[vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][image_with_animation image_url=”11422″ alignment=”” animation=”Fade In” border_radius=”none” box_shadow=”none” max_width=”100%”][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column_text]If you were to choose one word to describe Marina native Antonio Garibaldi, it would have to be grateful. But his happy-go-lucky demeanor would never betray the fact that he had a very troubled past. Before Interim, Antonio had been in and out of prison and battled alcoholism and drug addiction for much of his life. “By the 7th grade I was already drinking a lot.” Antonio says he realizes now that alcohol and drugs helped control his moods, but it was always a temporary fix. He had managed to stay out of trouble during his childhood. But after the age of 18, he started getting arrested. Whenever he was released from jail, it was never more than 6 months before he would be sent back again. He points to a long scar on his face that he received from an argument turned violent in Chico. “I didn’t know how to control my temper. I didn’t understand relationships.”
Thinking back, he remembers having behavioral issues from a very young age. His family attributed it to youth. There were opportunities when he was younger for his family to get him diagnosed, but they were against it because of their own stigmas about mental health issues and were afraid others would judge him too. The schools offered therapy and other services, but they refused. They thought he would grow out of it, but he never did.
Before coming to Interim, Antonio had been taking care of his father, who subsequently passed away. He remembers being deep in his addiction and erratic behavior at that time, and had become resigned to the idea that he was going to die from it. Shortly after his father died, his family decided to hire a lawyer to remove him from the family home. He was going to be homeless. Jody Gulley, an old friend of the family and Homeless Outreach Coordinator for Interim, managed to help him get into Sun Street Centers for treatment.
While he was at Sun Street, he was diagnosed with bi-polar disorder. In the past, he had been through at least 10 different drug treatment programs. But Antonio says they weren’t designed to help someone with a mental illness. Nonetheless, he says there were good people there. He finally began incorporating changes into his behaviors and began to see positive change. Jody continued working with Antonio to bring him into Interim’s programs.
The same day of his graduation from Sun Street, Antonio was taken to Interim’s Bridge House. He wasn’t quite sure what Bridge House was before he started the program, a treatment program designed to address his mental illness as well as his substance abuse. But he soon began to see the similarities between himself and his peers. “I learned so much about myself and helped others to open up about themselves… I got to know who I really was: this little kid in a grownup body who doesn’t make good decisions. I got to learn about this little kid and his language and how he feels. They say you can’t heal what you can’t feel. It gave [that little boy] permission to feel all his feelings and to be exposed in a group setting where others were allowed to do the same so he didn’t feel ostracized or afraid or ashamed. That’s what Bridge House gave me.” From Bridge House, Antonio went into Interim’s Shelter Cove program, and Dual Recovery Services. He volunteered for the Success Over Stigma program and a variety of other roles within the agency.
Eventually, a peer-based position at Bridge House opened up, and Antonio was encouraged to apply. Unfortunately, because of his many arrests and time in jail, he was initially prevented from working there due to the refusal of the licensing agency to allow him to be employed. Antonio and Interim went through a lengthy appeal process to employ him and won, essentially arguing that his background was a strength in that his recovery could serve as a model to others.
Antonio now works for Interim as a Wellness Navigator, providing information and referral to visitors at Monterey County Behavioral Health. His job is to interact with the public and guide them towards services. Antonio is now motivated by helping others, especially his peers. “To be where I am today, I wouldn’t change anything. It’s fun.”
Antonio’s dedication to his own recovery and helping others has shone through to others. At the annual staff training day on June 5th he received the coveted Corey Miller Award, which is awarded to staff who demonstrate excellence in serving clients. We are so lucky to have found him![/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row type=”in_container” full_screen_row_position=”middle” scene_position=”center” text_color=”dark” text_align=”left” overlay_strength=”0.3″ shape_divider_position=”bottom” bg_image_animation=”none”][vc_column column_padding=”no-extra-padding” column_padding_position=”all” background_color_opacity=”1″ background_hover_color_opacity=”1″ column_link_target=”_self” column_shadow=”none” column_border_radius=”none” width=”1/1″ tablet_width_inherit=”default” tablet_text_alignment=”default” phone_text_alignment=”default” column_border_width=”none” column_border_style=”solid” bg_image_animation=”none”][nectar_btn size=”small” button_style=”see-through-2″ hover_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” url=”https://donatenow.networkforgood.org/interiminc” text=”Make a donation” margin_right=”20″][nectar_btn size=”small” button_style=”see-through-2″ hover_text_color_override=”#ffffff” icon_family=”none” url=”https://visitor.r20.constantcontact.com/manage/optin?v=001EHs8nXD-JT8ET9I6bsb8Qz7BUNzeIGewN9M0bWPLSO1vb6KhUV168Qp6OIkP7FuOYMz2uvZ7pG0qtRtFCH3YHmXOV6JzlwCt3KQLLK0zeCzh73fspqL3b2dh7K5EHbJ1BFijmpDPcZ26_NBdCLO91OrQhUZ0n9KZr1UlDW6kbT7l-cJ3yijW0c3vcA-B2DHfoDqzMzg2VS00sNw3tvQhMro182dM8Qqwy3HFVWfPT3BHZwlpBkwT4Q%3D%3D” text=”Sign up for our newsletter”][/vc_column][/vc_row]
