Community Access Inc

DEDICATED TO CREATING OPPORTUNITIES FOR INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS TO LIVE LIVES OF THEIR OWN CHOOSING IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES (SEE SCH O)

HOUSING: WE PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE AND TRANSITIONAL HOUSING TO INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES AT 20 BUILDINGS AND AT LEASED APARTMENTS IN MANHATTAN, BROOKLYN, AND THE BRONX. OUR TENANTS INCLUDE MANY PEOPLE WITH LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS WHO HAVE ALSO EXPERIENCED HOMELESSNESS. MANY OF OUR SITES INCLUDE AFFORDABLE UNITS FOR FAMILIES, A MODEL THAT HAS PROVEN HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL IN PROMOTING COMMUNITY INTEGRATION. IN ADDITION TO PROVIDING HOUSING, WE OFFER A NUMBER OF PROGRAMS TO IMPROVE OUR RESIDENTS' QUALITY OF LIFE, INCLUDING PET ACCESS, A PET ADOPTION PROGRAM, AND THE URBAN FARMING INITIATIVE, WHICH OFFERS PARTICIPANTS OPPORTUNITIES TO WORK TOGETHER TO PLANT, NURTURE AND HARVEST FOOD, AS WELL AS INCREASING AWARENESS OF NUTRITION AND FOOD JUSTICE ISSUES EFFECTING OUR COMMUNITY. IN TOTAL, WE PROVIDE HOUSING AND RELATED SERVICES TO MORE THAN 2,500 INDIVIDUALS.

TRAINING AND EDUCATION: IN 1995, WE LAUNCHED THE HOWIE THE HARP ADVOCACY CENTER (HTH) TO TRAIN AND PLACE INDIVIDUALS WITH A HISTORY OF MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS, HOMELESSNESS, SUBSTANCE USE, AND INCARCERATION INTO COMPETITIVE EMPLOYMENT IN THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES SECTOR. MORE THAN 1,200 PEOPLE HAVE GRADUATED FROM THE TRAINING. THE PROGRAM HAS BEEN REPLICATED INTERNATIONALLYAND IS NOW OPERATING IN FIVE CITIES IN THE NETHERLANDS. BLUEPRINT SUPPORTED EDUCATION HELPS INDIVIDUALS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES TO SUCCESSFULLY PURSUE EDUCATION. OUR TRAINING AND EDUCATION PROGRAMS SERVE APPROXIMATELY 200 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.

TREATMENT SERVICES, RESIDENTIAL CRISIS SUPPORT, AND OTHER COMMUNITY-BASED SUPPORTS: EAST VILLAGE ACCESS (EVA) OFFERS CURRICULUM-BASED, STRUCTURED OPPORTUNITIES FOR ADULTS LIVING WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS TO BECOME KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT RECOVERY, EMPLOYMENT, HOUSING, LIFE SKILLS, AND SOCIAL OPPORTUNITIES. THE PROGRAM FOCUSES ON PERSONAL GROWTH AND, FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT CONNECTIONS TO TREATMENT, PSYCHIATRIC AND HEALTH SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE. OUR RESIDENTIAL CRISIS SUPPORT PROGRAM IS NEW YORK CITY'S FIRST PEER-STAFFED ALTERNATIVE TO HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAM FOR INDIVIDUALS EXPERIENCING AN EMOTIONAL CRISIS. IN OUR CARE COORDINATION PROGRAM, CARE COORDINATORS WORK ON BEHALF OF PARTICIPANTS TO FACILITATE GREATER COMMUNICATION AMONG PRIMARY CARE, PSYCHIATRIC, AND HOUSING PROVIDERS TO IMPROVE A WIDE RANGE OF WELLNESS OUTCOMES. ASSERTIVE COMMUNITY TREATMENT (ACT) AND INTENSIVE MOBILE TREATMENT (IMT) PROGRAMS HELP PEOPLE WITH MENTAL HEALTH CONCERNS IN THE NYC SHELTER SYSTEM OR WHO OTHERWISE LACK PERMANENT HOUSING TO ACCESS PERMANENT HOUSING AND MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES. OUR SELF-DIRECTED CARE (SDC) PROGRAM PROVIDES PEOPLE WITH RESOURCES TO REACH THEIR WELLNESS GOALS, ALONGSIDE SKILLED RESOURCE CONSULTANTS WHO HELP TO DEVELOP RECOVERY ACTION PLANS AND BUDGETS. OUR ART COLLECTIVE USES ART AS A HEALING TOOL FOR HELPING PEOPLE TO FURTHER THEIR SKILLS AS ARTISTS AND LEADERS WITHIN THEIR COMMUNITY. OUR ADULT HOME INITIATIVE (AHI) PLACES PEER BRIDGERS IN 12 NYC ADULT HOMES FOR THE PURPOSE OF ASSISTING RESIDENTS IN UNDERSTANDING ALTERNATIVE HOUSING OPTIONS AND WORKS WITH OTHER PROVIDERS TO FACILITATE SUCCESSFUL TRANSITIONS INTO MORE INDEPENDENT HOUSING IN THE COMMUNITY. OUR TREATMENT SERVICES, RESIDENTIAL CRISIS SUPPORT, AND ALTERNATIVES TO HOSPITALIZATION PROGRAMS SERVE MORE THAN 1,000 PEOPLE EACH YEAR.