z . ..... PAGE 14, WHITY FREE PRES,g WEDNESDAZ, MAY 17, 19m '~~Â L Imaginle is a national campaign of The Canadian Centre for Philanthropy to increase Canadians' awareness and contribution to ail charitable and voluntee r organizations. We support their goals and are contributing space for the Imagine ads on this and other pages. To bring the campaign dloser to home, the Whitby Free Press is running a series of. profilesof the needs and activities of local organizations. Cali us if your grganization could use a boost. HIADseeks resource centre By Tamara K. Downes There is stili much to learn about the victims of -brain in- jries and their needs, and the ea n ury Association of Dur- ham (HrAI continues efforts to find adequate services and care for victims. «We're basically a support group for the faxnilies,» says MayConneli, a HIAD member, whose son Doug sustained a severe head injury in 1980. HIAD, a non-profitable organi- zation, provides patient and fam- ily support, and raises funds for services and resources. There are currently no super- vised living accommodations for the bead injured in Durhanm Region. Unless confined to a wheelcbair, they are not eligible for seial bousing. The head injured are permit- ted to use te Handi-Transit system only if they are travelling to a hospital or to tberapy ses- sions. Those who have a memory problem or who are unsteady in gait cannot use public transpor- tation. There is now littie employmnent or recreation for the head in- jured. However, Durhanm College is Hecad Tnjury Association offDurham F'undraising: donatons & benefit concerts, funds go to public awareness and education. Membersb.ip: approxi- niately 100 involved families, friends and professionals. Contact Person: Mary Conneil - 668-8188 now coordinating a head injury education programn. And HAI is pushing for a resouroe centre as there are currently no programs for the head injury in the area. Such a centre, with a com- mnunity re-entry program, would provide the head injured wxth the link necessary to allow them to reach their potential. «We have a terrific board of directors working together,» says Conneli, bopeful tliat a centre will soon be establisbed. The SUSAN DURWARD, shown with father therapy, is provided. The Head Iinjury William Shill, is a victim of a head Association of - Durhamn seeke to im- injury and now resides at Whitby prove services and resources for the General Hospital where care, but no head iiuured. centre would also offer ongoingr professional therapy, educational programs to relearn lost acade- mie skills, daily living skills pro- gramns, job training and councel- ling for victims and their fam- ilies. The centre would also have information about head injuries and provide interaction with other agencies in the community. "I think things are really mov- ing to malce things better for tbem,» says Jean Sbill, whose daugbter Susan Durward recei- ved a head injur in 1981 and now resides at Whitby General Hospital. «Susan receives good bygiene care at Whitby General Hospital but no tberapy. Over the years we have learned so many thinga about brain -injury, sucb as how important it is from day one to havpe coma stimulation, tberapy and companionsbip,»says Shill. «4Susan bas come a long way witb the belp I had with volun- teers before. But volunteers are badly needed, not only for Susan but for other patients. Longterm patients can't h ave their own TV wbich is mostly the only enjoy- ment tbey bave.» She adds that monthly rates for hospital care are «outrageous.» "The brain injured are not understood as every one 15 dif- ferent, and also their needs. We Vince Ohpreclo-Free Preas photo know what our daughter's needs are but there isn't a place for ber. «Vie spend as much tinie with ber as we can and bring ber home most weekends.» HIAD raises funds througb concerts and general donations, but ShilI says fundraising Uneeds a lot of belp.» Money raised goes to public awareness and education, and to send representatives to con- ferences and worksbops. HIAD members ineet on the second Tuesday (7:30 p.m.) of each month from Sçptember to June, at iýringle Creek com- munity centre public scbool. Funding for more mental health staff, technology Comniunity mental bealth and addiction progranis across the Srovince will receive more than 2.8 million in funding, including $26,000 for Oshawa, te hire more staff and acquire needed computer tecbnology, Health Minister Elinor Caplan and Allen Furlong, MPP for Durhami Centre, recently announced. Thirty-two programs, one of tbem in Oshawa, will cbtain $1.34 million te expand staff and services. The Crisis Intervention Team, a sbort-term counselling and referral service, will receive $13,000 te hire a part-time The remaining $13,000 in funding will go te the Commumity invovement Prograni and the Education/Family Support Group for new computer tebolo«v. In al, 167 prograins province-wideo will get *1.48 million te meet the requirements -"* conputr-based, service delivery information system implemnented by the ministry ini April 1988. "This is part of the goverruentes commitment te, bring about considerable growtb in community bealtb," Caplan said. The number of progranis in tbe province bas nearly doubled in the last five years te. 488 from 248 ini 1983-84. In August 1987, Premier David Peterson announced the doubling of funding for community mental healtb and addiction progranis over three years witb annuel expenditure- te reacb $174 million in 1990-91. Progranis alr ùlocated $121 milion in 1988-89. The establishmnent of an information system for al community mental bealtb and addiction progrmma was luditor. The ministry now will be able te more efficiently gather and analyse financial and client statistical data from the various progranis. This, in turn will allow improved prograin evaluation and planning -- which was suggested last fail by botb the Task Force on the Use of Ilegal Drugs (the Black report) and the Provincial Comxnunity Mental Healtb Cm-mitte. (the Grahiam report). Ibe new computer technolfol will also belp the local progranu te reduce admnistrative worldoad and enable staff te better serve the needs of its clients. Robert- Lane becomes foster parent Robert Lanc of Whitby recently became a foster parent. Through Foster Parents Plan of Canada be bas -adopted" little Edens of Haiti. Lanc's sMail montbly contribution bringa belp to the roster cbild, his &famly and the community. The objective is not dependency, but te bhelp the famlfly become independent and self-su)pporin, tbrougb program of medical and dental care, vocational training, and coUmdaliig by go" 1wSkus. LAil- programs are adapted to the needs of tbe people, and tend te Japan, the-Nethelands, the be concentrated in rural areas United Kingdom and the US.A.- where tbe whole community can are currently aseisfing mor than benefit througb the provision of 385,000 chldren in 24 countries weils. scbools, and mucb more. in the Third World. PLAN isaa non-profit, non-sectariaxi, Eduication is stressed, and ail non-political socia service echool-age members of fster org aaton officiaiy registered famnilies are encouraged te attend witb the Canadian governnent. aciool. Foster parents are advised Ail contributions are mnnually of the familys progresstax-deductble. and a regular excbange of letters Information on sponsoring a bullds a warm and meaningful child tbrougb PLAN can be relationship. obtained-by writing te 153 St. Through Poster Parents Plan, Clair Avenue Wésý Toronto, indvinas, p~4'p~iijp'~a 190 M t 1&oeling in Canada, AuasUla, Belgiuzn, tol-fre. anytima 5W7174. I.. USA 3. CANDA 1. I )ld paln Wnit the : aeg doieica i aes rhree tinies mo re te uharirv than the average Cca tan? Anld it*s non bccatuse il ccv e-arto more moif<yl eithier. k 'Vuie giving begins with ywu.