A beautiful memorial service was held yesterday in
Will was a very special and unique individual beloved around Caramore for his storytelling and folksy wisdom. He was a fixture around here and it's very difficult to imagine that he's gone. We're grateful to have known Will and we’ll miss him dearly.
D. Cooley
Read the Chapel Hill News article on the event!Caramore held its annual client celebration event last night. Noted author Lee Smith was the highlighted guest speaker and delivered a moving recitation concerning her deceased son who participated in the Caramore program several years ago.
The activities were attended by many past and present clients of Caramore, as well as some of their family members, local employers, friends, and health care professionals who work in tandem with Caramore staff.
The theme of the evening centered around the many profound benefits that people with mental illness have achieved through the simple act of being able to work.
Many of the Caramore clients told moving stories of how Caramore had changed their lives and enabled them to reach goals they had previously given up on.
The stories evoked a vast array of emotions from everyone, from tears to laughter, as all the clients shared their personal pains and accomplishments for all to celebrate.
Cake and punch were served as the guests mingled, exchanged stories, hugged, and felt better about the brighter possibilities in their lives ahead.
B. Shanley
Caramore’s 2006 Annual Client Celebration will feature local, award-winning author, Lee Smith. Taking a break from her fall book tour, Smith will speak from first-hand experience in her talk The Working Man: How Caramore Helped My Son.
Join us as we listen to Lee Smith and celebrate the many accomplishments our clients have made over the past year—followed by a cake and punch reception.
We hope to see you there. Please call us with any questions about the event at 919-967-3402. For more information on Lee Smith, please visit her website at www.leesmith.com
Thank you.
When you donate to Caramore, you keep individuals out of hospitals, and in their communities—where they work, contribute to society, and begin to enjoy their lives again. We at Caramore feel good about that, and you should too. Your gifts make a difference in the lives of real people.
Caramore Community, Inc. is a 501(c) (3) private, not for profit organization and your valuable donation is fully tax deductible. We currently accept donations though the mail at our office address:
Caramore
919-967-3402
Please call us anytime with questions, and thank you again.
The strength of the Caramore program is the length our staff goes to try and improve a client’s life. When we get evaluated as a facility periodically by Carf, they are always impressed by our “anything it takes” mindset to improve a client’s life.
But what is it to improve a client’s life?
Certainly all of our client’s are different and need to be evaluated differently. But we examine the following:
This final category is very complicated and we as staff do not always agree on how to help facilitate a better life.
It can be very frustrating trying to rouse motivations and see progress amid mental illness, the complicated baggage of a life lived, experiences, family relationships, permanent delusions, immaturity, substance abuse, terrible decision making, dependency, sometimes learning disabilities, worsening of symptoms, and the trial and error of psychiatric medication—it all can seem overwhelming!
But that’s the nature of what we deal with. We have a remarkably long-term staff that prides itself on being creative and trying many strategies to improve lives. We don’t want to give up on anyone!
D. Cooley
Hanging out at Weaver Street, Carrboro
The simple secret to Caramore is that we get people who are mentally ill, involved. We believe in the restorative power of being involved—in something, anything.
Being involved may mean having a job, or interacting with people, or solving problems. It may mean taking an art class or being in a book club or exercising, or even just eating a meal with others. It means facing issues and completing tasks and accomplishing goals—whether or not you’re fully successful. It means changing habits and maybe a lifestyle from doing almost nothing to doing a lot.
Moving around, keeping busy, and getting involved is living life. That’s about all there is to it. It’s the difference between remaining vital or decaying. Our brains and body desperately crave—and indeed require—new experiences and challenges; experiences and challenges that stimulate all of our senses, breaking the deadlock of inaction, inactivity, and monotony.
Getting out there and experiencing and living—with all the risk that that involves—is living, and can only broaden, better, and restore your health and improve your life.
D. Cooley
Faison Sloan is a former client who now works for us as an apartment manager, and because of that he’s unique in really understanding the seemingly mundane element of adding structure and routine and purpose to a day—and then spreading those days into months and years. No one better understands this simple long-haul approach to rebuilding behavior—and how all of this can pay off big time later when you start to realize how much stronger you’ve become; when you find you can handle those things that used to put you over the edge.
And that’s Faison’s strength. He really knows himself and can pinpoint the exact things that he can’t handle. It took him a long time to do that and it is frustrating for him to attempt to articulate that to our current clients who can only see the present and don’t understand the cumulative power of time. But that’s another quality Faison has: patience.
Faison even claims to be the originator—at least in spirit—of our current Tier 3 Project. You see, years ago, after he completed our program, he sensed he needed more. He kept coming over to see our apartment manager at that time, Eric Goldman. Faison new it was beneficial to stay in touch but he felt awkward. Goldman said “just tell them you’re coming to get meds everyday,” and the Tier 3 Project was born.
The photos you’re now seeing up on these pages are coming from one of current guys—Justin. You’re not seeing a photo of him here because he prefers to stay behind the camera—as a lot of artists do.
