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| REPORT FROM THE 2010 PLANNING RETREAT FOR NCAB AND THE COUNCIL | | |
EXCITING NEW INITIATIVES FOR NCAB!
NCAB officers came together for its annual planning retreat, held at the Scarritt Bennett Center in Nashville, TN. Each Individual Membership Committee within the Council, to include the Clinicians Network, the Respite Care Providers Network and NCAB met with the purpose of strategizing and planning for the upcoming year. There was a great deal of energy and creativity demonstrated at the meetings and many exciting NCAB initiatives are to come in the coming year.
At this meeting we formally welcomed two new NCAB Executive Committee members to our meeting for their first time: Tom Rossi from Denver, Co, and Kaylynn Boone from Salt Lake City, UT. We also welcomed our new Council Staff for NCAB: Dan Rabbitt. Dan recently obtained his MSW from the University of Maryland, Baltimore and has been an asset to NCAB since his arrival.
We started our mornings early by having breakfast together in the Dining Hall and then worked throughout both days that we were together. Many proposals were considered and debated over two intense days, resulting in several new NCAB objectives. Many refinements and updates on existing programs were given as well, with much progress to report. Some of the topics addressed include the following:
- Updates on the NCAB Violence Study, NCAB Veterans Study, and the development of a National Registry of local CABs
- A Resolution opposed to 'sit/lie' laws, laws that prohibit standing or sitting in certain areas within a city. These laws are directly aimed at homeless individuals and contribute to making the condition of homelessness a criminal act.
- The expansion of the NCAB Mentoring Program
- Considerations for revising the NCAB Operating Rules and Election Process
- Presentation Skill Development
- Brainstorming and Development of Workshop Proposals for the HCH Conference
- Initial exploration of a Peer Specialist/Community Health Worker Program promoted by the NCAB and the National Council. Such a program would promote the addition of peer specialist or community health workers as staff at HCH clinics. These types of staff assist patients in navigating the health care system and with any linguistic or cultural barriers they may face in interacting with clinic staff. Consumers are well suited for these sorts of positions.
- Development of a Regional Structure for NCAB; which includes developing a Recruitment Committee, Recruitment Committee Coordinator, additional NCAB Sub-Committees and potentially additional regional positions within NCAB.
NEW DIRECTION FOR THE COUNCIL TOO!
Following NCAB's two days of meetings, the Governing Membership of the Council met for two days to discuss the goals of the Council for the coming year. The Governing Membership consists of the Council Board, representatives from each Individual Membership Committee, and representatives from each HCH clinic represented by the Council. Again, the two days were busy and many directions were considered. In the end, 12 proposals were accepted with consensus to guide the Council's work moving forward. Several of these proposals came from NCAB's meetings over the previous two days.
- To begin exploring how to create a Peer Specialist/Community Health Worker Program within the Council.
- To grow NCAB Membership by creating a regional structure and additional sub-committees.
- To hire a full-time Consumer Advocate to work as paid staff for the Council. NCAB was given the responsibility to develop a job description.
Other items covered in the Governing Membership Meeting included results from the Needs Assessment the Council recently conducted on training needs, recent policy developments, and an update on HRSA by Henry Lopez, the Director of Special Populations Programs (including HCH) at HRSA. Beyond the formal discussion there was much time to get to know colleagues and there was also a fund raising event at a local Ben and Jerry's to benefit the Council.
All of the October meetings were very productive this year. Great ideas and expertise were all around us. The opportunity to connect and learn from your colleagues within the National HCH Council was also fantastic. It will be exciting to watch the path charted unfold in the coming months. |
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NCAB PLANS FOR EXPANSION | | |
NEW MEMBERS, OFFICERS, AND SUBCOMMITTEES
While in Nashville, NCAB proposed that they expand the number of leadership positions by creating the position of regional representative. This initiative is one of several established at the NCAB planning retreat this October designed in part to expand consumer involvement in NCAB. Through local CABs and other efforts, many consumers work hard to advocate for the homeless but very few contribute to NCAB. Allowing more individuals to contribute to NCAB will help to broaden its scope and better represent the diverse communities homelessness is found in.
