Agency Visit, Essay Example

On March 3^rd, 2015 was my visiting day at Project Live. This is the name of the agency I visited. This place is nice and clean. That was my first expression when I first got to Project Live. It didn’t look like a mental health facility. Project live is located at 455 Broadway in Newark NJ. Their website is projectlive.org and their office number is 9733256233. The staff member I interview was Alicia who is a clinical supervisor and matt the resident counselor. Their office hours are open 8 to 5pm every day. On March 3^rd, 2015 was my visiting day at the agency named ‘Project Live’.

Project live is a private non-profit agency that offers a wide a series of rehabilitation and residential service to mentally ill adult of Essex county. The agency provides supported employment program to its ex-residents, residents and any other mental health consumers in Essex County. There is no waiting list on this program she said. The program is for individuals who are 18 years and above and have axis 1 diagnosis. This program entails an ongoing job coaching and support for employed individuals working in part and full time positions at market wages. They also provide on the job training for several part time repair or maintenance, landscaping, clerical positions and housekeeping. Most of these individuals work with Magic Touch Management (MTM) who work to repair and maintain the residential houses and also outside the community. While I was there two of the MTN workers came in to fix a broken window. Alicia told me these are some of their client who works with the MTN so I can ask those questions about their work. So I did talked to one guy name mike that has been working with the company for three years now. I asked if there was a waiting list and he said no. If only you are ready to explore and ready to be in the workforce then there is no need to wait. He said the program really helped him come back to his feet in terms of been able to live independently and taking care of his bills and needs. The company is open Monday to Friday. Alicia said Project Live do encourage independent living through comprehensive psychiatric rehabilitation. For them they believe that employment services will enhance career development.

Again this program focuses on hiring service users to carry out property management such as rent collecting, and repairs on Broadway apartments and other properties they have too. She mentioned that before they wouldn’t hire residents and ex residents but now they have integrated that into individual goals. Furthermore, Magic Touch Management makes all the employment opportunities that they receive possible or available.

Another program that they provide is the Project for assistance in transition from homelessness PATH. This program is actually funded by the Division of Mental Health Services. This was actually awarded to them in other for them to expand their outreach program. To be eligible for this service you must have axis 1 diagnosis of mental illness and homeless as well. There is no waiting list for this program too because this is an outreach program that they take the mentally ill out of the street. She said what they do is to do a social work identification and help them get their benefits as well. Then they will bring them in and will get them a voucher and get them into housing. With this program it is the staff that will determine what the consumer need and provides it. They aim to provide a descent safe and affordable housing of their choice. She said most do stay permanently after outreach but some too go or run back to the street where they feel comfortable.

They also provide Intensive Residential Program IRP, which is an intensive 24/7 hours program, which it is, fundamentally housing operation. They have 6 group homes in Essex County. Its role is to monitor the service users intensively. Most of the service users come straight from the mental hospital like Greystone Park she said. This provides support to help achieve and maintain stability. They also teach them adult living skills and independent living skills. These skills prepare them to be able to do things independently should they move into supported housing and living alone. The staffs are also there to help them achieve their personal goal.

Transitional housing is another program that they provide. For an individual to qualify you must have axis 1 diagnosis and 18 years and above. With this program Matt stated that they have two houses that they call Mental Illness and Chemical Abusers MICA house that is for MICA clients only. That is Ridge house and Roseville house. Their target is for the service users to leave there for two years and then leave on to more independent living. That what they say to the intensive residential program IRP residents with the ultimate goal is not staying here forever but to transition into a more independent living. They also go to day programs 5 days a week and the focus is on their mental illness and substance use. Some have been there for three four five years. The third house has MICA clients and non-MICA clients as well. This is because they are transitional which is their Lincoln house preparing them to live independently. They are taking more of the transitional model since things are changing as she said and they want them to leave independently.

Another program they provide is the supported housing program. To be eligible you must be 18 and older and have axis 1 diagnosis. With this program there is a waiting list since the number of the individuals who needs assistance is alarming. They have apartments and houses all over Essex County. They believe housing is not just a roof on a person’s head as Alicia said but rather a place to call home. Basically, people get a voucher from where they are coming from and anybody can apply if you have axis1 diagnosis and some come out straight from the hospital. Some of their houses are owned or managed properties that consist of apartment building or shared housing units. The government funds this program.

Furthermore they also offer support services like how to budget money and smoking cessation as well. How to budget money has helped many of their service users to learn how to save and use money wisely. The smoking cessation program also educate members how to quit smoking. With this she said it is difficult to convince client and some has been successful. But they will continue to help them quit.

Project live has a slogan that they say, clean safe and well supervised. My overall impression was excellent which is exactly what their slogan says. The staff members were warm welcoming when I got there. Three of their staff members even offered to do the tour with me but Matt and Alicia did at the end. They are professional and they know what they are doing. Alicia told me they often receive training as often as possible just to keep them up. The surroundings was tidy and safe. Alicia also said they often have fire drills just for safety reasons to prepare them should anything happened. This is the kind of place I will go and receive service. In addition the interaction between the service users and staff is so nice. Some have been there for 15 to 18 years so there is a bond between them. Alicia for instance told me this is his tenth year since she worked there. The relationship between her and the service users is awesome. Everywhere she enters they keep calling her because they are fond of her, which is great. They live like a family. One of the psychiatric rehabilitation value she mention is to treat each and every one with respect and dignity. With that alone I would refer someone.

One thing Alicia said about diversity is that, this agency do not differentiate on the basis of race, age, color, gender, physical or mental handicap, religion, sexual orientation and ethnicity. They are more open to diversity. They have individuals from Jamaica, Cameroon, Hispanics, Africans and lot more. Even in their outreach program PATH they do not discriminate by color or where you are from.

Moreover, Project Live is located all around Essex County, which makes it easier to locate. Getting there too is not a problem since buses run over there. For me getting there was easy to get there with no hassle. With the service users Project Live provides vans to all their residential houses to make it easier for the service users to maneuver around too. Again all location is safe. This explains the accessibility of the agency as it is safe and easy to find.

Project Live has diverse staff members which are required to have some form of education depending on your position. For a clinical counselor, you will need to have a driver’s license and a degree in psychology field. Again, for a substance abuse counselor you will also need bachelors as well. But things are changing and they are requiring a masters Alicia included.