Mental Health Services success story

The following is a story about a consumer from our Mental Health Services program, which serves people with chronic mental illness and who are homeless by helping them live independently in the community.

Mr. W came to Volunteers of America having no contact with any of his relatives. He now believes that the support he receives from our staff helps him to fill this void. With Volunteers of America's help, he successfully obtained an Automotive Technology certificate from Delgado Community College. Mr. W desired to continue his education and re-enrolled at Delgado to obtain an associate's degree. After his car broke down, Volunteers of America helped Mr. W find an apartment closer to campus - he had been commuting from the Westbank to City Park.

Recently, through a partnership between Volunteers of America, Unity for the Homeless, and the Housing Authority of New Orleans, Mr. W was able to secure a Section 8 housing voucher, which has allowed him to continue his path towards independence. This was a great accomplishment for Mr. W and a fine example of how the services Volunteers of America offers can equip individuals to make the best out of the hands they have been dealt.

An Elderly Protective Services Success Story

The following is a story from our Elderly Protective Services program (EPS), which works to prevent, remedy, halt, or hinder acts of abuse and neglect against elderly adults in the community while promoting the maximum possible degree of personal freedom, dignity, and self-determination for these individuals. For confidentiality purposes, the client's name has been omitted.

Client A is a female in her 80's who was living alone in a flood-damaged home in Jefferson Parish. EPS received a report from Emergency Management Services that Client A was in trouble. She refused to go to the hospital, and when EPS arrived, they found her home in dire straits. There was just enough space to get around in the house, which was littered with clutter. Client A was found sitting on her bed, which had no linens or sheets on it. Her living quarters were filthy. There was an unresponsive dog on the bed with her.

Client A's son was called in, and he encouraged her to go to the hospital to be evaluated. She went, and found out that in addition to a broken hip, all her other vital signs were off.

Client A was nursed back to health and brought to a nursing home to be near her son. She is now doing well thanks to Elderly Protective Services' intervention.

Mr. B's story

The following is a story about an individual who receives services from our Mental Health Services program, which serves people with chronic mental illness and who are homeless by helping them live independently in the community.

Mr. B started receiving services from Volunteers of America in August of 2006. He sought stability; he'd lost his home and all of his possessions after Hurricane Katrina hit. The relative with whom he was living at the time could no longer able accommodate Mr. B, his spouse, and their four sons.

Compounding this was a history of mental health illness. Mr. B suffered from depression, schizoaffective disorder, and bipolar disorder.

Despite this, Mr. B expressed his desire to become stable again and to be a healthy and caring father to his family. The road to recovery was difficult, however - Mr. B was hospitalized after not taking his medications properly, which affected his relationship with his family. Mr. B's wife made several calls expressing her frustration at her husband's behavior.

Mr. B realized that the only way to achieve the stability he sought was to comply with proper medication intake. Since then, he has been receiving injections once a month. This has had a dramatic effect on his behavior - he has returned to taking courses at school daily and will soon be testing for his GED.

After obtaining his GED, Mr. B plans to further his education by enrolling in college to study business. He would like to open a convenience store with his wife.

Mr. B has moved into new housing and reports that his relationship with his family has improved.

Silent Auction

Need another reason to come to our Golf Star tournament this March 1? Check out a few of the of the sweet things we'll be auctioning off at the Silent Auction during the tournament:

- $100 gift certificate to Atchafalaya Restaurant
- 8 guest passes to the Audubon Nature Institute
- Foursome (w/golf cart) to Chateau Golf & Country Club
- Wine Basket from Dorignac's
- Ultimate Rum & Martini Parties by Glazer (at your own house, for 14 of your friends & family!)
- 16 tickets to a New Orleans Zephyrs game
- Breakfast for 2 @ Shula's
- 1 night stay at the Royal Sonesta on Bourbon Street
- 1 enclosed minibus tour of New Orleans for 2

Sign up for the tournament today by calling Al Kohorst, 504.486.8670. All proceeds go directly to benefiting our Adoption & Maternity program, which creates loving families through adoption and serves birth parents and adoptive parents with counseling, support groups & community education.

Ms. M's story

The following is a story of a consumer in our Supportive Housing program, which provides housing support services to individuals with a documented disability and are in need of supportive services to maintain housing.

Even when the odds are against you, with self-determination and support, miraculous things can happen. Ms. M knows of this journey all too well. After hitting rock bottom from a heroin addiction, Ms. M admitted herself into an inpatient recovery program to clean herself up. She successfully completed the program, but was now clean, sober and homeless with no where to turn.

Ms. M lived out of her car prior to her participation in the Volunteers of America Supportive Housing program. With the support offered by Volunteers of America staff, she was able to make a fresh start. While in the program, Ms. M complied with all guidelines and recommendations. She has not had any further substance abuse or criminal occurrences and is actively pursuing the acquisition of her G.E.D. Her success in the program made her a good referral for the Section 8 Housing Choice Voucher, which will allow her the freedom to move and own a home. Ms. M exemplifies the levels of success that can be reached with a little push and perseverance.

Veterans' graduation ceremony

The Veterans' Transitional Program recently held a graduation commencement which marked the end of an eight-week program of instruction and individual coaching for homeless veterans. The purpose of the program was to assist veterans with returning to the workforce. Curriculum included training in resume construction and writing, job applications, interviewing techniques and skills, and practice interviewing.

Left to right in photo:

Jim Leblanc/President/CEO Volunteers of America

Lenny Simmons, Board Member

Paul Graff, Board Member

Tom Grace, Board Member

Martha Huie, HR Consultant (volunteers for this program)

Ashley Gremillion, HR Director with Phelps Dunbar (volunteers for this program)

David Garic, Garic Consulting, Volunteer Team Leader for this program

Randolph A. Macabitas, Program Director, Veterans Services

Ms. Huie, Ms. Gremillion and Mr. Garic are dedicated volunteers to the Job Readiness program and are instrumental in its success. (Not pictured is Bob Billings, another volunteer with this project).

To view WGNO TV coverage of the event, please visit our Facebook page.

Mr. A's story

The following is a story from our Mental Health Services program, which serves people with chronic mental illness and who are homeless to live independently in the community.

Mr. A lived without a home for over 5 yrs. In April 2009, he was enrolled in our PATH (Projects for Assistance in Transition from Homelessness) program, which addresses the needs of individuals that are homeless, mentally ill, and substance abusers. PATH provides outreach case managers and workers an opportunity to search for homeless individuals throughout the streets of New Orleans, St. Bernard and Jefferson parish.

The Outreach Team met with Mr. A and began talking to him, attempting to build a relationship. During the first several meetings, Mr. A was very shy and quiet, not giving too much information. However, through repeated contact and persuasion, he began talking with staff and befriended them. Mr. A discussed the death of his mother and family members who tried to take advantage of him for his money. Mr. A also revealed he was depressed. Staff referred him to a behavioral health clinic.

Mr. A began treatment and became stable on his medication. He was then referred to our PATH Outreach Case Manager, Ms. Marlene Chandler, to help him with housing and employment. Shortly after being accepted into our Case Management Program, Mr. A was housed in the Algiers area and was able to obtain a job with Burger King. Currently, Mr. A is living independently and continues to work different jobs to maintain his independence.