that can hold up to 16 people. Along with a bed, those staying at the Warming Shelter are provided with access to a washer and dryer, shower and hygiene supplies, clean clothing, case management services, community resources, and transportation to the local soup kitchen during afternoon mealtime. The Warming Shelter also has a homeless program called, “Street Medicine” that works with other local providers to help individuals experiencing homelessness with minor medical needs such as bandages, aspirin, and other over-the-counter medications. The Warming Shelter also provides individuals in their care with laptops to use and a local cellular provider, Cricket Wireless, stops by to sell phones and services at extremely reduced prices for those staying at the shelter.

Alcohol addiction away The Warming ensure that every resident and staff member is safe.

There are only two main homeless shelters in the Sioux City area. The Warming Shelter is the only homeless shelter in the Sioux City area that does not require residents to attend faith-based services and/or be completely sober or able to pass a drug and alcohol test to stay there. Due to a large number of the Sioux City’s homeless population being Native American and Somalian, some of those individuals find other sleeping arrangements during the spring, summer, and fall months due to religious reasons and will stay at the Warming Shelter during the winter months. The shelter also helps to prevent Sioux City’s homeless population from committing crimes in order to go to jail and ensure they do not die due to exposure. The Warming Shelter has done a wonderful job providing shelter, food, and hope to Sioux City’s unhoused individuals and families. We love our partnership and to be able to come in to provide case management services for the Veterans and their families that they serve!

The Partners for Success Program Takes Part in Some Fall Fun!

Education

By Carlos G. Rodriguez, Program Director

Festival Students involved in the and alcohol. All who attended the time and made new memories while proving that sober fun is possible!

WestCare Kentucky Staff Gain First-Hand Insight Through Reentry Simulation

On Nov. 2, WestCare Kentucky employees, Anna Wakeland, Reginald Kaigler, and Johnny Mullins attended a reentry simulation presented by the Kentucky Department of Corrections’ Division of Reentry Services Participants met on the Pikeville Campus of the Big Sandy Community and Technical College for the event.

The simulation mimicked the struggles and challenges faced by justiceinvolved individuals who are transitioning from incarceration into society. The goal of this simulation was for participants to gain an understanding of the obstacles faced by such individuals who are attempting to navigate the system.

By Gary Compton, Director of Contract Compliance

The event room contained 15 stations. Each station represented one of the many places a returning citizen must navigate. Each station had random elements which produced real life uncertainty when dealing with each of these agencies and organizations. These stations included or pertained to the DMV, probation, court, GED classes, the bank, an employer, a social services office, a church, a pawn shop, a landlord/rental agency, transportation, a health clinic, treatment, etc. Additionally, there were “monitors” and “officers” who check “Life Cards” to aid Probation Officers in assessing each “reentrant’s” level of compliance. They also identified those who may need increased levels of supervision.

Over the course of 90 minutes, participants experienced the first month of post-release life. Each participant assumed the identity of a justiceinvolved individual and received a packet of materials including a “Life Card.” The “Life Card” explained the reentrant’s criminal background, current living situation, current job, and the specific weekly tasks that must be accomplished in order to avoid the risk of being returned to prison for non-compliance of their supervised release. The simulation began with an explanation and instructions from the facilitator and the “reentrants” then set out to navigate their new lives. Each “week” takes place in a 15-minute segment.

Between each segment (at the end of each “week”), reentrants returned to their housing locations, which can be home, the halfway house, a homeless shelter, or jail depending on how successful they have been in satisfying the conditions of their release and accomplishing their assigned tasks. They then engaged in a guided discussion with the event facilitators debriefing them with regards to their experiences and helping them reflect on their successes and failures.

Reentry simulations provide participants with the the perspective of the returning citizens. The intention is to represent a realistic landscape that justice-involved individuals might face when coming home. By experiencing the complex obstacles and barriers that these individuals must navigate, participants gain insight into the individual’s perspective and discover innovative ways to help them succeed.

WestCare’s Anna Wakeland stated, “Reentry services are extremely important to prevent recidivism. The Reentry Simulation opened the eyes of our employees and allowed us to see the challenges that citizens encounter when transitioning from incarceration to home.”

WestCare Kentucky

The 2022 OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Invitational

By Sashia Whitmire, Supervisor

WestCare Nevada was honored again at the 2022 OPTIMA Ultimate Streetcar Invitational for their annual charity to fight hunger on Nov. 5 at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. The day’s spectacular event started off with the National Anthem and presentation of colors by a color guard team overseen by Rancho High School’s Lt. Col. Michael Richmond. Their participation and flawless efforts were the beginning of a fantastic day.