There will be one regional representative for each of ten regions of the country. The representatives will be elected at the National Conference in June 2011 and will have a variety of responsibilities. One major responsibility will be to serve on the newly established Recruitment Subcommittee. This committee will be responsible for recruiting new members into NCAB and providing orientation and guidance to consumers when they do join or attend the Conference. The regional reps will also be responsible for working with local CABs, especially ones that NCAB has had no contact with. The regional rep would encourage members of local CABs to get involved with NCAB by sitting on NCAB subcommittees, contributing to our quarterly Newsletter, and attending the annual conference.
Forming these connections will be good both for NCAB and local CABs. For NCAB it will broaden the support for its activities and provide opportunities to learn about other consumer groups. For local consumers it will give the opportunity to contribute nationally and develop leadership skills that can help to strengthen their local CABs. It would also give them the opportunity to "get their feet wet" and decide whether or not they want to commit to this level of involvement.
An additional planned expansion is the formation of new subcommittees. Currently there are two subcommittees of NCAB: The Ellen Dailey Advocate Award Nominating Subcommittee and the NCAB Election Nominating Subcommittee. Three additional subcommittees are to be established: The Recruitment Subcommittee, The Homeless Persons Memorial Day Subcommittee, and The Newsletter Committee. As those committees are formed, The Recruitment Subcommittee will be responsible for reaching out to consumers for participation.
Please consider these new opportunities to become involved with NCAB, both for yourself if applicable and for others you may know in your community. NCAB does great work and will do greater work with more involvement. And remember that June will be here before you know it!
NEW CONSUMER ADVOCATE POSITION
One final new initiative of note was the intention to establish a "consumer advocate" position at the Council. This will be a new, paid staff position paid for by additional funding from HRSA. The job description is being finalized but NCAB contributed significantly to the design of the position. In brief, this position will promote consumer involvement at all HCH projects and provide staff support to NCAB and other consumer driven programs. This is very exciting for the growth of NCAB and the Council, so stay tuned for more information.................. |
| HOMELESS PERSONS MEMORIAL DAY, DECEMBER 21ST | | |
COMMUNITIES THROUGHOUT THE COUNTRY MAKE PLANS
While much of the nation prepares to celebrate the winter holidays, we pause on December 21--the first day of winter and the longest night of the year--to commemorate National Homeless Persons' Memorial Day and formally remember our homeless friends and neighbors who have died living on the streets this year. Recognizing those who are so often not visible to society at large is important and an activity NCAB has been involved in for many years. And just a friendly reminder: Homeless Persons Memorial Day is literally just around the corner.
APPEAL FROM CAROL HALL, NCAB NEWSLETTER EDITOR
Let's not wait till the last minute to plan our events.
It's important to Honor our Homeless Brothers and Sisters that have passed and remembering 'WHY' they died...
Being Homeless is one of the most difficult things I've ever had to endure
in my life, I felt truly alone! I came out from under a bridge ten and a half years ago in fear for my life...I can say that I know what it is like to be homeless and no one should have to live that way, EVER. It's hard to be homeless, and it could happen to anyone, at anytime! Most of us were functioning members of society before we became homeless! We had a life!
Those of you who have known me over the years have had the opportunity to see the difference that housing and health care have made in my life. I can't express how grateful I am to have a place to live. I want everyone to feel this way! Today I have been blessed with a good job that allows me to work with people that have or are experiencing homelessness. I know the effects homelessness has on a human being. The homeless have no where to heal, stay clean, or get the much needed rest that our bodies need to be able to heal. Far too many of our brothers and sisters have died because of sickness contracted or worsened while living on the streets. Many others have died from exposure, violent crime, suicide or any of number of other dangers of life on the street. So much of it might not have happened if they only had somewhere to live! Housing and health care are human rights not privileges, so join me in the fight to end homelessness and gain back our rights to live peaceful, more productive lives. If we don't try then surely nothing will happen! I will do all that I can to end homelessness, to advocate for our rights as human beings, and fight for the right to be healthy and housed!