Justin has a bachelor’s degree in multi-media (web, video production, etc.), has shot a lot of photos for local newspapers, and is a short film director (he’s made 3 films). Currently he is experimenting with spoken-word art and has completed a few performances around town during open-mike night
He’s been given an old low-grade Sony Cybershot—probably inadequate—but he considers it a challenge.
D. Cooley
I was reminded of this today from a nice phone call from a parent who tells of her own struggle with her son’s illness. The experience and emotions run the entire spectrum, from shock, and disappointment, to sometimes shame, and denial. The slow and time-dependant craw through all of this then is not only experienced by the individual, but often also by the family, who become de facto caregivers.
This particular parent called it a “grieving” process, which appropriately communicates the mammoth sense of loss and sadness that must be confronted. This, again, takes time—often a long time.
This process of coming to grips with a horrifying life long illness then get complicated by two more factors: the illness is still shrouded in stigma and myth, and almost no societal plan exists to inform and help people on what to do next.
Years of recovery time are sometimes lost in utter confusion about the path and treatment of the illness. Parents must connect themselves with others who are going through this—NAMI is a nice first start.
Ironically, at Caramore, we sometimes have to remind ourselves of the lack of knowledge out there on mental illness. We see so many similar stories and histories, that it becomes almost routine.
Personally, we at Caramore feel we have some nice methods to begin recovery for a person with a mental illness. We also feel that we can begin to alleviate a small portion of the suffering a family feels. We offer some hope amid the loss, for a life that wasn’t expected, but not too bad either.
D. Cooley
Caramore is a unique and valuable model for people trying to get back on their feet. We’re unmatched in the comprehensiveness of services we provide and the extent to which we provide them.
Four practical services:
1. Transportation: for the duration of the program, we make sure you get to wherever you need to go—whether it be employment, medical visits, or personal. You will never miss an appointment, interview, or day of work because of lack of transportation.
However, this pledge does not mean you are chauffeured the whole time; although we do have many company vehicles, you will also be expected to ride the free Carrboro/Chapel Hill buses, occasionally pay for transportation (off-hours bus trips, taxis if necessary) and—if it is one of your goals—be saving for your own car. We help you become self-reliant and a specialist in getting yourself around.
2. Housing: We have two group homes, numerous supervised apartments, and a growing number of our Tier 3 Project apartments. You will have an affordable place to live. If you chose to live away from us, we’ll counsel you on Section 8 and the rental market in the area. We help you set up utilities and move your things.
3. Money: We help you become aware of your budget. We help you save. We make you aware of how your Social Security benefits are impacted by your income. We help you get back on your feet financially and help you stay on course for saving goals (for cars, debt repayments, etc.), and paying for rent and utilities.
4. Employment: One of the most frustrating parts of trying to get a job is not knowing anyone and not having any connections or not even knowing where to start. Jobs are about connections—knowing somebody. Our Job Counselors already have years-long relationships with employers. We are trusted and respected. We operate like an employment service. When you come to Caramore, and are job-ready, you immediately are vouched for—you’re connected and trusted and have one foot in the door to a job.
We also will prepare you for the job and assist you in getting what you need to do the job and we’ll be around to help you keep the job. Minor problems that could lead to being fired may be easily solved by consulting with us—we’re your advocate all the time.
Not only do we provide support for these four essential and practical elements life, the reason we are unmatched in providing these services to the mentally ill, is our level of dedication to your success. We don’t think you’ll find many agencies doing as much, and to the extent, that we do it. You cannot lose and your life will improve while at Caramore.
D. Cooley
Tier 3 was created in 2003 to provide a more stable and long-term approach to appropriately treating chronic and episodic mood and psychotic disorders. Tire 3 provides insurance against the unpredictable and often reoccurring symptoms of brain diseases.
Tier 3 was created to:
Without these types of safeguards and supports, the re-emergence of even minor symptoms for an individual with a brain disease can sometimes plunge them into a situation where a job is lost or bills can’t be paid or the apartment is at risk—an exponentially worsening set of circumstances.
Tier 3 protects safety, progress, assets, and employment. It nurtures, encourages, and better positions individuals for long-term success.
1. Working (even part-time) can help you get better and is vital to your recovery by giving you something to wake up for, possibly take your mind off yourself, and feel good about. Some studies suggest that it can reduce your illness symptoms.
2. Regardless of what your future career might be, working now keeps your work-place skills alive and establishes references and connections. Think of it as networking for the next job. The longer you're absent from the work world, the harder it will be to return.
3. Making your own money can reduce the burden of your family or free you from whomever you may be dependant on—increasing your freedom and independence.
4. You can keep your benefits while you work—we have a benefits counselor that can help you understand the incentives out there to actually increase your income.
Caramore can help you immediately return to work and counsel you on how to get on a career path. Currently, we have some clients who are employed in jobs that they consider to be "a first step." Others are studying for their GED, taking college classes, and some are currently working in their chosen careers—but they all recognized the value of getting back into the workforce as soon as they were able.