This was the third year that WestCare was named the honorary non-profit organization to benefit from the OPTIMA event. Myself, along with two clients and the newly wrapped and painted WestCare Nevada Marketing Mobile driven by our Vice President of Operations, Leo Magrdichian, participated in collecting donated entry fee items at the gate. Drivers and their families along with spectators drove in an abundance of foods, canned goods, clothing, and nearly $1,000 in monetary donations! All items will support our clients. We are so grateful to have been blessed with generous contributions.

WestCare was not the only one who received a wonderful gift. All patrons at the track were entertained by Nellis Airforce Base’s Aviation Nation 2022 Air Show. USAF Thunderbirds screamed across the sky as they twisted and turned in complex maneuvers that showed the beauty and power of these aircraft and the skill of their well-trained pilots. Witnesses from the ground cheered and applauded as their eyes met delight in seeing the great performances from the pilots and courageous parachuters who leaped from planes, beautifully floating downward giving the audience a nervous thrill. It was a perfect ending to a very good day.

In closing, WestCare Nevada wishes to say thank you again to all of the key players that made this year’s fundraiser a success including OPTIMA Ultimate Street Car Association (USCA) and Project Manager for FM3 Performance Marketing, Carrie Strange. Without your support, this would not have been possible. Last but not least, to our WestCare clients and Leo Magrdichian - your presence and dedication to this organization is uplifting. Keep up the excellent work!

Charlene Pech, Program Manager

Luz Rivera, Mental Health Counselor

By Raymond Powers, Program Director

WestCare Nevada @westcarenevada @westcarenevada

John Goertzen, Peer Support Specialist

Christi Willits, Case Manager

Paving The Way for Our Local Heroes: Veterans Lives Transformed!

By Nicole Cruz, Employment Specialist

Guam has a special place in our country's military services since we have one of the highest enlistment rates. As our local heroes transition back to civilian life, some may need additional support in rediscovering their place in our community.

WestCare Pacific Islands’ (WPI) new addition to the family, the Path to Freedom (PTF) program, will be able to assist Guam's underemployed Veterans who are experiencing homelessness in obtaining and maintaining meaningful employment. This new WPI initiative is made possible through a grant from the U.S Department of Labor’s Homeless Veterans’ Reintegration Program (HVRP).

The team behind PTF has made it a priority to understand the needs of prior service members who are searching for employment. The program will help Veterans transition into our local labor force by providing an array of support services including job-driven training and certifications, job placement, and workshops that enhance personal development and employment opportunities.

PTF officially launched in October and shared the news of this added resource for our island’s Veterans with local media outlets, coalitions, and the Lt. Governor’s Interagency Council on Homelessness. The team recognizes that connecting with local community partners whose mission aligns with PTF’s goals plays a critical role in delivering a wraparound approach.

The program strives to support our Veterans by paving the way to access opportunities from job certification and employment training to transportation services. As PTF begins its journey, we will remain steadfast in our commitment to our Veterans. We will inspire hope and enhance our Veterans’ ability to achieve autonomy, rediscover their place within our community, and find their "Path to Freedom.”

WestCare Pacific Islands @westcare.pi

had finance department, and received a presentation from each program coordinator with an overview of their programs including our partnership in Argentina. Ken was also in attendance for the opening of our new long-term care facility, Bartolo Joy, which offers services to adults 60 years of age or older who are in a situation of abandonment, extreme poverty, high-risk conditions, and/or a lack of attention or care. Ken’s visit was enriching for all of our staff and in turn, he was able to learn about the functions performed by each project and their employees. We hope that you can visit us again soon at Guara Bi - Puerto Rico!

Guara Bi

My Story of Progress and Change

By

The best way that I know to explain the changes that I have made in my life since my time in active addiction is to start with my lack of honesty during that time - both towards myself and my family. I would minimize the issues in my day-to-day life to put off trying to fix the things that were wrong with the way that I was living, thinking to myself, “I’m grown; I’ve got to take care of myself,” but I continued slipping further and further from a healthy lifestyle and my making the same decisions. I was distancing myself from my family and my few healthy friends. I was taking valuable time from the people who were really the most important in my life, was absent in my family's lives, and a disappointment to my few clean friends – instead staying so low and selfcentered. I struggled to maintain employment because of my lack of work ethic and persistence.

I became exactly what I had promised to never become - just another person in the substance use lifestyle instead of the genuine and good person that I strive to be now. I became a statistic in the fight against drugs in my community. Not only did my actions spread the reach of drugs, but my time in addiction caused legal problems between possession charges and a lack of will to take care of my probation responsibilities I lost my freedom and once again, lost time with the important people in my life.

