Heart Story: Advocate for Mental Health Client

This story was submitted by Chuck Davis, Mental Health Ombuds

Mental health Ombuds has a client who presented early in 2010 with a sad story. The client had a history of alcohol abuse and mental illness. He had suffered terrific bodily injury due to things that happened to him while he was under the influence of alcohol. Although he was living in a “clean and sober house” when we met him, the house was neither clean nor sober. He was trying his best to maintain sobriety and was extremely frustrated with that living situation. He had fairly recently been through the court and criminal justice system. He told Ombuds he had received unfavorable treatment, rejection and neglect from a number of community “helping” agencies. He stated that his mental health services were lacking and had set him up for failure. Saddest of all, he was out of options, had nowhere to turn, and was thinking about going back to drinking. He told Ombuds, “I might as well give up and stay drunk until I die, for all the good it does me to try to find real help.”

He found a Skagit County Community Action Agency flyer promising that their mental health Ombuds would do their best to assist him. Shortly after his initial call, Ombuds had obtained a medical release form and was at work helping him. Ombuds initiated complaints and grievances about his treatment through his mental health services agency and arranged several face-to-face meetings with that agency. Ombuds subsequently promoted his interests through an intense grievance process with the North Sound Mental Health Administration, the region’s public mental health authority.

Ombuds empowered him to transfer his mental health treatment to a different provider agency that provided him proper mental health treatment. Ombuds also worked on his behalf between the local housing authority and his new provider agency and found him a suitable home within three weeks. The client is now committed to sobriety, has a very positive outlook, is volunteering at a community drop-in center and is working with an agency to find a job. He recently stated, “This is the absolute best I have ever been!”

Dine to Donate with Community Action and Applebees

Please join SKAGIT COUNTY COMMUNITY ACTION AGENCY and for our MONTHLY FUNDRAISING EVENT to benefit Community Action's FOOD ACCESS PROGRAMS: Mobile Food Express, Food Bank Distribution Center, Skagit Food Share Alliance

Starting in 2010, print and bring this flyer in on the 1ST THURSDAY OF EACH MONTH to Applebee’s and they will donate 15% of your total bill to Community Action to benefit the food access programs! Lunch, dinner, and Carside-to-go orders!

Mark your calendars:
Feb. 4
March 4
April 1
May 6
June 3
July 1
Aug. 5
Sept. 2
Oct. 7
Nov. 4
Dec. 2

Only at the Applebee's Restaurant located in Burlington * (360) 757-1414

*One flyer per ticket

* Please do not distribute flyers in or around the restaurant

Heart Story: Struggle and Hope

This story was submitted by Melissa Self who works in Maternity Support Services at Community Action:

Earlier this year, I worked with a young first-time mom, Sara*, and her infant, Alex*. The father had been sent to drug rehab for heroin addiction. Sara and Alex were temporarily staying with friends with the expectation that she would move out once the Alex’s father was released from rehab. She had no friends other than the people she lives with, and although her family lived in a neighboring county, but they are not supportive as they have many issues of their own.

In addition to receiving services through Community Action, Sara was also connected into WorkSource, and was receiving some support from her case worker at DSHS. She eventually got a part-time job and Alex was enrolled into childcare program. Sara did not have a car so she walked all over town, pushing Alex in a stroller or used the bus for transportation.

I often still see her pushing Alex in the stroller all over town to appointments with case workers and to attend classes.

Despite multiple challenges, Sara was always on time for her appointments in the office and would follow through on any tasks or referrals. Melissa helped her fill out housing paperwork and got her on the waiting list for our agency’s family shelter. She was able to listen to her concerns and frustrations; Sara seemed to look forward to their visits, even though Melissa couldn’t solve all of her problems.

Melissa saw the couple in the office the other day, checking in about some shelter possibilities. Sara always has a smile for Melissa thought the stress of Sara and her boyfriend have not found permanent housing yet. In addition, Sara’s boyfriend has had a difficult time finding a job in this current economy. It is our hope that the connection Sara made during her visits to Community Action has given her hope and that she feels she has somewhere to go when she needs help or someone to listen.

*Names have been changed to maintain confidentiality.

Volunteers donate toiletry items in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.

