caramore

Helping Our Caramore Family

2009-06-20T16:39:00.004-04:00

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

2009-05-07T10:25:00.003-04:00

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

2009-04-11T10:33:00.005-04:00

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

2009-03-03T20:13:00.003-05:00

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

We Shall: A Message from the President of Caramore to Potential Clients

2009-02-22T17:49:00.003-05:00

• We shall not protect your life as it is; we shall promote what it could be. At Caramore, you should expect to change and dare to dream, because—“It’s never too late to become the person you might have been.”

• We shall be a beacon, not a butler.

• We shall offer patience, not protection.

• We shall offer hope, not a handout.

• We shall offer opportunity, not a guarantee.

• We shall model and promote success and health.

• We shall care about you, but not for you.

• We shall offer structure, not a shield.

• We shall not passively observe you, but will actively engage you. At Caramore, you shall be known and noticed.

• We shall together realize and promote that you have worth, value, capabilities, potential, rights, and responsibilities.

• Welcome to opportunity, welcome to adventure, welcome to hope.

David Chapman, President of Caramore.

Hope at Caramore

2009-01-25T13:56:00.011-05:00

I've often been asked what specific attributes are the most important for someone to have in order to succeed in Caramore. Of course there are many intangibles to consider, but I am convinced there are two underlying forces that link everyone who has ever been successful at Caramore—first is the willingness to embrace a philosophy of sacrifice and hard work to achieve goals; and second, is the inner desire to develop a life built around hope.

Hard work and sacrifice, I think we all can grasp the meaning of that. But I believe it is that elusive concept of hope which is truly the underlying foundation upon which Caramore has been able to guide people towards success. But what is hope? And can hope, together with hard work, actually alter the course of a disability and its effect on someone's life? We believe the answer is yes.

At Caramore, we don't confuse hope with optimism—a sense that things will work out for the best. Hope is very different from optimism. Hope does not arise from merely “thinking positive,” or crossing our fingers and wishing things will turn out ok. Hope, unlike optimism, is deeply reflected in one's personal efforts and determination to overcome the harshness of reality.

Although there is no universal definition of hope, I found one that seems to capture the essence of what makes hope so vital in everyone's life:

Hope is that elevating feeling that we experience, in our own mind's eye, of our personal path to a better future. Hope acknowledges the enormous obstacles and deep pitfalls that exist along that path. Hope is our inner guiding light that empowers and propels us through the darkness towards achieving our best destiny.

For any person, from anywhere, I can't envision a meaningful life without a strong sense of hope.

Barry Shanley

A Gracious Goodbye to Mickey Locklear

2009-01-20T22:48:00.002-05:00

Since I've been at Caramore, I've witnessed and have been part of many changes around here. Hundreds of clients have come through our doors, staff has come and gone, programs have been revitalized, and all of our offices and residences have taken on a different appearance. But one valued constant that has not changed has been the calming and lasting presence of Mickey Locklear at Ephesus.

Mickey's legacy is incredible. I have never heard from a single client anything in the least bit negative about Mickey. In fact, many of our clients have regarded their relationship with Mickey as one of the most supportive and nurturing aspects of the Caramore experience. Mickey had a warm way with everyone who lived in the group home. She could make people feel appreciated and comfortable, not an easy thing to do when so many people come to us who might be anxious, frightened or feeling depressed. Mickey's charming, relaxed demeanor could cut through all those tensions very quickly and people would know they had a close friend and ally with Mickey.

In times of crisis, Mickey was a good person to consult with, share feelings with, and lean on for comfort. In times of joy, Mickey would be the first person you would want to share your happy news with. She connected with all of her clients—young or old, men or women, outgoing or withdrawn. Mickey had a personal touch with each and every one. I have nothing but admiration for the lasting memories she has left in the minds of all who resided with her.

And, of course, Mickey's many cooking and baking skills are legendary. Everyone looked forward to her Sunday evening meals and everyone learned from her down home cooking techniques. Mickey enjoyed putting food on the table for all to enjoy, and she could see how the communal meal could bond people together and make for a shared, enjoyable experience. With Mickey in or around the kitchen, Ephesus was filled with warmth, comfort, and good vibrations.