I lost weight, developed issues with my blood pressure, and lost my teeth. I went downhill and could not seem to come back no matter how hard I tried. My lifestyle kept me so stressed and depressed that I just kept getting high to try and escape. My time in addiction kept me down and kept me from being honest enough with myself to conquer my pride and realize that I was the problem.

Since that time, I have chosen honesty. Blunt and unrelenting honesty is the only treatment that helps fight this disease. Since I have chosen to be honest and upfront with myself and everyone else, my commitment to change is to continue with my honesty and to do everything that I can to be present in the lives of everyone that I hold dear.

By Alisa Garza, Administrative

WestCare Texas partnered with San Antonio for Growth on the Eastside (SAGE), the City of San Antonio’s Metropolitan Health District, Davis-Scott Family YMCA, and 48 vendors to bring the community together for an afternoon of familyfriendly fun at the 2022 HalloEast Halloween festival. The San Antonio community was treated to information booths on local services, a WestCare-sponsored photo booth, horse rides from the San Antonio Rodeo, and goodie bags from the San Antonio Food Bank.

Moreover, as Lindsey Logan mentioned, one of the most important components of the festival was the incentivized COVID-19 bivalent vaccinations and flu shots coordinated by WestCare and the UIW Nursing's Cardinal Wellness Center. Bivalent shots are a key health advantage because they target past and present COVID-19 variants. In addition, each person that was vaccinated received a $100 H-E-B grocery gift card resulting in a significant economic boost for families who had multiple members vaccinated. At this event, 246 individuals were vaccinated for COVID-19 and 60 people received the flu shot, which totaled to $24,600 in HEB gift cards!

“This event demonstrates how the community can get vaccinated when everyone works together – non-government agencies, government and universities – for the common good of the people” said Dr. Linda Hook, Director at the UIW Nursing Cardinal Wellness Center.

Lastly, the safe trick-or-treat environment provided to families was priceless as the San Antonio Police Officers’ Association (SAPOA) ensured safe passage for people throughout Pittman-Sullivan Park where the event was held and assisted in checking candy received by children.

“HalloEast is an annual Halloween event. Pre-COVID, we held block parties in the middle of North New Braunfels Street, gathering hundreds of children and families to collect candy, enjoy entertainment, and meet with organizations in their Eastside community. When COVID hit, we turned our celebration into a drive-thru and handed out candy and information through car windows. So, this year was extra special as we returned in-person to celebrate. This year, over 850 residents participated in HalloEast. We had an amazing turnout with a mix of resource partners and businesses that joined us to disseminate their information and pass out candy to the children. Through the assistance of WestCare, University of Incarnate Word (UIW) held a pop-up clinic where over 250 residents were provided COVID vaccines and boosters as well as flu shots. This year was truly important to remind people the importance of laughter, community, and staying safe. This was all done for the kiddos!”

Lindsey Logan, Community Relations Manager and Program Specialist for SAGE

Development Grants & Resource

WestCare Represents at the 2022 GPA Annual Conference

By Andrew Moran, Development Director, WestCare Nevada

From Nov. 2 - 5, nearly 1,000 grant professionals participated in the 2022 Grant Professionals Association (GPA) Annual Conference in Louisville, Kentucky held at the Omni Louisville Hotel. WestCare’s amazing team of grant writers participated in the conference and learned some new, exciting, and helpful tools to assist them in their roles.

Lisa Jackson, Vice President of Grant Development for WestCare Foundation, made sure that our team of 12 were taken care of for the duration of the conference. The conference ran for four days and every day was filled with a full agenda of grant-related topics. The exhibit hall was also open all day for networking opportunities and different sessions throughout the day.

The opening session began with the keynote presentation and annual meeting, which kicked off the conference in style with a creative rap to the beat of Salt-N-Pepa’s “Whatta Man” and went a little something like, “What a grant, what a grant, what a grant, what a mighty good grant.” Everyone in the crowd sang along, became full of energy, and almost fell over from laughter.

It was the perfect beginning to a wonderful conference. Some of my favorite breakout sessions were:

“7 Methods for Grant Professionals to Prioritize Proposals for A Grant Team” “Success Starts at Square One: Leading Successful Initial Grant Meetings” “Opening Pandora’s Box: 10 Phases of Grant Management”

Because I was a newcomer, I also attended the “Research Grant Development 101/102” sessions. These breakouts introduced the group to this growing sector. We learned how to develop research grant writing tools to enhance our grants strategy and development skillset. Now, I can understand how grant management and ethics components impact research grant preparation and determine who funds research.

