Why Caramore is So Successful

As you examine the various components of our mission and services, it becomes clear that the Caramore Program takes a bold and unique approach in guiding people with mental illness to realize their potentials and expand their futures. Our success is based upon many solid and consistent program guidelines, as well as on a personally tailored plan for every individual who enters Caramore.

But of equal importance, Caramore is also strategically located in a geographic community that offers three key and readily available components that are essential to helping adults with mental illness maximize the benefits of the Caramore Program. Those three elements are ---

1) Outstanding Mental Health Treatment --- Effective local mental health treatment and community support services are readily available for adults with mental illness. UNC Hospital and Duke Hospital are close by and provide excellent psychiatric and therapy services. Local agencies such as Oasis, The STEP Clinic, Freedom House and Club Nova also act as partners with Caramore to address the various mental health needs of our participants

2) Availability of Community Jobs --- The Chapel Hill / Carrboro area is home to a vibrant and stable college community with many job possibilities available in support of that community. The various service industry and University related jobs that are created in our area have been wonderful employment opportunities for all of our participants

3) Free Public Transportation --- Caramore is situated in the heart of an area that provides free public bus transportation to local population. All of our participants are able to utilize free public transportation to get them to their jobs, doctors, therapists, shopping, social events, etc. In other words, people are not held back from opportunities because of any inability to get there.

Caramore offers the perfect mix of a well designed program, fully competent and caring staff people, and valuable community services ... and utilizes all those assets to ensure the success of our participants.

Helping Our Caramore Family

Diane Enger, a noted artist of handcrafted glass and jewelry, currently residing in Morganton, NC, has taken it upon herself to donate her time and talents to furthering our mission of providing quality lifestyles for our program participants. If you are interested in hand made jewelry, and would like to support the growing financial needs of our organization, explore Diane’s website and work – there is a designated page of handcrafted items dedicated to raising funds for our community. Diane has made a pledge to support our cause by donating 80% of her profits from these jewelry sales to Caramore Community, which is quite a stance of magnanimity considering the labor, supplies, and effort that goes into each piece of jewelry. Perhaps, you can find something special for yourself, or a loved one, that will provide our Caramore family with even greater opportunities.

Diane has been fusing glass and creating jewelry for 12 years. After teaching art for 25 years in the Illinois Public School system, she has recently retired to the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina. She received her Bachelor of Art (B.A.) degree from Western Illinois University and a Master of Fine Arts (M.F.A.) from Northern Illinois University.

To see Diane’s work, please visit her website.

Pushing Towards Potential

A integral component of the Caramore philosophy is the value of helping all our clients reach their individual potentials. We at Caramore recognize that the goals of each participant may be different, but that every one shares the desire to find meaningful and rewarding work in his or her life.

Tanya Beiars has been with Caramore for almost 10 years now, serving as a hands-on instructor with many of our participants. Tanya helps people get themselves "job ready" for an employment situation in our community. Tanya has been adept at utilizing all of her diverse and effective skills in helping people realize their own potential and thereby get closer to their personal goals.

The path towards being able to work competitively isn't always smooth, and the ride can be bumpy for some. But Tanya has guided people as needed, aiming to bring out the best in all of the people who have worked with her. She is at times mentor, teacher, friend, sympathetic listener, and when necessary a focused task-master --- often she assumes each of these roles seamlessly in a single day.

The people who have worked with Tanya are better for her influence, and often people return and express grateful thanks for her guidance during a difficult time in their lives. The proof is also in the results. Every participant who has spent sufficient time with Tanya in the Caramore program has been able to find a job in our community. Everyone ... that's quite an accomplishment.

Caramore is a truly special place ... dedicated people like Tanya continue to make it so.

Justin and Jacob

Justin Mashburn and I attended the Orange County Chapter of NAMI's family-to-family a few nights ago. I gave my general overview of the program, and then Justin hit the floor, tapping out rhythmically his stint in the program thus far.

Justin spoke of his overall impression of Caramore as being a program that embraces individuals for their differences, and not by their mental illness. He concentrated more upon self-desire, determination, and will-power. He spoke of routine, a welcomed transition away from tired performances with family members, and he made it clear that he feels really accepted, a part of community, and a self-contributor. Not once did Justin speak of his mental illness. Instead, he spoke of his difficulties with getting up in the morning, coming to terms with his illness, and getting adjusted to a new routine.

In the end, Justin said that he was proud to be a part of Caramore, and when we were being bombarded with questions, he answered with no hesitation, and I never felt the slightest discomfort or unease. When asked, "How does Caramore bridge the gap between the greater community of Chapel Hill, and the community of Caramore, knowing that you have a mental illness," Justin responded very articulately, "We don't define ourselves in that way."

Justin has accepted his illness, and truly wants to grow. Growth is different for everyone. When given compassion, understanding, acceptance, and temperance, individuals feel free to grow in their own UNIQUE way, without fear of being judged. The moment this begins to happen, an individual surfaces with autonomy and self-motivation. Justin did that without any rehearsal, without any push, and without any reservation. No matter what is in store for his future beyond today, I can say confidently, and without any reticence, that the Justin that spoke tonight was not the same Justin that I met when he was admitted.

We never stop growing until the world tells us otherwise, and the world does not define us. Instead, we define ourselves, and the world learns acceptance, or turns away. Either way, the one is not contingent or dependent on the other, but they gently ask for cohabitation, and I am sure that we provide that.

Jacob Long

Admissions Director

Integrating with the Community

Question:

How do I figure out what my interests are after being diagnosed with “mental illness?”

One challenge of living with a chronic illness is addressing the questions “who am I, how do I relate socially, and what do I still care about?” With Caramore serving as a community and physical space for one to reconnect to self—meetup.com serves as a much broader community to rekindle old interests and develop new skills.

Answer:

meetup.com

See for yourself.

Brian F