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The Benjamin House mission is "Helping
the mentally challenged with life". Benjamin House will work
with its residents, helping them to be viable members of family
groups and productive members of society, and to provide a
safe-haven for life in a loving and spiritual environment.
Benjamin House is founded upon Christian
beliefs and Jesus' commandment to love others as we have been
loved by Him. As the Elizabeth City community has loved
and cared for Benjamin Hughes over the years, Benjamin House
will extend the same warm, supportive, loving care to many
"Benjamins."
Benjamin House is a nondenominational
effort that grew out of the faith of individuals in the Episcopal
Church. It is dedicated to meeting all the needs of its residents,
and recognizes spirituality as an important part of many people’s
lives. Optional daily worship services will be offered in
the residence chapel, and individuals will be encouraged to
participate in the local congregation of their choosing. Residents
will not be discriminated against for their religious or ethnic
backgrounds.
It is private, but with close ties to
the public sector. Inclusion into private and public sector
programs give clients an outstanding array of life choices.
The preferred entry age is 18-39. Benjamin
House is designed to provide a life-long home for its residents
Benjamin House will care for
its residents as long as they are able to benefit from its
programs. The Program Director will access area health providers
and form strategic partnerships to ensure that should a disability
require long term care beyond the abilities of Benjamin House,
the resident would remain part of the Benjamin House family
and enjoy continuing comfort and care.
The target population is specific: mentally
challenged young adults with the ability to respond to Benjamin
House's programs and adapt to the operational procedures who
have a good possibility of integration into its resident
base.
There will be an Initial Screening Committee, which will include
a doctor, Mental Health Professional, and the Director of
Benjamin House. The Initial Screening Committee will make
recommendations to the Board of Directors of Benjamin House
for admission.
The screening process will include review
of written applications, interviews with applicants, their
families and circle of interested parties, review of their
financial ability to contribute and/or their eligibility to
access public funds. We will also examine the commitment
of the family and Circle of Friends to continue to maintain
close involvement with the proposed client.
"Circle of Friends" applies to that group of community
members who are friends of the resident, the family, or mentors
to the resident. Benjamin House will encourage the communication
between the resident and the circle of friends as they provide
an extended family for the resident and act as caring guides
in society.
Area applicants will be given priority. Benjamin House believes
it can best serve its residents by encouraging communication
between the resident and the resident's family, "Circle of
Friends" and supporters. This interaction would be difficult
if clients came from afar.
Benjamin House is dedicated to deliver a higher standard of
care than other group homes and sustain it for life. By developing
a warm caring and spiritual environment, in which residents,
family and friends can choose their interests and options,
Benjamin House offers a unique continuity and safe-haven to
it's residents.
The Program Director works with the resident, his family and
"Circle of Friends" to ascertain what is possible to do within
the interests of the resident. If there is not an existing
suitable program, one may be created from scratch or adapted
from another source. The Benjamin House Program Director's
mandate is to best serve the clients needs, wants and desires,
not simply fit him into an existing program.
Benjamin House is designed for
the most efficient use of staff and programs, while attending
to the individual needs of its residents. With 12 residents,
there exist more opportunity for socialization and common
interests within the residence, while supporting the necessary
costs of individualized programming.
From 1977 to 1985, when the property was sold for development,
The Oak Leaf Apartment Residence operated in Edenton NC as
a residence for the mentally challenged. This innovative
program was under the direction of Benjamin House board member
David Gilbert. A motel on Broad St. was taken over with each
unit designated to a different resident. Communal meals and
leisure times were encouraged. Overseen by married couples,
this residence was an unqualified success.
The Benjamin House's Program Director will work on fulfilling
these needs while channeling opportunities to the residents.
Decisions will be made based on the wishes of the client,
client's family, and Circle of Friends. They will be the
decision makers while the Program Director will act as the
facilitator, and ensure that choices made by the group are
applicable to the resident. By virtue of the limited number
of residents it is possible to access the best of the private
and public opportunities for growth.
As a faith-based organization, Benjamin House, through its
staff, will encourage proper behavior between residents.
While relationships can blossom, they will be guarded by an
alert, caring and informed staff.
All group homes and residences try to
have caring capable staff. The Benjamin House's staff will
be especially competent and nurturing because of two factors.
:
Because the Benjamin House is a pure non-profit organization
the normal profit margin necessary for a business to operate
successfully will be put into staff salaries and client
amenities.
: To successfully
become accomplished in the care and nurturing of the mentally
challenged requires a wealth of experience and education.
By placing a premium on continuing education, Benjamin House
will attract those skilled workers. By planning training
sessions within their schedules, Benjamin House will allow
them to grow in expertise.
There will be a program Director with at least a Masters
Degree in a related field and a minimum of 3 to 5 years experience
directly in Mental Health. 12 Habitation Assistants with
varying levels of education and training, 1 cook, 2 Awake
Staff positions, 6 weekend CAP-MR/DD positions, (companions
and helpers) and 1 office/clerical staff job. It is anticipated
that the personal education programs initiated by Benjamin
House will result in increased expertise and help in the retention
of a caring, expert staff.
A Mental Health Care professional and an Elizabeth
City C.P.A. have prepared an operational budget. Benjamin
House will work with area providers to access a full range
of government programs and insurance payments for its clients'
since those programs (Medicaid, Medicare) will to some extent
determine ability to pay. Should every resident qualify for
every program, residence costs can be met without private
funding. Over time, supplemental private funding in the form
of endowments, bequests and grants will ensure the long-term
continuity of care, and a financial cushion of resources.
The complete Business Plan of Benjamin House is available
for study.
Benjamin House will help successful applicants and their families
access available government insurance and assistance on a
Regional, State and Federal level. Financial commitments
from family, concerned friends and support organizations will
also be encouraged.
There is a great need for a residential facility of
this type. One estimate is that as many as 60 placements
needed in the area. In some cases, potential residents have
had to leave the region to find suitable group homes. Already
there have been many inquiries about the possibilities for
admission.
With additional funds, endowments will permit Benjamin
House to serve residents who do not qualify for government
programs, and have no private means or family support.
The money from the Capital Campaign goes to build the
residence, and to pay start up costs, (including recruiting
and training of staff).
The public funds to be received by Benjamin House will
consist of payments given to mentally challenged
individuals in the form of assistance and insurance from the
State, Federal and Regional levels of government. These
payments would not limit the unique empowering characteristics
of Benjamin House.
The Hughes family is a major contributor to Benjamin
House. A member of the family will serve on the Parents'
Advisory Group for The Benjamin House, and the initial Board
of Directors. The family has created a substantial Testamentary
Trust funded by life insurance to provide financial assistance
after their deaths. Their commitment to Benjamin House is
continuing and impressive.
Residents will be encouraged to maintain relationships
with the congregation of their choice. While the brief morning
and evening services in the Benjamin House chapel will be
Episcopal based, worship will be arranged to accommodate the
beliefs of all. Attendance at services is voluntary.
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