SO WHAT CAN YOU DO?
- Organize Now for Homeless Memorial Day December 21. In years past, candlelight vigils, religious ceremonies, moments of silence, and other public events were held in communities throughout the country. In the Native culture they Honor their people with a drum and an honor song, sage, sweetgrass, a prayer and kind words to honor the loved ones and friends that have passed.
- Remember it doesn't have to be fancy or expensive. Light snacks and something warm to drink. A restaurant in Portland Oregon was known to donate a hearty organic vegetable soup and homemade bread which went over very well. Just a suggestion, anything simple is great too.
- Please email NCAB about what you are planning in your community or with any suggestions that could be shared. We would also like feedback after the events so we can post it in the NCAB Newsletter
"Let Me be your voice until you find the courage to speak up!" |
| HOMELESS MAN IS GOOD SAMARITAN | | |
OVER $3,000 FOUND AND RETURNED TO OWNER
When a homeless Arizona man found a backpack containing thousands of dollars in cash, he could have seen it as a windfall. Instead, he saw that it was returned to its owner, an honorable act that's now paying off.
Dave Tally, a recovering drug addict, came across the lost backpack earlier this month in a light rail station in Tempe. He opened it up, trying to find some sort of identification or baggage tag.
Inside, there were no clues about its rightful owner, but Tally did find an envelope stuffed with $3,300 in cash, as well as a laptop computer.
"Finding the envelope with the case was just mind-blowing," Tally said. "There were lots of crazy thoughts that went through my head."
The cash could have meant a lot for Tally, who's lived on the streets for several years after losing his home. He now sleeps n the basement of local churches, saving what little he can to fix his broken bike, his only source of transportation.
"I went into survival mode for a moment, actually more than a moment," Tally said, "thinking about all the things I could do for myself."
But in the end, the money wasn't worth more than his honor.
Tough Decision for Homeless Man
"It wasn't easy, but I know it was the right thing to do," Tally said. "I beat myself up pretty hard for even thinking I would spend one dime of that person's money."
Tally took the bag to his boss at the Tempe Community Action Agency, which helps homeless people in the area find shelter and where he holds down a part time job. With no ID on the bag, they had no way of finding the owner until someone thought to plug in a flash drive that was with the computer.
ASU Student Lost Bag on Way to Work
On the drive was the resume of Bryan Belanger, an Arizona State University student who thought he'd never see his belongings again after mistakenly leaving them in the station on his way to work. He was carrying the envelope of money with plans to buy a used car off Craigslist.
Thanks to Tally's good deed, the bag, cash and computer were back in Belanger's hands five days after he reported them missing.
"It's just the greatest thing I've ever experienced, I think," said Belanger. "It really is a lesson to keep your faith in people, and character exists no matter what your circumstances are."
When Belanger met Tally, he offered a grateful handshake and a cash reward. Belanger even promised to volunteer at the Tempe Community Action Agency.
Strangers Offer Support to Tally
But those aren't the only rewards Tally's decision brought him. After his story aired on ABC's Phoenix affiliate KNXV-TV, strangers sent Tally checks, and even found him to hand him cash. More than enough money has come in to fix his broken bike.
For his part, Tally hopes his act will change some people's notions about the homeless.
