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| Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #1038 |
| The Welcome Home Program: Comprehensive Services For The Seriously Mentally Ill And Their Families |
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| Requester: |
Dr. Jaclynn Faffer, Executive |
Organization: |
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service |
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| Project Title: |
The Welcome Home Program: Comprehensive Services For The Seriously Mentally Ill And Their Families |
Date Submitted |
1/9/2006 5:45:02 PM |
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| Sponsors: |
Klein |
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| Statewide Interest: |
| Mental illness can profoundly obstruct the ability of people to appropriately experience those things that most of us take for granted: the ability to think clearly, feel appropriate emotions, balance our moods, develop positive relationships with others and successfully cope with the demands of everyday life. Mental disorders fall along a continuum of severity. Due to the continued stigma attached to severe and persistent mental illness, it is impossible to accurately gauge how many families are actually struggling with this problem in our community. Approximately 600,000 people reside in South Palm Beach County, and of these, more than 15,000 residents annually are receiving some level of mental health services. Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder and Major Depressive illness are the major disorders that make up the category of "severe and persistent mental illness." Two out of every one hundred people have schizophrenia or bipolar disorder. By 2020, Major Depressive illness will be the leading cause of disability in the world for women and children. Studies have indicated that 25 percent of those having schizophrenia recover completely, 50 percent are improved over a 10-year period, and 25 percent do not improve over time. Between one-third and one-half of all homeless adults have schizophrenia. Fifty percent of people diagnosed with schizophrenia have received no treatment. Early identification and treatment is of vital importance. By getting people the treatment they need early, recovery is accelerated, and the brain is protected from further harm related to the course of illness. Without support, the consequences of mental illness for the individual and society are alarming: long-term disability, unemployment, substance abuse, homelessness, multiple hospitalizations, inappropriate incarceration, suicide and wasted lives. The economic cost of untreated mental illness is more than 100 billion dollars each year in the United States, according to a 2005 NAMI report. |
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| Recipient: |
Ruth Rales Jewish Family Service |
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Contact: |
Anne Chernin |
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21300 Ruth & Baron Coleman Boulevard |
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Contact Phone: |
(561) 852-3328 |
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Boca Raton 33428 |
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Contact email: |
annec@bocafed.org |
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| Counties: |
Palm Beach |
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| Gov't Entity: |
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Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit): |
Yes |
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| Project Description: |
| The Welcome Home Drop-In Center promotes recovery from mental illness by providing an empowerment program that offers social, recreational, educational and cultural components. This program allows people with severe and persistent mental illnesses to develop skills and attributes that will enable them to participate in the community-at-large in a meaningful and socially acceptable manner. The Welcome Home Program, like RRJFS, is non-sectarian and welcomes people of all races and faiths.
The Welcome Home Program provides opportunities for socialization, mutual support and learning within a nurturing environment. Encouragement and hope enables each consumer to reach beyond the illness to rediscover oneself as a valuable and whole person. At the Welcome Home Drop-In Center consumers participate in support groups, social, recreational, educational and cultural activities. Structured and unstructured components enable consumers to learn and practice appropriate social roles both at the Center and in the community.
The activities of the Welcome Home Drop-In Center increase the opportunities for consumers to be successful, improve their skill sets, and increase their self-worth and ability to connect to others. As a result, consumers are able to contribute to their community in a positive and constructive way. The Welcome Home Program provides a venue where consumers integrate with other community members in social situations and have the opportunity to demonstrate appropriate social skills. Consumers develop and demonstrate improved levels of independent functioning and better interpersonal relationship skills through participation in program activities. Support groups enable consumers to realize that they are not alone, share their experiences with people in similar situations, and give and receive support from people like themselves.
The Welcome Home Program is the only program of its kind in South Palm Beach County. We have expanded our program from one to five days each week and the number of consumers who participate in the program has consistently increased, as has the number of visits made to our Center. The attendance has grown from 13 visits/month to over 200 visits/month.
The Welcome Home Program provides family support groups, resource referral, advocacy and education. Individual supportive counseling is provided as needed and requested. It also provides education to the consumer by bringing in speakers on a variety of topics, including the new prescription drug program and information on working while receiving disability benefits. Outings provide the opportunity for consumers to practice social skills in the community. Bowling, a monthly lunch and dinner out experience, cultural and social visits to local events and venues enable consumers to have exposure to places and activities they would otherwise not be able to experience.
