Transforming lives with every dish.
Founded in London in 1865, The Salvation Army is a global organization, serving 30 million people each year in the United States alone. The Army has been serving the Napa Valley since 1884. Through the years we have helped struggling families, nurtured the youth and given hope.
Hope is never lost. There is always a chance for growth and change. And no matter what difficulties a person has been through, they can lead a self-sufficient and happy life. This was the idea behind the November 2016 launch of the Salvation Army’s Napa Valley Culinary Training Academy—a program that welcomes people who have struggled with homelessness and substance abuse, and gives them a unique opportunity. Through this program, they are able to develop kitchen skills to support meaningful employment in local hospitality industries while instilling professionalism, confidence, and dignity.
There is growing research showing a direct relationship between employment and substance abuse treatment outcomes. Economic self-sufficiency and employment can positively impact rates of abstinence and community integration. We also know that the culinary and hospitality industries are major economic contributors to our Napa Valley community. Employers are challenged to find qualified staff required to meet demands and provide services consistent with guests’ expectations, often recruiting from outside the area to find employees with the requisite skill sets. This program specifically addresses the needs of people in our community committed to re-starting their lives, offers a practical approach to a problem currently not being addressed in our community, and provides a local solution for local employers.
Our New Academy The Napa Valley Culinary Training Academy is a jobstraining program in Napa County specifically designed to provide employable skills to adults engaged in recovery from addiction, trauma or homelessness—to lessen the likelihood of returning to a harmful lifestyle that is dependent on social services. The Academy offers a path for those who have successfully overcome difficult challenges and are prepared to work toward employment and self-sufficiency. Collaboration with The Culinary Institute of America was critical to the project and the creation of curriculum. The CIA has been setting the standard for excellence in professional culinary education for more than six decades. The Napa Valley culinary world is very sophisticated, as are the employers; the CIA’s participation certifies the efficacy and quality of the program and ensures that students are trained to the highest industry standards. In addition to our collaboration with the CIA, and to improve the likeliness of successful graduates, The Salvation Army retained the services of Mentis as our mental health partner to provide on-site case management and counseling. Students are required to continue counseling for the duration of the Academy as they transition through a challenging curriculum and demanding work environment.
For identifying post-graduate paid internships and employment, we are working with the Napa Adult Education, Hospitality Industry Partnership (HIP), Napa Chamber of Commerce, Work Force Napa Valley, Silverado Resort, Embassy Suites of Napa and Meritage Resort. Our collaboration with these organizations also ensures that our program remains relevant to market needs and specificcally addresses employer expectations. It is our belief that through collaboration we can create economies of scale to make sure that costs are managed and that compulsory services are provided by agencies best equipped to deliver such services. We will more effectively address the needs of those struggling to end the cycle of hopelessness, as well as deliver a significant benefit to our community, by offering a serious solution that helps people lift themselves up into a new life.
“It was important for us to differentiate ourselves, and to improve our students’ chances of success by partnering with the CIA.” Rick Osgood Salvation Army of Napa
Employment as a Key to Recovery One of the components of successful recovery, according to experts in the field, is gainful employment. In addition to support networks of family and 12-step groups, work offers the individual in recovery the opportunity to continue to make progress toward realization of goals, improvement of familial and social relationships and rebuilding financial stability, among many other benefits. Effective recovery almost always involves an individual finding and keeping a job, and making a contribution to society through his or her efforts. To that end, our objective is to maintain a private-sector solution that teaches employable skills to adults engaged in recovery from addiction, trauma or homelessness—to lessen the likelihood of them sliding back into a harmful lifestyle, feeling more and more hopeless by the day.
It’s about more than just skills. It’s about dignity.
“ The Antidote: Work. Work is an important part of long term recovery – creating self-sufficiency and ending reliance on government social programs.‘Idle hands are the devil’s workshop.’ This is even more true for someone coming out of rehab.” addiction.com november 7, 2010
This constructive program instills self-confidence as our clients learn the discipline and dedication it takes to become proficient in the trade of food preparation. Those who participate in the Acadamy are residents who are effectively dealing with challenges, are in recovery, and are prepared to transition to a jobs-training program geared towards employment. Specifically, Napa County residents being treated for addiction or trauma at Serenity Home in Napa, Pathway Home in Yountville, the South Napa Shelter, Napa Emergency Women’s Shelter and at The Salvation Army’s Adult Rehabilitation Centers. Students are selected based on completion of a written application, assessment by a case manager overseeing the respective program and in-person interviews with Salvation Army representatives.