"My time being on the streets, I met some of the most intelligent people that just made bad choices," Tally said. "They are just everyday people that have a different way of life right now." |
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NCAB PROPOSES A CHALLENGE:
ENCOURAGE CONSUMERS TO JOIN NCAB! | |
There are currently at least 96 local Consumer Advisory Boards at HCH projects throughout the Nation! If each project just signed up one new member we could grow from about 250 to 350 just like that. And if consumers at clinics without CABs got involved it would be that much more. The only requirements for membership are an interest in becoming a member and present or past experience of homelessness. Membership in NCAB simply supports the mission of NCAB and is free. Just becoming a member is the best resource anyone can provide.
Those of you who have a CAB (Consumer Advisory Board) know how important it is to recruit new membership and those without CABs can recognize the need as well. The number of members an organization has is one way its relevance and its message are judged. The more people you represent, the more the people in power have to listen.
NCAB is also making plans to expand its activities in the coming months, including additional subcommittees and new regional representative positions. This expansion will be a great opportunity for new people to get involved with NCAB but only if they become a member.
Please accept the challenge. The NCAB registration form can be found here and a brochure on membership is available here. NCAB and local CABs around this country give individuals experiencing homelessness a voice. That voice needs to be heard and we need to make it as loud as we can. The more members NCAB has, the louder its voice and the voice of the homeless will be.
Thank you in advance for all your help! |
| HRSA VISITS FAMILY HEALTH CENTER IN WORCESTER, MA | |
TOUR ARRANGED BY NCAB CHAIR, AMY GRASSETTE
At the 2010 National HCH Conference in San Francisco the current NCAB Chair, Amy Grassette, had the opportunity to speak with Captain Henry Lopez. Captain Lopez is Director of Minority Populations at HRSA. While chatting, Captain Lopez mentioned that he would be attending a conference in Boston at the end of June. Amy works at a project in Worcester, MA and asked if he would be interested in coming to tour the community health center where she was employed. He said he would love to.
Captain Lopez and his associate Sonsy Fermin arrived at the Health Center at 10:00 on July 1st and were greeted by Amy and Family Health Center CEO Frances Anthes. Ms. Anthes guided both Mr. Lopez and Ms. Fermin on an extensive tour of the Health Center including newly constructed areas made possible by public funds such as the stimulus bill.
Once the tour was over, members of the Administrative staff, Ms. Anthes, Mr. Lopez, Ms. Fermin, and Amy were invited to the Board Room for a question and answer session. Mr. Lopez and Ms. Fermin were very candid and well informed. Insights into successfully applying for grants and upcoming funding possibilities were some of the useful information provided by Mr. Lopez.
The visit went very well. The administrative staff of Family Health Center were especially grateful that a federal official showed interest in their Health Center and the services they provide. Thanks Henry! |
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| MEMBER CONTRIBUTIONS | |
The Clothes Really Make the Person
As I struggle, living in a rooming house; where nice clothing is an issue, I was invited to go to a fundraiser for Boston Health Care for the Homeless (BHCH), and when I put on a shirt and tie it reminded me of hiding behind a mask of recovery. Most addicts hide behind masks because they're afraid to let the truth out.
When I first got the invitation it was something that brought back memories from the past. When I was growing up I was a member of the "Have" class. Money was never an issue. Living in luxury, I was one of those people who sometimes made fun of homeless people. We would drive by the shelters and say "that will never be me!"
When my parents got sick and lost their business we lived in subsidized housing while I supported them. I came to realize that life wasn't always as it should be. When my father died I became my mother's caretaker because I didn't want her in a nursing home. I couldn't go on her lease because I made too much money, so I became her PCA and gave up my job. When she died I was given two weeks to clear everything out and leave. Because I had no money or resources available it took me over a month to have my mother's funeral.
After going through that tragedy I found myself sleeping on the floor of those shelters I had passed by. I was sleeping next to people that were under the influence who hadn't taken showers for months. I spent my days walking the streets of Lynn, MA; cold, hungry, and lonely. Addiction soon followed. Cocaine became my friend for six months, and then I went into treatment, and then I went into a halfway house in Boston; where BHCH saved my life.
