SUCCESS STORIES
Life Essentials
United Rehabilitation Services
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Please contact us to find out more about:
- Volunteering
- Sponsoring an Event
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Life Essentials
Helping Those With Mental Illness
The Chums II Program
is an innovative program building hope and
success for people who are coping with mental illness.
Chums II
began as a demonstration project funded by Ohio Department
of Mental Health in January, 2003.
Levin Family Foundation
provided funding that allowed the project to continue
for six months until the next funding cycle for the
Montgomery County Board of Alcohol, Drugs and Mental
Health Services.
Without the generous support of the
Levin Family Foundation, this most dynamic approach
would have been only a brief project, a fleeting demonstration
of a yet another new idea.
But the Levin Family Foundation's
gift gave voice to the strength of community involvement
and the power of acceptance.
Since that first class,
Chums II has helped 34 people rebuild a positive,
productive quality of life in our community.
For six months, 5-10
Chums II members meet each week
to volunteer for various non-profit organizations throughout
Montgomery County.
Whether:
- Helping with the newsletter
mailing for Boonshoft Museum of Discover
- Weeding
a garden at Aullwood
- Serving lunch at House of
Bread
each volunteer task bolsters self-confidence
and pride for each and every member.
The program
also offers new educational opportunities with
trips to Sinclair Community College, Goodwill Industries
or the Schuster Center.
By graduation, members:
- Have a renewed sense of self-worth & confidence
- Are
ready to select a personal volunteer
site where each will give three hours a
week in service to their community.
Once a month, Chums
II Alumni gather to talk with classmates and
share stories about their volunteer activities, school or other
new possibilities they have found.
United Rehabilitation Services
Helping People with Disabilities
United Rehabilitation Services
(URS) and people with disabilities throughout the Miami Valley have
benefited greatly from the generosity and support of the Levin Family
Foundation.
In 2004 we sought funding to assist us in expanding
our continuum of services to include community based
employment for adults with disabilities.
In spite of the passage
of the Americans with Disabilities Act 15 years ago,
only 35% of people with disabilities
reported having full or part time jobs in the community in a 2004 national survey (N.O.D./Harris
Poll, 2004).
Work has been determined to be a defining part of any individuals’ life
and identity.
Helping our clients access community
based employment is critical to achieving the desired outcome of maximizing
their independence.
Many people with disabilities require additional assistance
in:
- Learning how to complete an application
- Develop
a resume
- Answer questions regarding their disability
and any reasonable accommodations they might
require.
For those with more severe disabilities, it
is sometimes necessary for a skilled professional
to accompany them to the place of employment for the interview
and help in securing a job opportunity.
Once the
individual is placed on a job, a URS staff-person
can even be provided on-site to actually train the individual
on the tasks required to avoid any additional time
or expense on the part of the employer.
United Rehabilitation Services is best able to assist individuals
with obtaining employment especially those with severe
disabilities, as a result of the comprehensive array
of ancillary services such as physical, occupational
and speech therapy as well as assistive technology.
As a result of our experience and
depth of services, we have been able to assist hundreds
of individuals with achieving success even though our
program is still in its infancy.
None of this would have been possible without the innovative
spirit and support of the Levin Family Foundation
which has opened a world of opportunity to our clients. |
