Santa Barbara’s Casa Serena celebrated its 60th birthday with a beautiful luncheon in early October at the Rosewood at Miramar Beach in Montecito. Making the event even more special for HLG, Casa Serena there presented us with its Leadership in Excellence Award for 2019.
Casa Serena’s mission is to “help women and their families recover from addiction by providing evidence-based treatment services while building community, instilling self-determination, and empowering them with educational opportunities and financial literacy.” Its professional staff includes Marriage and Family Therapists, Certified Addiction Treatment Counselors and Early Childhood Educators. At the core of its successes are two beautifully cared-for and welcoming properties, including Santa Barbara’s only treatment facility where mothers recovering from addiction can reunite and live with their children. Casa Serena has given thousands of women a firm foundation on which to begin their recoveries from addiction and abuse.
It opened its doors to alcoholic women in August of 1959 primarily through the efforts of its founder, Mildred Pinheiro. Recovering from alcoholism herself, Mildred wanted to open the home “because there was no place here for a woman alcoholic to go for help.”
Case Serena:
• Has the only non-denominational program of its kind in Santa Barbara.
• Offers the only residential treatment facility for women with children in Santa Barbara County.
• Is the oldest residential recovery program for women in Santa Barbara County.
• Provides a comprehensive licensed residential treatment program.
• Includes step-down treatment and lifetime aftercare as part of its holistic approach.
HLG has for years proudly supported this important local organization as our “signature” non-profit. Our Executive Director, Erin Schaden, has generously donated hundreds of hours of her time to Casa Serena, and presently serves as the President of its Board of Directors. HLG continues as a solid donor. Presently, we are facilitating a potential grant through the AAML Foundation toward providing pro bono legal services to its residents.
Casa Serena’s acknowledgement of HLG’s support and leadership is much appreciated. In reality, the organization has also given much to us, in broadening our own perspectives and providing paths for meaningful service.
Please go to casaserena.org for more information and giving opportunities.