D. Cooley
Ray is currently one of our rising stars; he’s participating in our Tier 3 Project in his own apartment, works full time for UNC Animal Lab, is a connoisseur of restaurants and dining, and just got his Ford Probe back on the road. He’s a young guy with ambition and interests and plans.
He’s also a great example of how feeling and getting better takes time.
Ray first got sick and diagnosed in 2000, which pretty much derailed his life. In 2001, he came to Caramore and lasted just days. He felt he wasn’t ready and chose to leave and went to an assisted living facility where he stayed until July of 2005—returning to Caramore.
So what happened? Why could he pull off in 2005 what he could not in 2001? Was it a psychopharmacological miracle, a gradually developed new prospective, physical healing, or just natural maturation? It is likely some of all of those things, with the thread that unites them all being time. Ray needed time to heal and rest and sort things out and desire for more.
Battling a mental illness is a struggle and Ray deserves a tremendous amount of credit for adapting to it, living with it, and transcending it—with patience. His plans for 2007 are even more ambitious…
D. Cooley
Christopher Morley writes, “There is only one success—to be able to spend your life in your own way.”
Mental illness is simply vicious and tragic. Sadder still are young individuals who get sick with the illness and cannot accept it. They think it just can’t be—not now, not to them. They are in denial, which typically leads to more suffering.
Accepting that one is ill and gaining “insight” can take a very long time. The life that had been planned and the visions that accompany that plan seem ruined, and a grueling frustration sets in.
Most tragic illnesses require a completely new lifestyle and a reconfiguring of thought—mental illness is no exception. Everything changes, and individuals need time to sort all of this out mentally and physically. It’s a fierce challenge, especially for the very young.
The above quote suggests success as having a vision of what one wants to do coupled with the mature realization that one is enjoying both the process and the results—a balance of ambition to get there (and maybe always getting there), and the wisdom to be happy with what is achieved.
All of our clients are working for their future—to spend their life in their own way—and if they can set up as many positive and healthy trends now, they eventually begin to enjoy the present.
D. Cooley
Caramore’s expertise is getting an individual who may have come right out of a long hospital stay, or some other similar situation of not working for a long period, and returning them to work in the community.
We do this by immersing them in our own “work adjustment” program for a couple of months where they can relearn and really get down as routine those “soft skills” like an appropriate personality, how to act socially, what to say, being friendly and optimistic, taking instruction and supervision, &c.
Once these soft skills are down an individual is ready for a job in the community.
Our job counselors work with our clients every step of the way, on all components of pre and post job placement. The counselors do a lot of counseling, but it is the client who does the job day-in and day-out.
If it weren’t for the help of some wonderful employers in our community, Caramore simply could not exist. Caramore and clients work extremely hard to maintain great relationships with our employers. We function as an employment agency! Our faith and commitment to our clients as workers, our ability to provide competent employees on short notice, our being on call to assist in any problems, all work to benefit employer and employee.
Here are some of the businesses who provide Caramore participants with the opportunities to be successful:
Lowe's Home Improvement Warehouse
Everything you need for your home and customer service with a smile.
McLaurin Parking
Serving the parking needs of
UNC at
One of the oldest and best universities in the country
Carol Woods and
Taking care of all the needs of their senior residents
Marshall's Department Store
Fashion and furnishings at great prices
Harris Teeter Supermarkets
Great food and service
D. Cooley
The late Caroline M. Livermore of
The first group home in North Carolina for people with severe mental illnesses—Ephesus Group Home in Chapel Hill—was established under her leadership in 1976. Caroline surrounded herself with people of like mind and perseverance to formulate the early composition and backbone of the successful operation that Caramore is today.
After her untimely death in 1985, Caramore continued, grew, and prospered. Caramore is currently under the leadership of CEO David Chapman, together with dedicated individuals serving on the Board of Directors and as trained program staff.
Milestones
· 1974—Study group formed to begin the North Carolina Association of Emotionally Troubled.
· 1976—First group home in N. C. for mentally ill established in
· 1985—Move from borrowed facilities on University property to highway 54 location in
· 1985—Second group home established in
· 1987—Beginning of semi-independent apartment cluster program at Carolina Apartments in Carrboro.
· 1990—Received national accreditation (CARF). Continuous reaccreditations every 3 years.
· 1995—Move to new Administrative and
· 2001—Beginning of Tier 3 Program for continued long-term support for adults with mental illness.
The court recognized that Cole’s crime was linked to his illness. He made a bad decision but he followed the goals and requirements of the
For a little more info on the CRC and Caramore’s relationship to it… go here, hit button “five.”
Billy completed the Caramore program and is now comfortably set up in aTier 3 apartment. According to Billy, life is good.
Billy came to Caramore after some hard years and a long stint at the
homeless shelter. Now he has a great job on the UNC campus, an
affordable apartment, and sufficient income to live comfortably.
Billy has also been able to have some overdue eye surgery to clear up
his vision. In the next month or so, Billy will achieve another step in
his makeover—he will have a good looking set of new teeth. Keep
smiling Billy.
