When Oscar Venini first applied to Interim, Inc., he was looking for a path into the behavioral health field. Fresh out of Sonoma State University with a degree in psychology, he had returned to Monterey County hoping to build a career in mental health and recovery services; supporting recovery through community care.
Nearly 15 years later, he now serves as acting Assistant Program Director with MCHOME. After holding a range of roles across the agency. His path reflects not only professional growth, but a deepening connection to the values that first drew him to this work.
For Oscar, the motivation was both personal and professional. “I grew up in an environment where there were a lot of mental health challenges and substance use,” he says. “I was exposed to that pretty early.” Alongside those experiences, he also saw the impact treatment could have—and the stigma that often surrounded people from the outside looking in.
“I wanted to understand mental health more deeply,” he says. “And eventually be in a position where I could help in the same way I saw people help the people in my life.”
At Interim, that understanding took shape through experience. After starting part-time at Bridge House while also working in hospitality, Oscar moved into a full-time counselor role with MCHOME and later into leadership. He eventually left the agency to gain experience in other behavioral health settings, but Interim remained a place he valued. When the opportunity came to return, he did. “One thing I really value is the culture that Interim creates,” Oscar says. “It’s important to feel supported, and I think Interim does a really good job supporting its clients and employees.”
He describes Interim as collaborative, humanistic, and intentional in its approach to care. “It’s about meeting the person where they’re at,” he says. “There’s a strong focus on reducing stigma and empowering clients.” Some of his most meaningful experiences have come from seeing that model work over time. After returning to Interim and working in Community Housing, he encountered individuals he had previously supported through MCHOME outreach — now living more stable lives. Seeing that progress reinforced the long-term impact of supportive housing and sustained care.
Now back with MCHOME, Oscar spends much of his time supervising staff, coordinating services, and supporting the many moving parts of a large program. One of the most rewarding parts of his role, he says, is watching staff grow in confidence and develop in their own work. Looking back, Oscar says Interim helped shape how he understands behavioral health care. “This was the first thing I ever did – so it really created my foundation.”
That foundation, and the values behind it, are what brought him back to work for Interim. For Oscar, the work continues to be about growth: for the clients he supports, the staff he leads, and the community they are all part of.