Mickey's last day will be this Friday, January 23rd. She has been with Caramore for longer than I can imagine, I think around 14 years or so. Incredible. We have hired Nancy Phillips and Caroline Crumpler to cover most of the duties that Mickey had. Caroline and Nancy will be wonderful new additions to our staff and do a fine job. But I cautioned them that they should do their job in their own style, and not think of themselves as Mickey's "replacement.”

That would be just an impossible order for anyone to undertake ... to try and replace someone as uniquely revered and special as Mickey Locklear.

Thanks Mickey, and here's to many happy days ahead for you.

Cheers Barry

Our Voices: First-Person Accounts of Schizophrenia

2009-01-13T19:10:00.002-05:00

Forwarding the Recovery Paradigm

Here’s a snapshot of a new local book connected with our friends over at UNC STEP Clinic…

Forwarding the Recovery Paradigm

“Our Voices: First-Person Accounts of Schizophrenia is the first book of its type. There are similar books on schizophrenia, one where patient-authors ask the questions and share their first episodes. Our book is different in that it was designed to emphasize that schizophrenia is a lifelong illness with long-term and daily challenges, not isolating the focus on initial episodes. The market also has books with a similar format to ours: some interview and ask questions to experts, and some attempt to record or analyze answers from the popular mainstream. It should be pointed out that the subject matter of the interviews in these books varies greatly from ours.

The commitment and long process of writing and editing our own book became a reality when Jenny Edwards, one of the social workers from the UNC STEP Clinic (the University of North Carolina Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program) recognized the potential of one of many ideas that were proposed to her. It is so incredible that she would choose an idea, and have the vision, faith and confidence in us that we would make it happen! Her colleague Bebe Smith, Director of Outpatient Services at the STEP Clinic (who has worked in publishing), put the process in motion. Technically, Bebe and Jenny were just advisors for our book project, but we relied greatly on them, much more than they would have liked.

Our team of author-editors consisted of five individuals, each with some form of schizophrenia, who have weathered the worst part of their illness, have put their lives back together, and have really started to succeed in life again. Our author-editing team consists of talented writers, some accomplished, some truly solid. Because of all the unique battles we have triumphed over, we started this book project to share our personal perspectives with the world.

Our goal is to develop understanding in our readers that schizophrenia is a life-long illness, as well as an understanding of shared perceptions, experiences, and challenges people with schizophrenia face in daily living and throughout the course of their illness…”

Kwami Jackson Featured in Chapel Hill Magazine

2009-01-13T12:40:00.001-05:00

Forwarding the Recovery Paradigm

This month’s Chapel Hill Magazine features our own Kwami Jackson. Available at Weaver Street…

Self-Direction

2009-01-12T07:30:00.005-05:00

David Chapman and David Cooley were fortunate to meet Peer Specialists Larry Fricks at the State NAMI Conference in October. Larry has vast experience and credentials and achievements as a force for change in the public mental health system, where people with serious mental illness die, on average, 25 years earlier than the general population.

The Peer philosophy that Larry espouses focuses on individual's strength rather than illness. Recovery is no longer only about what clinicians do to consumers, it has become, with the assistance trained peers, what individuals do for themselves and each other. Peers are trained to assist in skills building, goal setting, problem solving, setting up and sustaining mutual self-help groups, and in helping individuals build their own self-directed recovery tools.

The mental health field has been shifting to this recovery model in the last few years because it’s effective, flexible, innovative, and offers choice and self-direction. Caramore’s Tier 3 project efficiently utilizes peers to sustain lasting recovery from mental illness, and in 2009, we plan to host one of Larry’s trainings to further the potential impact our experienced clients have in helping our newer clients recover and live well.

A short clip Larry Fricks appears in:

Amber Christian Osterhout

2009-01-11T17:50:00.003-05:00

Artist Amber Christian Osterhout and some of her art work exploring Schizophrenia. Check out her blog and site here…

Program Description

2008-11-13T17:24:00.007-05:00

Caramore is a non profit that has been operating in Carrboro and Chapel Hill for 30 years. We are 24 hour a day structured support program restoring rich and satisfying lives to adults with mental illness.