One session was called, “You Walk Away Without a Rose: Why You Get Turned Down for a Grant and What to Do.” This session gave us the top 10 reasons why grants get denied and what we can do to change that without frustration. The main idea that I took away was that you have to be motivated to improve the grant writing process, make connections with grant-funded programs, and craft language that enhances the applications that we submit.

Overall, it was an informative week and I look forward to the 25th annual GPA conference being held next year in Kansas City. It was beneficial visiting with WestCare's grants team as we strategize about our upcoming grants. I’d like to thank the team for including me as I learned so much about the grant writing process and everything that is happening in the various regions that WestCare serves.

Technology Information

Adapted from the November 2022 Issue

Shop Smart and Stay Safe This Holiday Season

‘Tis the season for holiday gifts and shopping! To avoid waiting in lines and traffic, many people opt out of going to malls and choose to shop online. Cyber threat actors are aware of that fact, and it is their time to be active and develop new methods of tricking people. Be vigilant and avoid falling into their traps. The security tips below will help reduce the likelihood of your information falling into the wrong hands and ensure that you have a more hassle-free shopping experience this holiday season.

Avoid Using Public Wi-Fi

While using public Wi-Fi is convenient, it is not secure and doesn’t protect your sensitive data.

Abstain from using public Wi-Fi at all costs while purchasing and placing orders. Confirm that you do not allow the "Connect automatically" Wi-Fi network preference on any of your devices. Instead of public Wi-Fi, use internet connections that require you to provide a password to access a Wi-Fi network; this will indicate that the communication between your device and the wireless router is encrypted.

Shop Safely

While shopping and making payments, only use sites that are well-known, legitimate, and secure. Please ensure that the site has a “lock” (padlock symbol) in the URL bar and that the URL starts with “HTTPS,” meaning that the information between your browser and the server is encrypted. Make sure you’re clear about what you are buying and what you are paying for.

Strengthen Passwords

Have strong and secure passwords. This is one of the best ways to protect yourself. Change your passwords immediately if you think there is any chance it has been compromised. Consider using paraphrases that make sense to you and are only known to you.

Be Wary of Emails and Resist the Urge to Click

Resist the urge to open emails right away. Check who the email is from. Be cautious when emails look too good to be true. They may be scams to get your information. Stop and think before you click and take any action.

Use Smartphones Wisely

Avoid using your smartphones for any purchases. Refrain from clinking on links from unknown text messages. Protect your smartphones with a password and anti-malware software.

Use Credit Cards

Avoid using debit cards. It is safer not to use them since they are related to bank accounts. Use credit cards instead; they offer many protections to their customers: Credit card companies will stop payments that look fishy. They may call customers to check if transactions are valid. Users can dispute all invalid charges with credit card companies, and these providers will generally nullify all suspicious charges and send a replacement card in the mail.

Monitor Your Credit Cards

Keep track of your credit cards and accounts, especially during the holiday season. Monitor your transactions to check if they are valid and legit. If something looks suspicious, reach out to the customer service departments of the credit card companies and/or banks involved by contacting their toll-free number, email, or website chat services.

Additional Resources

For even more information on holiday shopping safety, visit the following resources: https://staysafeonline.org/resources/online-shopping/ https://securityintelligence.com/articles/holiday-cybersecurity-tips/ https://securityspecialists.com/blog/holiday-season-safety-and-security-tips-to-remember/

Uplifting the Human Spirit since 1973

WestCare, a family of tax-exempt nonprofit organizations founded in 1973, provides a wide spectrum of behavioral health and human services in both residential and outpatient environments. Our service domains include Treatment and Rehabilitation, Mental Health, Veterans Services, Criminal Justice, Housing Opportunities, Education, Prevention, and support for those fleeing Domestic Violence. These services are available to adults, children, adolescents, and families. We specialize in helping people traditionally considered difficult to treat, such as those who are indigent, have multiple disorders, or are involved with the criminal justice system.

Proudly serving seventeen states, three U.S. territories, the Dominican Republic and the Republic of Palau

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Storytelling is part of The Express

The Express is made possible through stories submitted by our amazing WestCare teams around the world. We know that each and every day, a positive change is happening for our clients with our support.

Have a story to tell? Please email marketing@westcare.com and let's share the impact WestCare makes in Uplifting the Human Spirit.

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Head to smile.amazon.com and select WestCare Foundation as the recipient.

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