Services The Recreational Center example essay topic

The Janet Pomeroy Center " The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" Descriptions "The Janet Pomeroy Center", also known as "The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" has been serving the residents of the San Francisco community for over 50 years. Founded by Janet Pomeroy on November 18, 1952 it has enriched the lives of over 17,000 individuals. It is a multi service center conveniently located off of Skyline Boulevard, over looking Lake Merced and directly behind the San Francisco Zoo. With a wide range of services offered, "The Janet Pomeroy Center" strives to provide recreation and vocational opportunities for the mentally and physically challenged, so as to create and instill independence, personal achievement, and a means for self expression for the disabled population. Having a variety in age from the youth to the elderly, RCH's clients also have a wide range in the levels of physical and mental disability. They range from being mildly to severely mentally challenged.

There are clients who can easily communicate verbally and others who rely on other methods to express themselves. These individuals also range in their physical disabilities. Some are in need of a wheelchair, where as others are able to easily get around. There are clients who violently have seizures, as well as those whose seizures are generally mild". The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" is unique in the fact that it also provides services to those who have had a head trauma. In collaboration with St. Mary's Hospital and the Department of Mental Health, RCH has started SF TBI NET, which stands for "San Francisco Traumatic Brain Injury Network".

Imagine the tremendous impact it must be living one moment able-bodied, then the next moment, disabled. Imagine the impact an event like this would have on your loved ones. The individuals who benefit from the program were once able-bodied like us, but because of a brain injury, they now need help relearning their motor skills and being able to function in daily life. SF TBI NET also recognizes the strain a traumatic event like this can have on the entire family and provides help and relief to its members. Rather than focusing on their weakness, the staff focuses on their client's strengths. Through the different recreational activities and services this multi service center provides, the interests and talents these individuals have are further nurtured.

For example, having access to art supplies and instruction is a great benefit to those clients who are interested in further developing their art skills. The clients are exposed to all genres of artwork which include but are not limited to jewelry making, tile painting, ceramics, needlework, the making of holiday decorations, etc. Field trips to local museums are also taken so as to further cultivate their art appreciation. There is even a music and drama program called, "Theatre Unlimited" that teach more than 20 classes and help prepare the clients for upcoming performances for the community. With many of the clients having difficulty with memorization, there is no script. However, the client improvises the lines while remaining on topic, an art form that is very difficult for anyone to maneuver!

For many families who care for a physically and or mentally challenged individual, it can at times get overwhelming. Because of this growing request and need for the community, "The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" provides respite care services. It is one of only a few facilities in Northern California that offer weekend overnight care so as to relieve families for the weekend and give them the opportunities to get away and take a much needed vacation. RCH currently has four large bedrooms with two beds per room, each with a private bathroom for each guest. Those who qualify must be between the ages 5 through senior. During the weekend stay the client staff ratio is at 1: 4.

The staff is trained to provide assistance with every basic need the client may have. A weekend day program is also available for those who do not need to stay overnight. Up to 15 clients are able to take part of the program, with 8 individuals throughout the weekend. Meals are included as well as recreational activities such as sports, cooking classes, and outings into the community. Many of the clients enjoy the outings into the community, especially outings into wilderness. Because of the growing interest with the outdoors, "The Outdoor Education Program" was started.

The clients in the program are involved in activities and / or trips dealing with nature. Some of these trips include backpacking, fishing, hiking, kayaking, river rafting, etc. These activities help to promote independence as well as teamwork when working with others. Many of these activities I hadn't had gone on myself and was a bit shocked and caught off guard at how active this community actually is. To further integrate the clients with mainstream community, RCH offers the opportunity for registered members of the center to use the only 90-degree therapeutic pool in San Francisco with the clients of RCH. The Herbst Pool attracts thousands of people per year.

From infants with their mothers to the elderly who suffer from arthritis, the pool provides a relief to the community as well as introduce and encourage interaction with the clients. The pool has become a haven for those who suffer from arthritis. The warm water has been proven to be therapeutic for the achy joints, enabling those who suffer from arthritis the luxury to freely move around in the water. Other than the soothing water, the Herbst Pool is unique in the fact that it is also wheelchair accessible. So as to easily accommodate those who are wheelchair bound, there are ramps leading up and down the pool that utilize special wheelchairs designed to bring clients in to and out of the water.

This has provided to be very convenient because up until the Herbst Pool was created, it was very difficult to lift someone out of the water. Because of wheelchair accessibility, all genres of the community, children, teens, and the elderly alike, are able and welcome to use this service side by side. Over 150 children and teens are annually enrolled in the programs at the center. Ranging in ages from 5-22 years, they are split into groups based on their ages so as to better develop age appropriate programs. The severity of their disabilities widely ranges from each group with some clients clearly more advanced than others.

However, the age appropriate activities for the groups are based on the client's abilities so as to include everyone in the event. Programs that are available to children and teens include After School, Summer, Day Camp, and Residential Camp. It definitely takes more than recreational activities to include the disabled population into mainstream life. RCH offers employment services to those individuals who are currently seeking a job. Each month, about thirty individuals utilize these job placement services that include job coaching, situation assessment, work adjustment training, the Able Gardner's training, travel training, and integrated work services to name a few. "The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" has relations with over fifty employers throughout the San Francisco and San Mateo counties.

