Virginia Moreno, Drug Diversion Program Coordinator
Zona Seca, Inc., Choice Educators for a Drug-Free Life
Zona Seca, Inc., a Santa Barbara based non-profit providing substance abuse services for over thirty years, reports that its successes are stronger than ever as evident in over 60,000 people who have resolved their drug or alcohol dependency problems. Zona Seca or dry zone launched in 1970 as a grassroots public health campaign and today offers the same promise of healthy living to the Southern California community it serves. Starting small like most community based agencies, this non-profit now focuses on four areas of service: the Youth Offenders Program, Drinking Drivers Program, Family Violence Treatment Program, and the Drug Diversion Program. Virginia Moreno, Drug Diversion Program Coordinator, says one of the greatest things about Zona Seca is its ability to offer comprehensive individual and group counseling in both English and Spanish. Like her agency, she believes staying healthy, educating oneself, and connecting with others around you are the optimal ways to find daily fulfillment and peace of mind. Find out more about the history and services of Zona Seca, Inc. as you read on in this weeks Non-Profit Spotlight.
Virginia Moreno Drug Diversion Program Coordinator
Age
40
Hometown
Santa Barbara, CA.
Current residence
Santa Barbara, CA.
Education
California Lutheran University, Marriage Family Therapist, 1997
Work Experience
Zona Seca, Inc. Drug Diversion Program Coordinator, 2000-Current
Clinicas del Camino Real, Marriage Family Therapist Intern, 97-2000
Coalition to End Sexual and Domestic Violence, Marriage Family Therapist Intern, 97-2001
Healthy Start, School Based Counselor, 97-2000
Santa Ynez High School, School Based Counselor/Migrant Education, 89-98
Ethnicity
Latina
About the non-profit
The mission of Zona Seca, Inc. is to help Santa Barbara, California, in the struggle to become a drug-free community. We believe that our participation in this effort provides the community of Santa Barbara with a safer environment in which to live. We accomplish our mission by providing professional and cost-effective substance abuse counseling, intervention, and prevention services for all people in need.
What are your day-to-day responsibilities?
My day to day responsibilities is to manage the clients’ services offered by my program. I conduct and supervise intakes, I provide therapeutic sessions on an individual basis as well as group sessions. I review all the case files to insure county and state compliance. I supervise part-time employees as well as provide training to them.
Most notable milestones
Attaining my Masters Degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. Promotion to the position of Drug Diversion Coordinator.
What’s the niche?
My bi-lingual and bi-cultural approach in providing therapeutic counseling.
What’s the biggest challenge?
My biggest challenge is to persevere in attaining client success. My other challenge is to continue my educational goals. I want to enter into the administrative role in this field.
What’s in store for the future?
I would like to become an executive director of a treatment program.
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