The objective of our mentoring and outreach is to provide support and resources to individuals and their families, and assist in easing the transition that has been caused by a traumatic life changing event they are facing. Too often there is disconnect between adaptive organizations, healthcare providers (medical, mental health), families and disabled community members who are unaware of what programs are available to them. Our mentors provide them with materials and resources regarding available opportunities. Building relationships with our outreach enhances what healthcare providers are able to achieve with continuation of care by providing the patient with ADN’s Northeast information and requesting that their patient be contacted. This is the first step after the patient is discharged from the hospital or cleared from physical therapy. Now instead of the patient returning back to a sedentary lifestyle because there were no opportunities to continue activities, they have the ability to continue towards physical and mental wellness by participating in the area programs that are offered.
How the process works- This process would start with the request from the provider, patient or their family member for a peer visit. Once our peer visitor makes contact with the patient, he or she will provide the peer mentee with printed material, like amputee first steps magazine, questions to ask when looking for a prosthetic office, local and state resources and what area programs are available. This visit may occur while the mentee is at the hospital or after they have been discharged from the hospital or physical therapy.
Mentors will help bridge some of the challenges within the community, like referrals to mental health and substance abuse providers or support groups. They will do this by facilitating more involvement of local schools, churches and health care centers that can host recreation and sporting events, i.e. sit volleyball and other sports that can be played by both able and disabled community members together.