We exist for the purposes of promoting wellness, managing illness, and facilitating the skills needed to live and work in the community.

We’re a program that treats psychiatric brain disorders and diseases though providing comforting, pleasant, stimulating, and normalized real-world settings where individuals can begin to recover.

Caramore coordinates mental health treatment and offers a highly structured daily living regimen where individuals attain successful employment, suitable housing, financial stability, and achieve independent living.

Mental illness can entail cognitive, emotional, and interpersonal impairments that can severely limit insight. Our rehabilitative setting—involving socialization and employment—works to restore those impairments and behaviors through concentration on daily living skills, medication management, food and nutrition, health and hygiene, and social interaction. The path of rehabilitation is gradual and predicated on time and the individual’s particular needs.

For individuals with severe psychiatric diseases and disorders—where impairments are disabling—the combined approach of medical treatment and 24 hour a day vocational, residential, and social rehabilitative support, is the road to recovery.

Practical concerns that exhaust families—such as navigating doctor’s visits, dealing with pharmacies, consistently and correctly taking prescribed medication, handling SSA benefits or health insurance, teaching budgeting skills and managing money, encouraging good hygiene, paying rent, paying attention to nutrition, encouraging movement and exercise, landing and keeping a job—are all supervised by Caramore counselors.

Work is a critical source of our identity, and so it is with Caramore clients. Caramore clients begin a real job for real money from day one of entering the program. Gradual progression through the program hones disciplined and hard working employees who feel good about themselves, are defined less by their illness, and freed with confidence to pursue their own dreams.

Some successful Caramore clients may participate in “Tier 3,” a long term living situation that entails Caramore’s as-needed support. Tier 3 clients benefit from freedom and independence while knowing that if they need help, they’ll get it. Tier 3 is an excellent solution for the recidivism and episodic nature of mental illness—when things go wrong, Caramore is there to ensure jobs are kept, bank accounts preserved, and apartment leases are maintained.

Caramore exists for the sole purpose of our clients, and the ultimate worth of our services derives from the value and special abilities of our clients—their strengths and talents needed and utilized. We need help and frequently “peers” are employed to fulfill the Caramore mission. Many past clients actively work for us—helping form meaningful relationships with individuals who are in the same seemingly hopeless spot they were once in.

Individuals can get better and do get better at Caramore. It can mean allowing oneself to be helped by a considerable number of people. It can take a lot of time, but inside the supportive, encouraging, and safe environment of Caramore, risks can be taken, mistakes and miscues absorbed, and a new life can start. Caramore is hope, movement, action, and being involved.

STEP Clinic Visit

2008-11-07T12:45:00.005-05:00

The staff of UNC Hospital STEP Clinic paid a welcomed visit to the office and residences of Caramore yesterday. The overture was a joint effort from both organizations to further strengthen and enhance an already positive relationship, with the hope of introducing new personnel to each other and opening wider channels of communication.

The STEP Clinic at UNC is an invaluable resource in our community in that they provide consistent and excellent care to a large number of persons with mental illness who live throughout North Carolina. The partnership of the STEP Clinic and Caramore has served hundred of individuals who reside in the Chapel Hill/Carrboro area, offering a comprehensive combined program of mental health services (STEP Clinic) and residential and employment services (Caramore). The synergy of the two organizations provides their mutual clients with a total package of support and services that are unrivaled anywhere in the state.

Better Insurance Coverage Coming

2008-10-06T10:00:00.001-04:00

"More than one-third of all Americans will soon receive better insurance coverage for mental health treatments because of a new law that, for the first time, requires equal coverage of mental and physical illnesses."

Caramore on the People’s Channel

2008-09-23T13:35:00.003-04:00

Jacob Long and Eric Morris appeared on TV the other night, talking about Caramore on The People's Channel .

Filmmaker Philip Brubaker on NPR

2008-09-19T09:11:00.004-04:00

Listen to filmmaker Philip Brubaker on NPR talk about art and mental illness.