RCH works with Allied Security, Safeway, Albertson's, Border's Books, Ace Hardware, Target stores, etc. to help their clients get a job and gain a sense of independence. But with all the services the recreational center has to offer, it's no use if the clients are unable to get there. Because of this vast problem within the community with disabilities, "The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" is also a primary source for transportation. RCH has 48 vans servicing the community with 22 of these vans having wheel chair lifts. The recreational center has come a long way in providing transportation services.

Starting with one parent who offered to drive their own vehicle, the transportation program is now 45 full time and part time staff strong. In addition, these vans not only service RCH's clients, but it also provides a means of transportation for 15 other community organizations. With so many programs and services that RCH provides for the community, it's obvious that funding is a major issue for the facility. About two-thirds of the funding is provided indirectly through the Golden Gate Regional Center, which is an organization that receives state funds to allocate to different organizations. The remainder of the much needed funding is found from a variety of other sources. The State Department of Rehabilitation as well as the State Department of Education provides some monetary aide because of the work the facility does for the mentally challenged and for the programs for children and teens.

State funding from the city of San Francisco contributes about $50,000 annually, and throughout the year, fundraisers such as "Casino Night" are held to help bring in more donations. A small percentage of their budget is privately donated as well. Qualification Having been given the opportunity to tour the facility with MSW Jay Katz, I was able to see first hand just how busy the staff, volunteers, and Jay can get on a typical afternoon. Certainly there are educational requirements one must have in order to obtain a position here at RCH; however, BASE graduates are not the only one's seeking a job here.

The employees and volunteers of the recreational center are working towards or already have degrees in all genres of health and human services. For 28 years, Jay has committed his life to working at the recreational center. Jay's position as Director of the site requires a Master's degree in Social Work. He is the only MSW here.

However, he did not start out directly as the Director nor did he start his work at the recreational center with a MSW Jay spent 28 years proving that he was dedicated to his job, and it's clear that he brings so much more to the facility other than his knowledge from his degree. After seeing first hand the energy Jay puts out, I realize it takes more than a Master's in Social Work to run "The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" efficiently. Characteristics that aide Jay in providing the best services possible to his many clientele are his anxiousness for action, strong organizational skills, being able to keep your schedule flexible, creating a sense of adventure, having an "open door" policy and most importantly, knowing your limits. The most important advice that he had given me during the interview was that in order to take on the responsibility and do the job that he does, you must realize that as a social worker, you are working with the client, not for them. This advice is very valuable and useful in working with all populations, not just those with disabilities, and it is something I will take with me to what ever agency I choose to intern and / or work at. The employees and volunteers at the recreational center had many of the same qualities that Jay has.

But what I recognized to be the same quality that all the staff at the facility had in common was the ability to gain and build their clients trust. The clients as well as the staff showed high levels of respect for one another. Because of it, I noticed it was much more easier to communicate and make demands from one another. Working With the Population It had never crossed my mind, nor did I ever consider working with this type of population. Though I have previously met and spoken briefly to a few people with mental and physical disabilities, I have never had any close relationships with people from that community. Having this being my first visit to a facility serving this population, I had no idea as to what to expect.

In fact, I was a bit hesitant and nervous as to what would come. I had predicted that the facility would have a "sterile" feel to it. I imagined the hallways and walls plastered in thick white paint. I assumed that there would be little color at all.

I could even conjure how "The Recreational Center for the Handicapped" would smell. I breathed in the imaginary fumes of medicine, similar to the same smell of a hospital. I also predicted that the clientele would have low levels of energy. I assumed the entire facility would have the same sluggish atmosphere, having little life and excitement.

To my surprise, it was the complete opposite! As I walked through the entrance and waited in the lobby for Jay, I took a good look around. The walls were covered with lively, colorful, beautiful artwork that was clearly made by the clients there. The smooth lines, eye-catching color scheme, and intricate details impressed me.

Pictures from past events also decorated the walls. Rather than seeing the sullen unhappy faces I had predicted, the camera had captured wide smiling clients dressed in cowboy hats and handkerchiefs, to compliment the western themed event. Immediately several people, all of who had mental and / or physical disabilities, greeted me. They introduced themselves and even though a few were hard to understand, I could tell by their enthusiastic handshake that I was welcome there.

The hallways echoed with laughter and voices, and wherever I went, I was happily greeted with a warm smile. I immediately felt my nervousness and apprehensions alleviate, all before I had even met Jay. During and after an extensive tour of the facility, I was able to meet and interact with the energetic clients first hand. I joined a small group of children as they played "Finding Nemo" computer games. I cheered on in a game of kickball, where I met a client who was excited that we shared the same exact first name! I was very fortunate to even have the opportunity to have one on one conversation with the very friendly individuals at RCH.

After the insightful tour and interaction with the clients, I ended my visit with an informative interview with Jay. Before leaving, I spoke to the Director of Volunteers and vowed that I would definitely be back as a continuous volunteer at the site because of the wonderful experience I had had. And now, after a second visit to site, I am even more convinced with the idea that this would definitely be the place I would like to intern at next fall.