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Mission


About HWMCGC

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Mission


About HWMCGC

 

Mission Statement

The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic & Adult Behavioral Health provides mental health and substance abuse services and the resources necessary to promote wellness and recovery for Kern County children, adults and families. 

 

The Clinic does not deny services based upon the client’s inability to pay. There is a discounted/sliding fee schedule available based on family size and income.

 
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Leadership


Leadership


EXECUTIVE

 

LINDA HOYLE, LMFT

Executive Director

 

CLINICAL 

 

KAREN MONIZ-SMITH, LMFT

West Bakersfield Program Manager

Zaira ammons, Apcc

West Bakersfield Project Manager

Desiree Meza-Actis, LMFT

North Bakersfield Program Manager

Corina Vasquez, LMFT

Delano Program Manager

Carl Coble, LMFT

Network & Kinship Program Manager

Marcie Lesser, LMFT

North Bakersfield Program Manager

FREDERIC ROWE, MD

Medical Director

ADMINISTRATIVE 

 

RICK ROSENBERGER

Information Systems Manager

CANDY COATS

Human Resources Manager

 Tamara Jones

 Accounting Manager


 

2023-2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS

GLYNDA S. MARTIN

Board President

mary vanderwerff

Vice President

Chelsea Ashcraft

Secretary

charlie mccarthy

Treasurer

amanda digiacomo

Board Member

Dr. Arika Jackson

Board Member

Eleanor Leal

Board Member

Dr. Tiara King

Board Member

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History 1


History 1


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History 2


History 2


History

In 1945, Irma Weill, daughter of Henrietta Weill, led a study group of the Mental Hygiene Society of Kern County whose focus was to bring a psychiatrist to Bakersfield and to establish a child guidance clinic that would serve troubled youth in our community. After successfully completing all of its goals, the Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic was established and opened its doors on February 1, 1946.

The Clinic was named in memory of Henrietta Weill who was a member of a prominent Bakersfield family, and who was known for her progressive thinking and leadership in relation to children’s social service issues. Henrietta was married to Alphonse Weill, the proprietor of a local mercantile store in Bakersfield. They had four children, Blanche, Irma, Adele (who died at the age of seventeen from an appendicitis), and Lawrence. In addition to taking care of her own four children, Henrietta was very interested in educating young children and established the first kindergarten in town.

When Henrietta Weill died in 1941, after assisting the children of the area for her entire lifetime, her daughters worked to establish a memorial to her. As the plans for the Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic were being developed by a three-man board of directors, Blanche and Irma arranged for the removal of the old family home to Pioneer Village at the Kern County Museum. Then the lot was sold for the benefit of the Clinic. The first Clinic was based on California Avenue, two blocks east of Union Avenue. In December of 1981, the Clinic site was moved to its current location at 3628 Stockdale Highway.

Since its inception in 1946, the Clinic has provided services to thousands of area children and families. Annually, the Clinic provides services to more than 3,000 children and their families who receive more than 30,000 specific services in a given year. To accommodate this demand of services, the Clinic has dramatically grown over the years as well. The doors opened in 1946 with only two employees, whereas, today that number has increased to nearly 100 people on staff. The number of services offered also continues to grow.

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Outpatient


Outpatient


Our Services

The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic & Adult Behavioral Health is a private, non-profit, outpatient mental health center serving Kern County children and families. Since 1946, the Clinic has provided outpatient counseling services to over 61,000 children, adolescents, and adults. The Clinic serves children who have been identified as struggling with behavioral or emotional difficulties that are negatively affecting their functioning at home, in school, or in the community. These difficulties may be related to a variety of diagnoses including attention disorders, anger management issues, and substance abuse. The Clinic also serves children with a history of abuse, neglect, or other hardships.

The Clinic offers a full array of services including: individual, family, and group counseling, medication support, substance abuse services, early intervention services, parent education training, family reunification services, after-school education, mentoring programs, and kinship support services. To best serve our clients and communities, our mental health professionals provide counseling and case management services at three Kern County locations as well as providing services at homes, on school campuses, and at other designated community locations. Clinic staff also provide mental health education and training to teachers, school administrators, agencies, service groups, and the general public through outreach consultation services.

The Henrietta Weill Memorial Child Guidance Clinic is a contract provider for the Kern County Mental Health Department, Kern County Department of Human Services, Kern County Network for Children, and First 5 Kern. The Clinic receives additional support from generous local organizations including the Guild House and The Blanche and Irma Weill Foundation. In 2013, the Clinic’s work in the community was recognized by the Greater Bakersfield Chamber of Commerce Beautiful Bakersfield Awards and the Chevron Community Investment Program.

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Kinship


Kinship


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Outpatient 2


Outpatient 2


Outpatient Services

The program serves children up to the age of 21 who exhibit emotional and behavioral problems.  These services include individual, family, and group therapy as well as case management services provided by intervention specialists. 

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Dual Diagnoses Services

Dual diagnosis services are offered to children who struggle with behavioral problems in combination with substance and alcohol abuse or dependency.  Caring professionals offer assessment, education, referral services, and treatment with a focus of long-term recovery.

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Crisis Intervention

Crisis intervention provides quick emergency response to issues such as: suicidal or homicidal behaviors, disclosure of sexual abuse, trauma, threats of physical violence, or death of a sibling, parent, or caregiver.  Crisis response is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays.  

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Psychiatric Evaluations

After spending time in counseling, a therapist or intervention specialist may recommend that the child receive a psychiatric evaluation.  When appropriate, the child and family will meet with a board-certified child psychiatrist for an evaluation to diagnose the child and determine if medication support services may be beneficial.

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Caregiver Support Groups

Caregiver support groups provide parents with the opportunity to learn new skills and build relationships with peers experiencing similar difficulties. The Clinic offers caregiver support groups free of charge at each of its three locations.  

 
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Parent Ed


Parent Ed


Parent Education

The Child Guidance Clinic also helps parents who are in need of completing a court-ordered parenting course or wish to improve their parenting skills. The Clinic offers Parenting Neglect, Learning to Protect, Physical Abuse as a Perpetrator, Anger Replacement Training, and Incredible Years courses for parents who require more intensive or specialized programs. The Clinic not only strives to assist parents with the fulfillment of court requirements, but also aims to help parents develop the skills to become better caregivers for their children.

Course Completion

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Support Agencies


Support Agencies


Support Agencies

 

BLANCHE AND IRMA WEILL FOUNDATION

CALIFORNIA COUNCIL OF COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH AGENCIES

CHEVRON 

DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES

GUILD HOUSE

KERN COUNTY NETWORK FOR CHILDREN

KERN COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF MENTAL HEALTH

WEILL CHILD GUIDANCE FOUNDATION