Working Together To Serve Our Community
Data published by SMART website from a census indicates that in the Antelope Valley:
Children Living In Poverty
Receiving Public Assistance
Below Federal Poverty Level
Households With 1 Parent
Unemployment rate is another way to understand the economic stress that the families face. The AVA has a self-reported unemployment rate of 9.2% which was higher than the LA County average of 7.4%. Palmdale had the highest reported rate of 11 %. (SA I Data Profile 2007, LA DMH). This data was collected prior to the recession. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics Website the current rate of unemployment is 15.2%.
Five Areas Of Expertise
…help clients understand and clarify their views of their lifespace, and to learn to reach their self-determined goals through meaning ful, well-informed choices and through resolution or problems of an emotional or interpersonal nature. (Burks and Steffire, 1979)
…work with individuals and with relationships which may be developmental, crisis support, psychotherapeutic, guiding or problem-solving… (BAC 1984)
The task of counseling is to give the client an opportunity to explore, discover and clarify ways of giving more satisfyingly and resourcefully. (BAC 1984)
A principled relationship characterized by the application of one or more psychological theories and a recognized set of communication skills, modified by experience, intuition and other interpersonal factors, to clients’ intimate concerns, problems or aspirations. (Feltham and Dryden, 1993)
A common factor in most counseling situations is that the client is demoralized, distressed or otherwise in a negative state of mind about something.
Counseling can be for one person or a group (typically couples and families) and may be delivered through a number of methods, from face-face dialogue, group work, telephone, email and written materials.
Counseling is largely a voluntary activity whereby clients must wish to change and collaborate willingly with the counselor. Early counseling activity in some cases involves bringing referred clients to this point of readiness.
Essential Life Skills
There is no definitive list of life skills. Certain skills may be more or less relevant to you depending on your life circumstances, your culture, beliefs, age, geographic location, etc.
Different life skills will be more or less relevant at different times your life. Perhaps the most important life skill is the ability and willingness to learn.
By learning new skills we increase our understanding of the world around us and equip ourselves with the tools we need to live a more productive and fulfilling life, finding ways to cope with the challenges that life, inevitably, throws at us.
Life skills are not always taught directly but often learned indirectly through experience and practice.
Signs and symptoms of Drug Diversion
The following signs to look for if you suspect drug diversion:
• Changes in job performance;
• Absences for long periods;
• Multiple restroom breaks;
• Arriving late/leaving early;
• Excessive errors;
• Subtle changes in appearance that may escalate over time;
• Increasing isolation from colleagues;
• Inappropriate verbal or emotional responses;
• Diminished alertness, confusion, or memory lapses.
Some simple steps you can try:
- Breathe deeply, from your diaphragm; breathing from your chest won’t relax you. Picture your breath coming up from your “gut.”
- Slowly repeat a calm word or phrase such as “relax,” “take it easy.” Repeat it to yourself while breathing deeply.
- Use imagery; visualize a relaxing experience, from either your memory or your imagination.
- Nonstrenuous, slow yoga-like exercises can relax your muscles and make you feel much calmer.
Practice these techniques daily. Learn to use them automatically when you’re in a tense situation.
“We provide evidence-based treatment and curriculum resources for use in correctional, probation, detention, diversion, school, and community-based programs.
These highly successful and innovative resources are used nationwide in correctional settings to address the risk factors underlying gang recruitment and gang involvement, and provide anti- gang strategies for both gang intervention programs and gang prevention programs. These program resources are based on state-of-the-art evidence-based models.
They include significant elements of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET), including specific tools for motivational interviewing (MI) in each of the workbooks. Cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) promotes re-evaluation of dysfunctional emotions and behaviors to bring about change. Motivational enhancement therapy (MET) seeks to promote change by making the client aware of problems and consequences of behavior. The motivational interviewing (MI) tools we provide are non-confrontational and gently provoke awareness. We can work with you to customize a gang intervention plan using cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET) techniques specifically to the needs of your facility or community program.”
UCAN Programs
Project Rebound
Bouncing Back!Right Path
Seeking The Best!You Can Change
Become Different!Other Services
We work closely with Local Government, Nonprofits and For Profit Organizations to provide humanitarian and social relief for many suffering in our community. Kids Charities and Homeless are a priority for UCAN. Please join us in contributing; either by volunteering, community service, or a financial gift.
- It may be required as a substitution of, or in addition to, other criminal justice sanctions – when performed for this reason it may also be referred to as community payback.
- It may be mandated by schools to meet the requirements of a class, such as in the case of service-learning or to meet the requirements of graduation.
Please contact Daniel Zenker with via our Contact Form, call our office at (661)948-3000 during normal operational hours, or visit or location at 44231 North Division Street, Lancaster California 93535.
Kid’s Charities:
742 West Avenue L
Lancaster, Ca 93534
Phone: (661) 942-4111
Fax: (661) 942-8111
Help Us Make A Difference In Our Community!
Your financial donations are a crucial part of helping the local homeless community. Food isn’t the only thing we need to provide. Several times a year we need to buy extra blankets, socks, toothpaste, deodorant, shampoo, conditioner, diapers for babies, and so many more items to list. Any contribution is helpful and a tax right off. If you have any questions or concerns please visit or office or call 661.942.3238 during normal business hours.
About The Founder
Dr. Deborah Wiley is the founder and Executive Director of UCAN (United Community Action Network), a community based organization. She is the Senior Pastor of Oasis Life Center and is also the founder and C.E.O. of Abundant Life Coaches, which coaches people in achieving their life’s goals and destiny.
Having experienced troubled times as a youth, running away from home and living on the streets, Deborah has a proclivity toward embracing youth and helping them heal and overcome their past hurts.
As an adult, she pursued her future despite a difficult past and earned her PhD. in Psychology from Carolina University.
Our Mission
The mission of United Community Action Network, (UCAN) is a nonprofit organization which serves as a catalyst for the community by enhancing community health, wellness and quality of life in the Antelope Valley through collaboration of local residents, agencies, faith based organizations and government agencies. UCAN works to empower at-risk youth and high-risk youth in our community to make positive choices that enable them to maximize their personal potential. Through collaborative programming with schools and other community and faith based organizations, we provide educational and social mentoring opportunities to enhance the academic performance, social and community connections, as well as reentrance, and career options for the youth.
Our Location
44231 Division St, Lancaster, CA 93535, USA
Tel: 661.948.3000