There I met a staff person named Cecilia who ran the clinic at St Francis House. I'd go there five days a week to soak my feet, but the real reason I would go there was to get out of the cold. After awhile I got to know all the staff and they became my family.
Since I had a background in Social Work; in which field I worked for eighteen years, Cecilia saw the skills I had and asked me if I'd be interested in joining the CAB. I joined the CAB and found a whole new family of people from all walks of life who didn't care what clothes I wore. In fact if my clothes were raggedy they would help me get new clothes to wear. I was treated like I belonged to society again. Last night I had the honor and privilege of being a part of the BHCH "25 Years of Vision and Commitment", to people like me. The atmosphere reminded me of how I had to humble myself to ask for help and rely on others for support. If I didn't have all support from the staff at BHCH, I would be one of those unfortunate folks whose life was cut short, buried where nobody knew, in the land of the lost.
In particular Jim O'Connell, who is one of the key people who started BHCH 25 years ago, showed me that no matter what role you hold with HCH, from the top on down, I am treated with dignity and respect.
I was recently trying to think of a slogan for a human rights rally and I thought "The Seventh Sense". "I see Homeless People" Our society looks upon homeless people as "dead people". HCH; throughout the nation, turns that stigma around and helps us become a functioning member of society, no matter what clothes we wear!
Submitted by: Jay Takenow (Braintree, MA)
In Touch
Come here my children, come listen
Now that you are here my children be attentive
Look around, take in the beauty of this scene
Absorb the environment, Enmesh yourself in it's essence.
My children, because there is more than you believe you see
Submerge your being in the moment, accept your involvement
Realize the connectivity of the vibratory embrace that colors your experience
You and the environment are uniquely in sync to the very core of your essence
You are the image of your CREATOR, acknowledge you are never alone
You are in the ocean of life, not just a pebble skipping along
Acknowledge you and your SOURCE are one
and this defines your essence
Submitted by: Reginald O. Hamilton (Detroit, MI)
Going Places
Look, follow the bumble bee as it flits
Traveling from flower to flower
Through the fields and flowering places
Hey over there watch out for the speeding cars
Splash, Clang, Whine go the Wheels on the city street
What tall buildings, quaint shoppes, diverse real estate
Going there are the well clothed patrons of the shops, lounges, and restaurants
60, 70, 80 miles we go as the signs fly by
Collars and hair blowing in the wind with the top down
Over hills, around the curves see the grazing animals
Vegetables, Trees, Red barns, Wind Generators, WOW!
Look, this is fun, let's follow the sun
Let's look for the fields to play catch the butterflies
There goes another bumble bee, let's go, go, go,...... Submitted by: Reginald O. Hamilton (Detroit, MI)
Help Everyone has limitations, areas of weakness, feelings of inadequacy, lack of skill or knowledge.. Sometimes you just don't know what to do or how to do it. Sometimes a crisis strikes and you just can't handle it by yourself. You need help! Although the world may admire the 'Strong In- dependent Spirit', no one can really survive alone! Cultivate the habits of seeking the help of God and others, and offering help to those in need. Although I'm fairly certain that this writing came from a recovery book of some sort, by my own experience I know its content to be true. This applies to all walks of life. Try as we might sometimes it's just hard to do everything by our -selves. We often find out who our allies really are in times of need. Undisclosed Author
Homeless
It was March 6th, 2009, It was a beautiful sunny day, people were out walking their dogs in the park eating lunch, visiting with family, getting off work and picking up their children from school.
As I walked away from the slamming doors and bars of the Broward county jail, little did I know that on this day my life would be changed forever! I expected to see someone I knew there to pick me up, but it seems my loved ones had posted my bail and ran back to Kentucky, leaving me behind, alone in a place where I knew absolutely nobody and had nowhere to go. I had always seen this sort of thing in the movies, but never imagined in a million years that this would ever happen to me. For the first time I started feeling things that you would only know if you had been there. I began to walk around with no particular place to go, my walking became more tiring by the minute, minutes turned into hours and then into days.