We expect a lot of our students. A key part of what makes our program successful is that we designed a rigorous four-month program followed by a two-month internship that qualifies graduates to work in any aspect of the culinary industry. Two terms are offered each year. Each term can accommodate 10-14 students who attend courses of six to seven hours per day, five days a week. These courses include lectures, meal preparation, labs, group activities and field trips. Course curriculum is designed by The Culinary Institute of America and Associate Professor Rebecca Peizer, with daily instruction provided by Executive Chef Paul Fields.
The Academy provides a quality experience—and our students must be ready to engage, learn and grow.
Case Management & Meeting Needs Students are assigned a case manager for the duration of the program. Case managers provide ongoing counseling and support to ensure students’ success with course benchmarks—in addition to dress and behavior standards. The Salvation Army of Napa also provides housing for five students in its residence on Division Street, and subsidizes rent and round-trip transportation, as needed, for all other students. In these ways, we are truly meeting students’ emotional and practical needs as they transition to a new lifestyle.
In addition, students are responsible for The Salvation Army’s feeding program, assuming all food acquisition, meal preparation and meal service duties. They prepare approximately 1,000 meals each week for the people who come for a meal every Monday through Friday. By incorporating this program into our curriculum, our students can hone what they learn into actual meal preparation. They also reap the benefits of serving others and are reminded of the hard-fought gains they’ve made in recovery. It is important to us that our programs reinforce our mission to minister to the afflicted and homeless without judgement or discrimination.
Success Story: Kryssi Kryssi grew up in a loving, well-adjusted family. Unfortunately, that was not enough to shield her from the scourge of drugs. At 17, her boyfriend introduced her to meth. That began a downward spiral and a 21 year addiction. During that time, Kryssi lost access to her two children as she cycled in and out of jail and found herself living on the streets. She recalls the unbearable grief she felt as she realized she could no longer be a mom to her children. In 2014, she was ordered into a Napa County recovery program. While there, a local business owner brought her to My Father’s House church where she acquired a strong faith and committed herself to changing her life and reuniting with her children. The Salvation Army, learned about Kryssi’s situation and reached out to her. She was accepted into the Culinary Training Academy where she excelled in the kitchen and in the classroom. The Salvation Army provided mental health counseling through Mentis and supported her participation in Celebrate Recovery. Upon graduation April 2017, Kryssi stated “ The Culinary Academy literally saved my life. I had no idea where I would go after I got out of my recovery program.” Kryssi began a new career at Meritage Resort, through the CTA’s employment program. She rents her own home and recently purchased a car. More importantly, she is a proud mother to her 2 children. “I grew up cooking alongside my mother and aunts; creating amazing food and heartwarming family memories – now I get to do that with my son and daughter. The Salvation Army gave me that.”
“This program is a unique opportunity for us to use our skills to change lives. With CIA-quality curriculum and the guidance of the Academy’s chef instructor, after graduation, these students will be able to walk into any restaurant or resort in Napa Valley and be ready to work.” Rebecca Peizer
Associate Professor, The Culinary Institute of America
How You Can Help Your generous gift ensures that we can continue offering this incredible program—and helping to end the cycle of homelessness and addiction in Napa Valley and beyond.
Provide an annual scholarship for one student
$6,500
Sponsor one semester for 15 students
$100,000
Provide Funding for the Community Feeding Program
$100,000
(approx. 50,000 meals annualy, $2 per meal) Provide on-site housing for students $150,000 Any portion of these targets would be extremely helpful in funding this program.
We are transforming lives with every dish! The Salvation Army’s Culinary Training Academy can’t do its work without you! It is the support from generous donors that allows us to better serve our community and support our students. If you or your organization would like to help, contact:
Trina Planchon
Donor Relations Director (510) 469-6031
www.NapaSalArmy.org • 590 Franklin St. | Napa, CA 94559 (707) 226-8150 • www.facebook.com/SalArmyNapaValley