ELITEworkfall2016

Licea’s own parents immigrated from Michoacan and San Luis Potosi in Mexico. She was born in Chicago Heights and attended Bloom High School, giving her a mixed-cultural upbringing. For years, the adjustment from Mexico to Illinois was hard on her parents. Licea remembers the struggle to join a new culture with di erent routines and traditions.ough they wanted to participate in the community, they didn’t know how until they began making friends through their church. “eir spirituality helped get them through,” says Licea.”But it was a hard time.” She understands the struggle of adjusting to a new environment that seems completely foreign.rough her mixed-cultural upbringing, she witnessed the hard transition her parents went through and her own struggles growing up as a minority.is background inspired her to help others in the Hispanic community. Creating comfort For many Hispanic clients dealing with their DUI/DWI o enses, they are often forced to pay the costs using the money they would usually spend on their families back home. It’s a challenge to ˆnd assistance from people who understand their situation and language barriers. Elite House of Sober Living wants to make sure language barriers don’t prevent Spanish-speaking clients from dealing with their DUI/DWI. Licea provides counseling completely in Spanish to ensure her clients are comfortable and understood. She’s encountered many immigrants who have left their families in Mexico and don’t have a support system to get through the diŠcult time. Providing that specialized support is what the Elite House sta are trained to do. “e sta here is amazing,” Licea says. “I’ve gained valuable knowledge from all of them. Mr. Ellis has taught me so much about the e ects of alcohol and substance use. I didn’t fully realize the physical and psychological e ects that addiction can have until I started working here.” eir concern for each client is at the heart of Elite House of Sober Living.ey strive to make each individual’s time there as easy and stress-free as possible, providing group therapy sessions, individual counseling and DUI/DWI classes. Licea, a proud member of their team, aspires to help others like her parents and ensure that every client is equally cared for.

“I’ve gained valuable knowledge from all of them.” -Marivel Licea “ “