The staff at Pine Tree insures that all clients take their medications at the appropriate time, in the correct dosage, and deal with the side effects responsibly. Residents of Pine Tree, ranging in age from 18 to 59 years, are not limited as to the amount of time they can spend in Pine Tree Gardens, while some stay for a few months, others have been living there for 10 years or more. Often referred by family members or transferred from other facilities, the clients are all part of the mental health system in Yolo County, which includes a network of various housing options that were also initiated by Pat Williams. For Brown, a sixth-grade social studies teacher and a UCD alumnus, a desire to serve people led him to Pine Tree Gardens 10 years ago. According to Brown, mental illness was almost a taboo subject earlier this century and people who were thought to have it were imprisoned rather than treated.
Community based care allows people to make more choices in their living situation.
Pleased with the success of the homes, Williams says she hopes the idea of quality residential care for the mentally ill will spread, and people will have the courage to seek immediate help for either themselves or friends and family who show signs of mental illness. To help out at Pine Tree Gardens, talking or playing games with residents, assisting with activities and classes and even earning credits toward graduation, interested students can contact Cline at 758-5304.