Support groups encourage consumers, offer hope of recovery and the opportunity to share their experiences. Issues groups allow for common problems to be discussed and give the consumer the opportunity to benefit from what others have learned. Education groups offer selected topics such as the importance of reporting symptoms and side effects to their doctors. Life skills groups teach appropriate social skills.
Selected games are provided to teach patience, strategy, decision-making skills, problem-solving skills, etc. Consumers have been able to increase their skill levels and the complexity of the games. Working with arts and crafts projects improves the skill sets for critical thinking, organizing, planning, working in groups, following directions, etc. It also improves the consumer's sense of self-worth as projects are completed. The skills they learn help them get ready for work responsibilities and increase their sense of pride in their accomplishments.
Computer classes are held to teach consumers how to use the computer, access and play games on it, make personalized crafts like cards and calendars, produce the program newsletter, etc. Access to the internet allows them to give and receive email, do research, and apply for programs they may be eligible for like food stamps, Medicare, etc.
Through the support of the Welcome Home Program participants report that they have been able to successfully avoid hospitalization, reduce their level of stress and anxiety, increase their coping skills and develop improved interpersonal skills and relationships. As a direct result of their involvement in the Welcome Home Program, 40% of participants, many who have been isolated in their homes for years, have been able to gain productive employment and/or successfully participate in volunteer programs in the community. Additionally, participants have effectively increased their ability to advocate for themselves, and find appropriate housing as a result of their participation in our program. The Welcome Home Program provides the only Schizophrenics Anonymous group in South Palm Beach County sanctioned by the National Schizophrenic Foundation.
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| Is this a project related to a federal or state declared disaster? |
No |
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| Measurable Outcome Anticipated: |
| Promoting Independence for People With Disabilities.
Empower consumers to develop skills needed to function independently in the community.
Impact Goal(s): Consumers will be able to make the decisions, access the resources, and achieve the objectives that will enable each of them to participate in the community in a meaningful and socially acceptable manner.
Activities:COUNSELING, SUPPORT GROUPS, WELCOME HOME PROGRAM, SPEAKERS EDUCATION GROUP,CULTURAL TRIPS, BOWLING,DINING OUT, ADVOCACY, ARTS & CRAFTS PROJECTS,
NEWSLETTER, GAMES, S.A. GROUP, BASIC COMPUTER SKILLS
Measurable Outputs:
140 group sessions/yr
6 guest speakers/yr
4 cultural outings/yr
10 recreational outings/yr
24 social outings/yr
32 consumers wk practice social skills with peers at lunch activity
30 consumers wk participate in games with peers
20 consumers wk participate in arts/crafts projects
8 consumers wk learn and use computer
Initial Outcomes:Increased self-esteem
Increased social interaction both with peers and in community
Increase knowledge and abilities to access needed resources
Increase skill sets of planning, organizing, following directions, working in groups
Increased support, hope and encourage-ment among peers
Reduced isolation
Improved interpersonal relationships
Intermediate Outcomes:Improved coping skills
Development of skills of strategy, critical thinking, problem-solving and decision-making
Ability to advocate for self to get needs met
Ability to establish and continue relationships
Elevated mood
Increased level of energy, activity and socialization
Ability to function appropriately in community
Long-Term Outcomes:Consumers are able to participate in the community-at-large in a meaningful and socially acceptable manner
Consumers have increased sense of self-determination needed to achieve personal goals
Consumers are able to work and/or volunteer in the community
Consumers are able to function independently in community |
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| Amount requested from the State for this project this year: |
$250,000 |
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| Total cost of the project: |
$104,042 |
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| Request has been made to fund: |
Operations |
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| What type of match exists for this project? |
Local |
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Cash Amount |
$50,000 |
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| Was this project previously funded by the state? |
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No |
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| Is future-year funding likely to be requested? |
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Yes |
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Amount: |
$250,000 |
To Fund: |
Operations |
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| Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request? |
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No |
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| Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget? |
No |
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| Is there a documented need for this project? |
Yes |
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Documentation: |
2005 NAMI Report and the National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH) |
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| Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)? |
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Yes |
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Hearing Body: |
Palm Beach County Legislative Delegation Hearing |
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Hearing Meeting Date: |
11/22/2005 |
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| Is this a water project as described in Section 403.885, Laws of Florida? |
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No |