"Brushes With Life: Art, Artists and Mental Illness" Premiere

2008-08-25T13:51:00.004-04:00

"Brushes With Life: Art, Artists and Mental Illness" premiere! September 18th, 2008 5:30pm FedEx Global Education Center 301 Pittsboro Street Chapel Hill, NC 27516

Our Beautiful Two Newly Redecorated Homes

2008-07-15T11:39:00.013-04:00

The vast two-home redecorating has begun, and we wanted to give you a sneak peek at what your donations have created and allowed us to do directly for and with our clients. The creative efforts of Suzi Curtis, and Barry and Peg Shanley, resulted in a sort of “beach house” decor at Ephesus, and the thematic nickname “the Lodge,” for Fountain Ridge.

Both homes received a new roof, new windows, and new siding. Inside, new lighting, new layouts, new colors, and new artwork, have contributed to providing a relaxing and serene environment where individuals feel comfortable and a sense of well being necessary for recovery.

The work continues in each room of both houses—where more painting is taking place and more art work is appearing.

All of us at Caramore are grateful for your donations, the creative work of Curtis, Shanley, and Shanley, and for the scores of others who have helped make this possible—thank you.

David Cooley
Vice President

A Message from Charlene Lee

2008-07-15T10:39:00.003-04:00

My name is Charlene Lee and I live with bipolar1 mixed disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder, and post-traumatic stress disorder. Having battled with these dual diagnoses for most of my life, it has been difficult, and impossible at times, to maintain any meaningful employment. Even though I am educated, and consider myself to be very bright and intelligent, my mental illnesses would oftentimes bring me to points where I would have to leave great jobs because of my battles.

I entered the Caramore program in October of 2003. It was my hope that the program would assist me in obtaining structure in my life that would eventually help me to move forward with successful employment. Even though I experienced some rough times after graduating the program in 2004, I was still able to bounce back and continue my journey to fulfill my desire of working and succeeding. I still strive for success every day of my life. I have a great story that I enjoy sharing with others who live with mental illnesses. Every time I am invited to share that story, I jump at the opportunity. Those who know me in the community know that I am not ashamed to say that, “Yes, I live with mental illness, but mental illness does not control my life.” I still battle, but with the help and resources that I have gained over the past five years through various mental health organizations, including Caramore, the struggles are much lighter and the results are more rewarding.

One of my favorite hobbies is writing. Aside from educating myself on mental health disorders by reading and reading and reading, I also write some. I have written a little acronym about Caramore, and would like to share it with you:

Cemented
Awareness in my
Recovery process
Allowing me to
Move forward and to
Overcome fears so that I could maintain
Rewarding and meaningful
Employment

Thank you, Caramore, for being a vital part of my recovery! I often think back to my days on the cleaning crew at Caramore and think about how far I have come. The Caramore program was truly a blessing for me.

In October of this year, I will celebrate my second year of continuous employment at Staples in Chapel Hill. Also, I have been a part time van driver for Club Nova since February 2007, and was promoted to Transportation Supervisor in December 2007. I am also currently volunteering as a board member for the Mental Health Association of Orange County and for Club Nova, Inc.

2008 Legislative Agenda

2008-05-28T09:45:00.002-04:00

Passionate and concerned about our own friends and family who are struggling with psychiatric disorders? Take a moment to familiarize yourself with the following three legislative initiatives—initiatives that we believe will improve the lives of our clients and other struggling NC folks.

1. Support the Coalition Budget - The Coalition represents forty statewide non-profit organizations that advocate for persons needing services and supports for mental health, developmental disabilities, and addictive diseases. This year’s Coalition Budget calls for additional funding for a variety of services to potentially benefit those with mental illness. In particular, additional funds for residential housing and support services, restoration of funding for the non-Medicaid population, and supported employment services are most needed.

2. Support House Bill 2217 – This bill calls for additional funding to “Appropriate Funds to the Board of Governors of the University of North Carolina to Expand the Schizophrenia Treatment and Evaluation Program (STEP) in the Department of Psychiatry at the UNC School of Medicine.” Many Caramore clients receive services from the STEP programs. This quality program is under-staffed and under-funded. Caramore clients will benefit if UNC is able to expand their community mental health services.

