NEWS

WOMEN'S CENTER/POMONA COMPLETES STAGE ONE OF MAJOR EXPANSION

PROTOTYPES Women's Center/Pomona, one of the agency's state-of-the-art residential substance abuse treatment centers, has completed Stage One of a major expansion effort that will double the number of outpatient and day treatment clients the program can serve each year.

Last year, PROTOTYPES completed the purchase of an undeveloped 3.2 acre site adjacent to the existing 3.6 acre Women's Center in Pomona.  Stage One called for construction of a new 11,000 square foot complex for the expansion of comprehensive outpatient and day treatment substance abuse, mental health and related services for PROTOTYPES clients and their children.  The new building will also have the capacity for 23 additional residential clients.

A host of state, county and city dignitaries attended dedication ceremonies held recently along with more than 300 PROTOTYPES supporters, friends and clients.  Speakers included: Kathryn Jett, Director, State of California Department of Alcohol and Drug Program, Dr. Marvin Southard, Director, Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and Richard Browne, Director of Program and Development Technical Assistance, Los Angeles County Drug and Alcohol Rehabilitation Program.

Also partaking in the ceremonies were: The Honorable Edward Cortez, mayor, City of Pomona, The Honorable Norma Torres, Pomona City Councilmember, Angie Castro representing first District Supervisor The Honorable Gloria Molina, and delivering the invocation was Rt. Rev. McKinley Young, Presiding Bishop 10th Episcopal District.

The outpatient and day treatment space will include a large communal dayroom, a co-op childcare center and specialized rooms for parenting education, Mommy and Me clases, counseling and a co-operative child care center for infants and toddlers.  It will also include offices for case management and mental health services, vocational training, job placement and a kitchen for communal meal preparation and snacks.

The facility will include a 3,600 square foot children's outdoor playground.

"When we launched the treatment center in Pomona 13 years ago our goal was simply to provide the best, most innovative programs that we could," Dr. Vivian Brown, PROTOTYPES' founder and CEO, said.  "It was amazing how quickly we outgrew the existing facilities.  When we learned that the adjacent property was available, we knew it was an opportunity we couldn't miss."

PROTOTYPES' Board of Directors and staff are deeply grateful to the many public officials, government agencies, individual donors, corporations and foundations who helped to make this project possible.  Our special thanks for major gifts on this project go to The Ahmanson Foundation, W.M. Keck Foundation, The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, The Rose Hills Foundation, and Weingart Foundation.
 

CLICK HERE TO VIEW PICTURES OF OPENING DEDICATION.