HAGÅTÑA, Guam — Acting Governor Josh Tenorio and Archbishop Ryan Jimenez of the Archdiocese of Agaña conducted a full-day tour of community programs focused on healing, rehabilitation, youth development, and care for vulnerable residents.
The visit was the second tour the two leaders have conducted together this year, part of an effort to better understand where stronger collaboration between the Government of Guam and the Church can close service gaps and improve outcomes for individuals and families.
“Our communities face challenges that no single institution can solve alone,” Tenorio said, describing the tour as a chance to listen, learn from providers, and identify ways government and faith-based partners can work forward together.
Stops included New Beginnings, an outpatient treatment program serving primarily first-time offenders, including DUI cases, with about 90% of clients court-ordered into treatment. Staff cited rising methamphetamine use, high rates of homelessness, and challenges faced by women seeking treatment, including domestic violence and housing instability, and emphasized the need for broader support systems that address addiction alongside housing, safety, and mental health care.
The tour also included the Guam Behavioral Health and Wellness Center Children’s Division, where leaders discussed increasing referrals—particularly among middle-school-aged youth—and services focused on emotional regulation, coping skills, and school-based outreach. The itinerary also included Latte Treatment Center, described as the GBHWC Therapeutic Group Home for Youth, a residential psychiatric facility providing intensive 24/7 mental health care on Guam rather than sending children off-island.
The visit continued at the Lagu Resource Center, which provides year-round youth development programs, including mentoring, life skills activities, and after-care support for youth in the surrounding area, foster youth, and court-involved youth.
At the Judiciary of Guam, Tenorio and Jimenez met with Chief Justice Robert Torres to discuss juvenile justice, treatment courts, reducing recidivism, and improving coordination across agencies. Torres noted faith-based organizations can play an important role in rehabilitation and reintegration, while Jimenez shared insights from similar programs in Saipan combining treatment with holistic and recreational approaches.
Additional stops included Guma San Jose and the Alee Shelters, managed by Catholic Social Service, and the Dededo Senior Citizens Center, with discussions on safety, capacity, stability for children, limited resources, and ensuring dignity and companionship for seniors.
“This tour reinforced that healing, dignity, and opportunity are deeply connected,” Tenorio said. The Office of the Governor and the Archdiocese of Agaña will continue discussions to identify next steps for collaboration.