3. Support House Bill 1897 – This bill establishes a Health Care Policy Council. Right now, the best way help someone with mental illness is to improve the quality and accessibility of affordable health care. Insurance parity and Medicaid buy programs have not helped those who participate in the Caramore program. The issues involved are complicated and sizable. We believe the establishment of the Health Care Policy Council will be an important, appropriate step toward a substantial improvement of health care services for adults with mental illness.

Please consider contacting your House and Senate representatives to promote the above legislation. Contact information may be accessed via the NC General Assembly website: http://www.ncga.state.nc.us/homePage.pl.

David Chapman, President/CEO

‘Mad Pride’ Fights a Stigma

2008-05-12T23:04:00.003-04:00

A great article on Mad Pride…

Advice from CNN

2008-05-06T18:55:00.006-04:00

CNN has a good informative page on mental health—below is an example of some of their stuff:

Stigma has four components:

Labeling someone with a condition
Stereotyping people with that condition
Creating a division — a superior "us" group and a devalued "them" group, resulting in loss of status in the community
Discriminating against someone on the basis of their label

Some ways you can cope with and help end stigma:

Get appropriate treatment. Don't let the fear or anticipation of being stigmatized prevent you from seeking treatment for your illness. For some people, a specific diagnosis provides relief because it lifts the burden of keeping silent and also underscores that you aren't alone — that many others share your same illness and issues.
Surround yourself with supportive people. Because stigma can lead to social isolation, it's important to stay in touch with family and friends who are understanding. Isolation can make you feel even worse.
Make your expectations known. People may not know how to support you, even if they want to help. Offer specific suggestions and remind people of appropriate language.
Don't equate yourself with your illness. You are not an illness. So instead of saying "I'm bipolar," say "I have bipolar disorder." Instead of calling yourself "a schizophrenic," call yourself "a person with schizophrenia." Don't say you "are depressed." Say you "have depression."
Share your own experiences. Speaking at events can help instill courage in others facing similar challenges and also educate the public about mental illness. Until you gain confidence, you may want to start at small events, such as talks at a support group or a local chapter of a national advocacy group.
Monitor the media. If you spot stigmatizing stories, comic strips, movies, television shows or even greeting cards, write letters of protest that identify the problem and offer solutions.
Join an advocacy group. Some local and national groups have programs to watch for and correct archaic stereotypes, misinformation and disrespectful portrayals of people with mental illnesses.

The End of an Era

2008-04-29T09:04:00.004-04:00

Elaine and husband Steve

Elaine Cummings (The National Association of Social Workers North Carolina Chapter’s 2006 Social Worker of the Year) is retiring from her position as Admissions Director of Caramore, leaving a legacy that will be hard to match. In over 7 years as our direct liaison to the mental health community, Elaine has been responsible for introducing Caramore to hundreds of clients and their families, paving the way for the realization of countless hopes and aspirations.

As the song once said "Nobody does it better"; and in truth nobody has --- we will all miss Elaine's professionalism, clinical knowledge, and guiding concern for our clients. Perhaps Elaine's most memorable contribution to Caramore was her tireless pursuit for what was best for every single individual who came to Caramore. No client ever received anything less that Elaine's total dedication for what would be best for them. She shared people's dreams and often fought through the mental health regulatory maze for all of her admissions.

Elaine showed everyone at Caramore a heart that was boundless in its capacity for providing opportunity and hope to adults with mental illness. Sadly, we will miss her, but we're happy for her personal opportunity to spend more time with family and friends, and maybe just kick back a little and relax.

Cheers to you Elaine ... and thank you for the impact you have made on so many lives.

B Shanley

A Caramore Wedding

2008-04-26T17:32:00.008-04:00

Our own Josh and Shannon got married today in a beautiful ceremony at Orange United Methodist Church in Chapel Hill.

It was particularly touching knowing both so well, having worked with both of them separately, back when they were struggling in the most difficult years of their illness—and to see them now, clearly very much in love, and neither able to imagine living their lives without the other.

Many couldn’t help but to comment on the fact that their own lives have been touched by Josh and Shannon, including Caramore—and that increased the pleasure all take in their happiness.

Congratulations Josh and Shannon!

Become a fan of Caramore on Facebook

2008-04-16T08:48:00.001-04:00