Soon people started giving me a dollar here and a dollar there. At first I was surprised, and although I could use it, I said to myself, "Why are you giving me this? Don't you know I have a home." Then it hit me: I didn't have a home anymore. I didn't realize that I hadn't had a shower for a couple of days and was dirty . Judging by the way I looked people were just trying to help.
Night was falling and I began to realize that I needed to find somewhere to sleep. I spotted a black bench tucked away where I thought nobody would bother me. I packed my belongings underneath the bench and lay down. When I put my head down the reality of my being homeless hit me hard.
In the early morning hours the sprinklers came on and woke me up. I sat up quickly and lost it. I questioned God at that moment, wondering how he could do this to me. It didn't take long before I began to realize that I needed help...that is if there was any for me at that point. So I grabbed what was left of my life and started off down the road, off to look for someone that could give me some answers.
Hours grew as the clock wound down. At last a university came into view and I noticed there were security guards there. I had to swallow my pride and ask for help. The officers proceeded to explain about the places and programs that they knew were available for people in my footprints. Once again I felt my heart hit the floor. I felt sure nobody would want to help me now. I found another place to sleep. About 10:am the next morning "The Angels With Wings" came along and took me to a place called "The Covenant House", where I could get a shower, a hot meal, and a real bed to sleep in. .All these things that I had taken for granted before were sending a message loud and clear, meant for me at the present time.
A few things I learned from this experience were: don't second guess yourself, always expect the unexpected, don't take things for granted, and don't be too proud to ask for help. Today, when I look around at what I have and I'm eternally grateful. When I see people walking in those same footsteps of doubt, worry and fear, helpless and alone, I try to help them because I know what helpless feels like!
Heather Matthews |
| GET IN TOUCH WITH NCAB | |
HAVE YOUR ART DISPLAYED AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE
This is a SHOUT OUT to any and all NCAB consumer members to submit your artwork to be displayed at the next NHCHC Conference in Washington DC in June 2011. Please send response to challoriginals@msn.com. I am an artist myself and my art has been recognized by exhibiting it at the conference. Maybe you're a little shy about showing it but give it chance. The current plan is to display consumer art in the resource room
Just because we were or are homeless doesn't mean we're not talented, doesn't mean we can't express ourselves, and certainly doesn't mean that nobody else cares. This is not a contest. It's an exhibit and all is appreciated. Take this opportunity to share your art and your expression with others.
SEND US YOUR STORIES
We need you!!! Hopefully, in our upcoming issues you, the readers, will send in your personal stories, poems, and articles regarding how you started your board and how it is running today. Please send any helpful comments on what you would like to see in the newsletter that might help others to ncab@nhchc.org
ASK THE EDITOR
As most of you avid newsletter fans know, generally a person can get information they need from just keying in NHCHC.com and Wah-Laaaah, there you have it. All your resources, keys and tools for Health Care for the Homeless issues....But now we would like to mix it up a bit by giving you another avenue to tap into. Now mind you that while we probably don't know where Jimmy Hoffa is, or how to put Humpty Dumpty back together again (although we do know some fantastic Dr's),...we really do have a wealth of information that we'd be more than glad to share...on the other hand if we DON"T have an answer we'll do whatever it takes to find out...OR...make up something reasonably close...either way please don't hesitate to Ask The Editor! |
| MISSION OF NCAB |
To be the vehicle for consumers of Health Care for the Homeless projects; to become a collaborative voice on national issues. We hold central the priority of assisting consumers in the development of bylaws and/or guidelines for local Consumer Advisory Boards and serve as a clearinghouse for information and assistance to consumers |
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Carol Hall, NCAB Newsletter Editor
Dan Rabbitt, NCAB Staff Coordinator
National Health Care for the Homeless Council, Inc.
ncab@nhchc.org | www.nhchc.org
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