The ARRA AmeriCorps team gathered 450 donated toiletry items January 18, 2010 for the Oasis Teen Shelter and the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter. Team members had earlier decorated boxes and placed them in stores across Skagit County. The event was one of several AmeriCorps members produced honoring Rev. Martin Luther King Jr.

Melissa Kelsay (left) Mary Evitt and Katja Gottbrect number among ARRA AmeriCorps members dividing donations for the Teen Oasis Shelter and the Skagit Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Shelter.

Dave Shields (left) and Katja Gottbrecht counting donated toiletries.

Helping unload toiletries at the Teen Oasis Shelter are Justin Krupa, case manager, and Mike McMurry, Americorps member.

East County Angel Tree

This story was submitted by Lou Hillman, our Community Resource Coordinator at SCCAA's satalite office in Concrete:

From all of us at the East County Resource Center in Concrete want to thank our community for taking part in our "First Annual Angel Tree Holiday Celebration".

There were 113 children from our community in need of a little helping hand this past Christmas. In response, we hung tags with the child’s name and age on an "Angel Tree” in the Resource Center located at the library. The folks at the Town of Concrete Town Hall helped spread the word and in a few short weeks, community members came in droves and brought back lovely gifts for these little "angels". Towards the end of our deadline, there were only a few names left and with the cash donations from several anonymous donors, we were able to make sure that each child had a gift under the tree!

Vicki Dinkins, our new Department of Licensing/Chamber manager came up with the idea and supervised the event. She did a wonderful job of keeping us organized and focused.

Special thanks to so many that opened their hearts in the spirit of Christmas!! Word spread of our little project and our community came together in what was a magical moment. Richard Frank donated boxes of stocking stuffers as did Rose Weaver, John Hendrickson and the Sheriff's office donated brand new bicycles and gobs of brand new teddy bears in need of a loving new home. The Lions Club donated cash to help with the extra gifts needed.

Toys for Tots and the Marine Corps League, Detachment #1043 has requested we shout out an enormous thank you to the community for helping to make many Christmas wishes come true. Toys for Tots representative Murle Brown and his wife Kay, of the Resource Center were amazing Christmas elves.

We plan on having an "Angel Tree" again next year, and plan tol start a little earlier in the season; so get ready East County! Suggestions, ideas and donations will always be welcome!

Thank you all so very much for the outpouring of love, generosity and caring we all saw this year. It truly "takes a village....."

In appreciation to our wonderful community!!!

Lou Hillman, Resource Center Coordinator
Vicki Dinkins, DOL-Chamber Manager
Kay Brown, AmeriCorp Volunteer
Gaylyn Harrington, Resource Center Technician

Heart Story: Single Father

This story was submitted by Amy George, Food Access Program Coordinator located at our Mount Vernon office:

Recently, I assisted a single father who had just lost his job. He had full custody of his three children and was trying to provide a stable home environment with the $2,200 per month he received on unemployment. While that may seem like a lot to some, his mortgage payment was nearly $1600 per month. His budget also included the standard water, sewer, garbage, natural gas, electric, and phone bills. In addition, his children were not covered by health insurance. By the time he left my office, I assisted in getting him connected with Basic Food, Energy Assistance, and Apple Health for Kids (a health insurance program for children).

These are just some of the programs that are available to individuals and families who are faced with challenges such as these. Our mission here at Skagit County Community Action Agency is to foster and advocate for self-sufficiency among low-income people in Skagit County.

HOUSING PROGRAM CHRISTMAS PARTY

On Friday, December 11, 2009, the Housing Program of Skagit County Community Action Agency hosted a Christmas party at Crossroads Covenant Church on Pease Road in Burlington for its clients and their families.

Activities at the party included a pot luck turkey dinner, a raffle for the adults, a giveaway of the knitted hats donated by Mount Vernon Manor House residents and crafts for the children, who also were able to choose one gift from a box of donated toys, as well as a Christmas story reading for the youngest.

In the past 12 months, the Housing Program has helped provide emergency shelter to 178 people in sixty one families and nearly 100% of those families have moved on to permanent housing. The Transitional Housing Program worked with over 58 families and the Housing Program has been working hard to establish Skagit Housing Connections. This “One Stop” homeless service center has offered housing assistance and case management to more than 500 individuals since January of 2009.

Donations from the public have provided clothes, food, transportation, even a full week of summer camp to 15 children, as well as helped to stock the new William J. Shuler Family Development Center. Thank you for your support!